Echoes In The Mist

by Rifi Strawn

  He chuckled. “Well, they weren’t kidding. I like it, too.” He grabbed a slingshot off the table close-by and showed it to a monkey that was getting too close to them. It hollered and ran off.

  She smiled broadly. “That worked well.”

  “The monkeys are sacred of it. All I have to do is hold it, and they take off.”

  “I might need one of those.”

  “You can have this one.” He gave her the slingshot. “I better get your paperwork done.” He pointed to the open door down the wide corridor across from the lobby. “It’s the manager’s office. Come get me if you need to.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” She held the worn-out slingshot like a lethal weapon.

  As Jeremy walked off, a maid came over. Smile beaming across her round ebony face, she offered Stanley a cold glass of lemonade on a wooden tray. “Welcome, my lady. I’m Tabo, at your service.”

  “I’m Stanley. Nice to meet you.” She took a refreshing sip from the cold glass. The tangy, citrusy drink sweetened with honey, tasted so good that she drained the last drop. After a deep sigh, she wiped her moist mouth with the back of her sleeve and smiled. “I must be thirsty.”

  “I have more for you.” Tabo refilled her glass from the jug close by on the table.

  “Oh, thank you. This is just what I needed.”

  “Enjoy, my lady.”

  She forced herself to take slow sips in an attempt to talk with her gracious hostess. “This is the best lemonade I’ve ever had. What’s your secret?”

  Tabo giggled. “Zambian lemons are the best.”

  “Of course, they are.” She admired Tabo’s brightly colored beaded bracelets and necklace. “I love your jewelry.”

  “Thank you, my lady. You can buy it in the gift shop.” Tabo pointed her to the small room across from the manager’s office.

  “Great. I’ll take a look.” Her gaze dropped on the maid’s nametag, pinned to her shoulder. “Ta-bow? Did I say your name correctly?”

  “You say it perfectly. It’s Tabo.”

  “What does it mean?”

  Tabo giggled with a hand in front of her mouth. “Joy.”

  “You live up to your name.” She grinned. “You’ve made my day with this delicious drink and your beautiful smile.”

  “Thank you, my lady.”

  Stanley put her empty glass on the table and looked at the half-empty jug with a tinge of guilt. “I finished almost all of your lemonade.”

  “No worries, my lady. I can make more for you.”

  “I’m good for now.”

  She took the slingshot as Tabo walked off and strolled through the lobby toward Jeremy’s office. The outdated furniture and pictures of birds on the walls were depressing. He needed new sofas and chairs from this decade, and artwork with elephants to promote his cause.

  She flinched from a fast-moving object above her head. What was that? Hand on her thumping chest, she looked up at the tweeting bird flying high toward a nest in the pitch of the straw ceiling. So that’s where the white droppings on the floor were coming from.

  In confusion, she looked around. Was this place catering to animals or humans? Other than Tabo, she hadn’t seen a single, two-legged guest here. Maybe Jeremy wasn’t the best manager to run this lodge. No wonder it was losing money. It was obvious his heart wasn’t into maintaining and promoting this business. He did say, his first love was taking care of the animals. Well, it showed.

  After a quick glance at the time, she walked toward his office. Gently, she tapped on his open door as he finished talking on his cell phone. He sat behind a large dark wood desk and held a finger up. “I’m almost done.”

  “No problem. I’ll be in the gift shop.”

  She held on to her purse and walked away. It was strange that the manager hadn’t asked for her passport at check-in. Hotels in every foreign country she’d stayed in required a copy of her international ID before giving her the room key. The rules for the volunteers who work here must be different.

  Across the hall from his office, she stepped inside the gift shop’s wide-open door. The small earthy room was filled with amazing local arts and crafts. Fresh air and natural light poured in through the window as she eyed the handmade wooden masks, baskets, and African rugs hanging on the walls. Some of the exquisite pottery on the shelves was similar to the Native American art back home.

  Stanley looked at the jewelry like Tabo’s on the display table. There was so much to choose from. She slipped on a bracelet and admired the complicated beadwork of the turquoise, black, and white geometric design. The colors would go with almost every outfit she’d brought here.

  After a double take at the prices, she slipped on another bracelet on her wrist. These stunning pieces of jewelry would’ve cost a fortune in a boutique back home. It was a sin to sell them under ten dollars. Ready to spend one of her gift cards, her adrenaline rush came to a halt. Damn. Mr. Reed said not to flaunt her wealth or she’d blow her cover.

  She took off the bracelets and put them back on table. Unable to help herself, she staged the merchandise for better sales. Already the place was looking better. Maybe she’d drop Jeremy a hint to let her handle the job.

  Stanley sifted through the eye-catching items on the clothing rack. Every shirt and T-shirt pocket or sleeve were embroidered with the lodge logo. Her finger moved over the intricate beadwork. Ralph Lauren would go gaga over the native textiles and embroidery here.

  Her roaming gaze landed on the bolts of fabric in a big basket. She held a traditional print against her body in front of the full-length mirror. A simple sleeveless dress out of this bold design would make a statement at any occasion. Too bad, I can’t even call my designer to find out how many yards I need for it. There had to be a good seamstress around here. Someone had made these clothes on the rack.

  Enjoying the luxurious cotton on her face, she looked herself in the mirror, and noticed Jeremy leaning against the doorjamb waiting for her. How long had he been standing there? Quickly, she rolled the fabric and put it back in the basket. “Sorry. I got carried away admiring your local goods here.”

  “Those colors look nice on you,” he murmured, clearing his throat. “Ready to go to your room?”

  She flipped her fedora back on. “Yes.”

  His captivating gaze on her, he gestured to the hall. “After you.”

  “Thank you.” Her heart skipped a beat as she walked past him. She’d have to build immunity against his pheromones or she’d get in trouble. Too bad there wasn’t a vaccine for that. She was the queen of bad romances. Attracting men was easy—keeping them around was a whole other story. Aunt Zoie had accused her of being a player a time or two when she refused to settle down.

  He held her suitcase in one hand and with the other slung the dart rifle over on his shoulder. “Are you the valet and security guard, too?” she asked.

  “Yes.” He smiled. “And I’m also the receptionist and the PR department.”

  “It must get exhausting wearing so many hats.”

  “You couldn’t have come at a better time to help us get ready for the busy season,” he said.

  “I was wondering where the rest of the guests were.”

  “I’ve been waiting to finish the work before advertising.”

  “Good idea,” she said, looking at the overgrown weeds.

  His confident body walked past the charming guest huts she’d admired from the gift shop’s open windows. The identical buildings were fifty feet apart and facing the same direction to take in the river view.

  She nearly sprained her ankle on the uneven dirt path, and avoided another sharp branch that could rip her pants and shoes. “What’s up with these thorny vines everywhere?”

  “They’re security measures for trespassing animals and people.”

  “Wouldn’t an alarm system be better?”

  “Too expensive.”

  “What’s your guest capacity at this lodge?”

  “About forty.”

  She eyed the huts
. “Are all the guesthouses occupied?”

  “Not right now.”

  “How do you get business?”

  “We have repeat customers and unannounced guests when the luxury resorts fill to capacity.” He winked. “It’s not a bad way to build the business.”

  “This lodge needs some improvements.”

  “I’m working on updating it.”

  She paused to admire the view. “The scenery from here is breathtaking.”

  “We have the best view of Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River from here.” His voice filled with pride. “And we’re the only lodge to offer an authentic safari experience. It’s rumored that David Livingstone stayed here.”

  “I read about him in a brochure.”

  “He was the Scottish explorer who discovered Victoria Falls.”

  She admired the river view. “I can see why he’d want to stay here. This place is magical.”

  He held his hand out to stop her. “Stand still,” he whispered as he slipped the dart rifle off his shoulder. “There’s a wild elephant herd passing by. If alarmed, they can be dangerous.”

  She gasped at the sight of the baby elephant breaking small branches off a nearby tree and munching on the leaves. It came closer to look at them. It’s big, warm brown eyes with long lashes were within twenty feet from them. “Oh, my God, he’s so cute,” she whispered back.

  “Slowly back off. The mother is coming toward us,” Jeremy said softly.

  A giant female elephant came rushing toward them. The protective mother stopped, spread her ears, and glared at them as Jeremy held Stanley’s hand. Heart racing, she froze in her tracks. The large trunk wrapped around the baby. After another long look at them, the majestic elephant walked away. The baby ran after his mother, grabbing her tail with its trunk. They disappeared into the thick wooded area with the rest of the herd.

  Hand on her thumping chest, Stanley breathed easy again. “Oh, my God, my life span just shortened by ten years. I thought that mother was going to jab us to death with her sharp tusks.”

  “We’re lucky that she didn’t charge at us. I’ve seen wild elephants do some serious damage and even kill a perceived predator.” Jeremy’s gaze lingered on her face. “I’m proud of you for not reacting by running or screaming. The wild elephants are unpredictable and very protective of their calves.”

  “It was tough standing still when all I wanted to do was run.”

  “If you had run, the elephant would’ve chased you, or a predator like a lion might have noticed.”

  “The way that huge elephant was looking at us, I thought she was going to kill us.”

  “She very well could’ve.” He peered at the bushes for more animals as they moved on. “If an animal is stalking you, make yourself appear bigger, like raise your hands above your head or wave your jacket. Make noise, or throw sticks or pebbles at it. Do anything to intimidate it, but do not run even if you don’t think an animal isn’t watching. You never know. If you see a wild elephant herd coming, look for an alternative route to take and stay out of their way.”

  She laughed nervously. “Don’t worry. I’m not going near them without you.”

  The gravel path ended at the smallest hut in the employee lodge. She looked at the flimsy thatch grass roof that seemed ready to cave in. Traces of paint left behind were evidence of the hut’s once painted white walls.

  Jeremy stomped his dusty boots on the small porch outside the door. She looked down at her feet and barely recognized her dark green leather booties under the thick layer of dirt. Cringing, she tapped her feet, before walking inside the dark, musty-smelling hut.

  Shoulders dropped, she looked at the dingy space and broke out in a sneezing spell from the dust in the air. “My allergies are going to go nuts here.”

  “Bless you.” He opened the door and windows to air out the place.

  A bug flew in and buzzed close to her face. She dodged a stinging bite and rubbed her tickling nose. She sighed and looked at him. “Is this where I’ll be staying?”

  “Yes,” he said. “This is where volunteers stay.”

  She crossed her arms. “It seems no one has stayed here since David Livingstone.”

  He ignored her sarcasm and flipped the wall switch to test the lights. “Keep the lights off whenever you can. The bugs and flies are attracted to them.”

  Ready to take the next flight home, she looked at the two twin beds on metal frames crammed between the narrow width of the room. A scratched up, wooden nightstand was wedged between them.

  She gave a skeptical look at the rickety wooden lamp on top of the nightstand. “Is it going to shock me? It looks like an electrical hazard.”

  “I hope not.” He tested it. “It works fine.”

  The only appealing feature in the room was the mosquito netting over the beds. The romantic see-thru tents hung from a hook in the ceiling and draped over the entire bed. Her hands skimmed the soft, perforated fabric. She smiled. “These tents remind me of the tepees I used to build with friends as a child. Except there was no danger of bug bites there.”

  Jeremy’s busy body stopped and looked at her with intrigue. “The mosquito netting has a purpose here. Make sure you tuck the edges under the mattress, or the bugs will sneak in and bite you all night.” He slapped his forearm and wiped off a bloody spot. “The mosquitoes are always bad after a good rain.” He grabbed a can of insect repellent from the table and sprayed his arms and clothes. “Want some?”

  Coughing and gagging, she stepped away from the stinky cloud. “No, thanks. This smells like the disinfectant spray the attendants used on the flight here. I nearly puked.”

  He put the can on the table. “Better to be safe than sorry.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Let me show you how to use the mosquito tent.”

  “I think I can figure it out.”

  “There’s a trick to getting in and out.” He crawled in the opening in one of the beds and closed it. “Any gaps are an invitation for the bugs. Make sure you tuck the edges.”

  A familiar urge welled inside her as she looked at him sitting on her bed through the thin fabric. Forget about it. There’s not enough room for both of us on that tiny mattress. She cleared her throat as he stepped out. “How sturdy is this place?”

  He closed the mosquito net opening and adjusted his pants. “It’s been here for over fifty years and will be here long after you and I have passed.”

  She waved a fly away. “What do I have to do to upgrade to a bug-free room?”

  He avoided eye contact with her. “You’re getting the best room in the employee lodge.”

  “If this is the best, I can’t wait to see the others.” The two large glasses of lemonade she’d drank were about to burst her bladder. Her roaming gaze swept the room. “Where’s the bathroom?”

  He pointed to the closed door down the hall. “You get your very own private bathroom. Everyone else uses the communal bathroom outside their huts.”

  “Lucky me.” She closed the bathroom door and unzipped her pants. Bare bottomed, she rushed to the toilet. Flies hovered over the open porcelain seat. Too desperate to be scared or proud, she waved the swarm out of her way and sat. Her loud, steady stream rivaled the gushing of Victoria Falls. The crouching position blasted out the held-in gas. Blood rushed to her face. The damn walls echo everything.

  She walked back in the room, avoiding eye contact with his beaming face. “The bathroom needs good fumigation. There are flies all over the place.”

  Eyes dancing with amusement, he chuckled. “I’ll take care of it, and the trumpeting elephants.”

  “Very funny.”

  A huge tarantula crawled from the chest of drawers. Stanley quickly climbed on top of the metal chair. “Oh, my God. Kill it. Kill it,” she yelled.

  Jeremy walked toward the intimidating, hairy bug as if it were a butterfly. “Tarantulas are harmless. Their bites sting but don’t make you sick like the scorpions.”

  He carried the scary thi
ng on top of a fly swatter out the door. Upon his return, she stepped off the chair. “What if it comes back?”

  “He’s more scared of you than you are of him. I doubt he’ll come for a second round of screams.” His eyes twinkled. “Some people keep tarantulas as pets.”

  “I don’t know why. Will you please check for scorpions?”

  “Sure thing.” Down on his hands and knees, he flapped the fly swatter under the beds. Dusting his hands, he stood again. “There are no scorpions or snakes in here.”

  “Snakes?” She cringed. “What else is living in here?”

  He chuckled. “You’re a scared pants.”

  “This place is a damn zoo. I feel like I checked into a cage.” Living on a farm was a piece of cake compared to this wild place. She looked up at the squeaky, wobbly fan. “Is it going to fall on me?”

  “I don’t think so…,” he said, studying it.

  After a quick look at the death trap, he turned the fan off from the wall switch and stood on the metal chair. His long arms reached the ceiling fan blades without difficulty. In minutes, he tightened the screws with his Swiss army knife and hopped off.

  His eyebrows raised. “Anything else you’d like me to fix?”

  She scanned the small space. “Where’s the closet?”

  “We don’t have closets. The bugs like to live in pockets and sleeves of hanging clothes. Use the chest of drawers.”

  She cringed at the flimsy furniture. “It doesn’t look safe to use.”

  He opened and closed the drawers. “It’s in good shape. I can touch up the scuffs with furniture polish. Once I’m done, it’ll look good as new.”

  A brown lizard skipped out of the drawer and onto Jeremy’s chest.

  “Ahh…” Stanley ran screaming to the other side of the room. He laughed and chased the fast skipper but kept missing. She knocked down the small café table and chair as the lizard moved toward her. Almost tripping and falling on her face, she raced to get away from the slimy thing.

  Jeremy caught her just in time. His warm breath brushed her face as he gazed into her eyes. “Easy there, you’ll hurt yourself,” he murmured.

  She gently pushed away from him. “I hate lizards.”