Whisper at Dawn by Frank Coates

Author:Frank Coates [Coates, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

After Dan returned from the reconnaissance trip to Lake Magadi, he found Bill recovering from an attack of malaria. His skin had a yellow tinge, and he appeared exhausted from the frenzied work provisioning for the safari while Dan was away.

‘Absolute rubbish,’ he said to Dan when he suggested he take a day to rest. ‘It’s not my first attack. Won’t be my last. You should see the letters Vandervold’s flunky has sent me. I’ve had five already.’ He pulled a slip of notepaper from his shirt pocket. ‘Here’s one: Bone-handled meat knives — set of twelve, checkerboard and pieces, silver champagne bucket, ice-making machine. An ice-making machine! Where in blazes will I get an ice-making machine? And Vandervold arrives next week. I don’t have a moment to scratch myself and you want me to rest.’

‘At least sit while I tell you about the track to Lake Magadi.’

‘What’s to know? Outram and Cunningham’ve been there,’ he said, citing two of the most famous white hunters in the land.

Dan resisted the urge to reply that Outram and Cunningham were young men, extremely experienced, and with a team of trek-hardened porters.

‘It’s lava country, Bill. The lake’s salty, in fact, corrosive to the skin. It took the Pokot days to find a couple of waterholes and wheedle the whereabouts of another couple from the local Maasai. Even then, it’s touch and go whether we can get beyond the lake to the better country. Why in blazes do you want to go in that direction? Why not go up through Kijabe like Judd does?’

Bill Judd was one of the few to lead safaris to the Mara region because of the concern about belligerent Maasai warriors.

‘What are we? Railhead Johnnies? Freeman Safaris don’t use railway lines. Let the cheap operators use the trains. We do it right. If you’re not up to it, I’ll lead the Vandervold safari myself.’

Freeman’s vehemence caused Dan to realise he’d struck a nerve. He shrugged his agreement. Although he hadn’t fully explained the dire conditions of the track to Magadi, he knew that when Freeman was in such a mood, if Dan persisted, he would merely become more stubborn. Better to leave the conversation for another time.

Two days later, Bill fainted while inspecting a load of dried goods.

Dan ordered him into the shade and poured him a mug of water. ‘Bill, I’m putting my foot down. We either take another route to the Mara or you leave it to me. You’re in no condition to take this safari. I’ve only seen the first part of it. Even the Pokot had trouble reading the land. The going is really rough.’

‘And you think this old fool isn’t up to it, don’t you?’

‘Not at all,’ Dan lied. ‘There’s just no need for you to push yourself. Take some time to recover from the malaria. We’ve hired all the porters, and —’

‘Including thirty Kikuyus. You don’t know how to handle Kikuyus, and I do.’

‘We have a good headman. He can —’

‘I’ve been on all our big safaris, and I’m still fit and strong enough to go wherever you can, young fella.

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