Tusker

by Dougie Arnold

  When they reached the bottom Harry stopped short of the river crossing, peering intently at two steel girders that formed the new bridge.

  “If we still had that old rickety wooden framework I suspect part of it would have been washed away. I know aspects of this new structure aren’t quite finished yet but the girders form the base and I have crossed them several times without a problem.”

  Aziz looked positively pale in the gloom, his brow glistening slightly in the reflected light from the front of the vehicle. “I’ve changed my mind about driving on slowly to the camp! You aren’t seriously going to try crossing over that now, are you? We can just wait here or try that river crossing further down.”

  “That crossing will be impassable, not just the volume of water which will be way up over the doors but the track on the far side is very steep and in these conditions, even with four-wheel drive, we would never get up. In fact we would have a good chance of slipping back into the water and possibly even getting washed downstream. We either try to cross here now or sit and wait for the storm to pass which could be hours and by then the track on the far side might well be impassable anyway!”

  “What do you think Ana?” asked Aziz. “You have been very quiet for a while.”

  “Well, I can see where both of you are coming from but the prospect of staying here all night is seriously unappealing. I have confidence in Harry’s driving so my vote is for the bridge but as an extra measure I suggest I walk across first and can help to direct you as you drive over the girders. You know, a little like the guys who show planes to their airport berths once they have landed. And before you say it, I know the girders are straight, but it is easy to get slightly disorientated in these conditions and you only need to be a little bit out to find yourself twenty-five feet down in the water. What do you say?”

  “That sounds a good idea Ana. There is a lip on the inside of each girder which I should feel if the wheels go up against it but having you in front would be very reassuring.”

  “Not reassuring enough for me I’m afraid,” countered Aziz. “I’m certainly not sitting in the cab with you. I’ll make my own way across. I wish you luck of course but think you’re mad.”

  Within seconds of getting out Ana was soaked, almost as though she had been thrown fully clothed into a swimming pool. Cautiously she made her way across the right-hand girder, the headlight beams lighting the way. The steel was absolutely smooth but with a top layer of water it was more treacherous than she had imagined. She did her best to look ahead and not down and found herself marvelling at the skill and courage of tightrope walkers as she slid one foot gently in front of the other.

  Strangely the far side arrived faster than she had expected. She turned and gave the thumbs up and cupping her hands she shouted, “Dip your lights, it will make it easier for both of us.”

  With the beams not glaring in her eyes it was so much simpler to check that the wheels were lined up properly.

  She signalled across to Harry and slowly the Land Cruiser edged towards the bridge. The first contact would be all important. Ana moved her right hand out slightly and there was a correspondingly small movement from the front wheels. That looks spot on she thought. She brought both her hands together and realised it looked as though she was praying. She smiled; that wasn’t far from the truth.

  Harry was looking both at her and the glinting steel ahead. He had decided to do his best to keep a gentle but constant pressure on the accelerator, thinking it was better to have a slow regular speed rather than stopping and starting. Already his foot felt achy. Vehicles like this weren’t made for gentle, subtle movements.

  Up ahead Ana had both her hands up; they were waving him forward in unison. This was not going to be so tough he thought, they were making good progress. He looked out through the side window to check his position and then almost instantly he felt a bump on the front wheels. He glanced up urgently to see Ana pointing strongly to the left and he realised straight away that the front wheels were up on the steel lip.

  Trying to be slow in his movements he turned the wheel gently and felt the comforting bump as they came down onto the main girder again. He could feel the dampness in the back of his shirt and he knew it wasn’t the rain. What an idiot he thought to himself, just concentrate.

  Ana was moving both her hands together in a forward motion, resisting the temptation to wipe the streaming rain from her eyes. Harry kept his gaze fixed on her. He was so close now that he couldn’t really see the bridge, only Ana. He felt his hands tighten on the wheel and resisted the temptation to put his foot down to clear the last seven or eight metres quickly.

  He was aware that Ana was walking backwards slowly but still signalling in a calm unhurried manner. He felt a slight bump again and knew that the front wheels at least must be off the bridge but Ana was still ahead and the signals kept coming and then suddenly she put both her arms together in the sign of a cross.

  Harry pulled hard on the handbrake and then rather than slumping in the seat he leapt out and holding his arms out wide put them round Ana and held her tight with both a mixture of relief and thanks.

  She looked up at him and smiled broadly, “Just one little blip, otherwise pretty good going.”

  “Thanks to you too. It wasn’t just that you were giving me direction and keeping me focused, it was a real comfort just to know you were there. It was almost as though you were somehow in the cab with me.”

  Harry put his arms down, suddenly feeling a little awkward at the length of time they had been wrapped round Ana’s sopping sweatshirt.

  They both looked up aware of shouting from the far side and there was Aziz waving his arms on the edge of the ravine. “I can’t quite make out what he is saying, can you?”

  “No but something is obviously up. He hasn’t made any effort to cross over. You have just done the drive so sit back in the cab and chill out while I go and see what the matter is.”

  “OK,” agreed Harry, secretly relieved that he didn’t have to take on the crossing again, even if it was on foot.

  Ana found the journey back so much easier but thought to herself that was often the way in life when you have done something you don’t particularly want to do; the second time usually seemed a bit of a breeze in comparison.

  Aziz seemed very agitated when she reached him. “Look, just slow down, take big breaths and tell me what’s the matter.”

  “It’s heights. I have never liked them but I thought I would be OK, until I got to the edge that is, then I just seemed to freeze. I’ve been like this for years I’m afraid but I hadn’t thought it would be this bad here.”

  Aziz stood in silence for a moment and then taking a large breath he began, “It goes back to when I was a kid. I can still remember it so vividly. I climbed a tree with some friends, though I hated every second, but I couldn’t be the pathetic one could I? You know what boys are like with each other. Well when we got to a large branch about half way the top I made the mistake of looking down and I just somehow felt trapped. I couldn’t go up or down. Despite their taunts they eventually realised they had to do something.”

  He paused for a moment with a somewhat faraway look on his face. “Leaving a boy with me the others went and found one of their dads who returned with a long ladder. Even then he had trouble as I was so reluctant to let go. He was surprisingly patient and eventually I got both my feet and hands on it and step by slow step I made my way to the ground.”

  Ana saw his shoulders visibly drop as though he had just relived every second of that boyhood memory.

  “It was a great story for them at school in the days to come. I felt very isolated for a while; it’s miserable being the butt of everyone’s jokes. Anyway I was a bit more careful about the friends I made after that and truth be told I have always tried to avoid doing anything that involved heights. The whole of that childhood experience can come rushing back so vividly it is as though I am actually up the same tree.”

  Ana reached out and took his h
and. “Believe me when I tell you I know just how tough it is to overcome your fears when something really impacts your life, it doesn’t matter what age you are or how long ago something happened. You need to learn to trust again, sounds so simple but I know it’s not.”

  He was looking at the ground almost as though he was embarrassed to meet her eyes directly.

  “I think that’s the first time you have ever told someone that in your adult life.”

  “How did you know?” he replied looking up at her face again. “But, yes you’re so right. I felt ashamed I suppose.”

  “I think that is fairly normal. We are usually much tougher on ourselves than we need to be. But just now we need to find a way across.” The rain had completely stopped but they were absolutely soaked so it made little difference. The leaves continued to weep and they could sense the power of the water beneath them.

  Ana took a deep breath and gently grasped Aziz’s hand again. She looked and spoke with far more assurance than she felt inside. “Look we have to get to the other side but we will do it together. Do you trust me?”

  He nodded, trying unsuccessfully to smile.

  “Right now I want you to keep hold of my hand all the way. I will be in front and the single most important thing is that you do not look down. That’s so crucial, just look at me all the time. We are going to go slowly but we want to avoid stopping. Does that all make sense?”

  “Yes, look at you don’t look down!”

  As she edged towards the girder she felt his grip tighten uncomfortably but she didn’t stop. Peering across it seemed a long way to the other side but she knew that was just in her head.

  She placed both her feet on the glistening metal and looked back to Aziz. “Now you can feel the inner lip so as you take each step make sure your foot is against it, that way you will know your feet are in the right place and you won’t need to look down to check.”

  Slowly they edged away from the comfort of the land. Ana turned back repeatedly, talking gently and holding his gaze. “You’re doing so well.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Yes, the water is directly below us now.” Immediately she felt his already tight grasp become vice like. He was standing rigidly looking straight down at the torrent under his feet. Ana cursed herself, realising her comment, meant to be encouraging was the worst thing she could possibly have said.

  He stood rooted to the spot. “Look at me. Aziz look at me.” Every fibre of her wanted to shout the words out but to her surprise her voice sounded calm and in control.

  “Slide your foot forward and feel that lip. Come on, we just have to repeat that movement. That’s all to need to think about. Now look at me and move that front foot.”

  He remained rigid, as though he was incapable of a movement in any direction. Although he was staring straight ahead it was almost as though he was in a trance. His eyes, pupils bulging, had that faraway look in them.

  Ana turned completely to face him and taking his other hand too, squeezed them as hard as she could, surprised at her own strength. “Look at me not anything else, not down, not at the far bank at me, right into my eyes. Come on Aziz focus!”

  He suddenly went limp and for a heartbeat she thought he might actually fall as he wobbled to his left side.

  She didn’t give him time and was straight in with the same repetitive instruction. “Slide that foot forward, head up, look at me.” Slowly, agonising step after agonising step the distance to the far bank shortened. Suddenly Ana was aware that the surface under her feet was no longer smooth but she didn’t look anywhere except into Aziz’s eyes holding his gaze until he too was standing on the sodden track.

  He seemed to sag, aware his ordeal was over. “Thank you,” he mouthed as he moved to sit on a fallen tree trunk, suddenly heavy legs barely getting him there.

  Ana felt the energy drain out of her body as she stood arms now hanging loosely by her side. She was aware that Harry was there beside her, huge grin across his face. “You were just amazing. I wanted to help or shout encouragement, but in the end just stood here, living every step with you, frightened if I did anything I would break the spell.”

  “You make me sound like a witch,” she laughed, easing the tension. “I only did what anyone in my position would have done.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so,” said Harry. “I really don’t believe you realise the qualities you have. What you did took real guts. I don’t know many who could have done what you have just done, certainly not me!”

  The three of them squeezed back inside the cab. Nobody talked and with the heater working overtime to dry them out, the Land Cruiser bumped and slid its way to the top of the hill.

  The welcome lights of the camp, now only a short drive away, greeted them like a long lost friend. Everywhere else darkness was king.

  As they pulled into the garage area they bumped into a busy Bethwell, spanner in hand. “Good to see you back and in one piece, it has been just a little wet. You must have remembered some of those tips I gave you.”

  “Without them we probably wouldn’t be here, and without Ana neither would Aziz,” said Harry. “I’ll tell you all about it at supper. Just remind me to check the weather forecast next time I’m away for the day. Only a fool would want to be out in a storm like that.”

  Bethwell’s face suddenly showed concern, “Well, we’re still waiting to hear from Samson. You know he’s one of the most experienced rangers and I dropped him off this morning to patrol towards the far end of the escarpment. Of course we hadn’t expected the storm either. He has a tent and supplies for a couple of days but he didn’t do the standard radio check in this evening and he’s not responding to our calls.”

  Chapter Eleven

  There was a real stillness in the morning air as Harry followed in Jim’s tracks. Luckily the top road was hard and stony, so despite all that the storm had thrown at it, the drive was comparatively easy. The wheels bounced along the surface, a pleasant change from the sinking black cotton soil of yesterday far below.

  The fact that Samson still hadn’t made contact by first light was the talk of the camp. He was a seasoned veteran and had his own mobile as well as a fully charged radio.

  It was possible that he had fallen badly or even been attacked by a wild animal. The bush at night was a dangerous place even for those who knew it like the back of their hands. There were others who went further and thought he might have fallen foul of poachers

  “Who in their right mind would be out in a storm like that?” Jim had asked when Harry had seen him on their return.

  Harry had agreed with him in some ways but it was the wisdom of Kilifi that won the day. He had made a comment that in many ways was so obvious that nobody had considered it.

  “Wild storms provide the perfect camouflage for those with evil intentions,” he had said. “Only a madman or a poacher or both would be out in such weather!”

  It was a point simply made and they had all gone to bed that night turning the thought over in their heads and hoping that all would be well in the morning.

  Samson was a popular member of the Uwingoni family and there was no shortage of volunteers for a search party.

  For the first time in many weeks, Jim and the men with him in the front Land Cruiser were carrying guns; that is with the exception of Kilifi who refused to ever touch a modern weapon, but instead relied on his trusty spear that he always carried with him at such times.

  Harry well remembered when he had been allowed to hold it. He had felt very special, honoured almost. It had belonged to Kilifi’s father and his grandfather before that.

  It had a leaf-shaped blade, dark in the centre but gleaming and surprisingly sharp on the entire surface of the edge, not just the point. The aged brown wood of the shaft was totally smooth, there wasn’t even the hint of a knot and was free of any pattern or decoration. What had surprised Harry most was the almost perfect balance. Kilifi had explained that although you could use this for stabbing your enemy it was very
much a throwing spear, but of course that meant that you had to get very close to your target to use it effectively.

  He also sometimes carried a bow and a small ancient leather quiver for the arrows, but as yet Harry hadn’t been given an introduction to his archery skills.

  Jim had stopped in front of them and Kilifi was out examining the track and the nearby undergrowth but he returned shaking his head and they continued. The animals they passed in the bush still looked somewhat bedraggled. There were far fewer trees and areas of cover on top of the escarpment and when the storm had hit many of them would simply have had to ride it out. A small group of Thomson’s gazelle still stood close together for warmth, their eyes looking somewhat sad as the vehicles passed by, steam rising gently from their coats with the first heat of the day.

  They drove much more slowly now. Kilifi was sitting on the front wing, his leather sandaled feet braced against the large, black, protective grill bolted to the bumper. This gave him a far better view of the track.

  Every so often he would put his hand up in the air and the vehicles would stop as he jumped down to examine the ground. After a forty minute crawl even Harry was beginning to realise just how difficult it was to find one individual in such a huge area.

  “I can’t help thinking what might have happened under cover of the storm. I hate this negativity I have sometimes.”

  Ana gave him an understanding look. “Sometimes it’s better to be realistic Harry. Then if things turn out badly, it’s not so hard to deal with.”

  There was increasing warmth in the air now and they were conscious of more and more animals moving with purpose.

  A family of warthogs shot out between the two vehicles, the father inclining his tusks slightly towards Bluebird. In the near distance the heads of two giraffes could be seen, taking the most succulent of the leaves at the tops of the trees for breakfast. It felt just like a normal morning in Uwingoni.

  Again they stopped but instantly everyone was aware that Kilifi seemed far more animated. As he examined the ground he summoned the others to come over to where he was. At first Harry couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary but then as Kilifi pointed he made out faint tyre marks but they made little sense to him because they were intermittent and far too close together to come from a vehicle.