One weeks ago! They had arrived only one week ago! They had gotten here the day Josh, Paul, rob and Winter had joined us in Berne. Incredible!
It was all confusion and noise for a while, but eventually we calmed down and were able to follow Uncle Phil’s orders. He instructed the men to roll the plane underneath the shade. A camouflage netting on top of the shade would hopefully rendered it invisible from above. This feat completed, we began unloading the plane. They had come with camels and donkeys, no trikes; within half twenty minutes, everything was loaded and our little caravan ready to set out.
South-eastwards, toward Blue-Hill-Farm.
We would have to walk about three hours. It was by now three o’clock in the afternoon and Josh commented on our perfect timing. We would arrive at Blue-Hill-Farm just about when darkness would fall. We walked together, he leading a camel and I walking beside him. Alice was in front, with Nate and Phil. She sat on a donkey and happily chatted away at Nate who was leading her donkey and another one. She talked incessantly to Nate. His head must have been swimming by now from all her chattering. But he indulged her, smiling at her and us every now and then.
Yuki and Nin walked behind them, then came Rob and Winter and Paul and Mahlet. We brought up the rear together with Mze Daniel who lead two donkeys onto whose backs we had loaded the boxes with the Nemesis things.
The temperature was hot, but a breeze made walking through the bush along the narrow path agreeable. Rolls upon rolls of clouds in the sky shielded us from the searing sun above. The smell, the sounds, everything was so familiar, so beautiful, so reassuring.
I was happy beyond anything!
And it surely showed because Josh laughed at me happily and held my hand in his.
Apart from Alice, Yuki was the only one to ride instead of walking. She was too tired and Nin too anxious for her to let her walk that distance. So, she sat on a donkey and looked as if she was enjoying the ride.
After the initial talking and discussions, we walked on in silence now. Everybody busy taking in the scenery, the smell, the sounds. Only Alice chattered away some more, until Uncle Phil bade her be silent, else he wouldn’t be able to hear approaching elephants or lions or so. Alice giggle at this, but shut her mouth and was content to sit on her donkey.
It took us three hours to reach Blue-Hill-Farm. Three hours I will never ever forget.
It was enigmatic to walk through the bush. This semi-arid savannah, interspersed with trees and lots of low bushes, some of them with nasty thorns and hooks. The terrain wasn’t flat, but we crossed several ridges and circled round three hills. The vegetation was sparse on the ridges, dark basalt rocks laying around in big numbers. To walk over these rocks was difficult, but I enjoyed it tremendously. We saw waterbucks and Impala, lots of warthogs and scores of birds. Several times, we saw giraffes in the distance, and on the rocky ridges were whole families of rock hyraxes who speedily ran away and hid in crevices when they saw us approach.
“It’s wonderful! Beyond anything wonderful!” I happily sighed to Josh.
He grinned lovingly at me. “You know, Lia, if I hadn’t already fallen in love with you, I would now. That you love this land that means so much to me, too. That you are happy here! It makes me happy beyond anything!”
I quickly kissed his hand and we strode on.
After all the horror we had lived through, the anxiety that had been a constant companion these last months, to be here, in this bushland that meant home, was simply wonderful.
It wouldn’t be easy to survive here. Sure. We would all have to work hard. Sure. But it was home and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Ever.
The sun was rapidly setting in the West when we finally approached the Blue-Hill. A string of four springs welled out of the ground to the northeast of Blue-Hill and the vegetation immediately around them was dense, lush and impenetrable unless you knew where you were going. There were dozens upon dozens of paths crisscrossing the place. Animal passes to and from the waterholes. But Uncle Phil led us safely through this maze of bushes, paths and trees and soon we were climbing the last slope toward Blue-Hill-Farm.
The path that led up the mountain and to the secret dwellings within was well hidden. Just a bit up the slope it veered off to the right and disappeared into the bushes, as if it were an animal path. About twenty metres down that path a rocky barrier seemed to mark the end of it. Only if you knew and knew where to look for them, did you seen the few steps that led over the rocky outcropping. The camels and donkeys clearly didn’t like this climbing but we couldn’t leave them behind by the springs. Too many predators prowling about day and night.
The path was quiet narrow now and we had to walk in single file. I couldn’t see Uncle Phil, Nate and Alice anymore, they had already disappeared around the bend. It would soon be dark and we still had about ten minutes’ walk ahead of us. The way I remembered. However, we made it before darkness set in for good.
Another bend and another rocky ridge to climb, and suddenly the entrance to the inner valley lay ahead of us. The path disappeared between walls of basalt rock. Some of the donkeys shied at this dark opening, even though they must be familiar with it. Or maybe they knew that they’d get carrots from Daniel if they pretended to be afraid. For that’s what Daniel did - he pulled some carrots out of a sack he had carried along with him and held them to the donkeys, who eagerly took them and suddenly behaved as if nothing had ever been the matter.
The tunnel was about thirty metres long and opened into a small, green valley, full of lush, jungle-like vegetation. We left the donkeys and camels in their corral just a bit inside the valley where a piece of land had been cleared and prepared for them. The luggage was hastily unloaded, but left there. We would get it later. Now we were all anxious to get to our family.
Alice bounced up and down and tugged at Nate’s hand to walk faster. And then she let go of his hand and broke into a run, throwing herself into the arms of someone, Mum. Mum had come out of the dwellings that were further inside the mountain to welcome us. And with her a score of other people had emerged from the rooms and dwellings within.
Some I recognized. Kamene, the twins being carried by Nate’s brother Mike and his wife Deborah. But the other people I didn’t know. I counted ten more people and wasn’t sure I had counted them all.
If I didn’t know them, Winter and Rob sure did. Winter stood like rooted to the ground for a moment, then she exclaimed in sheer surprise and ran forward. A tall, big woman had strode toward her, received her and enfolded her in her arms. Winter sobbed and clung to her, laughing and crying all at the same time.
“Wow, Phil certainly can work magic.” Josh said in a low voice. “These are Winter’s parents and her sister. I am so glad, Phil managed to find them. Oh, and this young man there, that is Rob’s younger brother. I wonder how Phil got him here. The last I’d heard, he was in Australia.”
How wonderful! Now I could be doubly happy to be reunited with my family. Now that I knew Winter and Rob had their family members, at least some, with them, too.
“Do you know the other people?” I asked, but Josh shook his head.
But by now, Mum had reached me and claimed all my attention. She had tears in her eyes, as she embraced and kissed me. “Lia! Finally! You don’t know how I looked forward to this! And how proud I am of you! Ah Lia! You managed to bring them all safely here. And Alice doesn’t look scared at all. You did exceptionally well!”
I felt myself blush violently at this undeserved praise. After all, what had I done to get us here? Nin and Paul were the real heroes here, they had flown us across from Europe and now down from Moyale.
“And welcome to you too, Josh.” Mum now advanced on Josh. He beamed at her and embraced her with a warm smile. She certainly looked pleased and looked from Josh to me with a strangely satisfied smile. She hovered about us for a moment longer, before Alice claimed her attention again and dragged her to Nate and the twins.
Kamene was next to greet us. She had tears s
treaming all over her cheeks; she kissed me fervently and hugged me close. “Ah, Lia, I am so happy. Josh, you have all made it here. We have been so anxious this last week. And when your message came today, it was almost unbearable to have to wait some more hours. But here you are! You look healthy, maybe a bit tired, but happy and healthy:” She embraced and kissed Josh, too, and turned to introduce us to the other people.
“I am pleased to introduce you to my sister and her two nephews.” Kamene pointed to a woman that closely resembled her and two young men. We shook hands and beamed at each other.
“Lia, Lia!” Winter interrupted us, pulling her parents and her sister over to us.
“Lia, my parents and my younger sister! They made it! They tell me that Phil called them and basically ordered them to meet him at his boat. Oh, Lia! I am so happy. Now I can finally be happy!”
With this, she burst out crying. But Rob was already here and enfolded her in his arms, hugging her close and whispering soothing words to her. Meanwhile, Josh and I shook hands with her parents and sister and were told that they liked it here excessively.
I nudged Josh. “And Paul? Is anyone of his family here?”
Josh sadly shook his head. “No, am afraid not. His dad has been dead these many years. It was only his mum, who still lived in Kenya, what with his sisters and brother all living in the UK or the States. No, he knew that he wouldn’t meet anyone of his family here. They refused to believe our warnings.”
“Oh. How very sad. So, he an Mahlet will be the only ones here without family members.”
Josh was about to say something, but Mze Daniel now claimed our attention, he wanted to introduce us to his wife, his daughter-in-law and her three children. He told us that Phil had gone to search for them in Mombasa, but only the daughter-in-law and three of her five children had survived. Her husband, two of their children as well as all her family had died in the great disease. Daniel was so happy to have at least some of his family members with him again. His wife greeted us enthusiastically. I knew her from old and I embraced her happily. “Auntie! I am so happy to see you safe and sound. How have you been?”
She beamed at me, but said. “Later, we will all tell each other later what we experienced. For now, let us rejoice that we have all found each other and are safe.”
As if on cue, everybody moved further inside into the volcano, Mum leading the way with Alice and the twins.
Inside the volcano, a maze of rooms and pathways had been built. Uncle Phil had very cleverly set up the rooms around two big central rooms, domes to be true. One of the central rooms had long tables and an adjacent cooking area. The other central room was a common room with sofas and armchairs and book cases along the wall. Around these central assembly places there were different rooms, some for living, others storage rooms, studies and labs. Above, on a second level running around the eating area, Uncle Phil had built rooms for himself and Kamene, and for the immediate family members. Mum, Nate, the twins, Kamene’s sister, Daniel and his wife. They all had their rooms up there. I had never before been here and Josh was our guide around this amazing living space. Nin, Yuki, Robert, his brother, Paul and Mahlet came with us. Josh told us that we would all sleep above the common room. The lower row of rooms had been claimed by Daniel’s daughter-in-law, her children, Winter’s parents and sister as well as Rob’s brothers and Kamene’s nephews. Up on the second floor would be our rooms. He opened the first door and showed us the room beyond. It was roundish, spacious but sparsely furnished. There was just a bed and a table with a chair and some shelves built into the wall. A basin for washing stood on the table. Yuki exclaimed that this was exactly like in old times, before the advent of water pipes and the like. We all laughed at her enthusiasm. When we left the room, Josh pointed to the sign on the door. Paul it said. We grinned and Rob punched Paul in the side. “So, this is to be your refugee. You will have to ask Kamene to add Mahlet’s name to the sign.”
Paul just shrugged his shoulders and pulled Mahlet close. “Just you shut up, mate. We will be very happy here, won’t we, my love?”
Mahlet smiled shyly but triumphantly at him and I felt butterflies take off in my stomach at their sight.
Josh showed us all the other rooms and everyone was pleased with theirs. There were signs on each door announcing who lived here. But so far, I hadn’t yet found a door with the sign Josh and Lia. And I began to wonder.
Josh saw my confusion and smiled wickedly. But before I could ask him where our room was, Paul chipped in. “And where is your abode, mate? Since you helped Phil build all this I am sure that you got yourself something special.”
Really?
I glanced to Josh who grinned at me and pulled me close. “It’s this way, please.”
He led us down a corridor, past another two rooms and then into another corridor.
“Ah, a special retreat!” Paul commented caustically.
It sure was. When we finally stood in front of a door labelled Josh and Lia, we were far away from the other living quarters. Josh opened the door and walked inside. It was not one but two rooms. A huge central room with a very big bed, the usual table, chair and shelves, and then a second room with tons and tons of books and a desk.
“Hey, you have got an office. I also want one.” Paul exclaimed in mock protest.
“There’s a common study and library on the first level. It’ll have to do for you.” Josh replied, all the while looking at me.
“Do you like it, Lia?” He hesitatingly asked.
“Does she like it?” Paul again. “How can she not like it! After all, she gets the honeymoon suite, doesn’t she?”
Josh amiably pushed Paul outside and the others were nice enough to leave us, too.
“Well?”
I walked around and had a look.
“When were you last here?” I finally asked.
“Last winter. Why?” He seemed anxious.
“Did you write the label on the door?”
He grinned and pulled me close. “Yes. I did. I didn’t want to, at first. It seemed outrageous. But then I decided, I would. To tempt fate. You don’t like the idea?”
I slung my arms around his neck and pulled his face down to mine. “No, I love it.”
He groaned as he kissed me, my lips, my face, my neck.
We were both breathless when he abruptly broke free. “Hell, Lia, we can’t. Not yet.”
“And when will we finally have time for ourselves?” I asked, seriously peeved.
That made him laugh. “Really, you so eager to seduce me?”
I suddenly felt unexplainably shy. Didn’t he want it too? Why had he pulled back?
Of course, he had read my mind. He chuckled and pulled me close again. “Of course I want you. Of course I do. But we have to go back to the others. They are all waiting.”
“So, it’s not because you …?”
“Of course not, you silly goose. How can you doubt me?” He demanded indignantly.
“Never mind. Let’s join the others then.” I had sobered up by now. With one last glance at our refuge and blushing at the thoughts that ran through my mind, I followed him out into the corridor.
The others had walked further along the corridor and shouted for us to join them. When we walked around the corner, the view that presented itself astounded me.
We were on balcony-like structure, overlooking the small valley. It was too dark now to see anything in the valley, but the sky was incredible. The moon just appeared over the edge of the crater and thousands upon thousands of stars twinkled above.
We stood there for a long while, all of us hushed into silence by the magnificence of nature surrounding us.
Yuki finally broke the silence by suggesting that we had better join the others. They would be waiting for us.
Still holding my hand, Josh led the way back to the main rooms and then down to the first level. Here, Alice came running to us, excited and happy. She told us that she had already found new friends. That the grandchildren o
f Daniel were all three of them about her age. That they had decided to play together tomorrow and that she now wanted to show me her room.
Mum, Nate, the twins and Alice had been allocated a suit of rooms on the second level. They even had their own bathroom and toilet. And Alice had a small room for herself, partitioned off from the main room where Mum and Nate slept by a curtain. It looked very snug and cosy. And I felt a bit put out. No more sharing the same bed with Alice. Now that she had Mum and Nate, she wouldn’t need me so much anymore.
“Where are you all?” Mum came into the room and glanced around. “Alice, come, we want to eat. Do you like your room, Lia?”
I quickly glanced over to her. Was she teasing me?
But her face betrayed nothing; she simply took Alice by her hand and pulled her along with her. I followed.
Mum led us to one of the huge, dome-like common rooms. We had come through it before. It was the one with the tables and benches. Everybody else had already assembled and sat, waiting for us. Mum showed us to our seats. Alice was to sit between Nate and me, Josh next to me. Yuki and Nin, as well as Paul and Mahlet sat opposite us. Rob and Winter sat with her family and his brother on another table.
There were bowls of steaming rice, others with greens and stew. Trays with fresh bread and others with tomato-chilly-lemon salad had been placed on the tables, too.
“Our first real meal in how many days?” I whispered to Josh.
“It certainly looks delicious.” He answered with a beam.
But before we were allowed to eat, Uncle Phil got up from his position at the head of the table and held a little speech.
“Dear family and friends. Finally, we are all assembled here. In safety. There will be a lot of talking and getting to know each other going on in the next few days. For now, let me just say ‘Welcome to all of you!’ Our new-arrivals are hungry and exhausted. So, eat, my friends, eat.”
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