Vulture is a Patient Bird

"We'll have to consult Ken. We have to start north to pick Themba up. Without him, we're not going to get out."

"That's right," Fennel said. "Ken says that the guy has a compass in his head. He'll get us out."

"Let's have a drink." Garry got to his feet and went over to the bar. "What will you have, Gaye?"

"Nothing at this hour."

"Lew?"

"Scotch."

As Garry mixed the drinks, he asked, "Has Ken got the Springfield with him?"

"No. We left it with Themba."

"We could need it."

"Yeah. We'll pick up Ken, and then go straight to where we left Themba. He's not only got the rifle, but extra water and most of the food. If we have to walk all the goddamn way, we could be at it for three or even four days."

Garry saw Gaye was examining the ring through the glass of the box. He joined her and peered over her shoulder.

"Take it out and wear it," he said. "That box is awkward to carry and could get smashed. The ring will be a lot safer on your hand than in the box."

"If anyone's going to wear it, it'll be me," Fennel said, putting down his drink.

"She's wearing it," Garry said quietly. "I trust her, but I can't say I trust you."

Fennel glared at him, but Garry's steady stare made him hesitate. Finally, he sat down with bad grace and picking up his glass, he drained it. Okay, you sonofabith, he thought. I'll fix you,

when I fix her.

Gaye took the ring out of the box.

"The diamonds are lovely, but the ring isn't very beautiful, is it?" She tried the ring on the third finger of her right hand, but found it much too loose. "Of course, I was forgetting . . . it's a man's ring." She slid it on her thumb. "This is all right. It's a little awkward, but it won't come off."

Garry looked at his watch. The time was 02.00 hrs.

"Go and lie down, Gaye. I'm going to my room. We want all the rest we can get. We don't know when we'll get our next sleep."

He watched her go to her room, then he went to his, ignoring Fennel.

Fennel stretched out on the settee. He knew he wouldn't sleep. All his desire and frustration came back to him as he thought of Gaye.

If he had to follow her back to England, he told himself, he would get even with her. He had hoped to have found a chance of fixing her on the way back to Mainville, but they would have to keep moving if they were to shake off the Zulus. Fennel shifted uneasily. The thought of being hunted by a pack of Zulus dried his mouth.

A little before 04.00 hrs., Gaye was awakened by the sound of the beating of a drum. She sat up, swung her feet to the floor and listened.

Not far away, she could hear the rhythmic sound of the drum like a pulse beat. She looked hastily at her watch and saw it was two minutes to the hour. She snatched up her rucksack and went into the lounge.

Garry and Fennel were standing by the terrace doors.

A giant Zulu came across the terrace and beckoned to them. He was a magnificent specimen of a man in his leopard skin and ostrich plumes.

"Here we go," Garry said and opened the terrace doors.

The drum beat now was very loud. A row of some thirty Zulus made a wall of glistening black bodies, covered with leopard skins. The ostrich plume head-dresses bobbed as they shuffled and stamped to the drum beat. They carried long narrow shields of buffalo hide and held in their left hands six throwing spears as they bent, straightened, shuffled and stamped. They made a frightening, awe-inspiring sight.

The lone Zulu made a savage gesture, jerking his assigai first at the three and then towards the distant jungle.

The two men slung their rucksacks on their shoulders and with Gaye between them, moved out on to the terrace.

At the sight of them the dancing men uttered a loud, savage growl that set Gaye's heart racing. The drum beat increased.

They walked quickly across the lawn, looking ahead and not at the Zulus. Gaye had to control herself not to run. They kept on, and in a few minutes, they were in the jungle.

"Nice looking lot," Garry said. "They are the boys who are coming after us. Where's Ken?"

Fennel pointed.

"See that balancing rock up there? That's where he is." He cupped his hand to his mouth and bawled, "Ken! Come on down, pronto!" Then taking out his flashlight, he turned it on and began waving it. A light signalled back from the rock and they heard Ken shout, "I'm coming. Keep your light on."

Five minutes later, he joined them.

"Did you get it? I thought you were going to the airfield."

"We got it!" Fennel said. "We've got to get to Themba fast. The chopper's out. Come on, I'll tell you as we go."

Ken peered at him.

"Trouble?"

"I'll say . . . get going!"

Ken started off with Fennel, talking, by his side. Garry and Gaye kept together.

When Ken understood the situation, he increased his pace.

"You really think they're coming after us?"

"Damn sure of it. I won't worry so much once I've got the rifle," Fennel said. "If they look like overtaking us, we can ambush them, but without the rifle we're in dead trouble."