to use a VTR after being around them for so many years, then you aren't very bright, Doctor Daniel. All right, I could use a camera. Not very artistically but adequately, if only I had one.
Where do you suggest I find a VTR in the middle of the forest? What happened to the one your red-haired girlfriend had?
Kelly demanded. Bonny isn't my girlfriend. You're a great one for hurling accusations, he began, and then broke off and stared at Kelly.
Damn it he said. You're right. I left the VTR in the Landrover.
If Taffari's lads haven't found it yet, then it's still there. Why don't you go back and fetch it? Kelly enquired sweetly.
I'll send Sepoo with you.
I have brought you the head of the white wazungu, Pirri, the hunter, announced dramatically and unslung the net bag of plaited bark fibre from his shoulder and dropped it in front of Chetti Singh.
The head rolled out of the bag and Chetti Singh jumped back and exclaimed with revulsion. There was no skin left on the head. The raw meat was putrefying and the stench was fierce enough to make him gag.
How do I know that this is the head of the white wazungu?
Chetti Singh demanded. Because I, Pirri the hunter, say it is so.
That's not the highest recommendation, never mind, Chetti Singh said in English, and then reverted to Swahili. This man has been dead a long time; the ants and the worms have half eaten him. You did not kill him, Pirri. No, Pirri admitted. This stupid wazungu had eaten a poison mushroom and died in the forest before I could find him and kill him. The ants had eaten him, as you say, but I have brought you his head, and that was our bargain. Pirri mustered all his dignity and drew himself up to his full four foot six inches. Now you must give me what you promised me, especially the tobacco. It was a long and forlorn hope. Even Pirri realised that.
To obtain this head Pirri had exhumed one of the mass graves that the Hita guards had dug in the forest for the corpses of the slave labourers who died in the camps. You are certain that this is the head of the white wazungu? Chetti Singh demanded. He did not believe the pygmy, but on the other hand he had to placate both Ning Cheng Gong and President Taffari. He dared not admit to them that there was a possibility that Armstrong had escaped. Pirri was offering him an easy exit from his dilemma. It is the wazungu, Pirri affirmed, and Chetti Singh thought about it for a while. Take this he touched the reeking head with his toe, take it back into the forest and bury it. What about my reward?
Especially the tobacco? Pirri's tone became an ingratiating whine.
You did not bring me the whole head.
The skin and hair were missing. Therefore I cannot give you the whole reward.
And I will give it to you only when you bring me the teeth of the elephant, as we agreed.
Pirri let out a shout of anger and drew his machete. Put that knife away, said Chetti Singh reasonably. Or I will shoot your head off with this. He showed the pygmy the Tokarev pistol concealed in the pocket of his bush jacket.
Pirri's scowl became a beatific smile. It was only a little joke, O master. I am your slave. And he sheathed the machete. I will go and fetch the teeth of the elephant as you command. He picked up the severed head. But as he skipped away into the forest Pirri's guts and chest were filled with so much anger that he thought they might burst.
Nobody cheats Pirri, he whispered, and slashed at a treetrunk with the machete as he ran. Pirri will kill the man who cheats him, he promised.
You want a head, O one-armed and greasy man. I will give you a head.
Your own. Daniel Armstrong is dead, Chetti Singh told them. The Bambuti brought me his head He died in the forest. There can be no doubt? President Taffari demanded. None at all, Chetti Singh affirmed.
I saw the head with my personal eyes. That means the woman is the only living witness. Ning Cheng Gong looked relieved. You should get rid of her immediately, Your Excellency. She should disappear in the forest, just the way that Armstrong did. Ephrem Taffari picked up his empty glass and rattled the ice cubes. Captain Kajo hurried across the room and took the glass from his hand. At the small bar in the corner of the president's office he Poured gin and tonic. Aren't you forgetting the videotape?
Taffari asked, as Kajo respectfully handed him the drink. Of course not, Cheng said. But once she has recovered the tape from the embassy we must get rid of her. He hesitated. I could arrange that personally. Ephrem Taffari smiled at him over the rim of the glass.
Ah, yes. He nodded. I have heard that you have a rather unusual hobby, Mr. Ning. I am not quite sure what you are implying, Mr.
President, he answered stiffly. I was merely offering to make certain that the job was done properly. We don't want any more loose ends.
Quite right, Mr. Ning, Taffari agreed.
The woman is becoming a bore.
I have lost interest in her. Once we have recovered the tape, she is yours. just make certain that there are no mistakes.
Trust me, Mr. President. Oh yes, Mr. Ning, I trust you just as completely as you trust Me. After all, we are partners, are we not?
My arrangement with Danny was that he would pick it up personally. Sir Michael Hargreave inspected his fingernails with some interest and then placed his hand in his pocket and went to the window of his office in the British embassy. He looked out over the lake. Daniel didn't say anything about handing it over to a third party. You must understand my position, Miss, A, Miss Mahon. The punkah fan on the ceiling squeaked and whirled and Bonny thought quickly. She knew that she must not appear too eager, even though she was acutely aware of what the consequences might be if she returned to Ephrem empty-handed. I didn't realise it would be a problem. She stood up. Danny asked me to pick it up. He'll probably be bitter with me for not bringing it back, but I don't imagine the tape is of any real importance. I'm sorry I didn't think to ask Danny for a note.
Anyway, thank you for your time and I'll explain to Danny that you couldn't see your way clear to handing the tape to me. She held out her hand and gave him her sexiest smile, thrusting out her bosom. Sir Michael's gaze wavered from her eyes, and then he seemed to make up his mind. Look here, I suppose it will be all right. I mean, you are Danny's assistant. Not as though you were a total stranger. .
He hesitated. I don't want you to do anything you feel is not right, Bonny told him. I'm sure Danny will understand that you didn't trust me.
Good Lord, my dear young lady, it. isn't a case of not trusting you.
Oh, that's what I thought it was. She fluttered her eyelids at him.
Would you mind signing a receipt? Sorry to be so awkward, but I must cover myself with Danny. I understand, Sir Michael. He scribbled out a receipt on a sheet of the embassy stationery and she signed it and wrote out her full
