Cargo: A Leine Basso Thriller (16 page)

Leine walked to
the outdoor cooking area and helped herself to a cup of hot coffee. Alma was back from feeding “her babies” and was in the process of making breakfast for everyone.

“How’d you sleep?” she asked Leine as she poured scrambled eggs into a hot skillet.

“Very well, thanks. Your beds sure beat the Rover.”

Alma chuckled. “Ain’t it the truth? Good mattresses were the first things I made sure we had here, once we built the pens.” She turned, wiping her hands on a towel. “A miserable night’s sleep and aching back don’t help when you need to take care of things.”

Derek appeared, looking well rested. He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat at the counter separating the cooking facilities from the eating area.

“Where’s Hattie?” he asked.

“She’s up at the main building, talking to Captain Hugh and checking in supplies.”

“Captain Hugh?” Leine took a sip of coffee and glanced toward the big building.

Alma scooped up the partially scrambled eggs and flipped them over. “Captain Hugh’s been delivering supplies to us since the beginning. He runs a hot air balloon company outside of the park. Takes visitors on the ride of a lifetime, from what I hear.”

“You haven’t gone?” Leine asked.

Alma shook her head and chuckled. “Not me. I’m a big chicken when it comes to heights.”

Just then, Hattie walked out of the main building and headed down the path toward them. A man dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, cargo pants, and a bush hat followed her to where the others were sitting.

“You must be Captain Hugh,” Derek said when the two reached the counter. “I’m Derek, and this is Claire.”

“Guilty.” Captain Hugh smiled and shook Derek’s hand, then did the same with Leine. “Good to meet you.”

Leine could’ve sworn his sky-blue eyes twinkled. A few inches taller than Leine, the affable pilot’s calloused hands and broad shoulders suggested someone who worked physically for a living.

“Along with the feed you ordered, I left batteries, milk, a case of your favorite beer, and some chocolate up there.” He felt his pockets and pulled out a handwritten list, placing it on the counter in front of Alma.

“Thank you, Hugh. I appreciate it. Can you stay for breakfast?”

Hugh’s face lit up. “Why, yes, ma’am. Be happy to.”

During breakfast, Hugh regaled them with stories of flying his balloon over the Serengeti with all types of passengers, from a retired director of the NSA to a wizened Italian mobster who wanted to commemorate his ninetieth birthday.

“I was sweating bullets on that flight, let me tell you,” he said with a shake of his head. “I didn’t want
la cosa nostra
paying me a visit because I damaged their capo.”

“How did you get a ninety-year-old into the basket?” Hattie asked. “I mean, he couldn’t have been that spry, right?”

“There was a big, muscle-bound dude with him who picked him up and set him inside. The guy handled the old man like he was a baby chick. He was right there when we landed, too.” Hugh finished his plate of eggs and pushed away from the table. Holding his coffee with both hands, he leaned back in his chair. “Besides visiting Alma and Hattie, what are you two doing here?” he asked, nodding at Leine and Derek.

“We’re looking for someone we think is staying at a temporary hunting camp near here,” Derek answered. “Have you seen anything like that on your flights?”

Hugh considered his question and shook his head. “I don’t normally fly this area. The only camps I know of are the ones that have been here for years. What’s the owner’s name?”

“Victor Wang,” Leine said.

Hugh glanced at Alma. “I wasn’t aware he’d come this far north.”

“You know him?” Derek asked.

“Everybody knows Victor Wang. He’s the king of canned hunts. If it wasn’t for the politicians in his pocket, he’d have been run out of Tanzania by responsible hunting groups years ago.”

“Canned hunts?” Leine asked.

Derek cleared his throat. “
Ja, ja
, that’s where the hunters and the animals are contained in a small pen.”

“You said hunters, with an S.”

Hugh nodded. “There’s usually more than one, and that’s with charging thirty-five thousand a pop. I’ve seen five shooters go after one lion with high-powered rifles. It’s appalling.”

“Maybe Wang will end up being killed by one of the endangered species he likes to hunt,” Hattie said.

“One can only hope,” Hugh said.

“So I take it canned hunts are legal here?” Leine asked.

“At this juncture, yes,” Alma said. “They aren’t as prevalent in Tanzania as they are in South Africa, but the practice is growing. The cost to hunt a lion in the wild here is at least twice that of what a canned hunt costs. Wang has jumped on the bandwagon and is exploiting amateur hunters who can’t afford a ‘real’ trophy.” Her cheeks grew pink. “The government looks the other way. It’s a blatant case of money over conservation.”

Hattie placed her hand on the older woman’s arm. “Take it easy. It looks like your blood pressure’s going through the roof.”

“I know, I know. It’s just so upsetting.” Alma leaned back with a sigh. The conversation continued, but on a more somber note.

After breakfast, Derek and Leine walked Captain Hugh back to his Land Cruiser.

“Just how involved is the government?” Leine asked.

“No one knows exact numbers, but interest is growing. A general was arrested not too long ago for allegedly working with poachers.” Derek sighed. “Government types are most at risk for taking bribes. The wages aren’t exactly wealth-inducing, and their jobs ensure that they come into contact with the poachers. These guys don’t just look the other way. As long as the money’s good, they’re actively participating.”

“You know,” Hugh said when they reached his rig, “I don’t have any flights scheduled tomorrow morning. If you’re interested in going up to see if you can spot that camp you were talking about, I’m available.”

“That would be really helpful,” Derek said. “What time and what do you need from us?”

“It’ll be early, like five thirty. Still interested?”

“Sure. We’re more than happy to pay for the propane as well as your time,” Leine added.

Hugh waved her offer away. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad to help.”

Kylie repositioned the
metal cuff attached to her ankle and wiped at the trickle of blood. Ubaya had slapped them on her that morning and didn’t seem concerned when she told him how the sharp metal cut into her skin. Now past eleven, the raw sores oozed pus and blood. Infection had set in fast. The sharp pain reminded her to keep her head down and not draw Ghanima’s ire.

Bone-tired and looking forward to her thin blanket on the ground in the sleeping hut, Kylie waved at Ubaya to let him know she was ready to go. After making sure the pots and pans were put away and the grill was turned off, she removed her apron and hung it next to the towels. She shuffled out of the tent and down the path, the chain clanking noisily with each step. Ubaya followed close behind her. When she turned toward the door of the sleeping hut, he hit her between the shoulders with the butt of his gun.

“Keep going. You will not sleep here tonight.”

The pain from the hit was nothing compared to the chill that slid up her spine at his words. Was he going to rape her? Was this part of her punishment? The chains grew heavier, so much so that she found it difficult to continue. At one point, she tripped over a wooden slat and would have taken a header into the walk if he hadn’t grabbed on to her to keep her upright.

They continued past the end of the camp where the worker latrines were, and out into the dark bush beyond. Ubaya flicked on his flashlight and trained it on the ground in front of them. Insects buzzed in the dark, and mysterious grunts emanated from the world beyond the small beam of light.

Eventually they came to a wire fence with a gate. Ubaya opened it and pushed her through. The night sounds she’d been able to ignore in the sleeping hut were now close. Very close. In the distance, a hyena’s maniacal laugh echoed in the darkness. Kylie shivered, her skin erupting in goose bumps.

He closed the gate behind them and walked Kylie to the center post where he bent down and picked up the end of a long chain. He reached for the short length of metal between her ankles.

“No!” Kylie jerked her foot from his hand and stepped backward, forgetting for a moment she was chained. With nowhere for her feet to go she fell, landing on her hip with a heavy thud, the pain shooting to her shoulder.

He crouched next to her and connected the chains, testing the bond by pulling on the longer of the two. Kylie grabbed on to his hand, panic closing her throat.

“What are you doing? You can’t leave me out here alone—”

He wrenched his hand free and stepped back, a cruel smile on his face.

“You should not make Ghanima angry.” He scanned the enclosure. The roar of a lion shattered the still night air. Close.

Kylie pushed herself onto her knees and lunged for the man’s legs. He moved out of the way and she fell to all fours, skinning her palms in the rocky dirt.

“Please—” she said, hot tears sliding down her cheeks. When he didn’t respond she sank to the ground and pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. The gate closed with a screech and the guard’s footsteps faded, leaving her alone and tethered to the pole in the dark.

***

Hours later, Kylie woke from a fitful doze, disoriented and afraid. Something had woken her, and her imagination went into overdrive with visions of hungry lions and hyenas, ready to tear her apart. She held her breath trying to quiet the pounding of her heart, and strained to hear.

The footsteps came closer, accompanied by clanking. Kylie exhaled with a sigh. It wasn’t a wild animal stalking its prey, but she was still wary of the late-night visitor.

“Kylie?” A woman’s voice.

“Zara?” Kylie cleared her throat and peered into the darkness, trying to make out the woman she’d met earlier. The clanking paused as the gate opened and closed, then resumed before Zara materialized. She knelt down next to Kylie.

“How did you know I was out here?” Kylie asked.

“I heard Ubaya laughing about how frightened you were when he left you alone. Here—” Zara reached into her pocket and pulled out a folding knife, which she handed to her. The metal blade glinted in the moonlight. “It’s the only thing I dared take. Hopefully they won’t miss it. You can hide it under your clothes when they come to get you in the morning.”

Kylie’s shoulders slumped as she felt the weight of the knife in her hand.

“What’s wrong?” Zara asked. “I know it’s not much, but at least you’ll be able to protect yourself if something gets in.”

“No. Of course, thank you.” A tear slid down Kylie’s cheek and landed on her wrist. “It’s just that I was hoping you were here to bring me back.”

Zara put her hand on Kylie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. If anyone found out I was here with you I’d be punished. The guard, Lek, gave me the key for the gate, and I have to make sure I get it back to him, soon. I wanted you to know someone other than Ghanima knows you’re out here.”

Kylie glanced behind Zara to make sure no one else was there. “I haven’t been able to sleep more than a few minutes at a time. Whenever I drift off, something wakes me. Most of the time it’s some animal noise.”

“You’re going to be fine. This is the monsoon season. With all the rain, there’s plenty of food to go around. You’re not a predator’s favorite meal, anyway.” Zara tilted her head back and looked at the sky. Kylie did the same. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

Zara was trying to get her mind off of her situation, and Kylie willingly played along. Watching the brilliant dance of stars above her with Zara nearby gave her new hope that she’d see morning.

“I saw one of the girls from Bangkok,” Kylie said. “Wang’s using her as his—” She searched for the right word to describe Sapphire’s situation. “She’s staying in his tent.”

“She goes by the name of Sapphire, right?”

“How did you know?”

“Victor brought her to see the cubs.” Zara paused for a moment. “She didn’t look very good.”

“I know. I saw her a couple of times.” Kylie shook her head. “He’s hurting her, isn’t he?”

Zara nodded and looked back up at the stars. “There was a young boy with them. I think his name was Jaidee.”

Kylie’s heart skipped. “He’s here? Was he okay?” A spark of protective anger bolted through her at the thought of anyone hurting him.

“He was when I saw him.” Zara gave Kylie a quick smile. “I think Wang likes having him around. Looks like it, anyway. He brings him things, like his paper or his lunch.”

“Like a dog.” Kylie’s voice was flat.

Zara nodded. “Like a dog.”

The two women sat together in silence, listening to the wild night sounds and staring at the stars. Kylie couldn’t keep her eyes open and soon nodded off. When next she woke, Zara was gone and the sun had just begun its ascent.

She’d survived the night.