The Cruel Trade by Clifford Peacock

Author:Clifford Peacock [Clifford Peacock]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780719810596
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Despite the loss of young Kimilili, trampled by the cow elephant, the askaris were elated by their success. There was constant chatter and larking in the ranks as they headed back to camp. The sergeants were equally excited. Oriedo did nothing to subdue the men’s high spirits, a broad grin remained spread across Juma’s battered face. It was all too good, too joyful to last.

When the roll call was taken Banjo and Ngali, the cook, were missing. A search party was sent to find them in the smouldering remains of the forest. They returned carrying three barely recognizable bodies on makeshift stretchers. Two were badly charred and the third, young Kimilili, had been smashed to a bloody mass by the cow elephant. It seemed Banjo, over-conscientious in carrying out his orders, and old Ngali, had both been trapped by the flames perhaps whilst trying to save Kimilili from his foolish escapade. The three bodies were buried side by side in a common grave on a grassy slope above the Rift Valley. Banjo had been a Muslim so Khalil said an extra prayer for him, ending with words of the Prophet: The faithful do not die but are translated from this perishable world to the Kingdom of Eternal Existences.

Juma led a party down the face of the precipice to inspect the carcasses. He returned after an hour and reported to Khalil.

‘A few elephants were still alive after their fall, mzee, but badly injured. The askaris killed them by shooting volleys into their ears. Some dead bodies are lying on ledges part-way down and we managed to lever two of them off using poles so that they fell to the bottom. It will be easier to take their ivory when we return. Two calves had survived, they may have fallen on top of other tuskers instead of onto the rocks. They were wandering in the bush, trumpeting for their mothers. We tried to shoot them but they ran off. They will not survive long on their own. Lions or leopards, or perhaps a family of jackals, will soon take them.’

Oriedo had taken two men down into the gorge. ‘The fires are still burning but almost out,’ he reported. ‘The ivory of the bull and cow is scorched, mzee, but still fit for sale. The bull’s tusks are exceptionally fine,’ he enthused.

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