Zambezi Seduction (12 page)

Kerry was horrified. “
I thought you liked Africans.”

“I do. Anyone with the opposite view has no place here. Liking them doesn
’t mean I admire the way they run things.”

An edge had come into his voice. Kerry sensed that they were being drawn into another of the verbal scraps that had plagued their relationship.

The arrival of a stranger round the side of the lodge was a welcoming sight.

***

“I am interrupting something?”

A man of roughly Chad
’s age, tallish and slim, with mousy brown hair and a neat beard. His English was clear but accented. Not an Afrikaner – probably Scandinavian, Kerry decided, playing the guessing game as she often did with airline passengers.

The newcomer addressed himself to Chad, smiling in a friendly way.

“I’m your next door neighbour. Did you see the mongeese, or is it gooses? People should meet and share their experiences. Please – my wife and I will be happy if you both join us for a drink.”

Chad glanced at Kerry. She didn
’t yet feel up to mixing socially, and their walk at the Falls had tired her. As gracefully as she could she declined, but encouraged him to go.

“I’
ll be making a potato salad. Have it with cold meats when you return.”

Kerry began to clear away her glass and the beer cans from the
stoep
. Before the men were out of earshot, she heard the stranger say, “Too bad your wife couldn’t join us.” She froze and waited for Chad to set the record straight.

The footsteps faded without her hearing him.

***

He returned two hours later. Kerry lay in the dark under the mosquito net
. She heard the fridge door open and shut and the click of cutlery against china. She waited for him to finish eating – for a foolish moment entertaining a wild hope that he would come to her room, as he had to her hospital bed. Tell her about their new-found neighbours – like a good husband would. But in her heart she knew there would be no knock. Whatever the neighbours might think, in reality she and Chad were far apart.

It was a situation she had never faced before: close to a man who attracted her one minute
only to elicit feelings of shock and antipathy the next.

She listened to his footsteps passing her door. There was something sad about it, Kerry felt. They had so much to offer each other. They were young and physically attractive, and they had opportunity. Yet they were not doing what a man and a woman in their situation could be expected to do. Instead they stumbled along day after day like a couple of concert musicians constantly hitting the wrong notes. Kerry wished there was a way she could start the holiday again. But what could she have done to get it off on a better footing?

The lodge fell silent. Kerry’s last thought, before sleep overtook her, was on the note she had left on the table.

Tribes at one end of a river knew nothing of the wheel
; while at the mouth of the same river they’d had it since the time of the pharaohs.

Doesn
’t that say everything about the mystery and romance of Africa?

THIRTEEN

At first light they were hardly out of sight of the lodge before they saw hippos returning to the Zambezi from their night-grazing forays on land. Over the next hour Kerry noted for later transfer to her journal: impala, baboon, kudu, waterbuck, zebra, duiker and elephant – which, despite the tragic incident with the warden, she loved to watch.

They kept on the move, covering as much ground as possible before the sun got high and the animals entered the thick stuff in search of shade. Once again their efforts went unrewarded. Kerry could only guess at Chad’s feelings. She herself was not unhappy. There was so much to observe and marvel at. Not only was there large game in abundance – drawn to the life line of the river in these
final days of the dry season – but the bird life was spectacular. Rollers, Carmine bee-eaters, glossy ibis, white herons, saddlebill storks, fish eagles and many more.

They took many photographs. Chad was reluctant to linger in
one place for long. While the day was still comparatively cool, their quarry might be on the move.

Amid such abundant life and beauty, Kerry reached one decision about her future. She would study wildlife photography and buy the right equipment. Never again would she waste holiday time lying on a beach.

Later, when the heat intensified, they broke off their search and returned to their riverside lodge.

***

“Tell me more about our neighbours,” Kerry said, taking chilled fruit juice from the fridge and pouring it into tall glasses. She had purposely not asked during the drive – Chad’s concentration at such times was total. All he had told her before they’d set off was that they were a Danish couple.

Chad took a swallow of juice before answering.

“Per and Camilla Olsen. Him, you’ve seen. She’s the smiling, chatty sort – blonde, attractive, plays golf and tennis. They arrived in Jo’burg only four years ago. He runs his own business making furniture to Scandinavian design. Also kitchen units and pine saunas.”

“Saunas in Africa?”
Kerry was astonished. “Isn’t that like selling ice to Eskimos?”

Chad finished his juice and poured himself more. There was merriment in his eyes.

“For a Pom, you know a lot about Africa. But you’ve still plenty to learn. Take the wealthy citizens of Johannesburg and Pretoria: their favourite weekend is a lazy one in the sun – beers around the pool. Nothing beats a sauna to round it off. You go sauna, pool, sauna, pool – ten or fifteen minutes in each. Leaves your body fresh, revitalized, ready for the week ahead.”

“
Mmmm, it
does
sound good,” Kerry conceded. “Chad, please stop calling me a Pom. Can’t you just accept me for what I am? Besides, it’s an Aussie term, isn’t it?”

“They didn’t take out a patent.”

“Don’t you Saffas have your own?”

“Now who’s using nicknames
,” Chad said with a grin. “Yeah, Afrikaners have words for the English that would make you blush.”

Kerry knew she was expected to ask, but she refused to take the bait. 

“I’m sorry I missed out last night. I didn’t feel up to it.”

“Don’t worry – you’ll meet
Per and Camilla later this afternoon.”

Kerry reacted with alarm. “
You didn’t invite them back here? We don’t have enough drinks or snacks to go round.”

“Don’t get your knickers in a knot . . . There’s no problem.” The South African smiled to calm her, then moved to the window and stared out at the Zambezi. “They’re
joining us on the sundowner cruise.” 

***

The cruise was a popular attraction with both tourists and locals. It had been part of life on the Zambezi since colonial times.

The departure jetty was not far from the holiday lodges, a few miles upriver from the
Falls. Kerry and Chad arrived early. More than one boat made the trip and Chad wanted no chance of their being separated from the Olsens in any last minute rush.

Kerry was more interested in observing the hippos snorting and blowing downriver of the jetty than in
trying to pick out Camilla Olsen’s blonde head in the gathering crowd.

Eventually, the four joined up. Camilla was exactly as Chad had described. Slim and fit from the sports she played, and with a sparkling vivaciousness that had Kerry immediately warming to her. The Dane
’s centre-parted, shoulder-length blonde hair bounced as she moved – just like a girl in a TV shampoo advertisement.

Three boats were moored alongside the jetty but only two would be needed. Not so long ago, Chad told them, four boats packed with tourists made the cruise each evening. The drop in numbers was a sign that Zimbabwe was losing out to more stable regions of the world.

They were in the foremost boat which left a few minutes ahead of the other. They headed slowly upriver towards the setting sun – now a red fireball low over distant trees. The vessels were two-tiered river launches, wide-beamed and open-sided. Passengers sat on chairs in the bow or stood along either side. At the stern was a makeshift bar and steps leading to an upper viewing-deck. Kerry, Chad and the Olsens had found seats on the raised deck – the perfect vantage point.

Chad went off to find a steward and soon returned with a tray of drinks.

“They don’t call this the booze cruise for nothing,” he said jovially, settling back in his chair. Because he had visited the area before, and was the only African-born member of the foursome, he was soon fielding a succession of questions from the others.

Kerry
’s attention began to waver. The river had her in its spell. Through Chad’s binoculars she viewed the two banks, two countries a mile apart. There was little to see but trees – many, many trees of varying heights, including palms like the ones beside their lodge. Overhead, outlined against the red-streaked sky, flights of waterbirds headed in silence for their roosting grounds. The light failed rapidly. The cruise, Kerry realized, did not take you to any particular destination. It gave you the sunset and the river – its width, power, the beauty of its unspoilt banks and islands, and, most of all, its peace. Each – the sunset and the river – was spectacular in its own right. Together, they laid on for the observer one of the greatest natural experiences of a lifetime.

How Kerry wished her father, who had first nurtured her love of rivers, could be here now . . . and her mum.

Against a background of brilliant red, the sun slid down behind the trees and finally disappeared. For colour, richness and sheer loveliness, Kerry had never known sunsets like these.

The boats turned and headed for home, going faster now with the current.

“Kerry, you’ve been quiet,” Per Olsen said. “What’s on your mind?”

Typical of the male focusing on the female, she thought.

Chad had noticed too. “You feeling all right?” he asked with concern.

“
I’m fine,” Kerry reassured them. She had no intention of sharing her thoughts. They were much too personal.

Back on dry land, the four were reluctant to call it a night. They arranged to meet up later to have a flutter at the casino.

***

As Kerry prepared the evening meal, Chad joined her in the kitchen. Usually he helped only with the washing up, so she suspected something was on his mind. What she hadn
’t anticipated was immediately finding herself on the defensive.

“
You didn’t put a lot into mixing with the Olsens,” he accused. “If you have a problem, we’d better give the casino a miss and stay home.”

“
Chad, I’m all right.”

“
You’ve been acting strangely since we boarded the boat. I know you well enough by now.”

“
It’s personal . . . a private thing,” Kerry said hesitantly.

“
So, I was right. Out with it!”

“
Chad, do you understand the meaning of private?”

“
Well, you have me baffled. They’re such a nice couple.”

“
It’s nothing to do with the Olsens.” Kerry had finally tired of his interrogation. “Can’t you get it into your thick skull it’s not important.
Now
, can we leave it?”

“
No way! If Per and Camilla aren’t bugging you, it must be me. What have I done?”

For the first time Kerry saw things from his viewpoint, and sympathised.

“Chad, you’re so wrong.”

“
Tell me,” he said gently.

“
It was the river . . . I was under its spell, being carried over the Falls, through the gorges and beyond.” Seeing his puzzled expression, she expanded. “Not my flesh and blood – my ashes.”

“
Ashes?” The South African’s face had shock written all over it.

This wasn
’t easy for Kerry, but she owed it to him.

“
There’s a river at home. Nothing like the Zambezi – but beautiful nonetheless. My parents returned there each year to fish and walk favourite stretches. They knew every pool, bend, bridge and backwater. Last year I helped scatter mum’s ashes on the water – and dad told me he wanted the same, to join her, when his time came. I was so upset –”

“
Of course.” Chad knew of her mother’s tragic death.

“
Today on the river my eyes were opened; their wish made perfect sense. My head was filled with thoughts of beauty and death.”

Chad nodded in understanding.

Kerry wanted to shoo him out of the kitchen. But it was such a tender moment she could not find the words. Chad was poised close to her, his tall presence dominating the small room. She bit her lip nervously. Would this be the moment? Their eyes held; she read indecision in his – but only fleetingly. Next second he was gone.

She felt a crushing disappointment. How much longer would they go on punishing each other?