True at First Light, Page 2

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “I’ve never worried ever about you taking care of the Memsahib but take care of yourself a little bit and try to be as good a boy as you can.”

  “You try too.”

  “I’ve tried for many years,” he said. Then, in the classic formula he said, “Now it is all yours.”

  So it was. It was all mine on a windless morning of the last day of the month of the next to the last month of the year. I looked at the dining tent and at our own tent. Then back to the small tents and the men moving around the cooking fire and then at the trucks and the hunting car, the vehicles seeming frosted in the heavy dew. Then I looked through the trees at the Mountain showing very big and near this morning with the new snow shining in the first sunlight.

  “Will you be all right in the truck?”

  “Quite. It’s a good road you know when it’s dry.”

  “You take the hunting car. I won’t need it.”

  “You’re not that good,” Pop said. “I want to turn this truck in and send you one that is sound. They don’t trust this truck.”

  It was always they. They were the people, the watu. Once they had been the boys. They still were to Pop. But he had either known them all when they were boys in age or had known their fathers when their fathers were children. Twenty years ago I had called them boys too and neither they nor I had any thought that I had no right to. Now no one would have minded if I had used the word. But the way things were now you did not do it. Everyone had his duties and everyone had a name. Not to know a name was both impolite and a sign of sloppiness. There were special names too of all sorts and shortening of names and friendly and unfriendly nicknames. Pop still cursed them in English or in Swahili and they loved it. I had no right to curse them and I never did. We also all, since the Magadi expedition, had certain secrets and certain things privately shared. Now there were many things that were secrets and there were things that went beyond secrets and were understandings. Some of the secrets were not at all gentle and some were so comic that you would see one of the three gun bearers suddenly laughing and look toward him and know what it was and you would both be laughing so hard that trying to hold in the laughter your diaphragm would ache.

  It was a clear and beautiful morning as we drove out across the plain with the Mountain and the trees of the camp behind us. There were many Thomson’s gazelle ahead on the green plain switching their tails as they fed. There were herds of wildebeests and Grant’s gazelle feeding close to the patches of bush. We reached the airstrip we had made in a long open meadow by running the car and the truck up and down through the new short grass and grubbing out the stumps and roots of a patch of brush at one end. The tall pole of a cut sapling drooped from the heavy wind of the night before and the wind sock, homemade from a flour sack, hung limp. We stopped the car and I got out and felt the pole. It was solid although bent and the sock would fly once the breeze rose. There were wind clouds high in the sky and it was beautiful looking across the green meadow at the Mountain looking so huge and wide from here.

  “Do you want to shoot any color of it and the airstrip?” I asked my wife.

  “We have that even better than it is this morning. Let’s go and see the bat-eared foxes and check on the lion.”

  “He won’t be out now. It’s too late.”

  “He might be.”

  So we drove along our old wheel tracks that led to the salt flat. On the left there was open plain and the broken line of tall green-foliaged yellow-trunked trees that marked the edge of the forest where the buffalo herd might be. There was old dry grass growing high along the edge and there were many fallen trees that had been pulled down by elephants or uprooted by storms. Ahead there was plain with new short green grass and to the right there were broken glades with islands of thick green bush and occasional tall flat-topped thorn trees. Everywhere there was game feeding. They moved away as we came close, moving sometimes in quick bursts of galloping; sometimes at a steady trot; sometimes only feeding off away from the car. But they always stopped and fed again. When we were on this routine patrol or when Miss Mary was photographing they paid no more attention to us than they do to the lion when he is not hunting. They keep out of his way but they are not frightened.

  I was leaning out of the car watching for tracks in the road as my gun bearer, Ngui, who sat in the outside position behind me was doing. Mthuka, who was driving, watched all the country ahead and on both sides. He had the best and quickest eyes of any of us. His face was ascetic, thin and intelligent and he had the arrowhead tribal cuts of the Wakamba on both cheeks. He was quite deaf and he was Mkola’s son and he was a year older than I was. He was not a Mohammedan as his father was. He loved to hunt and he was a beautiful driver. He would never do a careless or irresponsible thing but he, Ngui and myself were the three principal bads.

  We had been very close friends for a long time and one time I asked him when he had gotten the big formal tribal cuts which no one else had. Those who did have them had very lightly traced scars.

  He laughed and said, “At a very big Ngoma. You know. To please a girl.” Ngui and Charo, Miss Mary’s gun bearer, both laughed.

  Charo was a truly devout Mohammedan and was also known to be very truthful. He did not know how old he was, of course, but Pop thought he must be over seventy. With his turban on he was about two inches shorter than Miss Mary and watching them standing together looking across the gray flat at the waterbuck that were now going carefully, upwind, into the forest, the big buck with his beautiful horns looking back and to either side as he entered last in line, I thought what a strange pair Miss Mary and Charo must look to the animals. No animals had any visual fear of them. We had seen this proven many times. Rather than fearing them, the small blond one in the forest green coat, and the even smaller black one in the blue jacket, the animals appeared interested in them. It was as though they had been permitted to see a circus or at least something extremely odd and the predatory animals seemed to be definitely attracted by them. On this morning we were all relaxed. Something, or something awful or something wonderful was certain to happen on every day in this part of Africa. Every morning when you woke it was as exciting as though you were going to compete in a downhill ski race or drive a bobsled on a fast run. Something, you knew, would happen and usually before eleven o’clock. I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke that I was not happy. At least until I remembered unfinished business. But on this morning we were relaxed in the momentary irresponsibility of command and I was happy that the buffalo, which were our basic problem, were evidently someplace where we could not reach them. For what we hoped to do it was necessary for them to come to us rather than for us to go to them.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Bring the car up and make a quick swing to check for tracks at the big water and then go into that place in the forest where it borders the swamp and check and then get out. We’ll be downwind of the elephant and you might see him. Probably not.”

  “Can we go back through the gerenuk country?”

  “Of course. I’m sorry we started late. But with Pop going away and everything.”

  “I like to go in there in that bad place. I can study what we need for a Christmas tree. Do you think my lion is in there?”

  “Probably. But we won’t see him in that kind of country.”

  “He’s such a smart bastard lion. Why didn’t they let me shoot that easy beautiful lion under the tree that time. That’s the way women shoot lions.”

  “They shoot them that way and the finest black-maned lion ever shot by a woman had maybe forty shots fired into him. Afterwards they have the beautiful pictures and then they have to live with the god-damn lion and lie about him to all their friends and themselves the rest of their lives.”

  “I’m sorry I missed the wonderful lion at Magadi.”

  “Don’t you be sorry. You be proud.”

  “I don’t know what made me this way. I have to get him and he has to
be the real one.”

  “We overhunted him, honey. He’s too smart. I have to let him get confidence now and make a mistake.”

  “He doesn’t make mistakes. He’s smarter than you and Pop both.”

  “Honey, Pop wanted you to get him or lose him straight. If he didn’t love you you could have shot any sort of a lion.”

  “Let’s not talk about him,” she said. “I want to think about the Christmas tree. We’re going to have a wonderful Christmas.”

  Mthuka had seen Ngui start down the trail for him and brought up the car. We got in and I motioned Mthuka toward the far water at the corner across the swamp. Ngui and I both hung out over the side watching for tracks. There were the old wheel tracks and the game trails to and from the papyrus swamp. There were fresh wildebeest tracks and the tracks of the zebra and Tommy.

  Now we were going closer to the forest as the road swung and then we saw the tracks of a man. Then of another man wearing boots. These tracks had been rained on lightly and we stopped the car to check on foot.

  “You and me,” I said to Ngui.

  “Yes,” he grinned. “One of them has big feet and walks as though he is tired.”

  “One is barefooted and walks as though the rifle were too heavy for him. Stop the car,” I said to Mthuka. We got out.

  “Look,” said Ngui. “One walks as though he were very old and can hardly see. The one with shoes.”

  “Look,” I said. “The barefoot one walks as though he has five wives and twenty cows. He has spent a fortune on beer.”

  “They will get nowhere,” Ngui said. “Look, the one with shoes walks as though he might die at any time. He staggers under the weight of the rifle.”

  “What do you think they are doing here?”

  “How would I know? Look, the one with shoes is stronger now.”

  “He is thinking about the Shamba,” Ngui said.

  “Kwenda na Shamba.”

  “Ndio,” Ngui said. “How old would you say the old one with the shoes is?”

  “None of your damn business,” I said. We motioned for the car and when it got up we got in and I motioned Mthuka toward the entrance to the forest. The driver was laughing and shaking his head.

  “What were you two doing tracking yourselves?” Miss Mary said. “I know it’s funny because everybody was laughing. But it looked quite silly.”

  “We were having fun.”

  I was always depressed by this part of the forest. The elephants had to eat something and it was proper that they should eat trees rather than destroy the native farms. But the destruction was so great in proportion to the amount they ate from the trees they pulled down that it was depressing to see it. Elephants were the only animal that were increasing steadily throughout their present range in Africa. They increased until they became such a problem to the natives that they had to be slaughtered. Then they were killed off indiscriminately. There were men who did this and enjoyed it. They killed old bulls, young bulls, cows and calves and many liked their work. There had to be some sort of elephant control. But seeing this damage to the forest and the way the trees were pulled down and stripped and knowing what they could do in a native Shamba in a night, I started to think about the problems of control. But all the time I was watching for the tracks of the two elephants we had seen leading into this part of the forest. I knew those two elephants and where they would probably go for the day, but until I had seen their tracks and was sure they were past us I must be careful about Miss Mary wandering around looking for a suitable Christmas tree.

  We stopped the car and I took the big gun and helped Miss Mary out of the car.

  “I don’t need any help,” she said.

  “Look, honey,” I started to explain. “I have to stay with you with the big gun.”

  “I’m just going to pick out a Christmas tree.”

  “I know. But there could be every kind of stuff in here. There has been too.”

  “Let Ngui stay with me then and Charo’s here.”

  “Honey, I’m responsible for you.”

  “You can be an awful bore about it too.”

  “I know it.” Then I said, “Ngui.”

  “Bwana?”

  The joking was all suspended.

  “Go and see if the two elephants went into the far forest. Go as far as the rocks.”

  “Ndio.”

  He went off across the open space watching ahead for tracks in the grass and carrying my Springfield in his right hand.

  “I only want to pick one out,” Miss Mary said. “Then we can come out some morning and dig it up and get it back to camp and plant it while it is still cool.”

  “Go ahead,” I said. I was watching Ngui. He had stopped once and listened. Then he went on walking very carefully. I followed Miss Mary who was looking at the different silvery thorn shrubs trying to find one with the best size and shape but I kept looking back at Ngui over my shoulder. He stopped again and listened then waved toward the deep forest with his left arm. He looked around at me and I waved him back to us. He came in fast; as fast as he could walk without running.

  “Where are they?” I asked.

  “They crossed and went into the forest. I could hear them. The old bull and his askari.”

  “Good,” I said.

  “Listen,” he whispered. “Faro.” He pointed toward the thick forest on the right. I had heard nothing. “Mzuri motocah,” he said, meaning, in shorthand, “Better get into the car.”

  “Get Miss Mary.”

  I turned toward where Ngui had pointed. I could see only the silvery shrubs, the green grass and the line of tall trees with vines and creepers hanging from them. Then I heard the noise like a sharp deep purr. It was the noise you would make if you held your tongue against the roof of your mouth and blew out strong so your tongue vibrated as a reed. It came from where Ngui had pointed. But I could see nothing. I slipped the safety catch forward on the .577 and turned my head to the left. Miss Mary was coming at an angle to get behind where I stood. Ngui was holding her by the arm to guide her and she was walking as though she were treading on eggs. Charo was following her. Then I heard the sharp rough purr again and I saw Ngui fall back with the Springfield ready and Charo move forward and take Miss Mary’s arm. They were even with me now and were working toward where the car must be. I knew the driver, Mthuka, was deaf and would not hear the rhino. But when he saw them he would know what was happening. I did not want to look around. But I did and saw Charo urging Miss Mary toward the hunting car. Ngui was moving fast with them carrying the Springfield and watching over his shoulder. It was my duty not to kill the rhino. But I would have to if he or she charged and there was no way out. I planned to shoot the first barrel into the ground to turn the rhino. If it did not turn I would kill it with the second barrel. Thank you very much I said to myself. It is easy.

  Just then I heard the motor of the hunting car start and heard the car coming fast in low gear. I started to fall back figuring a yard was a yard and feeling better with each yard gained. The hunting car swung alongside in a tight turn and I pushed the safety and jumped for the handhold by the front seat as the rhino came smashing out through the vines and creepers. It was the big cow and she came galloping. From the car she looked ridiculous with her small calf galloping behind her.

  She gained on us for a moment but the car pulled away. There was a good open space ahead and Mthuka swung the car sharply to the left. The rhino went straight on galloping then slowed to a trot and the calf trotted too.

  “Did you get any pictures?” I asked Miss Mary.

  “I couldn’t. She was right behind us.”

  “Didn’t you get her when she came out?”

  “No.”

  “I don’t blame you.”

  “I picked out the Christmas tree though.”

  “You see why I wanted to cover you,” I said unnecessarily and stupidly.

  “You didn’t know she was in there.”

  “She lives around here and she goes to the strea
m at the edge of the swamp for water.”

  “Everybody was so serious,” Miss Mary said. “I never saw all of you joke people get so serious.”

  “Honey, it would have been awful if I had had to kill her. And I was worried about you.”

  “Everybody so serious,” she said. “And everybody holding on to my arm. I knew how to get back to the car. Nobody had to hold on to my arm.”

  “Honey,” I said, “they were only holding your arm so that you wouldn’t step in a hole or trip on something. They were watching the ground all the time. The rhino was very close and might charge anytime and we’re not allowed to kill her.”

  “How did you know it was a female with a calf?”

  “It stood to reason. She’s been around here for four months.”

  “I wish she wasn’t right in the place where the Christmas trees grow.”

  “We’ll get the tree all right.”

  “You always promise things,” she said. “But things are much simpler and better when Mr. P. is here.”

  “They certainly are,” I said. “And they are much easier when G.C. is here. But there is nobody here but us now and please let’s not fight in Africa. Please not.”

  “I don’t want to fight,” she said. “I’m not fighting. I simply don’t like to see all you private joke people get so serious and so righteous.”

  “Have you ever seen anybody killed by a rhino?”

  “No,” she said. “And neither have you.”

  “That’s right,” I said. “And I don’t intend to. Pop’s never seen it either.”

  “I didn’t like it when you all got so serious.”

  “It was because I couldn’t kill the rhino. If you can kill it there’s no problem. Then I had to think about you.”

  “Well, stop thinking about me,” she said. “Think about us getting the Christmas tree.”