by Lily Harlem
“I beg your pardon?”
“You want a whiskey or not?” He held up a bottle of amber liquid.
Whiskey wasn’t a flavor Casey particularly enjoyed but something told her the hospitality was best accepted. “Er, yes, please, with some water if that’s okay.”
He poured a little into each glass, then slid one across the counter in her direction. “Bottles of water to your left. Help yourself while you’re here, last thing I need is you dehydrated and getting some kind of female migraine.”
A zing of annoyance went through her. She was perfectly capable of staying hydrated without being told to, and didn’t men get migraines, too? She pulled open the refrigerator and added a healthy slug of water to her whiskey.
He watched her do it over the rim of his glass.
Sod it. She was just going to lay the cards on the table. If she didn’t, the next two weeks would be unbearable. “Why, Rhett, did you agree to me being here? It’s clearly not something you wanted.”
“Dan’s been good to me. He was in a fix.” He shrugged.
“I see.”
“So I’m doing it for him, not you. Letting a stranger into my house is hardly my usual routine.”
Casey was quiet; figuring out how to handle this gruff, straight-talking ranger wasn’t going to be easy. She figured his heart was in the right place, as he was repaying a debt to Dan, and anyone who hand-raised orphaned servals couldn’t be all bad. But still, pleasant conversation clearly wasn’t on his agenda.
He finished his whiskey and poured another two fingers into his tumbler. “The bedroom’s through there and there’s a loo that way too.” He nodded to the right but stepped to the left, toward the living area. “Electricity can be a bit hit and miss, it’s wind powered, but do your best to make yourself at home.”
There was only one doorway in the direction he’d nodded. “Where will you sleep?”
“Out here.” He stepped onto the side veranda and sat in a large wicker chair. It creaked as he leaned back, set his feet up on the rail, and crossed his ankles.
“Is there a bathroom, a shower?” she asked.
“Yep, behind that screen.” He gestured outside with his drink.
“Behind there?” A large green barrel sat above a big square panel of wood.
“Easiest way to get hot water for a shower is to let the sun heat it in that tank. You’ll soon get used to it.”
“It’s, er… not very private.”
“As a general rule, privacy isn’t high on my list of concerns. No one but me here.”
“Ah, yes, of course.” As she’d spoken, Buddy smoothed past her leg. The unexpected feeling of his warm fur made her jump. “Oh!”
Rhett turned and raised his eyebrows. “I don’t have Egyptian cotton white sheets or whatever they are at the main lodge, so be sure to check the bed before you get in it, snakes and spiders are harder to see.”
She swallowed down a gulp of whiskey and watched Buddy curl up in a basket next to Rhett. Oh, why couldn’t she be at the main lodge like last time? It had been so very civilized, five-star luxury compared to this.
But Casey wasn’t a quitter and she was here now. So she wandered into the bedroom and set her rucksack on a wooden stool.
“This will be fine,” she said to herself. The bed was large, the mosaic patterned sheets faded and the pillows not especially plump. A mosquito net hung around it from a large wooden hoop. Furniture was minimal; a wardrobe with a few clothes hanging in it, all the same earthy color tones, and a white porcelain basin set on the table. There was a small mirror, but no pictures, no attempt at cozying up the place. It was a shame really; Casey could imagine it decorated colonial style with soft rugs, interesting African artefacts and maybe a few mahogany antiques. But that clearly wasn’t Rhett’s style. He was a simple-living man. Food, shelter, and his animals seemed to be his main needs, and, of course, whiskey and a rifle.
A sudden slap on her head made her cry out. “Argh!” She dashed her hands through her hair; something had landed there and it was scurrying around. “Ah, fuck, fuck, get off.” She spun in a circle, tipped her head forward and back, hopped on the spot. Panic gripped her.
Finding the source of the scrabbling on her scalp, she flicked at it hard.
A small lizard flew through the air and landed on Rhett’s chest.
He grabbed it, his mouth open, clearly startled by her scream and violent twisting and turning.
“It fell on me,” Casey said, breathing hard. She looked upward. The ceiling was lined with what appeared to be reeds. “It obviously lives up there, how many more are there?”
Rhett frowned and walked to the open window. He set the lizard on the outside windowsill and it scurried off.
Casey pressed her hand to her sternum. Her heart was racing.
“I knew you’d be like this.” He shook his head.
“Like what?” Ick, she could still feel the creature’s little feet tangling in her hair.
“Scared of your own shadow. I thought you’d been here before, to Africa.”
“I’m not scared of my own shadow, and yes, I have, I just stayed somewhere that wasn’t quite as primitive as this.”
“Primitive? This is luxury compared to what the majority of South African people have; you’d do well to remember that.”
“I get that. I have traveled, you know.”
He said nothing.
“It’s just a bit of a shock when the local wildlife lands on your head, that’s all.”
Still he said nothing.
Casey pulled in a deep breath. “Would it be possible to make a sandwich, I haven’t eaten for hours.”
“You know where the kitchen is.” He turned and walked out.
His reaction irked her. Not because of what he’d said, but that he might have thought she’d wanted him to make her food. She hadn’t.
The basin was full of clean water and a small bar of white soap sat next to it. Casey washed her hands and face, wishing she could rinse away the turn of events that meant she was here and not at Amakala Lodge. But of course she couldn’t. After brushing her hair and securing it atop her head, she checked on her precious Nikon camera. It had made the journey safely and she slung the strap around her head, habit, in case she saw anything that inspired her during the sunset.
She found the kitchen to be reasonably well stocked with food including fresh bread and a block of cheese. There was also a pantry stacked full of tins and dried food. Nothing fancy, but enough to keep someone going for a reasonable length of time.
As she made a few rounds of sandwiches, she glanced at Rhett. He was sitting on the veranda again, feet up and his hat pulled over his face as though sleeping. Buddy was on his lap now, curled up and apparently also sleeping, and Rhett’s empty whiskey glass sat on the floor.
After pouring more water for herself, she wandered over to the veranda. She placed the pile of sandwiches on the table then grabbed a couple for herself. The sinking sun had turned the baked earth orange and gold. Long shadows stretched east and the sky was a wash of red and lilac. A single streak of black cloud slashed through the colors.
Africa really was beautiful. She sat, not on a chair but on the steps overlooking the plains. It had been too long since she’d watched the sun sinking into the horizon.
As she ate, the cicadas started their song, a constant high-pitched clicking noise that would likely go on till morning. She spotted giraffes in the distance, moving amongst a patch of trees nibbling the highest branches as they went. There would be so much more out there, unseen, camouflaged, prey or the preyed upon. She couldn’t wait to get started on her project, which was to be shot in monochrome. Her task was to show how markings and color helped animals blend into their environment. It would make an interesting challenge after only photographing birds the last time she’d visited.
Sandwich finished, she brushed off the crumbs then took the lens cover from her camera. In the last pale light in the west several large birds were circlin
g. She wasn’t sure if they were buzzards or vultures from the distance she was at. With an expert hand she zoomed in and snapped half a dozen images. They might be useable but she didn’t expect so. Tomorrow, in the bright light of day, she hoped to get some images of larger land animals.
A sudden rub of fur pushed past her. This time she didn’t startle as she looked down at the cub. Its huge eyes were looking up at her, its long ears with tufts of fur on the end making it look quite comical.
“Hey there, Buddy,” she said quietly and stroked his head.
He purred and rubbed his cheek against her.
She smiled then leaned back and took a few photographs of him. He wanted to be close and leaned in again. Casey chuckled, he was too near to capture on camera so she replaced her lens cap and fussed over him.
After a few minutes she glanced at Rhett. His hat was still over his face as he half sat, half lay in the encroaching darkness but the sandwiches she’d placed near him were gone.
“Right then, Buddy,” she whispered. “That’s me finished for the day. I’ll see you in the morning.” She stood and he wound his long body around her legs twice before walking over to Rhett and curling up on a dusty blanket on the floor.
She paused and surveyed them together—the ranger and his wild cub settled under the African sky.
One thing was for sure, it was going to be an interesting two weeks.
Chapter Three
Casey woke naturally the next morning and was pleased she hadn’t slept in late.
Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains, and as she pushed the mosquito net aside and stood, she looked warily up at the ceiling. She didn’t fancy another aerial lizard attack… at least not before breakfast.
She pulled on a thin cotton robe and soft sandals and after using the loo, headed into the kitchen. Rhett was nowhere to be seen, so she wandered out to the shower area.
The shower cubicle, if it could be called that, was completely open on two sides, toward the north and east, facing away from the lodge. She figured this was because Rhett had no issues with wild animals watching him wash. Or maybe it was so he could keep an eye on what was about while he showered. She wasn’t particularly looking forward to baring all to the savannah.
Glancing around, she decided to shower now while she appeared to be alone. Slipping out of her robe and undergarments, she flicked on the faucet then stood under the cool spray of water that came from the barrel. She shut her eyes and held her breath as her bed-warm skin was cooled. After several seconds she reached for a bar of soap and quickly lathered up then rinsed off. Feeling fresher, she paused for a moment with the water sliding over her body and stared into the distance. The heat of the coming day had already created a haze on the horizon, making it appear as if large pools were waiting there. But of course drinking holes were few and far between, and the animals wouldn’t be fooled by a mirage even if human eyes were.
After turning off the water, she pulled her robe around her wet body. She knew from experience the dry heat would soon remove any dampness from her skin. Padding back into the kitchen holding her sleepwear, the aroma of coffee hit her.
“I’m going on patrol in ten minutes,” Rhett said without looking at her as he stirred sugar into a mug. “Be ready if you want to come.”
So much for a ‘good morning’ or a ‘how did you sleep?’.
“I will be.” She wandered past him, smiling when Buddy bounded up to her. Rhett might be a grump but his serval certainly wasn’t. “Hey, there.” She tickled Buddy behind his ears. “Did you sleep well?”
The cat touched its nose to her hand then rubbed its cheek over her knuckles. “I have to go and get dressed, can’t keep your master waiting.”
Rhett cleared his throat then turned and stepped outside. He wore the same clothes as yesterday, or at least the same style even if not the exact same ones, and his boots clunked on the wooden flooring.
Casey nipped into the bedroom, dragged on loose khaki trousers and a pale brown t-shirt. After dragging a brush through her hair and securing it in a low ponytail, she smothered sun lotion on her face and arms and slotted a wide-brimmed hat on her head. She, like Rhett, opted for walking boots. Anything could happen on a game drive, though she hoped she wouldn’t end up walking miles. There were creatures out there that would see her as a tasty treat even if she didn’t have that much meat on her bones.
Quickly, she checked that her camera was all set for the day. With high hopes of making a start on her project, she then headed into the main living area with it hanging at the ready around her neck.
Rhett was standing at the door swinging his keyring around his index finger. “You ready?” he asked gruffly.
“Yep, sorry if I kept you waiting.” She dropped her shades over her eyes.
He kind of grunted then stooped and coaxed Buddy into the lodge. “You stay in here,” he said. “Don’t want anything flying off with you.”
Casey took the hint and slipped outside. Rhett shut the door up though didn’t flick the lock. He reached for his rifle and slung the strap over his shoulder so the gun sat against his back.
As they walked in silence to the Jeep, the still air felt solid against her skin. They were in for a seriously hot day out on the reserve. Hopefully the open-sided vehicle would give them some relief though she knew the breeze itself would be saturated with the sun’s heat.
Rhett slid the gate open, exposing the lodge to the outside world. After driving the Jeep through it, he hopped out and shut it again, and this time she spotted him clicking the padlock through it to secure his home.
She fingered her camera and glanced around. The scenery was so much better when not viewing it though the crisscrossed metal of the fence.
“Why do you have the high surround?” she asked when he re-joined her in the Jeep and pulled away. “I’ve seen some lodges with nothing or just an electric fence.”
He glanced at her then back at the dirt track. “Keeps things in, like Buddy, as much as keeping unwanted visitors out.” He paused. “And by unwanted visitors I don’t just mean predators. Poaching is still a huge problem around here, and those bastards would go through my house like a swarm of locusts, taking everything and not caring who or what they hurt in the process.”
Casey shivered. Poachers were the scum of the earth as far as she was concerned. Killing endangered animals for wealth and going to any lengths to do so did not a make for a good soul. “When was your last loss, through poachers?”
“A year ago, a female rhino.” He paused. “We never caught them but my God if I got my hands on them.” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles paling.
“It’s hard to patrol such a huge expanse of reserve. There’s what, four of you, including Dan?”
“Three now, which means I have over one hundred kilometers of fence to keep in order plus all the land to the east of here, toward the main lodge.”
“But you enjoy it, being out here and not in an office.”
He huffed. “Can you imagine me in an office?”
She thought about it for a second. Rhett in a stiff suit, clean-shaven, neat hair… no, she couldn’t see it. “I guess not.”
“Too right.” He suddenly put on the brakes and the Jeep juddered to a halt.
Casey gripped the panel in front of her, on the dash, to prevent herself from being thrust forward.
“Over there,” Rhett said, pointing to the left. “Warthog.”
Casey lifted her sunglasses and peered into the distance. From behind a bush a dark pig-like creature with tusks and a tail pointing directly upright jogged along at a fast pace.
She held up her camera and zoomed in, took a few pictures.
“They’re notoriously shy,” Rhett said. “But there’ll be more than one there. They live in families.”
Casey searched the bushes, hoping to see more, but after a few minutes there was still nothing and Rhett started the engine up again.
“Are we heading anywhere in particu
lar?” Casey asked, lowering her camera.
“Water buffalo.” He nodded straight ahead. “I want to check up on them. The cows are giving birth, and it’s always good to see how they’re coping and how many there are. The lions will take some of course and the leopard too if he gets a chance.”
“Ah, okay.”
“But we’ll see more wildlife on the way so you can…” He waved his hand at her camera. “Get your pictures and all that.”
“Thank you.”
They drove in silence for about twenty minutes, the Jeep was rattling and a couple of times the exhaust popped, sounding as if it were shooting out a bullet. Casey scanned the horizon hoping to see big cats or elephants but there was nothing. The savannah stretched endlessly, littered with dry shrubs, spiked plants, and tall trees with skinny trunks. But she didn’t get disheartened. It was only the first day and she knew from experience one minute it could seem there was no life around and the next a herd of antelope or kudo could appear as if from nowhere.
“There, in the valley,” Rhett said, pointing forward. “They prefer the lowland grass this time of year.”
Sprinkled over the deep V of the valley were small dark dots. As the Jeep grew nearer, the huge shape of the water buffalo could be made out. They flicked their tails and shook their heads, clearly bothered by swarms of flies. Casey couldn’t begin to count them but she’d guess at over two hundred beasts.
“They look well,” she said when Rhett pulled the vehicle to a stop about a hundred meters from the herd.
“Yeah, we haven’t had any problems with TB unlike some places.”
“That’s good.” She snapped a picture of a resting water buffalo. He was lying down, his wide horns curled upward as he held his chin high and a white bird, an egret, pecked at the underside of his neck, likely taking off ticks.
“There’s a newborn, over there.” Rhett pointed to the west. “Looks to be only a few hours old.”
“Oh, yes.” She took more photographs of the skinny-legged creature. Its ears were huge and wobbling as it ducked its head beneath its mother’s belly in search of milk.
