Kibo was in his seat and ready to pull away as she climbed in beside him. When he stepped on the gas, she fell back against the seat.
Devon shot him an accusing look.
“We got a late start.” He shrugged. “I make up for lost time.”
The Jeep roared away from the camp in a cloud of dust, bouncing so wildly Devon half suspected Kibo was steering toward ruts and wanted to test her. She knew she wasn’t a lazy or spoiled American, but he didn’t. Okay, maybe a little, but Kibo certainly didn’t know how determined she was.
They drove across the plain in silence. A half hour passed. Kibo spoke first. “What does miz want to photograph today?”
“Huh?” They’d driven in silence for so long, when he spoke it took her by surprise. “Gosh, whatever shows itself is going to be fine with me.”
“Miz, you got a strange name. I forgot it.”
“Devon.” She tapped her heart. “I’m Devon.”
“Di-voon.”
“Day-von. It’s pronounced Day-von.”
“Deee-van.”
“Close, very close,” she mumbled. No sense in arguing with him. At least Kibo was trying to be personable. Obviously he wasn’t a natural people person, and she suspected conversation didn’t come easy for him.
They drove for what seemed like an eternity through deserted plains of swaying golden-green grass. Except for the occasional startled flock of black-faced sandgrouse, Devon wondered if they’d ever see signs of animal life.
Unexpectedly, the sound of thunder rumbled in the distance. She gazed to the sky, only to find it cloudless. She’d heard the nearly twenty-thousand-foot peak of Mount Kilimanjaro was tall enough to create its own weather system, but how could there be a thunderstorm with no clouds? The rumbling boom grew louder, and she glanced at Kibo, hoping for reassurance.
He gripped the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles strained with tension.
“What’s wrong, Kibo? What’s that noise?”
“Impalas.”
“What?”
“They must be frightened. Large group running very fast.”
Devon grabbed the roll bar that ran over her head and turned in the seat. “Where are they?” Scanning the ocean of grass for signs of impalas, she spotted a few graceful heads leaping high above the tall grass and disappearing again. She gasped in shock when she realized the entire plain behind them was alive with impalas. A massive herd was charging full speed directly toward the Jeep.
Excited, Devon fished in her bag for her camera. She wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this. The stampeding impalas were a once-in-a-lifetime photo. “Can I get out?” she asked, camera in hand. She didn’t look toward Kibo and was too busy adjusting the settings.
“Crazy woman. Stay in the Jeep! We are in danger. We must outrun them if we want to live.”
“Want to live?” The severity of the situation hadn’t registered. She’d assumed the impalas would run around them. How were they in danger?
“They run over us.” Kibo floored the gas before she could ask.
The impalas neared, and it became apparent the Jeep wasn’t going to outrun them on the rough terrain. Startled impalas leaped and bounced everywhere. A few animals stumbled in front of the Jeep as they approached a shallow ditch.
Kibo stomped on the brakes to avoid striking the animals and brought the Jeep to a halt.
Devon jerked violently forward and back again in her seat. “Whoa!” Did he have to drive that way? The pounding hooves grew louder. She covered one ear, hoping to block some of the noise. Devon clutched the camera in her other hand and clicked away.
A thick cloud of dust rose around them, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few yards. The ground shook. These impala were merely the leaders; the main herd was coming. Squinting into the chaos, she feared what would happen next. Would the flighty creatures overrun the Jeep and the seemingly delicate animals trample them? The tough little Jeep suddenly felt like a fragile thing pitted against a racing tide of frightened animals. She wanted to scream but was too scared to make a sound. The startled animals came up on the Jeep and simply sprang into the air to avoid a collision. Their hooves and white bellies flew inches above her head, creating a surreal sight. She drew her legs up until she was in a fetal position. Huddled on the seat, she continued snapping away as wave after wave of impalas poured around the Jeep or glided overhead. With the camera pointed upward, she kept shooting. She wouldn’t allow herself to panic and miss this opportunity. An oddly comforting thought occurred to her as she felt the thunder of thousands of hooves pounding the ground. This is what the earth feels every day. This is normal.
The impalas kept coming. Devon stared in stunned awe. A slice of blue sky was barely visible beyond the leaping animals and the grassy debris they had kicked into the air. Amid all the chaos, something very strange appeared. In the dust-mottled sky a large, dark shadow swooped in slow circles.
Devon squinted against the glare, convinced she saw the jagged wings of a dragon with a whipping tail soaring above. She blinked in disbelief and kept clicking photos, praying there was ample room on the camera’s memory card. The silhouette she saw was impossible, and she wondered if perhaps it was a huge vulture. There was no such thing as an African dragon—or any kind of dragon, for that matter. It seemed dreamlike. She chalked it up as a stressed-out, jet-lagged delusion.
Within seconds of the weird shadow passing overhead, the tide of impalas changed directions. The animals burst away from the Jeep, scattershot. She felt and heard them turn and flee. The noise was deafening, but it didn’t take long for the clamor to dissipate.
Devon removed her hand from her ear and opened her eyes wide.
Kibo appeared stunned as he stared skyward.
“You saw it too, didn’t you?” she demanded.
“The impalas are running for their lives,” Kibo muttered.
“Yeah, but what are they running from? Is there something else out here we should be scared of?”
“It’s gone now, miz.” Kibo pulled a semiautomatic rifle from behind the driver seat and cocked it. “I got this, in case it comes back.”
Devon realized she didn’t want to know what the impalas were fleeing from. “Are the impalas the greatest danger out here?”
“If you stepped out of the car, you’d be trampled to pulp by flying impalas. Do you like being kicked in the head? You want more danger than that?”
“Okay, I get it now about the flying impalas.” She’d thought him crazy when he’d explained the scratches and dents. Apparently, he was very sane. “What else should I be worried about, and what the hell just flew overhead and startled the impalas?”
“Marduko.” Kibo put the Jeep in gear and drove out of the rut.
A vivid picture formed in her mind as she stealthily glanced at the dragon mark on her palm. She couldn’t yet bring herself to say the word dragon aloud. “A Marduko is a flying creature, perhaps a large bird of prey? Will it hurt us?”
“A Marduko is not a bird, and it’s not interested in me.” Kibo shook his head. “Marduko hunt and steal women.”
“Oh.” Devon took the opportunity to check her pictures. “You mean in folktales?”
“No, miz. Marduko swoop from the sky and steal women.”
“I’ll be extra careful.” It sounded highly improbable. She wanted to know if she’d snapped any dragons, or if it truly was her overactive imagination reacting to Kibo’s somber and overwrought mood. With the dragon marking now on her palm, she was likely hallucinating. If nothing else, she prayed she’d captured an amazing shot of the impalas.
Clicking through, she was disappointed yet relieved to find there were no dragon photos, only murky shadows, airborne hooves, and clouds of dust. Good news, there were a few amazing shots of the wild-eyed impalas arching over the Jeep that might be marketable. She couldn’t wait to share these with Jace and Beau. Now she had a great story to tell, and photographic proof to back it up. They’d be so proud of her.
/> A slow-paced, bumpy hour or two later, they arrived in an area full of low, wide acacia trees and dense brush. The trees and greenery were a pleasant sight after the inland ocean of brittle shrubbery and golden grass they’d witnessed along the way.
The plains nearer Kilimanjaro were far wetter and thick with bushy vegetation. A loud trumpet sound blasted through the stifling air, signaling an elephant was near.
“Are we safe here?” Devon asked cautiously with renewed respect for the veld.
“Yes.” Kibo parked the Jeep beneath an acacia tree. “They won’t bother us unless they feel threatened.”
“Great.” Thoughts of the impalas running frantically away from the shadowy threat filled her mind. What if the elephants suddenly encountered something that scared them? The last thing she needed was to be crushed by a frightened two-ton pachyderm trying to climb into the Jeep.
The ground shook, and Devon felt the giant’s presence before seeing it. A branch broke in a thicket, and she knew an elephant was making its way toward them. When it appeared from the brush, she grabbed her camera, continually clicking the button, moving the camera in various directions to capture the regal enormity of the creature.
The elephant raised its trunk and released a bellowing trumpet. She’d heard elephants many times at the circus or a zoo, but being in the wild with the animal was much different. Intense was the word. She looked toward Kibo and smiled.
“You like?” He smiled in return.
“Yes. It’s incredible how close we are.” As if on cue, the stone heated inside the hidden pocket on her pant leg. It seemed to be reminding her to bury it during this trip. She’d already planned to do exactly that once she found the perfect location, and she believed the stone would let her know when she arrived.
The elephants moved on toward another clump of greenery.
“There’s more.” Kibo restarted the Jeep and sped off.
“We’re leaving?” Now she was being whisked off to somewhere new. Hopefully it would be another photo-worthy encounter and not some violent surprise. They drove through tangled thorny brush that rose treelike on either side of the path. The veld was alive with the sounds of birds and even the occasional troop of chattering monkeys. The towering vegetation closed in overhead, partially shading the Jeep from the blazing sun.
Devon immediately conjured thoughts of being Jane in a Tarzan adventure and diligently watched above, alert for naughty, poop-flinging monkeys, poisonous snakes, or grouchy leopards poised to pounce. She knew they liked to lurk in trees. The last thing she wanted was to be attacked by a vicious or ill-tempered animal.
Kibo drove straight through the brush, flattening it with the grille of the Jeep like an icebreaker plowing the North Sea. A few times she let out a yelp when she believed they’d be tangled up and left stranded, but the Jeep pushed through. “Should we even be here? Is there a cleared path somewhere else?”
His face remained stoic. “I know the bush.”
She wanted to trust him, but his driving seemed a bit reckless. He drove too fast, and she continued to be jostled violently in her seat when visibly smoother paths were available. If it weren’t for the seat belt, she’d likely have been dumped on the ground miles back.
“Slow down,” she demanded in a moment of irritation.
Kibo laughed. “We’re going somewhere special few people see.”
“It’s not funny. You’re scaring me.” Which admittedly didn’t take much.
What scared her even more was the thought of looking like the fussy American. No, that wasn’t so scary. The idea of falling in love and really getting hurt scared her. For years, she’d studiously built and maintained a protective wall around her heart. Jace, in his bold, sneaky way, had managed to smash it before she even realized she was seriously under assault. He’d been casual with her and not pushed. She’d allowed him in, discovering only after the fact that Jace treated her the way she treated others. He kept her in uncertainty and held her at arm’s length. If only Jace wanted to be let in. If only she could allow it. He didn’t seem to want to explore a deeper relationship with her and he confused the hell out of her. And then there was Beau who hadn’t even made a move, yet she obsessed over him.
The Jeep bounced hard against the rough terrain. Devon clutched the roll bar. It was time to get her mind right; she’d come to Africa for an adventure, and that was what she would experience. She’d deal with the men when she arrived back in the States. Until then they were off-limits, just like long soapy showers, juicy cheeseburgers, and beloved technology. With the decision firmly made, she looked to see where they were headed. The Jeep came to another abrupt stop, and she lurched hard against the shoulder restraint. Kibo needed to stop doing that to her. She wouldn’t be surprised if there were bruises from the seat belt across her chest.
Just as she was about to give him a piece of her mind, she noticed they were in a beautiful shaded oasis. The dense bush gave way to a clearing with a pool and waterfall that fell as mist from a rocky ledge into a gorgeous pale green bath-like pond.
Devon got out of the Jeep and wanted to immediately dive into the cool water. “Can I take some pictures here?”
“Yes.” Kibo nodded toward the waterfall. “Miz swim?”
He’d read her mind. A dip sounded wonderful. “Is it safe?”
Typical Kibo, he offered an evasive nod. “Mostly.”
“What do you mean, mostly?” She glanced around. Of course this place was too beautiful to resist. “What should I beware of? Little creatures?” Maybe swimming with microbes wasn’t a good idea.
“Water is clean. Look out for big creatures.”
The brush was thick. A big cat could be standing thirty feet away and she might never know it until it was too late. “How big? Leopard big?”
“Bigger.” He rolled his eyes.
This was such a lush place. The wet southern side of Kilimanjaro was full of life. “But the water is clean and safe?”
He thrust his lip out, and she took it to mean mostly. “Would you swim in this water?”
“Yes, miz.”
Well okay, that was the answer she needed to hear. She was hot and dusty and her shirt clung to her back. Within seconds, she loosened the seat belt and flew out of the Jeep, her camera held tightly in her hand. Snapping pictures of her surroundings, she concentrated on a particularly lovely view of the misting falls with the idea that it would make a beautiful framed birthday gift for Arcona.
Devon tucked her hand into her pocket and felt the wish stone glide between her fingers. Maybe this was a good place to bury the stone and make her wish? She wanted to strip down and go swimming, but it was an awkward situation, especially with Kibo sitting nearby in the Jeep. “I’m going to do a little exploring around this pool. I’ll remain within earshot.”
Was that hint too subtle? Would Kibo understand that she wanted a little privacy, or would she get an embarrassing surprise? A tiny yellow orchid caught her eye and she stopped to photograph it with her macro lens then walked around the far side of the falls. She was tempted to strip down to her bra and undies, but felt it wildly inappropriate in front of Kibo, who was such a reserved man. Since she had no clue about his personal rules or boundaries, she decided it was best to go in fully clothed, but did pause to remove her boots and socks, and carefully set her camera aside. The camera was supposedly water-resistant, but she was unwilling to test that assumption on such an important trip.
Dipping her toe in, she was surprised by how refreshing the water was. She thought that rushing off the glacier, it’d be ice-cold. It was definitely on the cool side but enjoyable on such a hot day. The water instantly soothed her heated skin, and she moved farther in, hoping to feel the spray of the waterfall. The swimming hole grew deeper, so she swam across to the other side where the water tumbled into the pool. As she treaded turbulent water, a beautifully peaceful feeling swept over her. I’m in Africa. A lifelong goal was being realized, and it was better than anything she’d ever imagined.
Devon glanced downward into the green water, deciding this was the sign she’d been waiting for. “If I were a wish stone, this is where I’d want to be,” she whispered. Witch Casey had promised love would come into her life once she made a wish and buried the stone. More than anything, she wanted love in her life, and vowed to find the perfect spot, perhaps somewhere close to the waterfall. Her excitement rose as she drew closer to the base.
Making her way around the tumbling sheets of water, she investigated a dense tangle of tree roots that ran up the cliff face behind the falls. The roots clung precariously to the cliff and wove a weblike ladder between the mossy rocks. She touched a slick tree root, and a sharp jolt of something like recognition raced straight to her core. This place was special, sacred, and felt unlike anywhere else she’d ever been.
She gazed upward; the thick roots twisted in and out of the rocks as if they had been braided into the earth. The image was so striking she wished she’d brought her camera. Maybe later she’d walk over here and take a few photos. But now was not the time for work; now was the time to explore with the eyes of a child. Climb, a tiny voice within commanded, and she did.
As she moved her hand along the tree’s bumpy spine, something inside told her this was the answer. This tree hid the secrets she’d been looking for. She glanced behind. Kibo had left the clearing and was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he intended for her to enjoy a moment of privacy, or wanted a moment to himself.
“This is crazy,” she mumbled. Yet it didn’t stop her from grasping the root and pulling herself upward. Despite the cool mist, her skin grew warmer as she placed her toes between the roots and inched her way higher. She carefully climbed the slippery roots, feeling drawn to go ever higher.
Near the top of the falls, she stuck her hand between a knot of roots to reach higher and came in contact with a narrow opening. Immediately, she withdrew her hand, fearing the hole was the ideal hiding place for some irritable creature. Scanning the surroundings, she felt great relief when no outraged occupant appeared to defend its home with fangs, venom, or nasty little claws poised. But something was definitely strange about this spot. The cavity held more warmth than the rest of the tree. It was as if this hidden area beside the cool mist of the falls was radiating its own source of heat in an inexplicable, almost magical way. Slowly, she waved her palm back and forth in front of the space. The phenomenon was mysterious but apparently real. She wasn’t imagining heat rising from the gap in the tree trunk.
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