“The berries, I presume…”
“Must be something I ate…” they both said it at the same time. Mark held out his water bottle, “Still offended?”
Jake grabbed the bottle and drank greedily- then threw up. The splatter had increased, and they were getting increasingly drenched.
“Quick, I some sort of an overhanging rock!” Mark tried helping the other man up, “Let’s seek its shelter!” Jake did not argue as he was half-dragged, half-carried towards the sheltered spot. Mark heaved the groaning man to the spot and set him carefully down. In his mind he was scolding him, lecturing him on the dangers of eating wild berries and especially unwashed. He was also berating him for ruining his day, though how he wasn’t sure since he couldn’t have been blamed for the rain- but he said it would rain and it has, he thought as he looked at the ill ranger lying at his feet under the rocky overhang. Out loud he said, “I have my phone with me. I’ll call for help while you try and vomit as much as you can- where are you going?” Jake had scrambled up and headed for some nearby bushes, slipping, tripping and falling into a dirty puddle as he scrambled to undo his belt. He got up and after concealing himself behind the bush, let it all out. Mark couldn’t see him, but he heard the sounds. It would take some time for him to forget. Good thing thee rain will wash it away- he thought as he looked up. But the rain was abating, and the sun beginning to peek out. Jake, looking mightily relieved reappeared from the bushes and smiled as he adjusted his pants, “I feel better, must have… shat out the poison… no need to call for help…”
“I have to, Jake. You could have probably died…” Jake held up a hand, “It was just something I ate, okay? No need to worry about me. Besides, Sherry finds out that I did a runny dump in the bushes and I’ll never get to hear the end of it…” he indicated at the water bottle, and cupped his hands, “Bodily waste is something else,” he laughed Mark tilted the bottle, and he washed his hands, “Trust me I know.” Mark said nothing. He glanced at the overhang as Jake scrubbed his hands, and noticed something- he turned with the words ready in his mouth then thought better of it. Better find out why a cave entering is covered with leaves, but not with him… he glanced at Jake who was wiping his hands with his stained handkerchief, …here. Looking much better than he had a few moments earlier, Jake grinned, “Still feeling like searching for your scaly friends?”
“It’s getting late…” Mark whipped out his phone and checked… “Nearly four-thirty. I think we should head back.”
“Well… I hope it is not on my account that you’re cutting short your…”
“No, not you…” I want to get rid of you, then come back and check out this cave, “…The rain… and… not really comfortable having my camera splashed on…”
“Oh, yeah, that. I hear they are expensive, nature cameras…” They turned and started retracing their footsteps with Jake in front, but not before Mark had set Lisa’s stick on the ground unobserved. He made sure to put it where it would be a significant marker should he return to the place. After walking a few feet, he quickly stuffed his water bottle into a nearby bush before Jake could turn around, which he did, but did not notice what Mark was up to, “I’m good at reading facial cues,” he started, “And I know you don’t want to talk about the girl of the other night…”
“I don’t.”
“…but I hope you don’t mind telling me a bit about yourself… you saw me- or heard me rather- shitting the worst way possible…” he held up a hand, “It is only fair that we get familiar with each other, counting that ugly episode as a start.”
“Well…” Mark started,
“Just don’t tell Sherry,” Jake interrupted him, “Or… anyone else…” the grin held more meaning than the words, but Mark let it pass. In that instant, he had an overpowering urge to see Lisa, and before it had dissolved, he resolved that once back at camp he would seek all means and avenues at finding her. I miss her terribly, he thought. He recalled her note- he was about to take it out of his pocket, but with a glance at the ranger walking in front of him, he refrained.
“I’ve worked at this place for twelve years,” Jake’s voice floated back to find Mark a few feet behind him.
“Twelve?” Despite his instinctive distrust, Mark sounded impressed, “Then you must have contributed a lot to its expansion two years later.”
“Indeed. Even before its inception, I was part of the team sent to Africa and Asia to facilitate the transportation of the various species of animals that were to populate it.” Mark detected pride in the other man’s voice as he continued, “Yep. Best time of my life, walking in bushes, jungles, and savannahs that had existed for millions of years. Nature is a strange entity, Mark. Do you believe that?” Mark paused before answering. It is, it brought a woman to me while I was deep in it, he thought, “Indeed. What as your impression of…” He hurried to catch up with the other man, “…Africa?” Jake reduced his pace but did not stop. He turned his head slightly,
“The people or the natural world?” he asked.
“Your general impression of… everything?”
“Well, I spent most of my time in the bush, but… the place is vast, and especially the savannahs. They gave you a sense of… of… what is that fear of open places called?”
“Just a moment…” Mark whipped out his phone and tapped and typed very fast, “Agoraphobia,” he repocketed the phone.
“Yeah that. Open plains that stretched for miles and miles. The second was the heat. That place is a furnace, and if the natives were complaining, then imagine how it was for us.”
“I’m trying to…”
“Think of sitting in front of a fire outside in the summer sun.”
“That makes the image more… imaginable.”
“That was how hot it was. Thirteen years ago.”
“And now its worse I presume.”
“See- those countries begged us to take those animals with us- to make our own,” he stretched out his hand and waved it around, “Natural habitats for them since these southern parts are now as warm as Africa was like four hundred years ago.” They remained quiet for a while as they continued walking on. Mark noticed that they were approaching that place he had called a mini paradise. Once there, Jake stopped. Mark though he was feeling ill again, but when the ranger turned his face, rather than an agonized look had a look of regret on it.
“I blame us,” he said softly, “We humans did this. We ruined the earth,” Mark thought he could detect a teary look in his eyes, but he wasn’t sure. His thoughts resonated with those of Jake’s too, and for a moment he felt bad for having disliked the other man at first, and for not telling him about his cameras and the concealed cave which he still intended to explore further… Jake’s next words had him warier though, “Even the animals we brought, they are suffering. This is not…” he looked around them, “Real.” Mark remained quiet while wondering what Jake meant by ‘suffering’.
“Lack of food?” He asked as they continued standing where they had stopped. No bees nor hummingbirds darted in and out of the flower petals now, which were folded in readiness for a chilly night, seeing that it had showered slightly. Jake seemed to mull Mark’s question for a moment,
“Bringing them here was a mistake. It was an achievement, but a mistake all the same. Walking through the place- more and more we’re realizing what a mistake it was- a noble mistake. We attempted to play God.”
“But…” Mark was stupefied, “I see nothing wrong at all… and you sounded proud of your contribution, but… if it’s not food, then what is it? Money to maintain the place?”
“I think I’ve said enough for the day. Come on, its already dusk. Indeed it was. Mark’s mind reeled from what Jake had said, and as they hurried on the rapidly gathering darkness, he knew that there was more to the place than Lisa’s group vandalizing vehicles, than Jake’s ambivalence concerning the Camp and his own instinctive gut feeling that once he explored whatever lay beyond that cave mouth, he would find some, if not all, of
the answers. The dark chased the last few obstinate rays of sunlight which were begging for just a few more moments of glory with their fiery hues in the western horizon, while on a bush track two men hurried, each deep in thought, each wondering if their own opinions were for the best of everything involved. Above, about and around them, owls, bats, and crickets announced their turn with nocturnal hoots, screeches, and chirps.
*****
Back at camp, and after having visited the cafeteria to make amends with his angry grumbling stomach, Mark hurried to the reception, bags bouncing around him, "Excuse me miss…" he stopped short when the face that looked up from the other side of the counter proved him wrong…
"Yes?" The very male face answered with an inquiring smile, "How may I help you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, in the morning I left a young girl…
"Oh, Melissa?" She was on the day shift," the young man arched a dark eyebrow, "I'm Sibi."
"Oh, didn't expect that," Mark shifted his weight. "Well, See-Bee, I need a favor. A huge favor."
"If it's within my…"
"Well, it is. I need the contacts of someone who was here with a group of nature protectors…"
"Arghh, the Pangotectors… sure. His name?" Sibi turned to the monitor screen on his desk.
"Lisa Fellows." Sibi paused in his typing and looked up; curiosity was written all over his features, "Oh, Lisa… dark, kinda… like me, and…"
"Dark yeah, that Lisa." Mark did not feel like listening to someone else describe the woman who had given him no peace, and especially not someone who did not even know her well enough to…
"She's family," the young man smiled importantly, "I know where she lives…" Despite the temptation, Mark decided not to let his eagerness show by waving a dismissive hand, "Just her number will do," The young man, Mark was sure, would stretch it out, just to prove to Mark how he too mattered in that family and not just Lisa. Sibi turned to the screen and with less resistance or drama than Mark may have expected wrote a number on a piece of paper. He took it. I hope I'm not too eager, he thought as he folded it turned to thank the young man. Sibi did a half salute and smiled briefly, "Not from me," he warned, "You dug around." Mark nodded and walked away, suddenly feeling that his room was too far away. Once out of the office block, he took out the number and looked at it. With this, he thought, I'll be setting off on a voyage I may never return from. He hurried to his room where everything he had on him was fling around and about; the backpack on the floor, the Leica still in its bag on the bed and lastly his phone which he tapped at the screen with relish. He keyed in words into the dialer, then paused. Will ambushing her with a call she probably does not expect be the wise thing? He wondered as another less pleasant thought came into his mind, what if Sibi had given him a wrong number? Focusing on the first question and ignoring the second, Mark saved the number and typed 'find out' under 'name' then sent a short text, identifying himself… and barely ten seconds later the phone buzzed with a notification. Mark grabbed it so fast, heart hammering, wondering if she… he frowned then cursed silently when he recognized the sender- the camp office. He flung the phone away from him, what do they want, I returned the jeep good as it had been… with an exasperated sigh, he grabbed his phone, reached the door, turned back and set it back on the small table. He left the room with curses on his lips.
*****
Sherry Partridge was waiting for him. She broke into a wide smile the moment she saw him,
"Mark!" She held out her hand, "Jake told me!"
"Um…" Mark raked his mind for a suitable response, "It wasn't… ah… well… expected."
"It was a mix-up, and I'm sorry. You were given keys to a different vehicle from the one you chose…"
"Oh. I noticed…" perhaps Lisa has replied and is waiting for me… to call…" first a notion then a thought, it became a strong conviction the more Sherry spoke,
"…wont happen again. Such mix-ups are bad for publicity…"
Mark hopped from one foot to the other, his mind in his room where he was frantically apologizing to an upset Lisa… begging her not to end the call…
"Ah, its nothing Sherry… listen, there's something I was doing… he pointed towards his room, "And I need to get back to it…"
"Oh, okay! Don't worry about the car, Jake..!" But he was gone.
He burst into his room and reached for his phone before he had even entered through the door. The result was that he overshot his balance and fell headlong into the room, and on top of the backpack he had carelessly left on the floor. As he fell, he flung out his hands for balance- grabbed the edge of the small table- and brought it down on him. Everything happened fast, save for one thing which he observed almost as if in slow motion- his phone hitting the floor and flashing once. He groaned, grabbed his dead phone, massaged his ribs, and attempted to stand- all at the same time. He kicked at the backpack as he staggered to the bed where he dropped on his back to continue with his groaning. Looking up at the ceiling, in his mind Lisa expressed genuine concern that he was hurt… asking him if there was anything she could do to alleviate his pain, both physical and mental. If I stay here, I'll die of love; he thought as he lifted himself up and looked around the room. He considered switching on his laptop and checking his bush cameras… felt that he was too tired to concentrate, thought of going out and driving around town, but what excitement will I derive from it? He wondered, and suddenly recalled the cave he had seen earlier in the day. He reached for his phone to check the time, then cursed. Of course, he looked at it with its cracked screen. I can't even find out if Lisa is trying to call me.
He rose up and with a painful stretch and yawn, picked up his backpack, and started stuffing stuff inside. It doesn't matter what the time is, he thought, it's almost like there's a conspiracy that Lisa and I shouldn't be together… He ducked into the shower for a moment and avoided any deodorant or perfume as he dressed in the least reflective clothes he could find. Pangolins had a sensitive sense of smell, he knew, and more and more they were beginning to identify their number one enemy with his artificial smells, or so he thought as, ignoring the slip of paper with Lisa's number, he left the room and went to find his own car. He didn't feel like using one that roared with every engagement of its transmission. Outside his room he looked up at the heavens. The moon was out, and a light breeze blew. But Mark didn't have time for poetic characterization of the night as he hurried to get his vehicle and once again go back to the bush. His mind may not have had the time to sentimentalize about nature, but his thoughts of Lisa did and as he hurried towards the car park, he felt that the wind was sighing her name, and that the moon was out to help him in his search for her, and that the stars were there to twinkle when finally, the two lovers meet, their eyes would fill up with tears as they gazed heavenwards, to thank that divine intervention that had seen to it that nothing came between them anymore… Mark scoffed at the thought and hurried towards his car, backpack in hand. He had decided against bringing his camera with him.
He had brought with him a better flashlight, and with it, it was not hard to pick out the track he had used during the day, after shouldering his backpack. Within no time he was at the spot where 'the love ambusher' upset everything, he thought as he walked by, but not before shining the light at the ruined pangolin burrow. He hurried on and after walking a few meters, stopped, switched off the flashlight and waited fie a moment for his eyes to adjust. He resumed his walking as once again his mind invited in the Lisa subject for him to make mull over. He wondered what she was doing wherever she was. Did she see my text? Did she answer back? Did she wait for me to reply? Of course, she did, sitting by her makeup desk, cheek in hand, checking the phone every two seconds… is she now right at this moment trying my number then sighing in agony as it keeps going to voice mail? Taking on a twist in his mind he was standing at her door, but she was yet to see him for she had her back to him sobbing his name, wondering where her prince was… then when he cleared his throat, she turned, and her teary, s
orrowful look morphed into one of joy as she tripped over everything while trying to reach him, to fall into his outstretched arms as she begged him never to leave him again… ever… as in his fantasy he too tripped, but no waiting arms met him, rather, he hit the ground hard. Biting his lip so as not to curse, he started to get up and cursed when his hand sunk into some muddy goo. He jumped up too quickly in an effort to get away from it, lost his balance and fell into some nearby bushes and as he struggled up, felt something rip. His mind flashed back to Jake vomiting earlier, but whatever he had touched was definitely not vomit. Some animal shit maybe, he thought as he fumbled around for his flashlight. The moon was bright, but with his face close to the ground it was hard to see. His anger mounting by the second, he removed his backpack and flung it to the ground. He kicked it savagely as he looked up… he saw a flash in front of his eyes- so many stars, he thought, and as he watched, they started going out one by one. When the last one went off, the last thing he recalled was his face hitting the same muddy goo.
When he came to, he felt water hitting his face and flowing down his collar. At the same time, a voice he could have recognized anywhere was speaking angrily,
"He could have died, Linnie. Couldn't you have at least checked before hitting him?"
"He was violent," A shaken voice defended itself, "And he was cursing."
"I'm sure he's going to sue us now," the voice that Mark heard and decided he wanted to live, "This is the second time…" he attempted to sit up but sank back down. In a moment, someone passed their own arms under his from behind and attempted to pull him to a sitting position, "Ouch!" He cried out in agony as he clutched at his side. All the same, he made an effort and found himself sitting- in a strange place and with strange faces peering curiously at him. Well, except for one. He turned to her with a smile, and she reciprocated with a worried one, "Mark… I'm so sorry, this…" Lisa started, but Mark held up a hand,
Lady of Way Page 6
