by D. V. Berkom
“You know,” Hugh said when they reached his rig, “I don’t have any flights scheduled tomorrow morning. If you’re interested in going up to see if you can spot that camp you were talking about, I’m available.”
“That would be really helpful,” Derek said. “What time and what do you need from us?”
“It’ll be early, like five thirty. Still interested?”
“Sure. We’re more than happy to pay for the propane as well as your time,” Leine added.
Hugh waved her offer away. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad to help.”
CHAPTER 28
KYLIE REPOSITIONED THE metal cuff attached to her ankle and wiped at the trickle of blood. Ubaya had slapped them on her that morning and didn’t seem concerned when she told him how the sharp metal cut into her skin. Now past eleven, the raw sores oozed pus and blood. Infection had set in fast. The sharp pain reminded her to keep her head down and not draw Ghanima’s ire.
Bone-tired and looking forward to her thin blanket on the ground in the sleeping hut, Kylie waved at Ubaya to let him know she was ready to go. After making sure the pots and pans were put away and the grill was turned off, she removed her apron and hung it next to the towels. She shuffled out of the tent and down the path, the chain clanking noisily with each step. Ubaya followed close behind her. When she turned toward the door of the sleeping hut, he hit her between the shoulders with the butt of his gun.
“Keep going. You will not sleep here tonight.”
The pain from the hit was nothing compared to the chill that slid up her spine at his words. Was he going to rape her? Was this part of her punishment? The chains grew heavier, so much so that she found it difficult to continue. At one point, she tripped over a wooden slat and would have taken a header into the walk if he hadn’t grabbed on to her to keep her upright.
They continued past the end of the camp where the worker latrines were, and out into the dark bush beyond. Ubaya flicked on his flashlight and trained it on the ground in front of them. Insects buzzed in the dark, and mysterious grunts emanated from the world beyond the small beam of light.
Eventually they came to a wire fence with a gate. Ubaya opened it and pushed her through. The night sounds she’d been able to ignore in the sleeping hut were now close. Very close. In the distance, a hyena’s maniacal laugh echoed in the darkness. Kylie shivered, her skin erupting in goose bumps.
He closed the gate behind them and walked Kylie to the center post where he bent down and picked up the end of a long chain. He reached for the short length of metal between her ankles.
“No!” Kylie jerked her foot from his hand and stepped backward, forgetting for a moment she was chained. With nowhere for her feet to go she fell, landing on her hip with a heavy thud, the pain shooting to her shoulder.
He crouched next to her and connected the chains, testing the bond by pulling on the longer of the two. Kylie grabbed on to his hand, panic closing her throat.
“What are you doing? You can’t leave me out here alone—”
He wrenched his hand free and stepped back, a cruel smile on his face.
“You should not make Ghanima angry.” He scanned the enclosure. The roar of a lion shattered the still night air. Close.
Kylie pushed herself onto her knees and lunged for the man’s legs. He moved out of the way and she fell to all fours, skinning her palms in the rocky dirt.
“Please—” she said, hot tears sliding down her cheeks. When he didn’t respond she sank to the ground and pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. The gate closed with a screech and the guard’s footsteps faded, leaving her alone and tethered to the pole in the dark.
***
Hours later, Kylie woke from a fitful doze, disoriented and afraid. Something had woken her, and her imagination went into overdrive with visions of hungry lions and hyenas, ready to tear her apart. She held her breath trying to quiet the pounding of her heart, and strained to hear.
The footsteps came closer, accompanied by clanking. Kylie exhaled with a sigh. It wasn’t a wild animal stalking its prey, but she was still wary of the late-night visitor.
“Kylie?” A woman’s voice.
“Zara?” Kylie cleared her throat and peered into the darkness, trying to make out the woman she’d met earlier. The clanking paused as the gate opened and closed, then resumed before Zara materialized. She knelt down next to Kylie.
“How did you know I was out here?” Kylie asked.
“I heard Ubaya laughing about how frightened you were when he left you alone. Here—” Zara reached into her pocket and pulled out a folding knife, which she handed to her. The metal blade glinted in the moonlight. “It’s the only thing I dared take. Hopefully they won’t miss it. You can hide it under your clothes when they come to get you in the morning.”
Kylie’s shoulders slumped as she felt the weight of the knife in her hand.
“What’s wrong?” Zara asked. “I know it’s not much, but at least you’ll be able to protect yourself if something gets in.”
“No. Of course, thank you.” A tear slid down Kylie’s cheek and landed on her wrist. “It’s just that I was hoping you were here to bring me back.”
Zara put her hand on Kylie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. If anyone found out I was here with you I’d be punished. The guard, Lek, gave me the key for the gate, and I have to make sure I get it back to him, soon. I wanted you to know someone other than Ghanima knows you’re out here.”
Kylie glanced behind Zara to make sure no one else was there. “I haven’t been able to sleep more than a few minutes at a time. Whenever I drift off, something wakes me. Most of the time it’s some animal noise.”
“You’re going to be fine. This is the monsoon season. With all the rain, there’s plenty of food to go around. You’re not a predator’s favorite meal, anyway.” Zara tilted her head back and looked at the sky. Kylie did the same. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
Zara was trying to get her mind off of her situation, and Kylie willingly played along. Watching the brilliant dance of stars above her with Zara nearby gave her new hope that she’d see morning.
“I saw one of the girls from Bangkok,” Kylie said. “Wang’s using her as his—” She searched for the right word to describe Sapphire’s situation. “She’s staying in his tent.”
“She goes by the name of Sapphire, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Victor brought her to see the cubs.” Zara paused for a moment. “She didn’t look very good.”
“I know. I saw her a couple of times.” Kylie shook her head. “He’s hurting her, isn’t he?”
Zara nodded and looked back up at the stars. “There was a young boy with them. I think his name was Jaidee.”
Kylie’s heart skipped. “He’s here? Was he okay?” A spark of protective anger bolted through her at the thought of anyone hurting him.
“He was when I saw him.” Zara gave Kylie a quick smile. “I think Wang likes having him around. Looks like it, anyway. He brings him things, like his paper or his lunch.”
“Like a dog.” Kylie’s voice was flat.
Zara nodded. “Like a dog.”
The two women sat together in silence, listening to the wild night sounds and staring at the stars. Kylie couldn’t keep her eyes open and soon nodded off. When next she woke, Zara was gone and the sun had just begun its ascent.
She’d survived the night.
CHAPTER 29
HUGH AND ONE of his crewmembers, a young Tanzanian named Rashid, rolled up at five twenty in a four-door pickup pulling a flatbed trailer with the balloon and basket. Leine and Derek climbed into the backseat and they headed down the drive in the dark, turning left when they reached the main road. Half an hour later, they parked near a flat area devoid of trees.
While Derek and Rashid rolled out the massive fabric envelope, Hugh and Leine removed the gas-powered fan from the back of the pickup and stationed it near the mouth of the balloon. Derek ran back and helped Leine hold
the mouth open as Hugh turned on the fan, aiming directly into the balloon. As air inflated the envelope, Rashid stood near the crown, holding on to a rope connected to the top. Once the balloon was fully inflated, Hugh took control of the burners and fired, shooting hot air into the multicolored fabric. The envelope lifted gracefully into the air, a giant behemoth come alive, dragging Rashid across the ground toward them until he let go of the rope. At Hugh’s instruction, Leine and Derek climbed into the wicker basket while Rashid sprinted over and jumped on to help weigh them down. The balloon hovered a few inches above the ground, straining to fly.
“Okay, Rashid, time for lift off,” Hugh said. Rashid hopped off the basket onto the ground, and the balloon began to rise as the earth dropped away. Rashid and the pickup grew smaller until they looked like miniatures.
Except for the occasional blast from the burner, the flight was quiet and serene, with no sense of movement. The rising sun bathed the terrain in a crisp, yellow-orange glow. A hush fell over the landscape punctuated by early morning birdsong. Leine leaned against the edge of the basket and took in the scenery, keeping an eye out for Wang’s camp. At one point, the sound of the burner flushed several dik diks from the brush below them.
“Do you have any idea where the camp might be?” Hugh asked Leine.
“Not really. The last known location was approximately ten kilometers northwest of here.”
“Why? Can you steer this thing?” Derek asked.
“In a fashion. Remember that little black balloon I launched earlier? That told me which way the wind was blowing at different levels. So, when I want to head that way,” Hugh pointed over Derek’s shoulder, “I climb or drop to the level with the wind direction I need and let nature take it from there.”
“What happens when a storm comes up?” Derek asked.
“This time of year’s tricky because of the monsoons. If I see clouds building up anywhere nearby, I’ll land.”
“Glad to hear it,” Leine said.
Hugh steered to the northwest, flying over trees and grassland. A herd of zebra scattered as the balloon approached. As soon as they flew past, the animals regrouped and resumed their grazing. Derek spotted several objects in the distance and asked Hugh to maneuver them closer. As they neared the spot, the objects in question turned out to be a Maasai settlement with mud huts and fenced-in cattle, so they continued on. The landscape gradually changed from straight savannah to an intermixed, wooded terrain.
About an hour into the flight, Hugh warned, “I only have enough propane to fly another twenty minutes.” He radioed Rashid that they’d be landing soon. Rashid, who had been following them in the pickup, acknowledged the transmission and continued to track them.
Just then, Leine caught a glimpse of several colorful objects nestled in a wooded area.
“Look. Over there.” She handed Derek the binoculars.
He nodded. “Promising.”
Hugh changed course and they floated toward the spot in question. This time it wasn’t a Maasai settlement, but a small group of brightly colored tents next to an even larger assemblage of tan ones.
“I think we found it,” Leine said.
“Sorry, guys, but I gotta land.”
As they neared the ground, the wind kicked up and pushed them toward a thorn tree. Hugh blasted the burners, raising the balloon to a calmer wind level, then tried again. This time they dropped gently toward the earth.
Rashid caught the rope Hugh threw overboard, and guided them to an open area. Hugh opened the vent at the top of the balloon, allowing the hot air to escape. The envelope and basket sank gracefully.
“Thank you, Hugh. This was just what we needed,” Leine said. She climbed over the edge of the basket and dropped to the ground. Derek followed.
“My pleasure, guys. I hope you find whoever you’re looking for. And,” he added, “I hope to hell you mess with Victor Wang. A lot of people would be grateful.”
Leine turned to say something to Rashid when a burst of gunfire erupted behind them. Hugh’s head snapped back, and his body crumpled to the basket floor. Rashid froze, staring in horror at his mentor.
“Get down!” Leine ran at Rashid in a crouch and connected with his midsection, propelling him behind the basket. Derek followed seconds later. The gunfire intensified. Leine and Derek drew their weapons, each taking a corner.
“This wicker won’t stop much,” Derek said, his breathing heavy.
“No kidding,” Leine replied.
Eyes wide, Rashid attempted to stand. Keeping her attention on the three visible gunmen moving through the trees, she shoved the younger man to the ground.
“Stay down!”
“Get to the truck. I’ll cover you both,” Derek said, nodding to where Rashid had parked several yards behind them.
Leine pushed up to a crouch and Rashid did the same, the whites of his eyes visible. Leine held up her fingers and mouthed, “One, two…”
On three, the two sprinted toward the truck, staying low, the sound of gunfire exploding behind them. Rashid tore around the front of the truck to the driver’s side while Leine wrenched the passenger door open and dove onto the floor. He slammed the truck into gear and stood on the accelerator. For a sickening moment the wheels spun, spitting rocks and dirt, trying to gain traction. The truck’s tires finally grabbed hold and they rocketed toward Derek.
It looked like they were going to overshoot the balloon, but at the last minute Rashid gunned the motor, spun the steering wheel, and hauled on the emergency brake. The truck skidded alongside the basket, kicking up a cloud of dirt and almost jackknifing the trailer.
“Get in!” Leine shouted, holding the door open. Derek emptied his magazine at the remaining gunmen and launched himself into the truck. Leine dragged the door closed and Rashid punched the accelerator to the floor.
Bullets pinged the trailer and truck bed as they careened through the tall grass. Seconds later, they bounced onto the dirt road, the trailer fishtailing behind them. Rashid kept driving and stared straight ahead, his knuckles blanched white on the steering wheel.
“Holy shit,” Derek said. “What the hell was that?”
Leine turned to look out the back window. Her heart thudded in her chest with the familiar rush of an adrenaline spike. She glanced at Rashid to see how he was holding up and noticed tears streaming down his face.
“We must retrieve his body.” Rashid’s voice was barely loud enough to be heard over the engine.
“We will, Rashid. I promise,” Leine answered.
Derek shook his head. “Not bloody now, I can tell you that. I only knocked down one of the fuckers. The other two just kept coming.”
“Did you see how they were dressed? In military gear,” Leine said.
“They were serious, that’s for sure. Looked to me like the militia group Alma was talking about. Weapons, fatigues. Matching caps. The lot. Glad they were far enough away. I doubt they would’ve missed, otherwise.”
Rashid kept his eyes on the road and didn’t comment. Leine touched his arm. He continued to stare through the windshield.
“Look, I realize Hugh was your friend. I’m sorry it happened. But we can’t change the fact that he’s gone.”
“He was teaching me to fly,” Rashid said in a quiet voice. He grew silent for a moment before he asked, “Was this man whose camp you are looking for responsible?”
“I don’t know. Probably.” Leine sighed. She was getting tired of Wang and people like him. Of his belief that he had the right to take whatever and whomever he wanted for his sole profit, damn the consequences.
Too bad Wang wasn’t in Africa. She’d have liked a shot at him. One less asshole to contend with.
Forty-five minutes later, Rashid dropped them off at the Center. He refused Leine’s invitation to join them, insisting instead that he wanted to see his family, especially his children. Unable to talk him into staying, Leine and Derek wished him well and warned him not to go back to the site.
“In fact, Lei
ne and I were planning to pick up the body tonight, when it’s dark.”
Leine nodded. “We’ll take him to his wife.”
“May I come with you?” Rashid asked.
Leine glanced at Derek, who shook his head.
“Of course, Rashid. Meet us here after dark,” Leine said, ignoring the look Derek gave her. “Where does Hugh’s wife live? We’ll need to inform her of her husband’s death.”
Rashid squared his shoulders. “I will go to Captain Hugh’s home and tell his wife.”
“Are you sure? Would you like one of us to go with you?” Leine asked.
“No. I will do this thing.” He climbed back into the pickup and drove away.
Leine watched him go, anger at Wang rising in her chest.
“Why did you tell him he could come with us?” Derek stood in front of her, legs spread and his arms crossed. “He’ll end up being just one more complication to worry about, you check?”
“And if I didn’t tell him he could come along?” Leine crossed her arms to match his. “Did you notice the determined look on his face? Rashid was going back to get Hugh with or without us. I’d prefer we kept the casualties to a minimum, if that’s all right with you.”
Derek stared past her, his jaw set, reminding Leine of a little boy who didn’t get his way.
“Whatever,” she said, not waiting for his answer. “Pissed off or not, I refuse to be responsible for another innocent life cut short by Wang’s men. You check?” With that, she started for the main building. She’d have to give Hattie and Alma the bad news. Derek didn’t follow right away.
Good, she thought. It would give them both time to cool off.
***
As Leine expected, Alma and Hattie didn’t take the news well. When she told them they were going back that evening to retrieve Hugh’s body, Alma protested.
