He glowered at her, got up and walked out of the restaurant. Gaye and Garry paused to congratulate the fat Indian on his curry, and then followed Fennel across the square to the garage.
'He's sweet, isn't he?' Gaye said softly.
'He's a fat slob. If he goes on like this, he'll get a poke in his snout!'
'Remember what Armo said . . . he's dangerous.'
Garry scowled.
'So am I. It bothers me that Ken has to travel with him.'
But he was less bothered when he saw a tall, magnificently built Bantu, wearing bush clothes with a bush hat pinned up Australian fashion on one side, shaking hands with Ken.
'That must be Themba. Well, Ken and he can take care of Fennel; that's for sure.'
Ken made the introductions. Whereas Garry and Gaye shook hands, Fennel just stared at the big Bantu and then walked over to the Land Rover to make sure his bag of tools was still there.
'Themba only talks Afrikaans,' Ken explained. 'So conversationally he's a dead loss to you two.'
'I think he looks wonderful,' Gaye said admiringly.
'He's great. We've worked together for five years . . . no better tracker in Natal.'
They climbed into the Land Rover. Themba occupied a small swing-out seat at the rear, placing him above the others and giving him a good view of the country.
'Now, we go into the jungle,' Ken said. 'If there's any game to spot, Themba will find it.'
Another ten minutes of driving brought them off the main road to a grit road and the drive became bumpy.
'It gets worse as it goes on,' Ken said cheerfully, 'but you'll get used to it.'
It did get worse, and Ken had to cut down speed. Pot holes began to appear in the road and the Land Rover banged and bumped, making everyone hold on, with Fennel cursing under his breath.
A mile or so further on, Themba said something to Ken, and Ken slowed and steered the Land Rover off the road into the bush. They were moving slowly now and they all had to look out for thorny bushes and low hanging branches which became hazardous as they went on.
Suddenly before them was a big waterbuck with its majestic antlers, looking towards them. It turned and was away with high leaping steps, displaying a perfect ring of white fur around its rump.
'Oh, I love him!' Gaye explained. 'And that white ring . . . it's marvellous!'
'Do you know how he got that?' Ken asked, grinning. 'I'll tell you. When the waterbuck arrived at the Ark, he rushed up to Noah and said, 'Mr. Noah, please where is the nearest toilet?' Noah said, 'You'll have to wait. All the toilets have just been painted.' The waterbuck said, 'I can't wait.' It's had that ring ever since.'
'Why don't you look where you're driving and stop the yak?' Fennel growled while the others laughed.
'Can't please everyone all the time,' Ken said, shrugging, and continued on.
Gaye was noticing that many of the trees were broken and dead, giving the bush a stricken look.
'Did lightning do all this damage?' she asked.
'What, those trees— No . . . elephants. Must have had a big herd through here at one time. The elephant is the most destructive beast of any wild game. They strip the trees and smash them as they move. Wherever an elephant has been, you'll find dead trees.'
A little later they came upon five giraffes and Ken stopped within fifty metres of them. The animals stood motionless, staring.
'I wish I hadn't packed my camera,' Gaye sighed. 'They seem completely tame.'
'They're not tame . . . they're eaten up with curiosity,' Ken explained, and even as he spoke the gigantic animals turned and lolloped away, covering the ground at high speed although seeming to move like a slow motion film.
'Lions dig for them, but they seldom catch them,' Ken went on, setting the Land Rover moving again.
'Are there any lions in this district?' Gaye asked. 'I'd love to see one.'
'You will, and hear them too.'
