Amie in Africa Box Set 1

by Lucinda E Clarke

  “Time!” Sam exploded. “Time? Do you think I could trust him again? What if he did come back, every time he got home late, I’d be imagining him with some other husband stealer, shagging some bimbo in a cheap hotel room, or even in the back of our car.”

  “Then you have to make decisions for yourself and your future and what’s best for the kids,” Amie was nothing if not practical. “But you don’t have to do that now. Take a few days to chill out as best you can. I’ll take you around and entertain you. It will help take your mind off things.”

  Samantha just shrugged her shoulders. It was going to take more than a few words from a sympathetic sister to make things right. Amie reckoned she had a lot of decisions to make.

  She changed the subject.

  “I’ve had a new maid delivered to the door by Ouma Adede,” she said. “So, I’ve got a lot to teach her in the next few days.”

  “Who’s Ouma Adede? That’s a funny name,” Sam took another bite of her toast.

  “One of the local witch doctors,” replied Amie without thinking as she bustled about the kitchen.

  “Witchdoctor!” shrieked Sam. “You can’t be serious! You said I’d be safe here, Amie!”

  “She’s not going to harm you, she’s a wonderful lady. She came to the house this morning and told me you were at the airport. She came in the car with me.”

  Sam seemed to shrink into herself. “How did she know I was there?”

  Amie thought for a moment. “I really don’t know. She seems to just, well, know stuff and then she came back and brought me Mathilda – said she knew I needed help.”

  Sam looked around as if she expected Ouma Adede to jump out of a cupboard or appear from behind a door.

  “Now don’t get into a tizz about it,” Amie cleared the plates away. “She’s not going to harm you and she’s not dangerous. I think she just sees things maybe, like any psychic, with a good dose of common sense. You wouldn’t get all scared about a fortune teller at the end of the pier, now would you?” Amie had a pretty good idea that Ouma Adede was far more powerful than she would admit to Sam, but it was pointless scaring her even more.

  Samantha wasn’t reassured. She pulled Amie’s housecoat tightly around her and nearly jumped out of her chair when the back door opened and Mathilda dithered on the door step. Amie smiled and ushered her into the kitchen.

  “I’ll show you around, Mathilda.” She guided the shy girl into the lounge. It didn’t seem appropriate to give her the usual talk about not taking extra food to sell or give to friends and relatives, or burning the clothes, or even starting up her own brothel in the back garden. If the witchdoctor had told her to come and work here, then Amie guessed she would be too scared to upset her new Madam in any way.

  Over the next few days, much to Amie’s relief, Mathilda settled in well and worked hard. Amie even had to persuade her to take time off in the afternoon and insisted she stop work after dinner every evening. She was still shy, very quiet and said little but she appeared to be happy enough. At least that was one problem she didn’t have to worry about any more.

  Sam was another matter. It was understandable that she wouldn’t act happy and cheerful. Her whole world had imploded, but Amie was finding it more and more difficult to keep her occupied and entertained.

  When they visited the Club to have coffee with the other wives, Sam said little except to make the odd scathing remark about philandering husbands. She answered all their questions with a single word, and soon the other women stopped trying to include her in their conversations.

  She was even more embarrassing when Amie took her over to the school. She shook Mrs Motswezi’s hand with a marked lack of enthusiasm and was horrified at the primitive conditions.

  “They have to sleep in those scruffy tents, all of them?”

  “Yes, but it’s better than being out in the open,” Amie explained.

  “But look how dirty they are!”

  “Sam, you can’t judge a school and orphanage by the standards we have in England,” Amie tried not to sound as exasperated as she felt. “If Mrs Motswezi didn’t provide a safe place for them, they’d be out on the streets, in gangs, probably sniffing glue and getting up to all sorts of mischief. They might even be grabbed by older gangsters and prostituted for sex. These are the lucky ones.”

  “You have to be joking,” Sam muttered under her breath. “They look half-starved to me.”

  “Well, they’re certainly not overweight. Obesity is hardly the problem here. If a child has a huge extended belly it’s a sign of malnourishment. It’s called Kwashiorkor and not a good sign.”

  Still Samantha was not convinced and her sullenness was beginning to get on Amie’s nerves. Maybe, she had adjusted to Africa more easily than she thought. Had she gone around comparing everything she saw here in Togodo to Britain? She remembered being amazed at all the new things she’d seen and the different culture she’d experienced, and how she’d grown to love Africa. But the continent wasn’t having the same effect on her sister. Sam moaned and groaned about everything and even Jonathon began making the odd sarcastic remark about people who only looked at life from one perspective – their own.

  Neither was Sam impressed by the newly renovated shopping mall, and she cringed at the open-air market where they had all kinds of food on display. She shrieked when she saw an old woman wring a chicken’s neck before passing it to her customer, and she gagged when another hopeful stallholder offered her live eels.

  Amie was at her wits end, she just didn’t know how to cope with Sam, which was sad because she was Amie’s only sister; her mother had often said ‘two is quite enough.’

  While she could understand that her sister was in a lot of emotional pain, her rudeness to every man she encountered at the Club or even those serving in the shops, was getting too much. Amie couldn’t fathom how Sam could have left her children. Surely most mothers would feel extra protective towards them? When she questioned Sam about this, the only reply she got was they were too big a reminder of their father right now, and their Gran would take good care of them. Amie was tempted to mention their Dad’s stroke the previous year, and how it might be a bit much to pile more responsibility onto their mother.

  The only good feeling to come from her sister’s unexpected visit was a reaffirmation for Amie that she’d made the right choice in returning to Africa with Jonathon. For a while she’d been tempted to stay near her friends and family, but she’d grown away from those school mates and no longer had anything in common with them. Her sister’s current behaviour reminded Amie why they’d never got on all that well when they were kids. Sam was a pain.

  “I’ve had a great idea,” Amie said, bouncing into the kitchen the following morning.

  “What?” Sam had always been a little grumpy in the mornings, now, of course, she was a whole lot worse.

  “Why don’t we all go on a safari this weekend?”

  “To see the wild animals, you mean?” Sam looked up. “Is it safe?”

  “Come on, Sam, people go on safari all the time and it’s a great chance for you to see the rural areas of Africa. It’s quite different to living in the town.”

  “What’s this about a safari?” Jonathon appeared in the doorway and went to pour himself a coffee.

  “Yes, let’s go – this weekend,” Amie’s enthusiasm was infectious. “You told me that Dirk and Helen are back at their game lodge and I’m sure they’d be thrilled to see us. And I’d love to see them.”

  “Yes, why not,” Jonathon smiled. “Be good to get away. I’ll get in touch with them over the radio from work and let you know this evening.”

  “Done deal,” Amie smiled as she gave Sam a hug. “You’ll feel a whole lot better I know you will. Out there, miles from any towns the sky at night is just unbelievable. You can’t put a pin between the stars and the vastness of it all, the wonder, being so close to nature – it puts all your worries and problems in perspective. Let’s you think clearly.”

  Jonath
on laughed. “So, when are you recording your ‘Come to Africa’ campaign advert?”

  “Very funny,” Amie gave him a quick hug then backed off. She wasn’t too comfortable being affectionate towards her husband in front of Sam, it might look and feel like rubbing salt in the wound. She could only hope that this trip would help heal her a little.

  By Friday afternoon – for once Jonathon took a half day off – they were ready to leave. Amie insisted that Sam sit up in front so she could see better and her sister climbed up into the new company Land Rover without saying a word. Amie couldn’t decide if she was looking forward to or dreading the trip.

  They watched as the car drove out and headed up the road.

  “Boss, they have left with cases. Do we follow?”

  “Is the visitor still with them?”

  “Yeah, she was in the car.”

  “Where are they going?”

  “No idea boss.”

  “Then ask the maid.”

  “We can’t, boss, the new girl never goes out. We can’t get to her unless, you want us to go inside and persuade her ...”

  “Don’t! She has connections. For now, do nothing. They’ll be back.”

  “What if this visitor stays with them permanently?”

  “Won’t happen, her visa will run out. Our time will come brother.”

  The watcher could barely contain his frustration. He was one for action, but this was babysitting. The sooner it was over the better.

  On the way, Amie filled Sam in about her hosts, explaining that she and Jonathon had camped out with them in the bush for several months and how Dirk had taught her so much about African animals and plants, and how that information had helped her survive on her adventures.

  “And Helen is the sweetest person I’ve ever met,” Amie continued from the back seat. “You wait, she’s always so calm and content, nothing ever ruffles her feathers.”

  “Did her husband drag her out here as well – to Africa?”

  Sam’s question took Amie by surprise and she took a deep breath before answering.

  “I remember her telling me she felt a bit twitchy at first, but it was reassuring that Dirk’s family had lived on this land for generations. I don’t think it took her too long to settle in and fall under the spell.”

  “From the witchdoctor?” Sam turned around to look at her.

  “No silly, the spell the land casts on you. It’s a kind of magic and, oh Sam I just can’t explain it to you. This land gets inside you, it takes your soul and it ...” Amie stopped, she was beginning to sound ridiculous, but it was impossible to explain, sometimes even to herself.

  “It’s a kinda magic,” Jonathon warbled as they took the road out of town.

  “Ouch!” Sam shrieked when they hit a pothole. It was only the seatbelt that stopped her head from hitting the roof.

  “Apologies for the road,” laughed Jonathon, “there’ll be plenty more before we get there. It’s way down on the government’s list of priorities right now – as long as there is a road.”

  “It needs repairing badly,” Amie observed. The tar had crumbled away on both sides and even where it looked flat, the large cracks and holes were concealed by the dust that filled them.

  “Is it far?” Sam whined after a while.

  “Only another couple of hours,” Jonathon replied cheerfully. If he was aware of Sam’s complaining, he said nothing.

  “You might see some interesting things if you look hard enough, Sam,” Amie looked from side to side across the sparse veldt. “In this area, there’s less vegetation, only a few bushes and the thorn trees, and we’re in the area that, in theory, is a national park so people are not supposed to hunt here.”

  “Be interesting to hear what Dirk has to say about the poaching and whether they’ve got it under control now,” said Jonathon.

  “Look, look, Sam,” Amie grabbed her shoulder. “Over there, see on the left! Rhino, see the small tail?”

  “No, where?”

  Amie pointed while Jonathon brought the car to a standstill. “Look over by that wonky tree, the one that looks like a right angle. See it now?”

  Sam peered in the right direction, and then shook her head. “I can see a little bit of grey but that’s all. It’s not very close is it, not easy to see properly.”

  Amie sat back and ground her teeth. If she had her way right now, she’d shove Sam right underneath the nearest rhino so she could see it up close and personal.

  Jonathon shook his head, put his foot on the accelerator and they continued their journey.

  At last they turned off the road towards the semi-circle of bandas (traditional huts). The main building that housed the bar and dining room was set in the middle of the horseshoe.

  Samantha sniffed. “Is this it?”

  Amie could tell from the tone of her voice that her sister wasn’t very impressed. True, their hosts were still in the process of repairing all the damage after they’d fled into the bush during the last uprising. A couple of the staff were on one of the roofs repairing the thatch, and the driveway was in a dreadful state. At least three of the guest units appeared to be habitable and the main house sported a bright new coat of white paint.

  Helen hurried down the steps to greet them.

  “Hello. It’s wonderful to see you again.” She enveloped Amie in a bear hug as soon as she’d jumped out of the Land Rover. “Oh, Amie, it seems such a long time and you’re looking so well!”

  Dirk appeared from behind one of the bandas and strode across the bare earth. “Amie, Jonathon, welcome!” He shook Jonathon’s hand firmly and then turned to Sam. “And you must be Samantha.”

  “How do you do.” Sam tried a smile but her eyes were darting here and there as if she expected a rampaging elephant to run them down at any moment.

  Helen missed nothing, and stepping forward she kissed Samantha on both cheeks. “It’s lovely to meet you. Come on inside, you must be parched.”

  Samantha allowed herself to be led onto the veranda where tables and chairs had been set out.

  A moment later, one of the staff brought out a large pitcher of fruit juice and five glasses on a tray before disappearing back into the kitchen.

  “Sit, please! Make yourselves at home,” Helen invited. “As you can see, we’re still in a bit of a muddle here, but we’re hoping to be ready for the next tourist season.”

  “Tourists? Here?”

  Amie cringed, she never remembered Sam being this rude before, what had got into her? This was a sister she hardly knew. Was this all a result of Gerry cheating on her?

  She tried to cover up. “Sam, there were lots of tourists here before the first civil war. Then, when the troubles raged, as I told you in the car, Helen and Dirk had to leave for a while. Now, hopefully, things are getting back to normal and they’re rebuilding the lodge.”

  With her usual instinct and empathy Helen continued, “You see Dirk’s family have been on this land for what, five, six generations, Sam, and he’s more at home here than anywhere else on earth. And when he brought me out here, I grew to love it too. You can feel the drumbeat of Africa under your feet, and the heightened sense of awareness all the time, on semi-alert. You never know what’s round the next corner.”

  Far from calming Sam down, Helen’s words set her off again. “What sort of things?” She waved her arm towards the open landscape. “They must be dangerous. You must be so scared all the time.”

  “No, not at all. If you know the rules and keep your eyes open it’s no more dangerous than crossing the road in Johannesburg, or London for that matter,” Dirk remarked with a grin.

  One look at Sam’s face told everyone that she was not convinced. Africa was not weaving its charm, she was not going to cooperate, and she was not going to enjoy herself.

  Amie sighed and changed the subject. “Are Jefri, Kahlib and Jumbo still with you?”

  “Oh yes,” Dirk smiled. “I’m not sure they’ve forgiven me for letting Ben live though. Now, of course, he�
�s second in command of the whole country.”

  Everyone except Sam laughed.

  “I’ll explain later,” Amie whispered to Sam, but all she got in return was a shrug. She suspected Sam wasn’t the slightest bit interested in hearing the story.

  “We’re lucky we have Luebos working here, they are the least warlike and ambitious of the tribes,” Helen remarked. “When we came back and saw what had to be done to get the place back up to scratch, they were more eager than us to repair all the damage.”

  “It was a mess,” Amie agreed.

  Dirk chuckled. “A pack of mongooses had set up camp in the kitchen and we found a whole troop of baboons in residence in Banda four.”

  “At least the snakes would have given Nkandla a wide berth,” Jonathon joined in.

  “Snakes! What snakes?” Samantha pulled her feet up off the ground.

  “Calm down, Samantha,” Dirk spoke quite sharply. “We won’t let any harm come to you while you’re staying with us. The city can be a lot more dangerous.”

  On the one hand Amie could understand why her sister was so nervous. Not all that long ago, on her first visit, she’d been scared too, but she’d hidden it under a veil of politeness, and by the end of her first weekend she’d relaxed totally. She wasn’t so sure that Sam would react in the same way.

  “So,” Helen stood up. “Let’s get you settled and then we’ll have lunch, say in about an hour. Is that OK with everyone?”

  “Fine,” Amie stood up and stretched, “where do you want us, Helen?”

  “I think,” Helen paused. “You and Jonathon take number one and maybe Sam would like to stay in the main complex? We have another bedroom right next to ours. How’s that?”

  As thoughtful as ever, Amie could only admire Helen’s tact and understanding.

  “Wherever,” Sam mumbled.

  “Come see our room first,” Amie grabbed Sam’s arm and literally hauled her off to the banda where she and Jonathon were going to sleep.