“So what happened?” Elke stifled a yawn. “Are they accepting Crosshatch’s testimony?”
“Oh, yes, no doubt about that.” Ncita took another drag. “You’re off the hook. Seems that Missy Cloete is a wanted woman for a whole list of crimes and nobody has any trouble believing that she tried to frame you. They’re sending out a search party for that Moraes woman to corroborate the story but we don’t really need that, what with Missy confessing what she’d done right there in Crosshatch’s hearing.”
Elke relaxed. “So I can go back to the Eye.”
“You can go back.”
“And Dolly? Is she still under suspicion?”
“Now that’s an interesting question.” Ncita held out his cigarette and watched as the smoke curled in the moonlight. “No, she’s pretty much cleared, seeing as the accusations against her were mostly based on the assumption that you were guilty. Actually, right as of now, we don’t have a hoofdinspecteur at all. Argent’s resigned.”
“He what?” Elke sat up in surprise.
“Here he comes now.”
Several people were climbing the stairs up to the deck. Among them was Jinan Meer, freed from her handcuffs, with Argent hovering solicitously at her side.
“Behold Frau-eid Meer’s defender,” murmured Ncita. “Argent can’t very well represent her at her trial and also be the hoofdinspecteur. He had to choose, one or the other.”
Jinan nodded calmly as she walked past, but Argent didn’t acknowledge Elke at all, beyond a stiffening of his spine as she caught his eye.
“What’s going on?” said Elke when they were out of earshot. “And what about Missy?”
“Missy’s coming with me,” said Ncita. “The crimes she committed were all in the Real, so that’s my jurisdiction.”
“And Jinan?”
Ncita grimaced. “Seems that Argent is a pretty sharp fellow. He pointed out that Jinan hasn’t actually done anything criminal. She wasn’t responsible for the existence of that cache of biologicals, she was just trying to find it. She had plans for it, sure.” He shrugged. “Seems there’s quite a few strangeworlders who don’t think it’s such a bad idea to carry out Maxwell Jali’s plan. Quite a few realworlders too, to tell you the truth.”
“So she’s just going to get off?”
“Oh, no. There’ll have to be a trial.” Ncita leaned back against the railing. “She’s a pretty influential woman, Frau-eid Meer. High-rank eidolon lady like that. Let’s just say it’s not cut and dried. But don’t look so down about it. At least Argent’s no longer your boss. That’s got to count for something, right?”
Elke snorted. “That’s true.”
¤¤¤
Elke found Diesel in Crosshatch’s yard, moving about restlessly. Cops in biohazard suits guarded the entrance to the underground passage.
“Oh, good!” Diesel said when she saw Elke. “I’m sick of having no one to talk to. You hungry? Crosshatch has got some algae bread. It’s quite an experience.” She carried a solar lamp to one of Crosshatch’s rickety tables and the two of them sat there, picking at the dark green lumps of bread.
Elke studied Diesel. “You’re looking a lot better. How’re you feeling?”
Diesel touched her bandaged head. “Okay. Could have done without all that questioning and prodding. They done with Crosshatch yet?”
“Crosshatch? Yes.” Elke took a bite of bread and made a thoughtful face but chewed carefully and washed it down with a mouthful of water. “Interesting stuff. Acquired taste, I think.”
She briefly conveyed Ncita’s news about Missy and Jinan. “Ncita seems to think there’s a good chance your mother could get off,” she finished. “Seeing as she didn’t actually smuggle any of that stuff herself.”
“Makes sense.” Diesel crumbled a piece of bread between her fingers. “I guess I should be relieved but it doesn’t feel real, any of it.”
Elke didn’t know what to say. If it came to trial and Jinan was found guilty, there was a good chance she’d be executed.
“They might simply exile her,” said Diesel, catching Elke’s concerned look. “Or she might very well get off. She’s high ranking and she’s got lots of influence.” She shoved the plate of breadcrumbs away. “But what about your old friend Moraes. What happened to her?”
“They sent out a couple of guys to search the bushes for her body,” said Elke. “They haven’t found anything so far. She’s not high priority compared to securing a giant cache of Strangeworld biologicals.”
“She must be long gone by now.” Diesel looked as a technician in a bio-hazard suit ducked into the entrance to the underground route.
“Are you worried about that?” Elke jerked her head towards the technicians. “Do you think we’ve been exposed to something?”
Diesel didn’t speak for a while. Then she shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Everything depends on what Maxwell Jali decided to include in that cache and whether anything dangerous leaked. Maybe we can get my mother to share the records with us.” Diesel gave a wintery smile. “You realise that we’re probably going to have to spend some time in quarantine, before we can go back into the Eye? And we can all look forward to a lovely extra-long decontamination shower too.”
“Oh, man.” Elke pulled a face. “Oh well. It could be worse. I suppose.”
Goodbye
The next morning Elke said goodbye to Ncita and the rest of the officers who were getting ready to go back to the Eye.
“You’re all in the clear now,” Ncita told Elke. “You sure you don’t want to come back with us?”
“I’ve still got some things to finish up here,” Elke told him. “I’ll be back to the Ishtar Gate before nightfall.”
Diesel, who was sitting on the back of Ncita’s bike, gave her a knowing look but didn’t say anything.
She thinks I’m going chasing after Moraes. “Don’t worry,” Elke said. “I won’t get into any more trouble.”
On her way back to Crosshatch’s place, a voice hailed her from the river mouth.
“Elke! Wait for us!”
It was Isabeau, limping along without her crutch, Robby trotting at her side. Behind her came Noor and Ndlela.
“We saw them go,” Isabeau said when she reached Elke. “The cops on their bikes. Are they all gone now? Has Diesel left too? Hello Meisje!”
“Diesel’s gone, and some of the cops, but there’s all kinds of technicians working at the Cathedral now.”
“Some of them came to the camp last night,” said Isabeau. “They tested us and took our blood, and the cops were asking what happened. Especially with Buffel and Mamba. It took ages, but I’m glad you’re still here. Are you staying?”
“No,” said Elke. “I just wanted to say goodbye to you guys.”
By now Ndlela and Noor had caught up. Despite the late night, they seemed to have recovered from the events of the previous day.
“You’re going back today?” said Ndlela. “To the Eye?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh.” He pulled a wry face. “I wish we could go with you.”
“Not this time,” said Elke. “But who knows. Maybe we can work something out.”
“You think so?” Ndlela looked earnestly at her. “You said you’d look for Mom. Maybe we can help you.”
Isabeau pushed in between them. “You haven’t told her why you can’t go with to the Eye.” She turned to Elke. “Ndlela’s got a job, and so does Noor!”
“You do?”
“Noor bullied them into it,” said Ndlela with a grin.
“Don’t talk rot,” said Noor, but she was smiling. “It was all part of the negotiations.”
“Tell me as we go,” said Elke and they set off up the beach.
“So,” said Noor. “You know about the people who’re settling here once the dikes are finished? So, it struck me that this whole thing with the biologicals is going to make things even harder for Leendert and the guys.”
“Huh,” said Elke. “You know,
I didn’t even think of that.”
“Exactly. And the thing is, a large part of the problem is because Leendert and them are all foreigners. Even without the language problems the local people just don’t take them seriously.” Noor tucked her hair behind her ears. “I mean, I get it. How can these Dutch guys come and tell people who’ve been here for generations where to build their houses and how to live?”
Elke looked at Noor with dawning respect. “So that’s where you come in.”
“Exactly.” Noor gave an emphatic nod. “I’ve got everything they need.” She ticked it off on her fingers. “I speak most of the local languages. I’ve got very good references from working with the tourists and that’s given me experience in organising people. Plus, I live here! We’ve been living here in the Muara for years. I can explain things much better than Leendert can. They’ll listen to me.”
“You don’t think the whole mess with these biologicals will put a spanner in the works? Make people not want to move here?”
“It might,” said Noor. “Still means a lot of talking and planning though, doesn’t it?”
“That’s true,” said Elke. “And Leendert agreed to this? I hope he’ll pay you well.”
Noor smiled. “That’s all sorted. It’s going to be so much better than my old job.”
“But what I don’t understand,” said Isabeau, “is what about the Marine Guard. Don’t you want that any more, Noor?”
Noor looked away. “They’d never take me, Isabeau. Not with my foot all twisted like this.”
“You could get that fixed,” said Elke. “You can save up a bit of money now. For an operation.”
“I guess.” Noor was no longer smiling.
“You’re young,” Elke insisted. “The decisions you make now aren’t forever.”
“And soon me and Isabeau will earn enough to look after ourselves,” Ndlela said stoutly. “I’ll already be earning something.” He smiled at Elke. “That’s the other thing. Noor told them that they needed my help with their wind pump design. She told them how I’d improved the drip-trap, and they’re paying me too! So you see,” he said to his sister. “You don’t need to worry about us forever.”
“We’ll see,” said Noor.
“So,” Elke said, trying to find a safer topic. “Are you guys going back to the hotel?”
“Leendert wants us to move up to their camp,” said Ndlela. “We’re taking our stuff up there later today.” He turned and walked backward for a bit, making Robby bark and bounce all around him. “It’s going to be great.”
¤¤¤
Elke found herself a sunny spot outside Crosshatch’s yard and settled down. “You go keep an eye on her,” she told Meisje.
She didn’t have to wait long. About half-an-hour later, Meisje appeared and gave Elke a significant look.
“She’s on the move, hey?” Elke stood and stretched. “Well then.” She stepped behind the sheltering branches of a small tree and watched as Isabeau came around the corner.
They fell in behind her. “Hey,” said Elke. “Going anywhere special?”
“You can’t stop me!” Isabeau limped rapidly along over the close-packed sand.
“Nope,” Elke agreed.
“I’ve got to tell Xun what’s happened.”
“Yes.”
Isabeau glanced back. “You’re not going to stop me?”
“Why would I do that?”
“But you’re coming along.”
“I’ve spent quite enough time chasing after you, Isabeau. I’m not letting you out of my sight. Meisje.” Meisje turned to look at her. “Can you find Xun for us? Do you know where she is?”
Meisje gave a sharp, confident bark.
“We’ll go to the place where you saw her last,” suggested Elke. “Then you can pick up the trail from there. That work for you?”
Yes, signalled Meisje with her ears.
“I love it when she does that,” said Isabeau.
The bushes rustled and Robby came bowling past, tongue lolling. Elke laughed as Isabeau let out an exasperated cry.
“Persistent little bugger, isn’t he,” said Elke. “It’s fine. Let him come along.”
Meisje led them to a path in the undergrowth. It was narrow, so they walked in single file—Meisje first, Isabeau, and then Elke. Robby weaved among them, panting happily.
Soon they found the spot where Isabeau had last seen Xun. Isabeau avoided looking at the crushed undergrowth and marks that showed where the bodies had been dragged away. Clearly Ncita’s men had been at work here last night.
“Now, take us to Xun,” said Elke. Meisje put her nose to the ground and moved confidently away.
“What are you going to tell her?” Elke let Isabeau precede her down the narrow track.
“That she’s not safe here,” said Isabeau. “We had to tell those cops about her, and somebody will tell somebody, and then there’ll be people out here trying to catch her.”
“So you want her to go away?”
Isabeau’s shoulders tensed. “I don’t want her to go, but she’s not safe here, is she?”
“No,” agreed Elke. “I’ve got an idea about a place where she will be safe.”
Isabeau stopped and turned, looking doubtfully at Elke. “What do you mean?”
“Have you heard about the West Coast Park?”
Isabeau shook her head.
“It’s a wildlife reserve. Or it used to be, before everything went bung. About a day’s journey up the coast. Never been many people around and there should be quite a bit of game for them to hunt.”
“That sounds perfect!” Isabeau was wide eyed. “Will she be safe there?”
“Safer than here.”
Isabeau started walking again. The landscape was changing. They were making their way through grey-green bushes that gave off a spicy fragrance as Elke and Isabeau brushed past.
Soon Isabeau was limping badly and Elke suggested that they stop for a rest. They found a flat topped rock and sat on it.
“Can you show me some of the hand-signs that the gardags use?” said Isabeau.
“Sure. If you like.” Elke thought for a moment. “Okay. This is the one we use to signal ‘friend’. See?”
Isabeau frowned, then tried it herself. “Like that?”
“Don’t stick out your thumb. That means safe to eat.” Elke showed her the gesture again. “Flat thumb. Try again.”
By the time she was ready to walk again Isabeau had made a good try at ‘friend’, ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘well done’, and the release sign that meant the dog was free to go.
“You use that one when the dog has successfully completed a command,” explained Elke, showing her the release sign again. “It means ‘well done, you can relax now.’ Something like that.”
They set off once more. The beach was flatter here and the going easier, but the sun baked down mercilessly. Elke was wondering how far they’d still have to go when Meisje slowed, stopped, and looked at Elke.
“Where are they, girl?”
The gardag looked pointedly at a line of bushes.
“In there?”
Yes.
Elke made to step forward, but Isabeau put her hand on Elke’s arm. “Can I do this?”
“Are you sure?” Elke looked at the bushes again. There was no sign of the gardags but she didn’t doubt that they were there. “I know Xun won’t hurt you, but I’m not so sure about those sons of hers.”
“She won’t let them do anything.”
Elke looked doubtfully at Isabeau, then at Meisje. “Okay. Don’t go too far, and Meisje’s joining you, but this guy’s staying with me.” She hooked her fingers into Robby’s collar.
“Sorry Robby.” Isabeau rubbed his head. “I’ll be right back.”
She walked towards the bushes, Meisje at her side. After a few paces she stopped.
“Xun!”
Her voice sounded thin against the murmur of the waves. Even Robby caught the mood and sat, ears pricked, watching.
“Xun!” Isabeau called again. “It’s me. I have some news for you. Can I talk to you?”
Another pause. Then Xun appeared among the scratchy branches.
Isabeau’s back straightened but she seemed quite unafraid. Her hands shaped the signal for ‘friend’.
Elke watched as Isabeau pointed westward up the coast, then glanced backwards, towards Kaapstadt, talking all the while, but too softly for Elke to catch the words.
The big gardag put her armoured forehead against Isabeau’s stomach, leaning into her while Isabeau dug her fingers into the gaps in her armour, stroking Xun’s neck. They stood like that for a long moment, gardag and girl. Isabeau stepped back and lifted her hands into a final signal. Well done. Release.
Xun made her way slowly to where the two wolfdogs were waiting. For a few moments they were visible, three dark shapes against the silvery green of the bushes. Then they melted into the undergrowth.
¤¤¤
On the way back Isabeau went slowly, favouring her ankle.
“Those movie people, they wouldn’t have hurt her, would they?” she said.
“Not if they could avoid it.”
“They’d have put her in a cage,” said Isabeau. “But she’d have been safe.”
“Yes.”
Isabeau thought about this for a few steps. When she spoke again, her voice was wistful. “I wish Xun could have stayed here.”
Elke didn’t answer.
“But it doesn’t work like that.” Isabeau had one hand up to keep her wind-whipped hair out of her face. “She can’t stay here because people would always be hunting her. She’d probably go crazy if they put her in a cage, and what about Fenris and Anubis?”
It took Elke a moment to remember that these were the names Isabeau had given the two wolfdogs, Xun’s sons. “Yes,” she said. “Those two are truly wild. Xun might still live around humans, but they never would.”
“And Xun would never leave her sons.” Isabeau gave a big sigh. “Why do things always work out so complicated?”
“I don’t know.” Elke touched Isabeau’s shoulder. “You did the right thing. You gave her the choice.”
The Real Page 25
