Vulture is a Patient Bird

Garry went at once to the helicopter. Gaye slid to the ground and stretched. It had been a bumpy ride and she felt stiff and hot. Fennel got down and lit a cigarette. He showed no inclination to help Themba unload the equipment, but stood with his hands in his shorts pockets, eyeing Gaye as she stood with her back to him, her legs wide apart, her hands on her hips.

Ken got rid of the Bantus and came back to the Land Rover. "There's a big pool beyond those trees and a waterfall," he said to Gaye, pointing. "It's safe swimming . . . no crocs."

"Can I help?"

"No, thanks . . . Themba and I can handle it."

He joined Themba, and together the two men unloaded the tent.

Breathing unsteadily, Fennel moved over to Gaye.

"A waterfall, huh? Suppose we go take a look at it?"

He was expecting her to refuse, and already his vicious temper began to rise. She regarded him, her face expressionless, then to his surprise, she said, "Yes . . . let's look at it," and turning, she walked ahead, making for the thick line of trees and high elephant grass that surrounded the clearing.

Fennel felt a hot rush of blood through his body. Was this an invitation? He looked quickly towards the helicopter. Garry was busy stripping off the engine tarpaulin. Ken and Themba were occupied with unfolding the tent. Shaking a little, Fennel strode after Gaye who had now disappeared into the bush.

He caught up with her as she moved along a narrow track and he slowed his pace, his eyes on her slim back and long beautiful legs. Some twenty metres further on they came to a small waterfall that fell some ten metres into a big basin of water which flowed at its far end into a broad stream. The basin formed a perfect, artificial bathing pool.

She turned as he reached her.

"Isn't it lovely?"

The sun beat down on them. They were surrounded by trees. They could have been the only two people on earth.

"Let's have a swim," Fennel said and stripped off his shirt. "Come on, baby, strip off."

She looked at his hairy, muscular torso, her eyes watchful as she shook her head. "I swim in private, Mr. Fennel."

"Aw, come on! You don't imagine I've never seen a naked woman before, and I bet you've seen a naked man." He grinned fixedly, his face flushed with desire for her. "You don't have to be coy with me. Strip off, or I'll have to help you."

Her cool, unafraid gaze disconcerted him.

"You swim . . . I'm going back."

As she turned away, he caught hold of her wrist.

"You're staying here," he said, his voice low, and unsteady, "and you're stripping off. You want some loving, baby, and I'm the guy to give it to you."

"Take your hand off me," she said quietly.

"Come on, baby, don't act coy . . . a little loving and then a swim."

She moved towards him, and for a brief moment, he thought she was going to submit to him. Grinning he released his grip to encircle her waist. Her hand gripped his wrist and an excruciating pain shot up his arm, forcing him to cry out. Her foot slapped against his chest as she fell flat on her back. Fennel felt himself shooting into the air and then he splashed into the pool. The cool water closed over him, and when he bobbed to the surface and had dashed the water out of his eyes, he found her standing on the bank, looking down at him. Choking with rage, his arm aching, he glared murderously at her, seeing she was holding a large chunk of rock in her hands.

"Stay where you are unless you want your skull cracked," she said.

Her stillness and her cold eyes warned him she wasn't bluffing.

"You bitch!" he snarled. "I'll fix you for this!"

"You don't frighten me, you fat animal," she said scornfully. "From now on, you leave me alone. If you ever try to touch me again, I'll break your arm. If you weren't so important to this operation, I would have done it just now. Remember that! Now have a swim and cool off, you revolting ape." She tossed the rock into the water just in front of him, and by the time he had cleared his eyes, she had gone.

Kahlenberg was signing a batch of letters when his office door opened silently and Kemosa came in. He waited patiently in the doorway until Kahlenberg had finished and when Kahlenberg looked up inquiringly he shuffled forward. He put a small glass bottle on the blotter.

"There it is, master."

Kahlenberg regarded the bottle.

"What is it?"

"The poison you ordered, master."

"I know that . . . what is the poison?"

Kemosa looked blank.

"That I don't know, master."

Kahlenberg made an impatient movement.

"Did you tell the witch doctor exactly what I wanted?"

"Yes, master."

"A poison that would kill a man in twelve hours?"

"Yes, master."

"Is he to be trusted?"

"Yes, master."

"What did you pay him?"

"Twenty goats."

"Did you tell him if the poison doesn't work, he will lose all his goats and I will burn his but and turn him off my estate?"

"I told him that if the poison doesn't work, two men would come in the night and throw him in the crocodile pool."

"Does he believe that?"

"Yes, master."

Kahlenberg nodded, satisfied.