Selected Interior by Robin Roseau

Author:Robin Roseau [Roseau, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: written by a man / male author
Amazon: B0DH37DZGX
Goodreads: 219189480
Published: 2024-09-13T22:00:00+00:00

AN UNEXPECTED NORMAL

The safari was early. It was Skye that brought both girls to me, the three of them joining me for breakfast. The girls were excited. They hugged me tightly, and Dahlia whispered, “I’m glad you forgave Jasmine.”

“I am, too.”

We had breakfast, and then Skye walked us to a jumper. She hugged both girls and then said, “I leave them in your care, but this is Jenna Bay.”

The Ardent was huge, of course. “Let’s get you sorted.”

She led us into the jumper. I asked the girls where they wanted to sit, and they both said, “Next to you.” But then Dahlia added, “We’ll take turns. Callaia, do you want to go first?”

“Yes.” She took my hand and pulled me to the front passenger seats, taking the window and pulling me down beside her. Then she wrapped around my arm as the chairs formed around us, not all the way, just enough to keep us safe. Dahlia took the opposite window.

Jenna stowed our two camera bags, and two minutes later, we were in the air.

We flew very high, and I thought very fast, with a flight time well over an hour. The girls talked about past trips, and the animals they’d seen. This was the first time they were coming without their parents, and they felt very adult.

I felt honored.

I knew we were outside the region managed by the ETs. I quietly asked Jenna, “Is it safe?”

“Yes. This is Serengeti national park, and we help provide Tanzania with extra security.”

“Thank you.”

“The most one of us have had to handle on one of these safaris is the same thing that happens during some of the receptions.”

“Curious and grabby tourists?”

“Yes.”

Our guide was a beautiful black woman named Najuma. She introduced herself to me and then eyed the Catseye. “These are juveniles,” she said.

“Yes, but they are well-behaved. Aren’t you, girls?”

“Yes,” Dahlia said. “You’re very beautiful, Najuma.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

“You would be a popular mating candidate,” Dahlia added. “If you’re not a xenophobe.”

“I do not know that word.”

“Afraid of the aliens,” I said.

“I am not at all afraid of the aliens,” Najuma said. “But my husband and children would miss me if I became a mating candidate.”

Najuma gave us a safety lesson, telling us about the dangers she would help us to avoid. When I mentioned I was most worried about mosquitoes, Jenna told me, “You have been inoculated against their diseases.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“You may not have been aware. It was during your initial trip from Chicago.”

“Oh.”

We traveled by Range Rover, specially modified to handle Jenna in the back. She kept a watchful eye, and I entirely understood Sadie’s comment about feeling safer when they’re around. I told Jenna that. She set her hand on my shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. “This is who we are,” she said.

“Well, I appreciate who you are, and I know others do, too.”

She squeezed once more.

We saw animals, so many animals. There was a herd of cape buffalo, and Najuma kept us well away. “One of the most dangerous animals in Africa,” she explained.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.