Elephant Song - Smith Wilbur. Страница 15

He could not think of any reason why a gang of poachers should want to visit Chiwewe headquarters.  On the contrary, he would expect them to give it the widest possible berth.

However, their tracks were headed resolutely in that direction, and they had cut the telephone wires.  Their conduct was brazen and aggressive. If Chiwewe was indeed their destination then they could be there already.  He glanced at his wristwatch.

Yes, they could have climbed the escarpment and, by hard marching, have reached the headquarters camp an hour or so ago.

But why?  There were no tourists.  In Kenya and other countries further north the poachers, having depleted the elephant herds, had taken to attacking and robbing foreign tourists.

Perhaps this gang had taken a tip from their northern counterparts.

But there are no tourists at Chiwewe.  There's nothing of value he broke off as the fallacy of that assumption occurred to him.  Shit!  he whispered.  The ivory.  Suddenly dread chilled the sweat on his cheeks.

Johnny, he whispered.  And Mavis and the kids.  The Landcruiser was flying down the track now and he slid her into the first hairpin bend that led on to the slope of the escarpment.

As he.  came through the corner at speed a huge white vehicle filled the road directly ahead of him.  Even as Daniel hit the brakes and swung the Toyota hard over he realised that it was one of the refrigerator trucks.

He missed its front wing by a foot as he went up on to the verge and tore into a patch of scrub.  He came to rest with the nose of the Toyota almost touching the trunk of a big mopane.

Jock was thrown up against the dashboard by the deceleration.

Daniel jumped out of the Toyota and ran back to where the refrigerator truck had managed to pull up, blocking his tailgate.

He recognized Gomo, the senior ranger, at the wheel and called to him.

Sorry!  My fault.  Are you okay?

Gama looked shaken by the near collision but he nodded.  I'm okay, Doctor.  When did you leave Chiwewe?  Daniel demanded, and Gomo hesitated.  For some reason the question seemed to disconcert him.  How long ago?  Daniel insisted.  I don't know for sure.  . . At that moment there was the sound of other vehicles approaching down the escarpment road and Daniel glanced around to see the second truck come grinding through the next bend.

It was running in low gear to combat the gravity of the steep gradient.

Fifty yards behind the truck followed Ambassador Ning Cheng Gong's blue Mercedes.  The two vehicles slowed and then pulled up behind Gomo's truck and Daniel strode towards the Mercedes.

As he approached, Ambassador Ning opened his door and stepped out into the dusty track.  Doctor Armstrong, what are you doing here?  He seemed agitated but his voice was soft, barely audible.

When did you leave Chiwewe?  Daniel ignored the question.

He was desperate to know that Johnny and Mavis were safe and the Ambassador's -reaction puzzled him.

Cheng's agitation increased.  Why do you ask that?  he whispered.

Why are you returning?  You were supposed to be on your way to Harare:Look here, Your Excellency.  All I want to know is that there has been no trouble at Chiwewe.  Trouble?  What trouble?  Why should there be trouble?  The ambassador reached into his pocket and brought out a handkerchief.

What are you suggesting, Doctor?  I'm not suggesting anything.

Daniel found it hard to conceal his exasperation.  I picked up the tracks of a large party of men crossing the road and heading in the direction of Chiwewe.  I am worried that they may be a gang of armed poachers and I am on my way back to warn the warden.  There is no trouble, Cheng assured him.  Daniel noticed that a faint sheen of perspiration bloomed on his forehead.  Everything is well.  I left there an hour ago.  Warden Nzou is just fine.

I spoke to him when we left and there was no sign of any trouble.  He wiped his face with the handkerchief.  An hour ago?

Daniel asked, and checked his stainless steel Rolex.  He felt a vast sense of relief at Ambassador Ning's reassurance.  So you left there at about five-thirty?  Yes, Yes.

Cheng's tone sharpened with affront.  Are you questioning my word?

Do you doubt what I am telling you?  Daniel was surprised by his tone and the strength of his denials.  You misunderstand me, Your Excellency. Of course I don't doubt what you say.  Cheng's prestige as an ambassador was the main reason that Chetti Singh had insisted that he be present at Chiwewe.

Cheng's natural inclination had been assiduously to avoid the scene of the raid, and even to fly to Taipei while it was in progress to give himself an infallible alibi.  However, Chetti Singh had threatened to call off the operation unless Cheng was present to vouch for the fact that the raid had taken place after the convoy of trucks had left Chiwewe.  That was the whole crux of the operation.  As an accredited ambassador, Cheng's word would carry enormous weight in the subsequent police investigation.  The testimony of the two black rangers alone might not have been accepted implicitly.  The police might even have decided to give them a little earnest questioning in a back cell at Chikurubi prison and Chetti Singh was not confident that they would have withstood that treatment.

No, the police must be made to believe that when Cheng had left Chiwewe with the convoy all had been well.  That way they must assume that the raiders had carried the ivory away With them or that it had been destroyed in the fire that consumed the godown.  I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I was doubting your word Your Excellency, Daniel placated him.  It was just that I am worried about Johnny, about the warden.  Well, I assure you that you have no reason to worry. Cheng stuffed the handkerchief in his hip pocket and reached for the packet of cigarettes in the top pocket of his open-neck shirt.  He tapped one out of the pack but his fingers were slightly unsteady

and he let the cigarette drop into the dust between his feet.

Daniel's eyes were instinctively drawn down as Cheng stooped quickly to retrieve the fallen cigarette.  He wore white canvas training shoes and Daniel noticed that the side of one shoe and the cuff of his blue cotton slacks were smeared with a stain that looked at first glance like dried blood.

This puzzled Daniel for a moment, until he remembered that Cheng had been present that morning when the fresh tusks had been unloaded from the truck and stored in the godown.  The explanation for the stains on his clothing was obvious; he must have picked them up from a puddle of congealed elephant blood in which the tusks had lain.

Cheng noticed the direction of his gaze and stepped back quickly, almost guiltily, into the driver's seat of the Mercedes and slammed the door.

Unthinkingly Daniel noticed the unusual fish-scale pattern that the soles of his training shoes left in the fine dust of the roadway.

Well, I am happy to have been able to set your fears at rest, Doctor.

Cheng smiled at him through the window of the Mercedes.  He had regained his composure and his smile was once again suave and charming.

I'm glad to have saved you an unnecessary journey all the way back to Chiwewe.  I am sure you will want to join the convoy and get out of the Park before the rains break.  He started the Mercedes.  Why don't you take the lead position ahead of the trucks?  Thank you, Your Excellency.

Daniel shook his head and stepped back.  You go on with the trucks.