'Unless . . . what?'
'Unless he's not going to let us leave.'
Gaye stiffened.
'He can't keep us forever. Garry, do talk sense.'
Garry sipped his drink.
'All right, but I don't like it. If Fennel and Ken weren't out there, I'd be worried. I'm going to talk to them.' He got up and went into his bedroom.
Gaye waited. She was also puzzled that Tak had taken them into the museum, but she wasn't worried. She told herself that Kahlenberg was so confident about his safety precautions, he didn't mind strangers seeing his museum.
Garry returned after some twenty minutes.
'Fennel agrees it looks suspicious. Themba has been left guarding the equipment. Fennel is coming here on his own, leaving Ken to keep watch. If Kahlenberg starts trouble, at least Ken can do something to help us. When we get the ring, we'll signal Ken and we'll all meet at the airfield and take off. We'll pick up Themba and get back to Mainville.'
'Do you think Kahlenberg will start trouble?'
'I'll tell you when I've met him,' Garry returned. 'How about another drink?'
At exactly 21.00 hrs., a Zulu servant came to take them to the main terrace.
Seated in his chair, Kahlenberg was waiting for them. He greeted them pleasantly and waved them to chairs near him.
'Tak tells me you are from Animal World, Miss Desmond.' he said, after Gaye had thanked him for receiving them. 'Have you been with them long?'
'Not very . . . six months.'
'It is a magazine I take regularly. I am interested in animals. Why don't they give you a credit line, Miss Desmond?'
Watching, Garry was relieved to see Gaye was cool and seemed quite at ease. She laughed a little ruefully.
'I am one of the small fry, Mr. Kahlenberg. I do the routine work. I was hoping you would allow me to photograph this lovely house. I would get a credit for that.'
He studied her.
'I am afraid then you will have to wait a little longer for your
credit. Photography is forbidden here.'
She met his blue-grey eyes, smiling.
'Even to me? I promise I will be most discreet and photograph only the house and the garden.'
'I am sorry.' He changed the subject by asking if she found his museum interesting.
'It is magnificent. I congratulate you.'
Three Zulus came silently on to the terrace and stood waiting before a beautifully laid table. At the same time, Hindenburg who had just finished his dinner, came slowly across the terrace to Kahlenberg.
'What a beauty!' Gaye exclaimed. 'May I stroke him?'
'It would be unwise,' Kahlenberg said, rubbing the cheetah's ear. 'My pet is a little uncertain with strangers . . . even beautiful strangers, Miss Desmond.' He set his chair in motion and drove up to the table. 'Let us have dinner.'
When they were seated, Kahlenberg turned to Garry.
'And you, Mr. Edwards, have you been a professional pilot for long?'
Garry shook his head.
'Just started,' he said easily. 'Miss Desmond is my first client. Of course I've done a lot of chopper flying in the States, but I like a change, so I've set up business in Durban.'
