Nature of the Lion

by T. M. Clark

  One of the grooms came over and shook Chloe’s hand in both of his. ‘It is good to see you home, Miss Chloe.’

  Chloe smiled. ‘Nick, remember Seth, he’s been with our family for many years.’

  ‘It is good that you are home again. We are all very excited for your return,’ Seth said.

  ‘Thank you,’ Chloe said.

  They walked past one of the young stable hands who was spreading hay into a stable. He couldn’t have been more than thirteen years old and was at that stage of a gangly teenager where limbs grew faster than the rest of the body. Nick remembered that stage only too well.

  ‘Miss Chloe.’

  ‘Good grief. Isaac, is that you? Look how tall you are!’

  He grinned and stood at his full height.

  Chloe said, ‘Thanks for getting the stable ready for the horses. I know that they’ll all sleep really well tonight knowing they are safe and home again at last, and the new ones will love it here.’

  ‘Ngiyabonga, thank you,’ Isaac said.

  Chloe smiled. ‘Please say hi to your mum for me. She was always so nice. I remember eating sadza at her fire many times.’

  Isaac smiled, and Nick realised that he seemed to preen because she’d noticed him and knew his name without having anyone remind her, even after being away for five years. A few things had changed on the farm, but one thing that hadn’t was that Chloe was the boss’s daughter, and she would be shown the respect due to her.

  It didn’t hurt that Chloe was a people person and could talk to everyone as if she hadn’t been away. In his heart Nick knew that this was where Chloe belonged. Not in some snot-nosed accounting firm in a high rise in South Africa. She was home.

  Nick kept a step behind her as she continued their walk, just watching the sway of her body. He longed to have the right to hug her right there, but he knew he didn’t, and he probably never would. Their time together the last three weeks had been just an adventure. Nothing more.

  Eventually, they were out on the other side of the building, and as they stepped side by side, they kept their own silences while they walked up to the homestead.

  * * *

  The sun had set, dinner was over and the moon was already busy dusting the acacia trees with silver moonlight when Nick walked into the lounge and sat down next to Chloe. ‘You okay?’

  He could hardly recognise her. Gone was the dirty traveller and in her place sat a beautiful young woman in T-shirt and shorts, with a faint smell of apples still lingering on her freshly shampooed hair. He’d got used to the street urchin. She looked her age now, and she looked amazing.

  He was reminded again of the gap in their ages—he was an old man at twenty-eight and she was still so young at twenty-one, well almost twenty-two as she would have reminded him.

  ‘I’m perfect. I’m home,’ Chloe said, smiling.

  ‘Where’s Mike?’

  ‘Enoch got him bathed and into his bed with his legs elevated. I’m sleeping in the room right next door. I can only hope that he sleeps well now that he’s home again.’

  ‘But things aren’t quite as you thought they’d be, are they?’ Nick asked.

  Chloe shook her head. ‘No, but I don’t mind. Aunty Grace and I had a long talk. She’s had a really hard time looking after Delaware. I often asked her to come visit us in Howick, and she always said that the reason she couldn’t make it was because she couldn’t leave the farm for more than a day. Turns out there was always more to this. My aunty couldn’t bear the thought of my mother lying here all alone, and because she wasn’t with her when she died in hospital, she feels too guilty to leave her grave. That’s why she never visited and wouldn’t come with me when I left with Dad.’

  ‘That’s sad and yet beautiful at the same time,’ Nick said. ‘Devotion like that is rare nowadays.’

  Chloe nodded. ‘She has her own house, it’s not like we’ve moved back into her space, but I just feel so sad for her that while I was living my life for the last five years, she’s been in such a sad frame of mind. I don’t believe that’s what my mum would have wanted.’

  ‘It’s sad, but if that is what she chooses, then you need to respect that,’ Nick said.

  ‘I do, but she’s stuck in the past,’ Chloe said. ‘She wanted Enoch and Xo to live in the servants’ compound. I said no, they live in the same house as Dad and I now, and that’s not up for discussion. I had to explain to her how Enoch takes Dad to the toilet at night. And how I will need to get a new maid for him to help him with everything once he’s ready in the mornings, but Enoch and Xo actually are the ones to bathe him and help him dress. She didn’t understand how bad my dad was.’

  ‘I think he looks better now than when we started out,’ Nick said.

  ‘I think he enjoyed being out in the bush again,’ Chloe said. ‘Having the sun on his face.’

  ‘Was she upset?’

  ‘A little. She says my mum wouldn’t have liked it. I tried to explain that for us it’s normal, and while I do a lot for my dad, without them over the last few years, I wouldn’t have managed.’

  ‘Where are Enoch and Xo now?’

  ‘She has allowed other workers to live in their house anyway, so it was an argument she wasn’t going to win. They’re in the old guest bedrooms. I have to have them close to Dad. We didn’t travel all these miles to start that segregation bullshit again. She’ll have to get used to it.’

  Nick smiled. ‘I’m sure she will, but you need to remember that Delaware’s her home, too.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Where do her security guards sleep?’ Nick asked.

  ‘She’s built them an ikhaya inside the security fence, next to her house. Apparently, none of the militia get to sleep in the main houses, they all have that arrangement.’

  ‘Now that you’re home, they’ll want to issue you guards, too. I can’t see you “sharing” militia. What’re you going to do about that?’ Nick asked.

  ‘I don’t know—that’s a problem for another day. Tonight, I just want to sit in my old chair and enjoy the smell of home, listen to the sounds outside and know that Enoch is safe, and the troubles that followed with Sebastian’s death can’t reach us here. And that the darn murderer is behind bars and not out there, lining us up in his crosshairs again.’

  ‘I can understand that. It’s probably not a great time to bring this up, but you need to know that Khululani and I can’t stay here for long. We need to go back to the Kruger. We got you guys home, safe and sound, but now we need to face the music back at work—about where we’ve been for the last three weeks. Our leave is officially over in another week, but they must still be wondering what’s going on. Knowing that I travelled north in a truck, they must be quite confused as to why they still have one sitting in the garage at Crocodile Bridge.’

  Chloe smiled. ‘Thank you for helping us. I really do appreciate it. I’m not sure we would’ve made it without you. I just wish you didn’t have to leave … so soon.’

  Nick smiled and took her hand in his. ‘I’ve loved spending the time with you and seeing what an amazing person you’ve become. I remembered you from all those years ago as a wild child. Determined and headstrong—but a hellraiser nevertheless. I feel privileged to know you now as an adult, and glad I could help see you home safely.’

  Tears welled in Chloe’s eyes. ‘But you’re leaving, and it’s only five sleeps to Christmas. Can’t you just stay till then? I know you have to go, but I’ve got so used to having you around. I sort of hoped you’d stay.’

  Nick shook his head. He was so tempted to stay. He reached over and wiped a tear from her eyes. ‘I have responsibilities in the Kruger, a job. Khululani has responsibilities. We can’t just both walk away.’

  He had finally got it into his head that the seven-year age gap between them didn’t make him a cradle-snatcher. He could even get it out of his head that he had almost been her legal guardian if Mike had died five years ago. He could even rest easy with his decision not to be involved in the
physical aspect of that fateful day now. After Enoch had opened up to Chloe about the day her father was injured and burying the gold, he had felt a lot happier with his decisions.

  He finally understood how Mike’s mind had worked, that he had loved Sarah so deeply, he would put his own life on the line for her memory, to get her the justice she deserved. And finally, he knew without a doubt that what he felt was just like that: he was in love with Chloe.

  Given the chance, they could take their relationship to the next level, and he would be the happiest man on earth. But there was the issue of the gold. She was willing to spend it, and he still didn’t want any part of it.

  He leaned over and gently put his lips to hers. When she looked into his eyes, her own widened and immediately softened.

  It didn’t bother him that they hadn’t fluttered closed, that she was looking at their first proper kiss like everything else, with her eyes wide open. He brought his hand up to the back of her head and pulled her closer. He felt the intake of her breath. Her eyes at last relaxed and closed as he slid his tongue slowly along her lips, and they opened for him. Sometime during that exploration, he realised that her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she was holding him just as tightly as he was holding her.

  He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. ‘And that is why I can’t stay—I need to go back to South Africa, tie up loose ends,’ Nick said, but he still held her tightly. ‘I’m so proud of you. Not many women would have undertaken a journey like we just did, or have been prepared to undertake a trek like that in the first place. You’ve just found your wings. I want so much to see you fly with them and enjoy your life, forge your own path, but I have to return to the Kruger.’

  ‘I hope we can still call each other. You’ll be there on the other end of the phone, won’t you?’ she whispered.

  ‘Always,’ Nick said, reaching forward to move a stray piece of hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear.

  ‘I know it’s only been a few intense weeks, but I’m going to miss you. You’ve always been so good to me.’

  ‘An illusion, a fond memory,’ he said with a wry smile.

  ‘It’s always been real to me,’ Chloe said quietly.

  Nick smiled, then hugged her. ‘You’ve got a farm to get working, horses to breed. Dreams to achieve. You’ll forget about me in no time.’

  She snuggled into him, and he kissed the top of her head.

  ‘I really don’t want you to go, but when you come back, promise me that you’ll bring Khululani with you. You’re both always welcome here.’

  ‘He and I are inseparable, believe me,’ Nick said. ‘Just like you and Xo.’

  ‘Xo and I are not inseparable, he’s my brother.’

  ‘You have a great brother there, hold onto him. He’s fiercely protective of you, and living here, you’re going to need a friend like him.’

  Chloe smiled. ‘I will.’

  ‘Tomorrow when Enoch, Xo and Filipe go back into Mozambique to collect the rest of the possessions, they’ll drop us near a bus stop so we can start our journey home. The longer I stay here, the harder it’ll be to leave.’

  His head screamed at him that if he delayed he’d never leave, and never return to Kruger. And if he stayed, he would have to confront her about the use of the gold.

  CHAPTER

  36

  England’s Top 6 Trophies

  1.Fox

  2.Woodcock, forest hens and geese

  3.Pheasant

  4.Roe deer

  5.Red deer

  6.Man

  Ireland’s Top 6 Trophies

  1.Fox

  2.Red grouse, partridge and wild ducks

  3.Pheasant

  4.Fallow and sika deer

  5.Native red deer

  6.Man

  CHAPTER

  37

  The sound of dogs going mad outside woke Chloe from an already troubled sleep. She went to the window to look out. It was still dark. A vehicle had pulled up at the gate, and the militia was opening it.

  ‘What the hell?’ she muttered, throwing on a tracksuit top and some canvas slip-on takkies. She pulled open her door—and found Enoch about to knock on it.

  ‘Good, you are awake. The police just arrived.’

  She squinted at her watch. ‘It’s two o’clock in the morning.’

  ‘That is true,’ he said as they walked onto the verandah. The floodlights were on all around the security fence and they could clearly see where two policemen stood by their vehicle. One was speaking with a militia as another guard jogged towards them, having closed the gates.

  The way one of the men held himself looked familiar to Chloe. But she couldn’t quite place it. He stood taller than the black man who was talking, and when they had switched on a light he had turned his back to them.

  She didn’t hear anything, but suddenly both militia fell to the ground. Then the man looked up directly at her.

  ‘Oh my God,’ Chloe gasped. ‘It’s the Caçador Escuro, he’s here.’

  ‘Contact! Contact!’ shouted Enoch, pushing Chloe below the small wall of the verandah, just as a spray of bullets zinged over them and sank into the plaster on the outside wall, showering them in debris.

  ‘Get into the lounge,’ Enoch instructed.

  But before she could take off on her hands and knees, there was another spray of bullets above them.

  ‘Where are you guys?’ Nick called from inside the house.

  ‘Pinned down on the front verandah. Lit up like this he can see us clear as day. You need to kill the lights,’ Enoch said.

  ‘On it,’ Khululani answered, and suddenly the floodlights were exploding as he took out each one in turn. Last to go were the verandah lights, but those went off together, so obviously someone had found the switch inside for them.

  ‘Go now,’ Enoch said.

  Filipe materialised next to Chloe. He put his AK-47 above the small wall and pulled the trigger, returning fire in the general direction they had last seen the men, giving Chloe and Enoch enough cover to get back inside the house. Filipe moved backwards through the door, still crouching and firing.

  Only when he was through, did Enoch slam the heavy wooden door shut. He reached up and locked it. ‘This is not going to keep them out for long.’

  ‘How many?’ Filipe asked.

  ‘Just two that we could see,’ Enoch said. ‘The Caçador Escuro and a black guy, both dressed as policemen.’

  ‘Shit,’ Xo said from behind them.

  ‘Keep all the lights off. We know the house layout. It’s our tactical advantage if we can get him to come inside,’ Enoch said.

  ‘I will go out the back, through a window, try to get behind them,’ Khululani said.

  ‘Okay,’ Enoch said. ‘Xo, get Mike and help him into the old cellar. Chloe will go there now. You all heard him when he was ranting, what he will do to her if he catches her. We can’t take that risk. Chloe, despite your training, this is your time to hide. Keep your dad safe down there. Until you get the all clear from us.’

  Chloe nodded. This was real. There was no time to argue.

  She watched as Xo crouched low and ran for her father’s room, and she went to move the furniture in the lounge to access the old cellar.

  She heard Enoch behind her. ‘Fucking hell, this shitbag is never going to give up. We need to drop this bastard dead, once and for all. Shoot to kill.’

  Seconds turned to long minutes as Chloe attempted to push the heavy billiards table off the trap door to the cellar. She remembered practising this move again and again as a child, in case their farm came under attack by terrorists. She had no idea then that she would be doing that routine now as an adult.

  Back then, the table hadn’t been sitting on the trap door. Now a small carpet covered the area, partly concealing it, and the table leg was directly on the trap door. She tried again, but even with all her strength she couldn’t move it.

  Chloe could hear soft footsteps just outside the lounge. Th
e door creaked as it opened, and in the light from the passageway she could make out a double barrel of a shotgun as it peeked around the wood.

  She already knew it wasn’t one of them; they knew she was in that room. Xo would have come in bent over, dragging her dad, not standing.

  It was confirmed by his pungent odour, too. She could smell the man before he even stepped into the lounge. Not only did he have bad body odour, but he’d obviously been baiting traps or something before coming to their farm, because the smell of decaying meat hung around him and made her want to gag.

  She crouched down behind the large table leg and pulled her tracksuit top over her nose. He took a step inside and hesitated, as if waiting for his eyes to adjust and to perhaps find a light switch. He was fumbling along the inside wall with his hand.

  If she didn’t react now, he would see her. She knew this room and everything in it. She did the only thing she could do. She leaped up, grabbed one of the silver castings of a pheasant that sat on top of the table, and she rushed him.

  Using the heavy ornament as a weapon, she hit him on the side of his head with both hands, wielding it like a club as she came at him from the side.

  He let off one shot with his shotgun, still facing forwards, and began screaming.

  She hit him hard on the side of his neck with her hands clasped together, and as he fell she brought her knee up and connected with his nose. Smashing it.

  He dropped his weapon as he brought his hands to his nose.

  She used her elbow to smack the back of his neck, and as she heard a crunching sound, he dropped to the floor. Immediately, she grabbed at his one arm and bent it as far on his back as she could while kicking the shotgun away.

  He screamed again.

  Nick burst into the room at full speed, his rifle on his shoulder, ready to kill.

  ‘I’m okay, I’m okay, don’t shoot me,’ she said, recognising his silhouette.

  ‘Oh thank God,’ he said, taking a step inside.

  ‘He’s down but not dead. Turn the light on. I don’t think this one is the Caçador Escuro, he’s too small.’