‘Venison, you mean like deer?’
Derrick laughed. ‘No, impala, Thomsons gazelle, ostrich, guinea fowl. The farmers cull the animals on their farms, and even a rogue hippo might end up on the menu.’
‘What on earth does hippo taste like?’ Brian asked, both intrigued and appalled.
‘Like Beef. It’s a bit tough, but has a great flavour. My fatties are still eating. I have to limit my food intake or might fall asleep on the drive down to the Mara. At least my lot will be quiet on the trip.’
‘I have to drive back to Nairobi. I came down a horrific road on the way here,’ said Brian.
‘You came down the escarpment road? Brave man, I haven’t been on it for years. It’s normally only used by lorries trying to evade the police checks.’
‘Yes, there was one there today, bloody dangerous on a corner. I was on two wheels trying to avoid the spikes.’
Derrick laughed. ‘Yep ambush - get it? I wouldn’t go back that way if I were you. Take the highway road.’
‘Where do I find it from here?’ Brian asked.
‘Turn left at the junction. Drive through the town of Naivasha, and where the road joins up with the highway, turn right, takes you direct into Nairobi. A few visible police checks and watch your rear view mirror for the buses. Some of them do a hundred miles an hour, and can badly frighten you as they whoosh past.’
‘Thanks,’ said Brian, ‘driving in Kenya has been a whole new experience for me. It’s not for the faint hearted, that’s for sure. I’m driving down to Malindi tomorrow. I hope to take the road through the park, do you know it?’
‘Yes, lovely drive, the park bit that is. The main road is very dangerous, best to leave early. What car are you in?’
‘Range Rover,’ replied Brian.
‘Great cars, overtake everything on the road except a petrol station. I have a diesel Landcruiser, twin tanks - goes for ever.’ They chatted until Derrick’s tourists arrived.
He got up. ‘Been a pleasure meeting you. Might look you up for a loan sometime if I need to expand my safari outfit,’ as he tucked Brian’s card into his wallet.
‘You’d be most welcome,’ replied Brian waving goodbye. He had another cup of coffee, paid his bill and thanked them for the excellent lunch. Driving back to the junction he joined the highway. The road smooth, tires humming he gunned the rover up to speed, keeping an eye out for the monster buses. The drive passed without incident and in no time he was descending into the outskirts of Nairobi.
In his apartment, he noticed there was a recorded message on the work mobile, he didn’t recognise the number. It had been late on Saturday night. Brian called the message centre only to hear some brief disco music before the message went dead. He shrugged it off as a wrong number and settled down to watch TV, had a light supper and was in bed early with a good book, contentedly drifting off into a dreamless sleep.
NINE
Brian had arranged to meet Doug and his girlfriend at the garage. When he got there, the workshop was shut. He bought a paper from a passing vendor and settled down to wait. Brian was getting used to Kenyan time when eight usually meant eight thirty.
He finished the paper after a cursory look and wondered if he should call Doug to hurry him along a little. A missed call on his mobile aroused his curiosity, he called the number. It rang and was answered with fumbling noises and then a frantic female voice. ‘Hello, hello.’
‘Hello,’ Brian said, ‘you called my number?’
‘Ahhh, Birin it’s you,’ the voice said excitedly.
‘Who is this?’
‘It’s me, Lucy. Birin you don’t remember me?’
‘Lucy from Malindi?’ he asked puzzled.
‘Yes it’s me, are you here? Let’s have hice creams.’
‘How on earth did you get my number?’
‘Ahhhh, Lucy clever girl, where you, I missis you?’
‘I’m in Nairobi but who gave you my number?’
‘Nairobi, ohh, it is too far. Come back Malindi I show you everythings, Nairobi not good place for you,’ Lucy informed him.
Brian laughed. ‘Ok, I will call you when I get there.’ He teased.
‘Ohlie - why you lies to me? You have wife Nairobi, you lie.’
Brian saw Juma arrive on foot closely followed by Doug on his bike, racing into the station, headlight blazing. ‘Lucy I have to go. I will call you when I’m in Malindi, ok?’
The bike pulled up. ‘Sorry I’m late,’ Doug apologised with a grin, ‘this is Gem.’ He motioned with his head to the small neat figure seated behind him. ‘Gem say hello to Brian.’ She had a shawl over her head and face, only her eyes showing.
‘Hello Brian,’ she yawned through it sleepily and got off the bike. ‘Is that the car we are going in?’
‘Yes, baby, that’s the one.’
Gem opened the passenger door, climbed in, got herself into a sleeping position, waved at Brian and shut the door.
‘Our Gem’s not a morning person,’ Doug explained as he unstrapped a backpack.
Brian chuckled. ‘So that’s Gem, eh?’
‘Yep,’ said Doug, ‘just give me a few minutes and I will have my other baby ready to go.’
Brian looked puzzled. ‘Another girl is coming?’
Doug patted the bike. ‘Won’t go anywhere without her.’
‘Oh, you mean the bike - but how?’
‘Just watch.’ Doug called out for his Juma to bring spanners. Brian looked on curiously as he and his assistant manhandled the front of the bike onto a frame.
‘Don’t tell me you’re going to dismantle your bike, the rovers boot space won’t house that,’ he protested.
‘Nah relax mate,’ Doug said as he removed the axle bolt and front wheel of the bike, ‘going to tow her,’ he explained mysteriously. Next, he put a rubber band round the front brake leaver holding it open, and removed the wing mirrors and drive chain. Brian shook his head, he hadn’t bargained on this.
Doug pulled the iron bar out of the tow hitch on the back of the range rover and handed the bike axle bolt to Brian. ‘Shove that in when I tell you.’ With his workman on one side and Doug issuing instructions, the two of them lifted the front of the bike off the frame and in line with the tow hitch. The forks slipped down easily on either side of it. ‘Ok, now gently slide that through the axle slots.’ Brian did as he was told. The bike now secured to the back of the range rover with its back wheel on the ground.
Doug tightened the bolt. ‘See,’ he said ‘easy. Go round corners, over bumps, follow the car around like a friendly dog. No problem, only feel it when you brake, otherwise it’s not there.’ He grinned, wiping his hands and stowing the front wheel, chain, a bunch of tools and his bag in the back of the car. The whole operation had only taken a few minutes. Brian was impressed. He walked around the car looking at it’s strange appendage.
‘What about the police? There’s no way this would be legal in England. For one thing, the bike obscures the rear number plate. Shouldn’t it at least have a red flag on the back?’
Doug laughed. ‘The police here couldn’t give a shit. They may stop us, but most traffic cops don’t know how to drive, let alone know what the rules of the road are. Don’t worry about it, if they do stop us, let me handle it ok?’
‘Ok,’ Brian started the car. Doug got in beside him, after giving Juma some money and instructions in Kiswahili.
As they pulled out into the traffic, Doug said. ‘Make allowances for your extra length.’ He looked back. ‘Baby are you ok?’ There was no response from Gem, she was fast asleep.
Brian drove carefully through the morning traffic, acutely aware of the bike behind him; it took a while to get used to the handlebars in his rear view mirror. Soon they were through town and on the outskirts of Nairobi, heading past the airport where they encountered their first police check. The cop pulled Brian over and asked to see his license. Brian handed it over. The policeman read out his name.
‘You are Mr. Nicholls?’ He asked p
leasantly.
‘One and the same,’ Brian replied.
‘Is this motorbike yours?’
‘No it’s his,’ pointing at Doug.
‘I see and where are you headed.’
‘To Mombasa, my friend,’ replied Doug.
‘Ok, Mr Nicholls,’ he handed the license back, ‘you may go.’ He waved them on, still smiling.
‘First polite and smiling traffic cop I ever saw, weird, must be a special expat service,’ Doug said.
As they pulled away, a white saloon car fell in behind them. Brian slowed down to let it overtake, but it just hung back, so he got back up to speed.
Gem emerged from her shawl. ‘Morning,’ she yawned, ‘any coffee, I’m hungry and I need a pee,’ yanking Doug’s hair playfully. ‘Where are you taking me now, mister?’
Brian said. ‘Hello Gem, there are crisps in that bag under the seat and a thermos of coffee; as for a pee, any ideas Doug?’
‘Ahhh, let her suffer. Girls have long-range tanks anyhow; maybe we can find a bush on the Athi Plains. You will have to wait baby.’
‘A bush?’ she said indignantly. ‘Look how you treat me, you nasty man. My mother was right, I’m leaving you as soon as we get to Malindi,’ she announced.
He laughed. ‘Your mother is just jealous.’
Gem had found the crisps and was noisily crunching on them. She thrust the open bag under Brian’s nose. ‘Want some?’
Brian said. ‘Not just yet, thanks.’
Doug grabbed the packet before she could withdraw her hand and took a handful.
‘I wasn’t offering them to you,’ she said coldly.
‘I know,’ he said, happily munching.
The three of them lapsed into silence. Brian was relieved a fight hadn’t started, after all he hardly knew his passengers.
*
That same morning, a man on a scooter outside the apartments followed Brian out on to the highway. The rider hung back and kept the rover easily in sight. When Brian drove into the petrol station, the follower rode past and stopped beside some kiosks, and watched the station forecourt. He used his mobile. ‘The mzungu is at the Highway Service Station and seems to be waiting to meet someone.’ Later he called again. ‘There are now three in the car, one Indian man and woman. They are towing a black motorbike. Do you want me to keep following? Ok, thank you sir.’ It had been a long boring night and he wanted to get home.
*
Back in the range rover the road ran alongside a railway track and over a small rise, they saw a passenger train headed in the opposite direction.
Doug looked at his watch and snorted. ‘That’s the train from Mombasa. I used to travel on it when I went home for my school holidays. It always left and arrived on time, you could set your watch by it. Nowadays I wouldn’t dream of it, full of pickpockets and thieves. It has to be at least three hours late. My father would have had a fit, and my grandfather for that matter.’
Doug went on. ‘Silver-plated cutlery in the dining car, impeccable service. Then they started to introduce European tourists on the trip, and they nicked the silverware as mementos, or, invited strangers back to their sleepers for, “brief encounters” etc.’
‘They removed their briefs?’ Gem interjected and giggled.
‘Quiet in the cheap seats,’ Doug told her, ‘can you imagine? These were high paying tourists too. I couldn’t believe it until I went to Europe and saw the crappy trains they rode in. My father worked for the railroads, he was an engineer on the puffers, loved those trains with a passion, grandfather too.’
‘Look, look,’ exclaimed Gem excitedly, ‘gazelle,’ as they reached the wide open Athi Plains, ‘and giraffe, and over there ostrich!’
Doug was visibly annoyed at the interruption. ‘Ok Brian, pull over, just on the side there,’ he pointed ahead.
Brian slowed. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing, bushes for the noisy one,’ he jerked his thumb in Gem’s direction. Brian pulled over and Doug got out. ‘Over there wench, don’t step on any snakes!’ He walked round the back of the rover to look at his bike. ‘Blast! Got a slow puncture.’
‘Oh dear,’ Gem said, ‘can’t you inflate it with all your hot air,’ and laughing, she walked off for a pee.
The saloon car that had been following them, slowed as it passed. Two men wearing dark glasses peered at them curiously. ‘The fuck you looking at?’ Doug said, glaring irritably at the strangers.
‘What about the tyre,’ Brian asked hoping to distract him.
Doug knelt down for a closer look. ‘Actually it’s not too bad, the weight of the bike in this position is accentuating it. We can inflate it at the next service stop, which is about thirty miles. That should get us to Hunters Lodge, where I can fix it while you have an early lunch or late breakfast.’
‘Ok, agreed,’ Brian relieved to have a solution.
‘Want me to drive for a bit?’ Doug asked and without waiting for an answer got into the driver’s seat. Brian was hardly in the car when Doug started to drive off. There was a yell and Gem came hurtling out from the bushes still doing her jeans up.
‘Wait you bastard!’ She shouted. Doug kept going for another hundred yards before stopping, as Gem breathless, caught them up. ‘Oh verry funny. Ha ha,’ she waved a warning finger at him. ‘He did that to me before, and left me waiting for half an hour, standing by the road,’ she told Brian as she climbed into the car.
‘Yep,’ Doug nudged Brian. ‘She was very pleased to see me. Shall I keep driving? I only wanted to tease her.’
‘Yes, that’s fine. I will enjoy being a passenger for a change,’ Brian replied. Doug drove fast, anticipating the bumps in the road with an expert eye.
*
The two Africans in the white saloon were a surveillance team selected by Joe Rubia. One of the men in the car was Joe’s bodyguard Titus, and the other one, Loda, was busy chewing miraa a mild narcotic, as they settled into the drive. They passed the rover while Gem was having a pee. ‘Why don’t we just shoot them here?’ Loda caressed his pistol.
‘Because we haven’t been told to, idiot, put that thing away.’
‘She looks like a sweetie, I wouldn’t mind some Indian nyama,’Loda said crudely with a big grin.
‘With the amount of that crap you chew, I’d be surprised you could get it up.’
‘No problem for me, I’m not a delicate eater like some of us.’ Titus just snorted in derision, refusing to be drawn.
*
‘Doug tell me, were you born in Kenya?’ Brian asked.
‘Yep, I’m third generation Kenyan. My grandfather came out here as a young man and worked on the railroad. My father also worked there all his life. Had a heart attack on the job, I saw him that morning, and by lunchtime he had gone, bam, just like that!’
Brian nodded in sympathy. ‘Sorry,’ he said.
‘When your numbers up, there’s nothing you can do.’
‘And how about you,’ he asked Gem, ‘are you Kenyan also?’
‘Yes, my grandfather came out here with the Ghurkha Regiment, and after the war he managed a coffee plantation in Thika. My father was born there, and later trained as an accountant. Later, dad took over the management of the farm, and he is still there.’
‘He doesn’t think much of this one though,’ she pulled on Doug’s ear, ‘says if he were any good, he would make an honest woman of me,’ she said pointedly.
‘I just love you, dishonest, Baby,’ Doug responded.
Doug slowed down as a small town appeared and turned into the only fuel station. He asked where the air pump was and fiddled with the bike while Gem and Brian chatted.
‘So how long have you been in Kenya?’ she asked.
‘About six weeks, I love it. It’s an amazing country.’
Gem nodded. ‘Yes it’s incredible how many people who were born here leave, and then do all they can to get back here, seems the grass is not greener if you already live here.’
Doug got back in. ‘Good news
I hope. The valve was a little loose, so we tightened it. I can check it at Hunters Lodge. Shall I keep driving?’
Brian smiled. ‘Be my guest.’
At Hunters Lodge, Doug checked the tyre. ‘I think we should press on to Mtito Andei, it’s about fifty miles. We can top up with fuel and get snacks to eat there. We need to get a move on, it’s a long drive through the park.’
‘How did this place get a name like Hunters Lodge?’
‘A man called Hunter built his house here on a fresh water spring. It’s now a hotel, and no pun intended, he was a hunter. He was hired by the colonial game department to get rid of the rhino in this area. He shot almost nine hundred over a two-year period.’
‘Nine hundred?’ Brian asked in disbelief.
Doug chuckled. ‘They wanted to introduce cattle and the rhinos nature is that he reckons he is the biggest bastard around. Blind as a bat, he charges anything that he doesn’t like the sound of, and asks questions later. On more than one occasion, rhinos took on the steam engines on the railway.’
‘Charged a steam engine?’
‘Yup, ran smack into them, derailed a few my father told me,’ Doug grinned.
‘Ahh, never,’ snorted Gem.
‘It’s true I tell you.’
Brian still shocked. ‘No wonder they are on the endangered list.’
‘The male rhino is his own worst enemy, strictly a solitary animal,’ Doug explained. ‘When a female wants to mate, she first has to find him, then bullies him mercilessly, by repeatedly charging him and waving her backside under his nose, until he gets interested, and then she goes all coy and won’t let him!’
‘You’re such a liar,’ Gem punched Doug playfully, ‘don’t believe a word he says,’ she warned Brian.
Doug ignored her. ‘The female has a gestation period of 16 months and only has a single calf that won’t become sexually mature for at least seven years, so it’s a wonder they manage to breed at all. Anyhow, that’s how the place came to be known as Hunters Lodge, and by all accounts, Hunter was a crack shot. Eventually, he left the game department and became a professional hunter.’
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