Diana had told her that Helen and Dirk’s children had been sent south to boarding school in Johannesburg, but they returned every holiday to the lodge. Apparently, they’d not lost their love of the African wilderness. I guess it’s what they were used to, Amie reasoned. But what of the future? Helen and Dirk were hardly knee-deep in tourists, and any upset in the government would make that worse. How would a place like this support them, their children and their future families as well?
Amie looked around. Flame trees towered next to the bomas, and with their brilliant red and orange blossom it was easy to see where they got their name. It looked as if the branches were on fire.
A raptor flew over her head, floating effortlessly on the warm air currents, looking for prey with its sharp eyes. Suddenly, it swooped down out of sight below the neighbouring rocks and there was a brief shriek before it rose again, a small, furry creature struggling in its claws. It was a stark example of the harsh, unforgiving nature in the wild. Eat or be eaten, survival of the fittest. Live to eat and breed another day. How far modern man has travelled from these basic tenets, Amie thought. Goodness, less than twelve hours out of the city and I’m beginning to question the meaning of life! Maybe being close to nature does that to you? But man is not really so far from the raw, survival state. He is not so honest. He hides his intentions behind a thin veneer of charm, politeness and friendship.
Amie wandered over and sat at the far end of the pool. She was glad to have these few moments alone. She could feel her body relaxing as she stared out over the grasslands dotted with acacia thorn trees.
I’m so lucky. How many people have the chance to experience nature this way, to have time to sit and ponder the meaning of life and existence? She thought of the people she knew back home, waiting to catch a bus or train to work, then sitting in an office for eight hours, then home again to household chores, and a couple of hours in front of the television. How shallow it all appeared in comparison to sitting here, surrounded by life on earth unchanged for thousands of years.
Amie was surprised to find she didn’t feel as nervous as she had the night before. Obviously, the daylight helped, but she was beginning to understand that out here, miles from the nearest town, there was a code of behaviour, an unwritten set of rules which, although harsh, were understandable and made sense. You only killed to eat, or protect your young. Animals took what they needed and no more, and there was still a balance and a harmony to life.
Lunch was served on the veranda: fresh fruit, cold meats, hot bread straight from the oven with fruit juice to wash it all down. Then everyone went for a swim, followed by a siesta in the heat until it was time for the game drive as the sun began to sink towards the horizon.
Amie was quite nervous as she climbed into the Land Rover for her first ever game drive. She wanted desperately to see Africa’s wild animals close up, but she wished they were in an enclosed car, rather than a vehicle which had no roof or side windows.
Their first encounter was a pair of giraffes, placidly stretching up to nibble at the tallest shoots on an acacia tree, their bluish tongues curling delicately around the leaves. Amie looked up at their dark, liquid eyes and decided she had never seen anything quite so beautiful. Here in the wild, they possessed a dignity one never saw in a zoo.
In the far distance, they saw a small herd of elephants, but they were on the opposite side of a ravine and it wasn’t possible to get closer to them. There were plenty of buck, several different species, including the Thompson’s gazelles, which bounded away, leaping high into the air as if they had springs on their feet.
Dirk explained that dawn and dusk were the most active times for the animals, when they hunted or went down to the waterhole to drink. He was a font of information as he pointed out the different animals, their habits, lifespans, gestation periods and what they ate.
“We try and interfere as little as possible,” he told them. “It can be heart-breaking at times to see helpless, young animals dying due to drought, or lack of food, but although one life is lost, we remind ourselves it provides food for another species. Out here, nothing is wasted.”
“It makes me so ashamed that we waste so much of the world’s resources,” remarked Diana, as they crossed a dry riverbed in the Land Rover.
“I wonder if we’ll wipe ourselves out as a species before we’ve destroyed all these other creatures?” added Jonathon.
Amie looked at him in surprise. Maybe the vast beauty of the wild was getting to all of them. She’d never heard Jonathon even mention such things before. One thing I do know, she thought, this is not the same as sitting at home on a cosy sofa and watching the animals on television. Being here, they felt a part of it all, even though technically they were outsiders, not only here in the bush, but on the continent of Africa. How long would the white man be tolerated here and when he was finally evicted, would anyone care for the wild animals that were left behind? Would they just be regarded as bush meat and slaughtered to extinction? Amie shuddered; it was such a privilege to know she might be one of the last generations to have these experiences.
They all set out again the next morning before the sun came up, and Dirk took them to a hide overlooking the waterhole. A lioness prowled close to several of the buck, and Amie was amazed to see that many of the deer only moved a little way away. She would have thought all the other animals would scatter, but they appeared quite calm, as if they weren’t aware they were in danger. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a cheetah raced towards one small Grant’s gazelle on the fringes of the group. The gazelle leapt backwards and took off, racing as fast as it could, but it couldn’t match the speed of the cheetah, as it closed in. Both animals disappeared behind a row of bushes and it was impossible to see the outcome.
Shortly afterwards, a group of buffalo came down to drink, scattering the other animals and on the far side of the waterhole, they spotted a lone rhino for a brief moment before it moved out of sight.
They had a late breakfast when they returned from their early morning game drive, and Amie was amused to see they served up a typically English breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage and tomatoes. When they’d finished, Dirk suggested they go for a walk and he would show them some of the plants and smaller species.
“Man existed here for thousands of years,” he said as they walked over to the riverbed. “He lived in harmony with nature and was careful not to destroy his habitat.”
“It’s amazing to think you can survive in a place like this,” said Kate, indicating the savannah around them. “I mean, there’s no obvious food anywhere, and I can’t see any water, either.”
“To us, it’s invisible, but if you know your plants, how the animals behave, and how to find and store water, even this barren looking area of Africa can provide everything you need,” said Dirk.
By the time they returned to the lodge, Amie’s head was full of information about the African wilderness. Like the extinct ancient peoples of this land, Dirk’s family had passed down their knowledge from father to son. Small indentations in the sand, which Amie couldn’t even see properly, and piles of dung, told Dirk a particular animal had passed by and approximately how long ago. He was in harmony with the other creatures that shared this small part of the continent.
All too soon, the weekend was over, and reluctantly they packed up the minibus and headed back to the city. They had seen four of the big five, the shy leopard remaining elusive. Amie’s first sighting of the elephants had been amazing, they were at least three times the size of those she had ever seen in captivity. In the zoo, was it just the presence of the bars and the safety moat that made them seem so small, and made her feel so secure?
Amie was yet to learn that cities could hold a lot more dangers than the African bush.
6 GOING HOME
When they reached the city, the noise of the crowds and the traffic was deafening. Amie was amazed she’d never been aware of it before. Even day trips out into the countryside back home had never had the awesome peace
of the bush. In the open African savannah, you knew there was plenty of life around you, scurrying in the undergrowth, the occasional roar in the distance, even the odd scream or shriek, but nothing of man, and the constant, infernal racket from his machines.
It took a few days for them to settle down but then life slipped back into the usual routine. Jonathon continued to work very long hours and Amie filled her time with visits to the school, playing tennis, having coffee with the girls and organising dinner parties and events at the Club.
There was usually at least one special occasion each month, Burns Night, St George’s Day, Guy Fawkes, Ascot Saturday, any excuse for a party to relieve the tensions caused by work, and the frustrations that cropped up every now and again in their day to day lives.
Amie had to admit she was enjoying herself. It was nice to have warm weather most days, to sit out for coffee and meals. It was seldom necessary to sit indoors. There was rarely a need to wear coats, scarves or gloves, nor to put on any form of heating even in the evenings when it cooled down.
It was also nice not to have to do any housework, something Amie had never enjoyed. Pretty just got on with her work each day and her cooking improved as Amie taught her to prepare more European dishes, the food that she and Jonathon enjoyed. There were several things she couldn’t get in the shops, but as time went by, she seemed to forget about the favourite treats she used to buy every week in the supermarket in Castle Bridge. In fact, their diet was a lot healthier, as fresh vegetables and fruit were readily available, and although Amie didn’t possess any bathroom scales, her clothes told her she’d lost a little weight and she certainly felt more energetic, despite the heat.
What to wear was a bit of a problem, because the clothes she’d brought with her didn’t fit as well. The problem was solved with the purchase of a sewing machine, borrowed patterns from the other ladies and yards of cheap, colourful cotton fabrics which were readily available. The material was so cheap, Amie didn’t feel bad about depositing her first few attempts in the dustbin and starting all over again. With help and guidance, especially from Anne, who had trained in textiles, Amie was quite proud of the outfits she produced.
Amie also allowed herself another indulgence, having conveniently forgotten one of the taboos Diana had warned her against. With Mrs Motswezi’s permission, she took Angelina to the mall one afternoon and bought her three new dresses, new underwear, a jacket and a small suitcase to put everything in. Angelina just stood staring at the shops in the mall and Amie hoped she liked the clothes she’d chosen, as there was little reaction from Angelina except her wide-eyed look and her firm grip on Amie’s skirt. But when Angelina put out a tentative hand to stroke a small blue teddy bear, that went into the shopping basket as well.
The tensions that had been so obvious earlier in the year slowly dissipated, and once again the locals were friendly and smiling, although they never missed an opportunity to make something on the side. Amie was now used to paying for car guards and to have her shopping bags carried to the car. No one was prepared to allow her to carry them herself, and there was always a price to pay to the urchins who clustered around, grabbing the bags off the counter before she had a chance to pick them up.
The weeks flew past and turned into months, and it seemed no time at all before Jonathon walked through the door one night, and reminded her they had been in Togodo for a year.
“And,” Jonathon added, “I have some news.”
“What?”
“Annual leave.”
“Leave?” Amie hadn’t given it a thought.
“Yes, we’re due three weeks’ holiday, flights courtesy of the company.”
“For a brief moment, Amie thought of all the places they could go, but common sense told her they would fly home to see the family.
“To England?” she asked.
“If that’s what you want,” replied Jonathon.
“Well, yes, of course,” said Amie. “When do we go?”
“Next month.”
Amie could barely contain her excitement. She couldn’t wait to see Sam and the kids, and of course, her mother and father as well.
“I’ll Skype them tonight, after supper.”
“Hello, Mum can you hear me?”
“Yes, you’re fading a bit and I won’t put the video on, should help to make it clearer. How are you both?”
“We’re fine, Mum, but just in case we get cut off, let me tell you quickly we are coming home ...”
Her mother’s shrieks stopped Amie in her tracks. “Home? Oh, that’s great! Is the desalination plant up and running, then? All finished?”
“No, nothing like … no Mum, listen …” Amie tried to get a word in as her mother continued to rabbit on about how they had missed her.
“Mum,” she almost shouted. “It’s only for three weeks. It’s Jonathon’s annual leave.”
“Oh. Oh, I see,” her mother sounded disappointed, then added more cheerfully. “Well of course you must come and stay with us, and I’m sure I can put you on my insurance for the car.” She turned to shout to Amie’s father. “Raymond! How much would it cost to add Amie on my car insurance?”
It would be a lot more tactful to put Jonathon on, thought Amie, I’m not sure he’ll be too thrilled to be chauffeured around by me for three whole weeks. She decided to say nothing at this stage.
Mary turned back to the computer. “So, when are you coming? Soon?”
“Next month. As soon as we’ve booked the tickets and have the exact dates, I’ll let you know.”
“Oh, it will be so good to see you both! It seems such a long time since you left!” From the tone in her voice, Amie thought it strange that her mother, the one who had practically poured her on to the plane to go and explore the world, now seemed disappointed they were only returning for their annual leave. Had they had second thoughts, or missed Jonathon and Amie more than they’d imagined?
“Thanks, Mum,” said Amie. “It would be great to stay with you. Maybe we can go shopping, or find a show on at the theatre, the sort of things that are not available here.”
“I’ll look to see what’s on. Send me all the details by email, but I must go, Coronation Street is about to start. It will be so good to see you again. Bye for now,” and Amie’s mother disconnected the call.
Amie sat for several seconds staring at the screen. Well, her parents seemed pleased they were going over, but the television took priority? She gave herself a shake she was just imagining things, being too sensitive. She got up to go and tell Pretty she could bring the coffee in.
When they flew into London and landed at Heathrow, Amie felt like a seasoned traveller. This time she knew the ropes. It took an age to get through customs and immigration, and she shuffled from one foot to the other because, despite going through the ‘nothing to declare’ exit, they were stopped and two of the cases were searched.
“Blood diamonds, bars of gold and drugs,” breathed Jonathon into her ear. Despite her anxiety to hurry through to arrivals, Amie giggled. She was disappointed she’d only packed a couple of her newly made creations. Even though it was late summer, she needed much warmer clothes for England, and she was wise enough to bring as little as possible. She planned to pack for the return journey with as many treats and ‘unobtainables’ as she could cram into her suitcase, and Jonathon’s as well if he didn’t complain too much.
Looking at his face now, as they waited for the customs officer to finish rummaging through the toilet bags, she could see the last year had aged him. There were lines which hadn’t been there twelve months ago; the long hours, frustration and responsibility were weighing him down.
When they were eventually released and walked through the sliding doors, the first people Amie saw were Jade and Dean. They slipped under the barrier and raced over, shrieking with glee. It was big hugs all round as both sets of parents, plus Sam and the children, had come to welcome them home.
“I told you to behave yourselves,” muttered Sam pulling Dean awa
y just before he was flattened by an overloaded baggage trolley.
“They’re home, they’re home!” shrieked Jade. “Aunty Amie is back home.”
“Aunty Amie is only here for a short holiday.” Samantha told Jade.
Was Amie imagining it or did there seem to be a slight note of jealousy in Sam’s tone of voice?
There was some lengthy discussion as to who would travel back with whom and where the luggage should go, but eventually they all arrived back at the Reynolds’ house. On the journey, Amie shrank back into her seat, barely aware of her mother’s voice as she went on and on about what people had been doing, who had got engaged to whom, who had lost their job and what a state the country was in and so on.
Although everything was familiar, the same streets, traffic lights still in the same places, shops and office blocks unchanged, somehow it all seemed overwhelming and perhaps a little threatening. My mind is playing tricks, thought Amie, but it’s both familiar and alien at the same time.
The house seemed to have shrunk, and Amie realised her home in Apatu was considerably larger than her parents’ house. Either that or it had become smaller in the last year!
Amie in Africa Box Set 1 Page 12
