I am going to have to tell the truth.
"You probably want to offer him up to the gods for your traditional river burial, I know. But, uh, well Chief, we tried carrying him for a very long time but, ahem…”
"We buried him under a tall, strong tree and gave him a small ceremony in his honor." Quinn jumps in to rescue me again.
What? No! Quinn that is such a lie. I'm not one to bend the truth. Not even just a little for the benefit of others. Lying is lying. Dad says it's a little bit of Mum mixed in with my agoraphobia. But somehow Quinn’s fib did more good than wrong in this instance and I abide, stuffing another chunk for melon in my mouth.
I dare not make any eye contact with the Chief now. His elders have gathered around him and silently wait for him to speak.
"Thank you. We will hold a ceremony in my son's honor tonight as I celebrate his life and submit his spirit to the gods."
My eyes follow the Chief as he gets up and retreats to his boma, all three his elders in tow.
"That's it? That's all he has to say after losing his only son? Why am I the only one who is angry here?"
"People deal with death differently."
One of them walks over to a young woman and a little girl, about five or so, who follow him back into the Chief's boma.
"Oh no! Quinn, that's Jelani's wife and his little girl. I forgot about them. Oh, this is unbearable."
I cover my face with my hands and turn towards Quinn, burying my head in the nook between his neck and shoulder. He puts his arm around me.
"I am so dreadfully sorry that it has come to this Alex. It is not easy losing someone you care for and far less even having to deliver the news to their loved ones. Tonight we will mourn with them and build up our strength. Tomorrow we need to face the new day and find your father."
I barely know this man, but I have learned more about him over the last couple of days than I would have ever thought possible. Professor Keating without question selected the perfect candidate to accompany me. Sitting here with him makes me feel safe. Like I don't have to worry about making things work on my own anymore. I shared my burden, and he shared his strength. Perhaps I can melt down my wall and let go... just a bit.
The evening, to my surprise, is a jubilant and festive affair. It is unlike our usual morbid Westernized mournings whereby we walk around in black garb for days on end, not daring to laugh or even smile. Instead, they prepare a feast fit for a king and dress up in colorfully decorated tribal wear. I look around and watch as they dance and celebrate Jelani's life rather than his death. All evening, not one single tear lie on anyone's cheek. Not even his wife's.
"Have you ever seen a funeral this happy? I mean it's an amazing way to pay your last respects, isn't it Alex?"
"For sure. I mean if you think about it. We throw parties when babies are born so why shouldn't we throw a party when someone close to us goes off to a better place? It's just the sadness we don't deal with so well. The fact that you know, while you are partying away the night, they are not at the party with you nor would you ever see them again. "
"Yeah but we are rather selfish then isn't it? We think of our sadness and loss first before we think of where they might be? Have you ever thought that they might be happier in heaven than on earth?"
His question silenced my tongue. I'm not even sure how to answer this one.
"Do you mean you believe there is a heaven?"
"Don't you?"
"Not sure. I have never really thought of it much. I mean, I guess your spirit has to go somewhere right?"
"So after your mum died, did you not sense or feel your mother with you at times?"
"Perhaps. Yes. Sometimes. What I mean is that I don't know for sure if it is my mother or just my imagination."
"I am a man of science Alex, and let me tell you what I have learned over my years of being a physician having to watch people die before my own eyes. I see some with tormented looks in their eyes just before they cross over, and then I know they have not found peace on the other side; Where others die literally with a smile on their face. Those are the ones that go to heaven. And I would far rather go to heaven than to hell. So yes. I believe in heaven and hell. If I don't, then what else is there to believe in?"
Faith. I remember how Mum told me the very same thing some time back. 'life is not worth living without faith.' Perhaps this man, Sam Quinn, has been sent from heaven. An angel in human form. Someone to rescue me from myself.
I start fiddling with the flower in my hair that one of the little ones so cutely put in when we first arrived. Is this what it means to be soulmates?
What if Sam Quinn is the one whose sentences I am meant to finish? What if he is the one Mum said I would meet someday and stay with for the rest of my life?
The rest of my life. That could be a very long time. Will I even be able to do that? I mean, who wants an agoraphobe for a wife?
"We should get some sleep Alex. We need our strength to find your father before..."
He stops. I finish his sentence for him in my head; Before it's too late.
Chapter Ten
3 years ago - Izzy
"Are you sure you need to go Charles? We can hold off and wait for you to hurry back?"
He throws me a chuckle and cups Alexandra's face.
"Look after your mum okay, Alexandra? She thinks she can't do this without me; As if she needs any of my help finding Rhapta. But let me tell you something, there is no stopping your mother. Once she is out there chasing she's like a bull in Pamplona. Just you wait and see."
"I still think you should pop over, finish the business as quick as you can and hurry back so we can make this discovery together?"
He gives me a peck on the forehead.
"Izzy my love. It is time to spread your wings and do this on your own. It is your dream remember? I'm going to take care of business back home so we can take this thing to the very end. Go get them, tiger."
He gives me one last peck on the mouth before turning and disappears into the airport terminal.
His mind is made up. There is no changing his mind now.
"Have a safe flight Charles," I say quietly into the air.
Why am I so emotional? It isn't as if he has never left me behind before? Why is this time different?
I watch as Charles drives off to the airport. I can't help shake this feeling I have in the pit of my stomach. Like something terrible is about to happen. I truthfully don’t want him to go anywhere.
A sudden rush of fear propels an intense vulnerability and precariousness on me.
"We will be fine Mum, really. Let him do what he needs to, and we will focus on finding Rhapta okay? You can do this. Speaking of which, we ought to get cracking to the river before the sun sits too high. Come. The chase waits for no one right?" Quoting one of Charles's favorite phrases.
"Now you sound just like your Dad you silly girl." I let off a nervous giggle before we turn and head off to our new dig-site.
The river is fast flowing and opens its mouth into the turquoise ocean off the east coast of Tanzania.
"It's paradise isn't it Mum? I mean look at these crystal clear waters."
"I can't agree more, my love. See that island there? Can you still remember which island that is? That's Zanzibar remember? And that one there, is Mafia island. They call these the spice islands because they were one of the first islands trading spices between the Middle East and Africa. In fact, they still do. We believe Rhapta disappeared under the ocean right around here and it is in this riverbed your Dad, and I found the first pieces of ancient pottery years ago. We should start our search somewhere in this vicinity."
I turn and look back, to see the crew waiting for my instruction. Now this is where Charles usually takes over and whips our camp into shape before I can say 'dig for gold.' I've never once had to do a dig or chase without Charles by my side. You can do this Izzy. Stay focused. A piece of pie.
Somehow I manage to get into Charles's head, and within an h
our and a half, our campsite is up and running like clockwork. Soon after the crew and ourselves retrieve to our separate tents to settle in for the night.
"See Mum. Dad was right. You are a born natural with all this stuff. If only we can figure out what this Key cryptic is for, right? Do you think it is quite literally a key we have to find? And even if it were an actual key, where would it go? I don't see any buildings around here. Perhaps another box or something?"
"It could be, although, I think it might in effect be more like a fundamental solution. Like it is the key to something or something that holds together important things...a clue that will unlock another riddle or part of the puzzle. The question is what though? I feel like we're missing something."
I start pacing our small three by four tent and hear the sound of twigs breaking under feet outside. Alexandra hears it too. Her eyes are as big as saucers as she stands frozen stiff.
It is very late already, and the crew should be asleep so it can't be any of them. Perhaps animals? The lions and elephants don't come out this far on the beach, besides it is salt water. Crocs! It could be saltwater crocodiles. We are at the mouth of the river so it isn't impossible. Rare, but not impossible.
It could just as well also be imposters. Oh, Charles, you should be here! Pull it together Izzy. You are a strong independent woman with a daughter to protect. We both stand frozen. Finger over my mouth I signal to Alexandra to be quiet while I tippy-toe over to my stretcher for the rifle lying hidden under my sleeping bag.
Keeping a gun is something Charles, and I started doing many years ago when we first encountered the rival relic hunters. They were not as friendly as we hoped, and we found ourselves in a couple of moderately sticky situations. That is why we prefer to refer to ourselves as chasers rather than hunters. We don't hunt for relics in a selfish attempt for personal gain but instead chase it in the hope of finding crucial pieces of undiscovered history to share with the world.
My heartbeat resounds noisily in my ear. It's deathly quiet apart from the gentle waves flowing out onto the sandy beach. I signal to Alexandra to turn the lamp down, and I slowly move towards the door flap. My stomach threatens to push through my throat, and my body temperature suddenly goes up to a hundred degrees. My palms are sweaty, and I struggle to steady my rifle. There it is again. Undoubtedly footsteps. If a crocodile is crawling around outside his tail would be swooshing in the sand. I am sure the sound is human. I peep through the slight gap. I was right. I just can't quite make out who the human is though.
“Can you see any—”
I stop her before she speaks again and quietly mouth,
"A man" pointing outside the tent.
"Who?" she mouths back only to have me shrugging my shoulders. My hand grips the rifle handle as I slowly pull the tent flap aside with the barrel. The stranger isn't behind the tent anymore, so I look back at Alexandra looking frightened against the back end of the tent. I listen for more sounds and sure as sugar the twigs crackle directly behind Alexandra who leaps next to my side.
"Shh," I signal again.
"Stay here."
"Mum no! Don't go out on your own."
I put my finger over my mouth again and whisper, "I'll be fine, just stay where you are okay?"
The moon is full tonight and it shines a bright torchlight over the calm waters and our campsite. Good or bad, I need to investigate who or what is lurking behind our tent. The light is great for me seeing him, but equally, not so good for him seeing me. The crew has all gone to sleep, and all the fires burnt to ashes by now. I am in this on my own. For the first time ever.
I shoot up a quick prayer. Careful to not announce myself by snapping any twigs, I tippy-toe baby steps on the sand around the back of the tent. The moon's light casts a shadow of one single person in my direction. I grip my gun and put my finger on the trigger, ready and aiming. Somehow the throbbing of my heart is even stronger now to the point where I have to strain my ear to listen out for anything else. I move ever so slowly, step by step, until I have a better view.
A little bit further...a little more...almost...
"Eric? Eric is that you?" finally spotting a man with his familiarity.
"Hey-ey Izzy. The one and only yes."
Then he spots my gun.
"Whoa! You won't shoot your trusted assistant now, would you?" giving a sarcastic, sheepish giggle.
I lower the gun in line with my waist, not amply at rest with his sarcastic mocking.
"What the heck are you doing outside my tent in the middle of the night Eric? And where on earth have you been? You disappear for days without a word to anyone."
Why is he looking so nervous; As if he is hiding something? That sheepish smile looks like I just caught him with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Speak up Eric. What are you doing here and where have you been?"
"Nowhere. I've been around site."
"Like hell you have. We looked everywhere for you before we left."
"How did you even find us? I mean, we left the campsite not know yet exactly where we would be so you couldn't have found out from anyone before we left."
Notwithstanding the fact that he wasn't even at camp when we left.
"Sorry for scaring you, Izzy. I'm glad I finally found you though. I had uh...urgent family business to attend to so I went into town to deal with a couple of things."
" Is that so? Urgent family business is it?”
I don't trust this boy as far as I can throw him. Dad always warned me against redheads.
" Indeed yes. When I got back to the site, the villagers said you had gone. I sure am delighted that I found you."
"And? How exactly did you find us?"
Nothing but silence.
"You heard me, Eric. How did you find us? And the camera? Why did you take the camera with?"
"Mum, is everything all right?"
Alexandra comes up behind me from inside the tent.
"Eric decided to show up again finally. Don't worry about anything. Go back inside."
"Oh, hello Eric. Where have you been? We needed the photos and now Dad..."
"Alexandra. Please go back inside."
I'm stern with Alexandra. My instincts tell me this swine is up to something. His face is an open book. I look around and behind Eric for signs of anyone else hiding behind the trees, but with their dark shadows, I can hardly see beyond the first two trees.
"I'm waiting, Eric. Talk. Where is the camera and how did you find us?"
"Well, Izzy. Your question is somewhat of a tricky one to answer. I went into town to buy new batteries for my camera and well, the two shop owners bamboozled me. The crooks managed to swap my camera with their's right in front of my very eyes, I tell you. I ended up at the police station, and they kept the camera as part of their evidence."
"WHAT? Please tell me you took the memory stick out?"
"Yes of course. Right here look?" handing the small plastic rectangle to me.
"Well, I suggest you knock on the crew's tents and bunk with one of them for the night. We'll pick this up again in the morning. I'm sure one of the crew will let you bunk with them."
"Oh, of course, yes Izzy, sure thing. Night then."
He walks off to one of the crew's tents rather too briskly for my liking. I head back inside our tent. This boy's story reeks of lies. Tonight my rifle will remain strictly beside me on my stretcher. I smell trouble. Something just doesn't add up, and he still hasn't told me how he found us.
"Mum. Are you okay? What's going on?"
"I'm fine sweets. Eric has come back all of a sudden with some tall story of having had family trouble or something."
"But that's good, right? I mean we were looking for him so now he can help, right?"
She has always been such a naive girl; Always believing the best about people.
"All right then. Let's go to bed darling. We're going to need an early start if we are to find any treasure tomorrow."
I give her a quick hug and settle dow
n for the night. But my head. My head is churning with suspicion over Eric's disappearing act and sudden return. Something about his story is off. I just can't quite put my finger on it though.
At the light of a new day, we start with much enthusiasm and ardently dig and sift the sand. Most of the crew have been digging with us for years. Their urgent desire to be part of the discovery of the famous Lost City of Rhapta is excitedly spurring them on. Of course, being Tanzanian natives, they don't dig for the fortune, just the credit. They would be regarded royalty should they discover something as significant as this. One that would have them eating dinner with the King and revered by the entire country. Their pride is everything to them and yet they are the most humble people on earth. Naturally, they are also trying to protect their heritage and defend the land against the curse of Kifa.
The metal detectors set off a beep-beep every five minutes but mostly picks up bottle caps. Probably left by some tourist party goers coming to the beach for a good time. My senses are still on high alert scrutinizing Eric's every move. He is his old silent self again, without exception hovering around the site with his journal and an additional camera. Like a vulture flying overhead waiting for his prey to die before moving in. Alexandra takes her dad's place and is right beside me, sifting and brushing away bit by bit.
Well into our week, with no new relics or any further evidence to speak of, the two crew members I commissioned to dig further down the coast come running toward me, hands waving in the air with excitement.
"Izzy! Come look! We found strange rock formations which bare striking similarities to possible ruins. We found about five of them sticking out the water, but the tide is low tide now. Once the high tide pushes in, they will disappear under the surface. Hurry!"
The news washes a wave of relief over the diligent crew that has been tediously at work with no results whatsoever since we got here. So Alexandra and I scoop up our bags and set off following the small crew to the discovery site. Eric, of course, steadily in tow.
ALEX HUNT and the Chase for Rhapta Page 10