Power of the Sword - Smith Wilbur. Страница 131

Entry to this area was severely restricted and hunting was forbidden except in exceptional circumstances. Enviously it was referred to by other sportsmen as the private hunting preserve of the cabinet ministers of the South African government. Blaine Malcomess had arranged entry permits and hunting licences for them.

Under the grizzled old prospector's quiet instruction and firm hand the two young men had come to a closer understanding of, and respect for, the wilderness and the fascinating spectrum of life it contained. In a few weeks he had taught them something of man's place in the fragile balance of nature and instilled in them the principles of ethical hunting.

The death of each individual animal is sad but inevitable.

However, the death of the forest or swamp or plain that supports the entire species is tragedy, he explained. if the kings and noblemen of Europe had not been avid huntsmen, the stag and the boar and the bear would be extinct today.

it was the huntsmen who saved the forest from the axe and the plough of the peasants. And they listened attentively at the camp-fire as he explained. Then who hunt for love of the creatures they pursue will protect the breeding females and young from the poachers and save the forests from the goats and cattle. No, my young friends, Robin Hood was a dirty poacher. The sheriff of Nottingham was the real hero. So they spent enchanted days in the bush, leaving camp on foot while it was still dark and returning dog-weary after the sun had set. Each of them killed his lion, and experienced the hunter's sadness and elation at the deed, and came out determined to preserve that wild and beautiful country from the predations of unthinking, greedy men. And Shasa, blessed by the chance of birth with the promise of great wealth and influence, came to realize in some small measure how much of that responsibility could one day be his.

The women had been superfluous, as David had warned they would be.

However, Shasa had insisted on bringing them, one for himself and one for David.

Shasa's choice was almost thirty years old. The best tunes are played on an old fiddle, he assured David. She was also a divorcee. 'I never break in my own polo ponies., She had big blue eyes, a ripe red mouth and a pneumatic figure, but was not burdened by an unnecessary amount of brain.

David nicknamed her Jumbo,, Because, he explained, she's so thick that two elephants could walk across her skull side by side., Shasa had prevailed upon Jumbo to bring a friend for David, and she had selected a tall dark lady, another divorcee, with trailing locks; her thin arms were loaded with bangles, her long neck with strings of beads. She affected an ivory cigarette-holder and had a smouldering intense gaze but spoke seldom, then usually to ask for another gin.

David dubbed her the Camel for her insatiable thirst.

However, the two of them turned out to be ideal, for while they delivered what was expected of them with vigour and expertise when called upon to do so, for the rest they were quite content to remain in camp all day, and in the evening demanded little attention and made no attempt to sabotage the conversation around the camp-fire by joining in.

That was probably the most enjoyable holiday I will ever spend., Shasa leaned back in the pilot's seat of the Rapide and stared dreamily ahead, content to let David, in the copilot's seat, do the flying. 'But it isn't over yet! He glanced at his wristwatch. Another hour before we reach Cape Town. Keep her on course, he told David, and unfastened his safety-belt.

where are you going2 David demanded.

I will not embarrass you by replying to that question, but do not be surprised when the Camel comes up to the cockpit to join you. I really am worried about you. David looked grave.

You're going to rupture something if you go on like this. Never felt stronger, Shasa assured him as he wriggled out of the seat.

Not you, dear boy, it's jumbo I'm worried about. David shook his head sadly, and Shasa chuckled, slapped his shoulder and ducked into the rear cabin.

The Camel looked up at him with that dark fanatical gaze and spilled a little gin and tonic down the front of her blouse, while jumbo giggled and wriggled her fat little rump across the seat to make room for Shasa. beside her.

He whispered in her ear and jumbo looked bewildered, not an unusual expression for her.

The Mile High Club, what in heaven's name is that? Shasa whispered again and she peered out of the side window at the earth below.

Goodness! I didn't realize we were that high. You get a special brooch when you become a member, Shasa told her, made of gold and diamonds. And jumbo's interest flared.

Oh goody! What kind of brooch? A flying pussy cat, with gold wings and diamond eyes. A pussy cat? Why a pussy, she broke off as understanding dawned in those china blue eyes. Shasa Courtney, you are awfulF She lowered her eyes and blinked demurely, and Shasa winked across the aisle at the Camel.

I think Davie wants to talk to you. The Camel rose obediently, glass in hand, all her bangles and beads jangling as she wobbled from one side of the aisle to the other.

An hour later Shasa brought the Rapide in from the mountain side of the airstrip, and laid her down on the grass as though he were buttering hot toast. He swung her nose around before she had stopped, taxiing back towards the hangars. With a burst of the starboard engine, he brought her up onto the hard stand and cut the motors.

Only then did he notice the yellow Daimler parked in the shadow of the hangar with Centaine standing beside it.

Oh for the love of Allah, Mater is here. Get those beauties flat on the floor! Too late, David groaned. Jumbo, bless her, is already waving at your mum through the porthole., Shasa steeled himself to his mother's wrath as jumbo came giggling down the boarding ladder, supporting the Camel, whose legs had finally let her down.

Centaine said nothing, but she had a taxi waiting beside the Daimler. How she had known about the girls Shasa would never ask, but she waved the taxi forward and herded the unsteady pair into the back seat with an eye like a stockwhip.

Get their luggage in the boot, she ordered Shasa tersely, and the moment it was loaded, she nodded at the taxi-driver.

Take them wherever they want to go., Camel sat owl-eyed in her seat, but jumbo leaned out of the rear window waving and blowing kisses at Shasa until the taxi disappeared through the gates of the airfield, and Shasa bowed his head and waited for his mother's icy sarcasm.

Did you have a good trip, darling? Centaine asked sweetly, holding up her face to be kissed, and the two girls were never mentioned again.

Marvellous! Shasa's kiss was full of gratitude and relief and genuine pleasure at being with her again, and he began to tell her all about it, but she cut him off, Cheri!! she said. Right now I Want you to arrange for the Rapide to be refuelled and checked. We are flying up to Johannesburg tomorrow. In Johannesburg they stayed at the Carlton. Centaine owned thirty percent of the equity in the hotel company, and the royal suite was at her disposal whenever she was in town.

The hotel would soon be in need of major renovation, but it occupied a prime position in the centre of Johannesburg.

While she dressed for dinner, Centaine weighed the possibility of having the old building pulled down and redeveloping the site, She would have her architects prepare a report, she decided, as she put business out of her mind and devoted the rest of the evening and all of her attention to Blaine.

Taking a silly chance of alerting the gossips, she and Blaine danced until two in the morning in the nightclub on the top floor of the hotel.

The next day Blaine had a full series of meetings at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, his excuse to Isabella for leaving Cape Town, so Centaine could spend the day with Shasa. In the morning there was a sale of yearlings at the showgrounds, but the prices were ridiculously high and they ended up without having bought a single animal. They lunched at the East African pavilion, where, more than the food, Centaine enjoyed the envious and speculative glances of the women at the surrounding tables.