by Carl Hancock
‘See you soon, Dan. We all make a great team, don’t you think?’
‘That’s for sure. And the best is yet to be.’
‘Mister R Browning?’
‘Who else?’
They set off at intervals of fifteen minutes. When they reached South Lake Road, Hosea turned right towards Longonot and Daniel left towards the town. There was not a white face to be seen in either car. Young Ewan had cackled with amusement as Maria had smeared his face with dark chocolate, happy that all the big people were joining in the game.
Daniel drove fast up the Escarpment. Rafaella looked down towards the lake far below on her right. The water was dark under lowering, dark clouds that matched her mood when she considered that this might be her last sight of the stretch of water that had played such a large part in her life. They avoided the dual carriageway which would have brought them into the city centre and took the back road that led down to Dagoretti Corner and on from there to Karen.
The wooden gates at Cartref were open and the night askari waved them through with a smile. Ewan had fun dog-licking the chocolate from the faces of Eddie and Rollo. Bertie looked on with mixed feelings. He loved watching his son enjoying himself, but being in the Daniels’ large sitting room always brought back to him the saddest night of his life. In that place he held the newly born in his arms. His Anna was gone and her beautiful body was alone in some cold, dark place.
The grief would never leave him, but he was able to join in the hilarity at the buffet supper laid on by the Daniels family. The room was crowded and, to start with, the conversation was loud and frantic, the constant rush of noise often heard in playgrounds when children have been set free for a break between lessons.
Midnight passed and gradually the mood began to change. Though it was far too early, ears began to tune themselves in for the sound of a helicopter descending and landing. Conversation mellowed and thoughts became more private and meditative. Time for action was near.
Eli and Sammy Akamba made a brief appearance. The Naivasha contingent saw for themselves the changes in the two young men that Maria had described. They had last seen them in Londiani when they were suffering from the trauma of their horrific car accident. Their eyes lit up when they caught sight of the woman who had turned their lives around. Maria had introduced them to the joys and responsibilities of true freedom. More than that she had brought hope into the life of their mother and restored trust between her and her two surviving sons. When the trial began they were ready to be key witnesses for the prosecution. For now they were happy to help out by patrolling the garden and to report to those inside as soon as they heard the first sounds of the approaching helicopter.
Not long after they left, those who were going to be inside the grounds of the Pink Palace got themselves into their black sweatsuits and balaclavas. Watches and torches were checked. Then all the men and Maria, Maura and Rebecca sat around and waited for the return of Daniel and Tom. These two had been in the Rubai grounds checking that everything was as ready as it could be.
The house itself was empty. Sally had taken family and staff up to one of the farms in the north-west. She had never been separated from Abel for so long. She spent much of her day with her Bible, remembering Paul’s advice to his followers in Philippi that they should pray without ceasing. She was confident that her innocent husband would soon return to put an end to the turmoil and discomfort of the previous three weeks.
The guards in the area of the landing triangle had been briefed yet again. There was little more that could be done except to wait and keep a tight hold on the nerves.
Up in the farmhouse near Nanyuki, everyone was glad that the three weeks of inaction were coming to an end. Abel had not found it difficult to work out that he would soon be on the move again, probably back to Nairobi and his home in Karen. His ordeal was almost over. He had given up warning the desperate fools holding him captive that they had made a terrible blunder in trying to get him to court. The mass of the wananchi would never let that happen. It was time to be patient and let events unfold. Simple logic pointed clearly to a win for himself in every way. In the election in four weeks there would be a landslide victory for KANU and Rubai.
His captors were concentrated on the immediate business of making a safe getaway, hopeful rather than fully confident that they would bring their plan to a successful conclusion. There were many imponderables, and unforeseen problems would test them to, and perhaps beyond, their limits. In those three weeks of isolation, there had been time enough to contemplate that there would be deaths on their side. They could expect no mercy from the other side.
It was time to set off. The helicopter had been silently waiting to be in the air and flying south-east to its home base. Paul drew comfort and confidence from the young people around him. They were excited, light-hearted by the thought of the adventure that lay ahead. It was a privilege to have a chance of being part of a big day in the history of Kenya. Win or lose, it was a bigger day for them than for him.
After a brief call to those waiting in the Daniels’ home, they lifted off.
‘Mister Rubai, notice that we are not using a blindfold for the return journey.’
‘I will return the favour when I see you lined up on the scaffold in the near future.’
‘We thought we’d do the decent thing and let you look down on the country as we pass over. You will be able to create some memories for you to recall in those long years behind bars. Sorry it will be pitch-dark all the way.’
* * *
The dark clouds that Rafaella had seen hanging over the lake as they left Naivasha had followed them and worked themselves into a storm. Thunder crackled and rain poured. David Daniels saw gloomy faces all around his sitting room and made a confident prediction.
‘We often get these little bursts of weather around this time of year. The gardener loves them, brief but heavy. He won’t have to water for a week. Trust me.’
Half an hour later he led his guests out into the garden and lifted his hand skywards.
‘Have you ever seen the stars looking brighter? Dad told us as kids that God had been rinsing the dust away from the sky.’
Dorothy Daniels saw that the Akamba boys were dripping wet and sent them inside to change their clothes. They emerged dry and warm, but within minutes they were calling in through the front door.
‘Memsahib, come quickly! There is a noise in the sky. And little lights are dropping towards us.’
Ten frantic minutes later and a large group had gathered on the back lawn of the Rubai house, lit up to guide the pilot down to a perfect landing. The army major in charge of the reception group held his arm up to let the pilot know that he wanted time to make sure that everyone was in position. He did not see the old man outside the circle of light hurrying towards the helicopter. He was breathing hard from the effort of moving faster than he had done for thirty years.
Simon Nyache had spent the previous two days at the house of his sister-in-law in the city. He had travelled there straight after leaving Londiani in a state of mind that made him a bigger menace on the road than usual. He had willed himself to believe that, when he arrived, he would find Margaret and the girls waiting for him and asking to go home. He had found Velma alone in the house, afraid to come to the door until he convinced her that he was not another potential kidnapper. Even then the two old people spent long hours trying to convince themselves that the Rubai men would be knocking at the door at any moment.
‘The boss says he’s got no more use for these three. He made a big mistake. Have them back! They have been driving us crazy with their screaming and shouting.’
Huh! The ‘boss’ was in no position to give orders, wherever he was. Wherever he was? But there was a trial on Monday. Simon had an idea. If he could confront Rubai face to face….
He waited outside the circle until he saw his opportunity. He kept a close watch on the officer giving out the orders. At last, the major waved to the pilot and pointed his thumb
towards the ground. The door opened and the passengers stepped down.
‘Abel Rubai!’
The disembodied voice moved quickly into the bright light of the circle, repeating his call as he went.
‘Abel Rubai, over here!’
Taken by surprise, the escort guiding their prisoner to the back door of his own house paused and allowed him to turn to face the unshaven man in the torn dusty suit.
‘Come closer! Let me see you!’
Returned to his home and power base, Abel was his old disdainful self. Recognising a former colleague, he snorted dismissively.
‘Witness for the prosecution, I see!’
‘Sir, I beg you to tell me where they are!’
‘You pathetic excuse for a man, now do you understand what it means to betray your party and your leader? As for the rest of you, I can see that you are beginning to feel the heat for your embarrassing stupidity. Don’t worry. You will be dealt with justly.’
‘Mister Rubai, please step inside so that we can go through procedures with you.’
‘All very polite now, Mister Komar, Mister Miller. Procedures! What a joke you are! I have been very patient with you ignoramuses. I’ll tell you about procedures. The people decide procedures. Perhaps they will gather around this house tonight. Perhaps they will wait until morning. But again I tell you. There will be no trial tomorrow or any other day. I am tired. I am going to bed right now.’
‘As you wish. When you wake, there will be one or two surprises waiting for you.’
In half an hour the house was quiet and in darkness, except for the conference room. Natural adrenalin and many cups of coffee were helping to keep energy levels high in the dozen people gathered around the polished oak table. Maria was in good spirits.
‘These police uniforms and the cars are a gift from heaven. Synchronicity again! Paul, I only wish I could come with you but …’
‘Synchronicity, yes, but are you sure that you didn’t plan it like this? I really believe that we are going to win out here.’
‘No planning, just waiting, Tom. Strange how you have to wait for the last minute for the mist to clear.’
‘Two cars, four policemen. Sorry, Caroline. Four police personnel will get through to the courtroom more easily than six tanks. Does Judge Mary know about this?’
‘Tom, it’s her idea! She’ll have friendly officers waiting at the door.’
Something that those in that room did not know was that Reuben Rubai was in the house and had been for three days. He had found it easy to evade the patrol sent to check that the Pink Palace was empty.
* * *
The hunched figure of a forlorn Simon Nyache was halfway down the driveway when Rebecca caught up with him.
‘Ah, Rebecca, thank goodness! I thought it was one of his thugs coming to finish me off!’
‘But, Simon, he is locked away for the night. Have you forgotten about the trial?’
‘Dear Rebecca, I have not forgotten. I hope that you can pin the snake down. It has come too late for me. Three weeks since my girls were taken. Do you think it is possible that they are still alive? No, that is not a fair question. All I know is that my life is over.’
‘Simon, I truly believe that they are hidden away somewhere. You are on edge. We all are. But where were you going? Come back to the house with me. Or stay with the boys down in the gatehouse. But do not go out on the road. There are leopards about.’
‘Perhaps you are right. Let’s just stop for a moment. Look up there. When we were younger, Margaret and I spent many hours watching the stars without saying a word to each other. She knew the names of the constellations. She thought of them as people. She was sure that they must be displeased with us for spoiling our world.’
‘Thomas and I can see Old Longonot from a little hill behind Londiani. We think that the mountains and stars are our guardian angels watching over us.’
‘My granddaughters love your songs. They love you. “I wish I was beautiful like Rebecca Kamau. If I could sing like her, I would be happy.”’
‘When we were young, my friends and I wanted to be like film stars.’
‘Rebecca, thank you.’
‘For what?’
‘Tom is a lucky man. So many people say it, that just being near you makes them feel better.’
‘Simon, remember I am just a wash girl.’
‘But it is true. Look at an old monkey like me! Show me a tree I can climb and I’ll prove it.’
Simon closed his eyes and sighed deeply before continuing.
‘Please, do not be angry with me. That man who is in this place somewhere, he is so full of hate. Margaret says it is envy and fear. All those things, they are the same. He blames you for the death of that rogue of a son. I was at the engagement party at Muthaiga. Remember I am your MP! The bitterness drove him crazy. Yes, crazy. Think of the deaths on the farm. And now more deaths at the hospital. Any person, any thing that you love, he feels he must destroy it.’
‘Simon, can a man have so much hate in him?’
‘I think it. And when such a man has wealth and power, he loses control. Megalomaniac. That is a word my Margaret taught me. She was a clever lady.’
‘Is, Simon!’
‘If you say so.’
The spark that had briefly lit up Simon’s whole being had vanished like the brightness of a falling star.
‘Simon, look, a bench. Let’s sit. It will be easier for us to watch the stars.’
He bent his knees wearily, placed himself on the edge of the bench and stared into the distance.
‘I want to give you some news. Thomas and I are expecting a child. It will be many months before this happens. Already I feel different. Do not laugh, but when we are alone, I sing to her, or him, of course.’
Simon became more animated. ‘That’s a lucky child. I think that hearing such a voice will be a great gift.’
‘Every time I sing the same song. It is one of Toni’s songs that has no words, ‘Lullaby of peace.’
‘I have heard it. The girls play it often for their grandmother. As I said, a lucky child.’
She took Simon’s hand and began. It was based on a melody that Toni had heard down at the coast, in Lamu, a mingling of African and Arab cadences. She began softly, enjoying again the rise and fall of the music. Gradually, the presence of the stars, the shadowy outline of the trees around them and even of Simon himself slipped from her consciousness. She heard her voice becoming stronger and floating away on the still night air.
Tom was the first one in the conference room to pick up the familiar sound as it came to him through an open window. He smiled and turned to his companions.
‘I’m for some night air. I think I’ll just take a stroll around the garden. I’m ready for whatever … you all know the rest.’
He and Rebecca persuaded Simon that he must spend what was left of the night inside the house. They left him at the table where Sally Rubai kept her Bible. A lamp was on and he pulled the large book towards him and opened a page at random.
Long before sunrise, there was a lot of quiet movement downstairs. Paul met the CNN camera crew, the only one invited to film inside the grounds of the Pink Palace. He explained the plan for the departure of Abel Rubai.
‘You must realise that our friend is a very unpredictable man, so be prepared. He’s still upstairs. We were surprised to discover his son, Reuben, with him. We didn’t ask how he got in.’
‘Mister Miller, there’s a big bunch of people just outside the gate, reporters mostly. And the crowds were gathering in the city as we left. Are you taking him down by chopper?’
Paul replied with raised eyebrows and a cagey smile.
‘That’s one of our options.’
Earlier, in the conference room, it had been decided that strategy must be flexible and that their plan would work best if they could keep everyone outside the group wondering what would happen next. Paul added, ‘You can take it that he will be stepping out at seven.’
&nbs
p; The early sun cast the shadow of the house across the dew-soaked lawns at the front. Most of those gathering outside the main entrance were security men with their weapons loaded. They were nervous, still fearful of a surprise attack of some kind. The Daniels stood to one side and close to the front door.
The entrance of Abel, with Reuben close behind, was impressive. Both men wore identical, expensive, dark suits. The father’s tie was in the Kenya national colours and his black shoes had been buffed up until they gleamed. The two men stood on the top step of five cut from black granite and looked around imperiously. When he became aware of the television camera, Abel smiled and waved with that air of confidence he would show on his first appearance after being elected president.
During the short pause while Mister R played up to the camera, a small, unshaven old man appeared on the bottom step. Abel groaned with impatience, but the little man was determined to have his moment.
‘Abel Rubai, we spoke last night about my wife and grandchildren …’
‘Will someone take this old fool back to his cage?’
Abel was ignored and Simon Nyache continued.
‘I know you have a busy day ahead, but last night I wrote …’ Simon slipped his hand into his pocket.
‘Papa, this is a trick! There is a gun!’
Abel’s face contorted into a grimace of panic. He pulled out the same pistol he had held in his hand on the golf course, preparing to shoot Stephen Kamau and Tom McCall. This time there was no Sally to stay his finger. Two bullets entered Simon’s frail body and he crumpled to the ground. The dramatic silence was broken by a scream from Reuben.
‘You all witnessed it! That maniac was about to kill my father! Papa, you were right to defend yourself!’
The stunned witnesses watched Tom McCall hurry towards Simon. He sat on the bottom step and lifted him against his body. In a few seconds he looked up at Paul and shook his head grimly. Simon’s hand was still in his pocket. Tom eased it out gently. He searched the pocket and took out a letter.
‘It is addressed to Abel Rubai.’
From his sitting position he handed the letter to his father. Alex stepped up and handed it over. ‘I believe this is meant for you.’