He took the sleeping bags into the tent and laid them out. Themba was building a fire some little way from the tent. Ken collected the .22 rifle and pocketed some ammunition.
'I'm going after guinea-fowl. Want to come?'
'Of course.'
They set off together into the bush.
Fennel came out of the trees, moving slowly. His arm still ached. He looked around, then seeing only Themba busy with the fire, he went to the Land Rover, got out his rucksack and went into the tent. He changed out of his wet shorts and put on a dry pair. He came out into the dying sunshine and sat on one of the wooden cases. His mind was smouldering. Well, he would fix her, he told himself as he lit a cigarette. There was time. Get the operation over. On the way back, he'd teach her.
He was still sitting there, brooding, when the helicopter came in to land. After a while Garry came over.
'A beauty,' he said enthusiastically. 'Goes like a bird.'
Fennel looked up and grunted.
'Where are the others?'
Fennel shrugged.
'I wouldn't know.'
'How about a beer?'
'Yeah.'
Garry opened the carton. Themba came over with glasses and a thermos of ice. As Garry was opening the bottles, Gaye and Ken cane out of the bush. Ken had four guinea-fowl hanging from a string to his belt.
'Why didn't you wait for me?' Gaye demanded.
Garry shook his head.
'Trial flight. First time I've handled her. Cockeyed for both of us to get killed.'
Gaye's eyes opened wide. She took the beer Themba offered her with a smile. Ken drank from the bottle, sighed, then handed the birds to Themba who took them away.
We'll eat well tonight,' Ken said and squatted down on the grass. 'Let's talk business, Lew. We two and Themba leave at first light . . . around 04.00 hrs. We'll take the rifle and the shotgun, our sleeping bags, rucksacks and food.' He looked over at Garry, 'You any good with a .22?'
Garry grimaced.
'Never tried.'
'I am,' Gaye said. 'I'll get you a guinea-fowl, Garry.'
'That's fine.'
Fennel glanced up, looked at Gaye, then at Garry, then looked away.
'Okay . . . anyway, you have only one more day here. The day after tomorrow you take off for Kahlenberg's place.' Ken took a pencil from his pocket and drew a rough circle in the sand. 'I've been talking to Themba. He's been up to Kahlenberg's estate for the past two days.' He glanced over at Lew who was lighting a cigarette. 'You listening, Lew?'
'You think I'm goddamn deaf?'
'This circle represents Kahlenberg's estate. Themba tells me it
is guarded by a lot of Zulus south, west and east, but not on the north side. The road into the estate on the north side is reckoned impassable, but Themba has been over it. He says there's one really tricky bit, but if we can't get over it, we can walk. It's our only safe way in.'
'How far do we walk if we can't drive?' Fennel asked, leaning forward as Ken marked a spot on the north side of the circle.
'Twenty kilometres as near as damn it.'
Fennel thought of his heavy tool bag.
'But there's a chance we can get through in the truck?'
