He couldn’t safely assume they weren’t on the hunt for him. They needed the key. A key that didn't even exist. All he had knowledge of was the cipher code. Nothing more. And now, because of his fabricated confession of Izzy being alive with a key, they will hunt him down until the end of time. Even more-so now than ever before. He regretted calling Alex when they were under attack. He wasn’t thinking clearly and now he might have put her in harms way too.
He stopped for a brief moment to catch his breath and leaned against a tree trunk. He definitely needed to hit the gym when he got back home. As he panted in a desperate attempt to get air into his strained lungs, he heard a loud hissing sound in front of him. It was quite dark under the tree, but the moonlight broke through the trees about half a yard in front of him. It was a Cobra! His head was pulled back revealing his broad, flat hood and yellowish underbelly; almost glowing in the faint moonlight. His fangs were the size of a crocodile’s teeth. There was no mistaking the breed. It was an Egyptian Cobra; massive one too.
Charles might have stopped breathing altogether in that instant. Unable to breathe or move a muscle, he stared into the glowing eyes of the snake. Cobras were known to move as fast as lightning, and he’d be dead in thirty minutes if he got bitten. From the corner of his eye, Charles caught the sudden movement of a rat close by. Much in the same way he did, the rat stopped dead in its tracks as he came face to face with the predator. Somewhat relieved, the rat was Charles’ perfect distraction and it became evident the snake was now weighing up his options; swinging from side to side between rat and human. Charles transferred his thoughts onto the snake to choose the rat instead and when the rat thought he could outrun the snake, the Cobra struck.
Occupied with his large catch Charles slowly stepped aside and once out of reach, started running as fast as his two lacerated feet could manage. When he was far enough away, he tried gaining his bearings and stopped for another brief second making sure not to lean against any trees again. The moonlight was stronger as it burst through the trees. It was safe to say he was out of the woods, so to speak. He needed to think logically. The rebel camp couldn’t have been too far away from water. They captured him in the late afternoon and he had full sun on him while he was in their vehicle. That meant he faced west and they might have traveled north up the river.
So then it was likely he was somewhere north of Dar es Salaam and the village was south. He might be way off and sorely lacking any sense but it was his only shot.
He looked up at the stars between the tall trees. He’d have to get to a clearing with a better view of the constellations. On a clear night he could find better direction and find his way out of there. Happy with his conclusion, he started running again. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep the pace. His body was close to collapse but he kept going.
What seemed like hours later, he finally got to a large clearing of grassland. In the full moon he saw it was yellow and dry not green and lush which meant he most probably ran too far off course. Despondent he heard lions in the distance. He wasn’t the only creature seeking out clearings. Lions and rhinos liked them also. Charles walked out into the clearing with caution and looked up at the stars.
They were incredibly bright and clear, and he recalled the last night Izzy, and he spent together under the stars before he left for London the next day. She didn't want him to go. Perhaps if he had listened to her she would still be alive, and Alexandra wouldn’t have fallen ill. His heart was heavy, gripped with deep sorrow for his wife and daughter. He would never see his wife again and there was a distinct possibility he’d never see his daughter either.
A single tear rolled down his cheek as he searched the stars for answers. Orion’s bent hourglass torso shone brightly in the sky. And then he found it, Mintaka. The rightmost star in Orion's belt that set within a degree measure true east or west. He stacked his fists hand-over-hand from the horizon until he reached Mintaka. He carefully calculated the degrees of angle measure. A flicker of hope filled his heart as he established his direction. At peace with his conclusions, he set off at a more relaxed pace in an attempt to give his aching feet and body a slight bit of relief.
Somewhere deep into the night the conditions of his escape pushed his badly dehydrated and exhausted body beyond his limit of endurance. All the while, Charles kept his eyes peeled for wild animals and his focus on taking one step at a time. He needed to stay alert and not stop. There was no point in giving up now. He came too far. He had a daughter to think of now. There wasn’t a chance in hell he’d have her lose another parent. Not as long as he had breath in his lungs.
His thoughts were all that kept him going. Along the way he spotted several rhino under a tree. It piqued his interest, as he knew full well that animals only hid under trees if they expected bad weather. Charles looked up at the heavens. There was not a cloud in the sky, but there they were; huddled together under the tree. Their horns looked like beacons in the moonlight. Charles stopped to admire them and thought it sad that poachers felt the need to slaughter them just to sell their horns on the black market. He also knew that he needed to keep clear of them. They looked peaceful, but turned on you quickly if threatened.
The grass grew dense in some places where Charles had trouble walking through them. It most certainly proved he was close to water. He needed to rest and wondered if he still knew how to climb a tree. The image of the cobra entered his thoughts. The Savannah was prime habitat for all sorts of poisonous snakes and there was a firm chance he’d encounter some of the tree climbing ones. With not many options of where to rest, he decided to continue a little further. He should be close. He had been walking for hours on end.
A sudden lightning bolt flashed above his ahead illuminating the entire horizon. Moments later another bolt flashed and then another and another. A number of loud thunderous rumblings in between more lightning bolts confirmed that the rhino was on the mark after all. It wasn’t long before Charles felt raindrops wet his face and out of nowhere, the heavens opened up and dumped bucket loads of refreshing rain over him.
"Hahaaaaa! Yes! Open your floodgates!" He shouted out loud, as he tried to find shelter.
Dehydrated and exhausted, he stuck out his tongue; desperate for some water to moisten his parched throat. The rain soothed his drought-stricken body and stung his still swollen and bruised face but he didn’t complain. It was sheer bliss. He was conscious of the fact that he should run for cover from the lightning, but he just couldn’t help it. His body was overriding his logic, hands-down. He needed water and fell to his knees. With outstretched arms he threw his head back and opened his mouth as wide as he could. The rain was like a river of pure gold flowing over him and down his arid throat. He never knew rainwater could taste that good. It was medicine to his defeated body — and mind.
The last time he danced in the rain like that was when Izzy and he first started dating. They managed to get a booking in that fancy French restaurant in Covent Garden. He had saved all his money just for that dinner with her. They hit a downpour just as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. Izzy, she wasn't like the other girls who squealed at the slightest drop of rain ruining their hairdos and fancy clothing. Instead, she opened her arms much like his were now and danced pirouettes around him. They were soaked, but it was one of the happiest times in his life. That's when he knew he needed to spend the rest of his life with her. And now, he stood there exposed in the rain barely alive and she was dead.
"Is this you Izzy my love? Is this you opening up the heavens and helping me through?" He shouted to the heavens.
He couldn’t help but wonder if she was behind all that beautiful rain, reminding him of the good times they had. What he wouldn't do to dance in the rain with her again.
When the rain soaked his body enough for him to come to his senses, Charles decided to risk the storm and keep walking toward the dense trees in the distance. The night was a cold and certainly wet one, but at least the rain contained the predators and quenched his body.<
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It had been almost twelve days since he was captured and tortured. At least that’s the number he came up with. He lost count. But his body was not as strong as his mind and when his knees caved and he fell with his face into the muddy grassland, he stayed down.
He had no idea how long he lay face down in the rain, but when he finally managed to lift his head off the ground, the rain had stopped and the sun popped its head up just beyond the horizon. He lived to see another day and now the sun’s rays was proof that he was heading east. His cracked lips burst open when he smiled. Izzy would have been so proud that he used the stars to navigate his course.
'Mark my words, Charles Benjamin Hunt. One day is one day you'll need those stars to show you the way' she once said to him when he argued the purpose of learning the constellations. And as always, she was right.
Somewhere between the hallucinations and dreams, Charles slipped off into a deep sleep. It was the incessant prodding of a stick and children’s laughter that eventually woke him. It was hot and the sun’s piercing rays forced him to shut his eyes again. He sat up and shielded his eyes. It wasn’t a dream or a hallucination. Kids laughing and dancing surrounded him. They offered him water and tried to help him up.
"Take me to your village. Please, take me to your village!” He repeated in broken Swahili. It was only when he mentioned the Chief’s name that they stopped dancing.
"Your village. Chief. Help,” he tried again.
One brave boy, about school going age, pulled him by his hand as the others pushed him from behind. In unison they pulled him across the sweltering Savannah and even when his feet shot stabbing pains up his legs, Charles was overjoyed. He made it through the predator infested African Savannah and survived against all the odds. And up ahead the cheery cries of his village welcomed him home.
"Charlie-boy! We think you dead. You okay! You safe Charlie-boy. We so happy,” the Chief yelled as his tribe carried Charles in and lay him down on a cot.
"Charlie-boy! I’m so happy you’re safe.”
"Hello, Chief. I never thought I’d be this happy to see you.“
"Where you been Charlie-boy?"
"The bloody River Rebels were behind it. They think I have the key. Or more accurately, Izzy has the key.”
"Izzy? What you mean old friend. Izzy with gods.”
“Of course yes. She’s not with us.”
"So why you talk crazy? Izzy got the key. What you mean?”
"It was a little white lie that's all, nothing more. I needed to buy myself some time so I lied to the rebels and told them Izzy was still alive and that she had the key. If they thought she was alive and has the key then they would need me to get it. I bargained my life in exchange for a key that doesn’t exist. They were going to kill me, and it was all I could think of telling them at the time."
"So they make you go?"
"No-no, not a chance. They'll be after me more now than ever. A group of rivals attacked them. I think they fought over territorial rights, so I managed to escape."
"You like James Bond Charlie-boy,” packing a laugh.
"Are the crew and Jelani okay?" Charles asked.
The Chief looked at his feet and shook his head.
"Jelani with gods. He no make it Charlie-boy."
“What? Jelani is...Jelani is dead? Those bastards! I'll get them for this."
"No Charlie-boy. Not River Rebels. He die in car crash with Alex."
Charles thought he heard wrong. Either that or he was hallucinating again. He smacked his cheek and shook his head vigorously before speaking again.
"Say what now Chief? I don’t think I heard you right. Alex? She’s… she died with him?"
"NO Charlie-boy. She not die. She with Jelani in car. Jelani he dead. Alex, she alive."
Even the Chief’s second explanation couldn’t clear his confusion.
"Wait, Chief. My Alex is here? In the village?"
"Yes, Charlie-boy. She come with Daktari. They special friends."
"Doctor? Dr. Jones? Why did she come with Dr. Jones?"
"No no. Not Jones. Quinn. Daktari Sam Quinn. She come with Quinn."
Charles scratched his head. “Who the hell is Sam Quinn? Special friends? What? She doesn't have any 'special friends.' Hell, she doesn't have any friends. She never left the house after Izzy died.”
“Yes, special friend. She fine. No worry. She go to Dar es Salaam to find you. You rest for night Charlie-boy. You tired. We give food and tomorrow we go find Alex."
Chapter Thirteen
3 years ago - Izzy
When the crew made their way down the coast to the ruins early that morning, the excitement in the air was palpable. Rowdy groups split up and placed wagers against each other. By the time they reached the ruins, the anticipation lay thick in the air. They fervently prepared and unpacked their kits with great expectation of this being the day they finally found Rhapta.
"The tide is coming in so, if all goes well, we should be set up and ready when the water is high. Are you sure you got the message to the divers?"
"Hundred percent Mum. They sent word back to meet them here at the site. The divers are coming fully kitted and prepared for the worst. I'm sure they should be here any moment."
"That's great sweets. Let's just hope the cave is accessible. The samples I took and tested last night came up positive for sulfur which means it’s highly likely we have a cave down there."
"So is that a good thing or a bad thing? Sulfur in the cave that is."
"Well, I know from my research that when sulfur is present, it is most likely an indication of there being blind shafts and higher maze passages. If this is the case, then the chances are there would be large chambers too, and that means it is without a doubt a sunken city. Given all these assumptions are in fact proven, then it further proves that there was quite possibly a collapse of some kind of structure. Whether it was indeed Rhapta remains to be seen, but this is a great day in history one way or another."
"This is super exciting, Mum! I just wish Dad were here to experience this with us."
"Knowing your Dad he has already felt it in his bones.”
It was a good thing the divers arrived, or they would still be doubled over with laughter by sunset. Izzy did miss Charles, but somehow, after a lifetime of depending on him, her newfound independence has brought about some liberation of sorts. She was doing this on her own. How many female archaeologists could say that?
"Ma'am, we're going to need you to stand back, please? For our safety and yours. We will be fastening our guide ropes, and our ground crew will be watching everything on the monitors from up here. You're welcome to join them but, in the event of an explosion or a collapse, it is best to keep a safe distance."
Izzy was a get-in-and-get-dirty kind of woman. She detested standing back, but she respected the divers’ skill and complied.
"Sure thing. I'll have my crew explore a bit further inland if that's okay? How long will the dive take though?" Trying not to tap her foot impatiently.
"It's hard to tell Ma'm. It all depends on what we find down there. If all goes well, our initial exploration will be about two hours. Our tanks don't allow for more. Once the first dive team is up, I'll send down the second for another two-hour session. Anything beyond that we would have to wait until tomorrow before we dive again."
There was a deadline and impending greed hot on her heels, not to mention they had been at it for decades and the excitement was too much for them all to bear. She was certain that by now the word of having found a possible underground cave and ruins was all over the country. It wouldn’t take long for the treasure hunters to show up and stake their claim.
"I understand. The divers run the risk of getting the bends."
"What's that?" Alex asked.
"It's decompression illness from being under the water too long with the oxygen tanks,” the diver replied.
Conceding to not have any other choice but to practice patience, Izzy turned to look for Eric whom
again, was nowhere in sight. It was now a regular occurrence and shouldn’t seem strange, but it was.
"How is it that turd is always missing? Just what in heavens' name is that boy up to? When he surfaces, I'm not taking my eyes off that redhead. IF he surfaces."
It was no secret that she was annoyed. She tried her best to push the nagging feeling in her gut away by busying herself with pitching the tents. Alexandra was behind her laptop doing more research as was usual. She had a mind like a sponge and questioned everything. Took after her Dad that was certain.
"Can you tear yourself away for a little walk? I want to see what's behind those trees over there."
"Sure Mum. I'll bring our kit just in case. There’s not much we can do here except wait. We'll have to let the divers do their thing and come back later."
"You're a chip off the old block my girl."
They zigzagged through the rows of palm trees in search of any possible clues or evidence pointing to the existence of a lost civilization. A couple of hours inland and the tropical paradise coast disappeared into a yellow Savannah with Acacia trees and ferocious predators. One would never guess the ocean surrounded all of that wildlife.
Loose coconuts and rotten mangos lay scattered on the ground everywhere. It was an island paradise. Large boulders and palm leaves were scattered throughout the treed floor. It was a perpetual tourist hotspot for the sun seekers. Nearby Zanzibar Island was one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Africa. Izzy took it all in. What's not to like? It looked like a postcard.
"Did you bring the puzzle box and the scroll sweetheart? Can we sit down here for two minutes and have another look? I think we’re missing something.”
It was a silly question. Alexandra slept with it every night. Of course, she would have it with her. She hadn't parted with it since they found it.
The Alex Hunt Series Page 13