and the undergrowth beneath them was coarser than it had been around
Elisabethville.
Through the warm misty dawn Bruce saw the water tower at Msapa
junction rising like a lighthouse above the forest, its silver paint
streaked with brown rust. Then they came round the last curve in the
tracks and the little settlement huddled before them.
It was small, half a dozen buildings in all, and there was about it the
desolate aspect of human habitation reverting to jungl. Beside the
tracks stood the water tower and the raised concrete coal bins.
Then the station buildings of wood and iron, with the large sign above
the verandah:
MSAPA JUNCTION. Elevation 963m.
There was an avenue of casia flora trees with very dark green foliage
and orange flowers; and beyond that, on the edge of the forest, a row of
cottages.
One of the cottages had been burned, its ruins were fire blackened
and tumbled; and the gardens had lost all sense of discipline with three
months'neglect.
'Driver, stop beside the water tower. You have fifteen minutes to fill
your boiler.'
'Thank you, monsieur.' With a heavy sigh of steam the loco pulled up
beside the tower.
'Haig, take four men and go back to give the driver a hand.'
'Okay, Bruce.' Bruce turned once more to the radio.
'Hendry.'
'Hello there.'
'Get a patrol together, six men, and search those cottages. Then take a
look at the edge of the bush, we don't want any unexpected visitors.'
Wally Hendry waved an acknowledgement from the leading truck, and Bruce
went on: 'Put de
Surrier on.' He watched Hendry pass the set to Andre
'De Surner, you are in charge of the leading trucks in Hendry's absence.
Keep Hendry covered, but watch the bush behind you also. They could come
from there.' Bruce switched off the set and turned to Ruffy. 'Stay up
here
on the roof, Ruffy. I'm going to chase them up with the watering. If you
see anything, don't write me a postcard, start pooping off.' Ruffy
nodded. 'Have some breakfast to take with you.' He proffered an open
bottle of beer.
'Better than bacon and eggs.' Bruce accepted the bottle and climbed down
on to the platform. Sipping the beer he walked back along the train and
looked up at Mike and the engine driver in the tower.
'Is it empty?' he called up at them.
'Half full, enough for a bath if you want one,' answered Mike.
'Don't tempt me.' The idea was suddenly very attractive, for he could
smell his own stale body odour and his eyelids were itchy and swollen
from mosquito bites. 'My kingdom for a bath.' He ran his fingers over
his jowls and they rasped over stiff beard.
He watched them swing the canvas hose out over the loco. The chubby
