Page 55 of In the Heat of the Jungle

Between bites and sips, Jace related more of Masai customs, “Spirits of dead ancestors have to be praised, mentioned, and supplicated regularly. The descendants believe their welfare is affected and controlled by them. Dead chiefs are especially important. Possession of their spirits gives the current ruler power, and it’s said to give the tribe fertility and a sense of well-being. They also believe that spirits of dead warriors inhabit objects and animals, particularly cheetahs. Some tribes won’t kill cheetahs, even if their lives and stock are in jeopardy. We don’t want to offend any of them, so we won’t hunt cheetahs, either. I don’t want any of you to break tribal laws and get snatched during the night for revenge. No treasure, even a jeweled ritual knife, is worth torture and death. Johi and I know this territory, but there are places where we could never locate you. When we visit the Masai village, keep your minds pure and your hands to yourselves. We don’t want trouble.”

Jace and Chad exchanged a long and silent look. Jace went on. “As with most whites, most natives believe in a remote and omnipotent high god who’s reached by sacrifice, prayer, and ritual.”

As Leigh captured the hints in Jace’s revelation, the conversation drifted to their hunt today and it was gone over in great detail.

“After our social call on the Masai,” Reid asked, “what will we hunt for next?”

“Leopard. There should be some in the forest a few miles away.” When Jace noticed how much the men and two women were drinking, he cautioned, “Don’t forget, no drinking on the trail. It dulls wits and reflexes. It also makes the sun seem hotter. You’ll sweat more and could pass out. Drink only in camp, and not too much.”

“I think we’re being scolded for excess.”

In a pleasant tone, Jace remarked, “I don’t care what you do in London or Mombasa, Miss Jennings. But out here, I’m responsible for all of you. I know what’s best, so you have to obey my rules.”

Chad locked gazes with his old friend and nodded. “Jace is right, Louisa. The jungle is a dangerous place. If we don’t do as he orders, we can get into big trouble. Believe me, I know.”

Louisa caught a clue in the men’s expressions and moods, and asked, “What do you mean, Chad?”

Chad glanced at the redhead, then at the alert Leigh. “It’s one of those memories I’d like to forget. It was a long time ago, and I was reckless and greedy, a young man seeking the wrong challenge and adventure to prove his prowess.”

“Like you were today, my love, we have plenty of time to get your trophies, so don’t get greedy and take any more risks. I was terrified.”

“Next time, keep quiet. You had that rhino charging all of you. If I hadn’t turned him, one of you women could have been gored.”

Louisa pouted sultrily and commented, “I wasn’t the only one who screamed. Cynthia and Leigh did, too. We were scared and taken by surprise. We’ll do better next time. Won’t we, ladies?”

“It broke the tension and gave us experience, Chad. We’ll be fine from now on,” Leigh concurred with her self-appointed rival.

Talk continued for a while, then everyone parted for the night.

In her tent, Leigh mused on what she had learned today. She was glad the two men were getting along. If they did patch up their torn friendship, she and Jace would be free to drop their secrecy. She missed him terribly. She was with him every day, but it wasn’t the same; their closeness was absent. She longed to spend the night together again, but it was too hazardous.

In Jace’s tent, Johi revealed the news about Leigh’s weapon. The guide asked, “How did it get unloaded? You always check the guns when we return to camp. Did you see anything suspicious?”

A man of few words, Wanjohi responded, “No. She does not hunt or kill. It is dangerous.”

“I’m sure Leigh didn’t remove the cartridges. Somebody tampered with her gun. Sharpen your eyes even more, Johi. I don’t like this.”

“She was in no danger. We are good shots.”

“We know that, but someone else doesn’t.”

“She fired in practice last night,” the black-eyed man added. “Perhaps she did not reload. I saw no one with her weapon.”

“I forgot about practice after we reassigned weapons. I guess you’re right, Johi. I won’t mention her carelessness to her, but from now on, I’ll remind everyone to reload after shooting.”

“That is wise.”

~*~

Louisa strolled around camp after the others left for the day. Chad’s rhino head was placed in a boat, covered to avoid attracting aerial scavengers, and sent back to Mombasa for preservation by a man there. She stared before her. The bright sun seemed to incredibly whiten snow atop Kilimanjaro. Every morning, they all stared at the awesome sight and wished they could visit it. The base of the towering mountain always looked periwinkle in the early-morning and late evening haze. The sky was a clear blue, and the jungle before it was a lush green. “It’s really very beautiful, Cynthia. It reeks of power and danger.”

“Since when do you enjoy admiring scenery?” the woman jested. “That’s all little Leigh does, gush over every sight and sound.”

“We’re here, so we may as well enjoy it. Let’s walk to that water hole and talk. The servants can’t see or hear us from there. I have something for you to do.”

The two women took their weapons for protection and excused themselves from camp. The bearers left behind were either off on their own or busy with chores. At present, some were doing the party’s laundry in the river, leaving only two men in the camp.

At the waterhole, Louisa found a spot where tall grass and scrubs concealed it from the campsite. No animals were about this time of day or with the clear river nearby for drinking. Louisa stripped.

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