The Leopard's Prey (30 page)

Jade nodded. “Someone tried to kill you.”

“
You
could have been killed?” he said at the same time.

He reached for her and pulled her into a tight embrace. They held on to each other as though the other would evaporate like a morning dream if they let go.

“Sam, I was so worried about you.”

“I’m so sorry, Jade.” He kissed her brow and her hair, and he had just parted his lips to engulf hers when someone coughed behind him. Sam released Jade and stepped back a pace.

“Glad to see you safe and sound, Jade,” said Avery. “We’ve been in quite a stew since we found out you’d disappeared.” He pulled out his pipe and filled it with tobacco.

“Sorry we didn’t look for you sooner,” said Neville. “I was into the machinery all day, as was Maddy, and Kimathi didn’t report you missing until late last night.”

“It appears you no longer need me anymore, so I’ll just go on back home.”

Jade peered around Sam to see the speaker. “Ah, Mr. Harding. Thank you very much for being part of the search party. I’m sorry if I inconvenienced you.” In the morning light, the man looked sickly, his face more like yellowed parchment bleeding into his eyes.
Liver trouble?

Harding touched his hat brim. “Not at all, Miss del Cameron. Just glad to see you alive and unharmed.” He nodded to Sam, Neville, and Avery. “Gentlemen.”

“Mr. Harding, thank you again,” said Sam, extending his right hand.

Harding looked mildly embarrassed, ducking his head a bit, his lips tight. Then he shook Sam’s hand. “Sorry the others weren’t in any shape to help out. Not that it mattered in the end.” He pulled his hands back and shoved them in his pockets. “Was that Chalmers driving you in?” He looked across the street to where Chalmers had just parked his vehicle and was getting out.

“Yes, I ran into him just west of Mount Longonot. He was looking for his missing pony.”

Harding shook his head. “That’s why he didn’t come last night. Bloody fool.” Then he glanced at Jade and reddened. “Pardon me. Strong language.”

“Damn right it is,” said Jade with a grin. Mr. Harding managed a wan smile, touched his brim again and got into his truck. Jade and the others watched him drive away; then Sam slipped his arm around Jade’s waist.

“So,” said Avery, puffing on his pipe, “someone deliberately fouled the engine?”

“Yes. When I looked in to see if it had gone empty, I saw the remnants of a paper wrap and thread. Someone bound up dirt and grass inside and hung it in the fuel tank. It took a while for the paper to dissolve enough to release the contents. So the bastard clearly wasn’t trying to prevent takeoff.”

“You need to tell that to the inspector,” said Neville. “And I need to get home and assure Maddy that you’re safe and sound.” He shook his head. “Someday, maybe there will be telephone service out to the farms.”

“Thanks, Neville,” said Sam, “for everything. I owe you.”

“Think nothing of it. Just get back to helping me with that new washer as soon as you feel up to it.” He shook hands with Avery, got into his own car, and drove off to his coffee farm.

“Neville’s right, Sam. The inspector needs to know about this.”

“Where did you put down, Jade?” Sam asked.

“South of Lake Naivasha, near Hell’s Gate. Don’t worry about the plane. There are a half dozen Maasai warriors guarding it for you.”

“No fooling?”

“One is Ruta’s brother.
And
I found a rhino calf. I think its mother rammed the train and suffered the worst for it. She died west of Longonot, and true to form, the calf stayed with her. The Maasai have taken the calf back to their
kraal
until Perkins and Daley come for it.”

Sam lunged for Jade and grabbed her in a tight lock, hoisting her off her feet. “You saved my job. You’re the bravest, most wonderful—” He leaned in to kiss her, but stopped short and glanced sideways at Avery.

“Pay no attention to me,” Avery said as he turned his back. “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”

Sam grinned. Before Jade could remark that there were other people about on the streets now, Sam had already swooped in for the kiss. He tasted of bitter quinine and lime, but Jade didn’t mind. His kiss still made the back of her neck tingle.

Someone driving by tooted their horn at them, and Sam released Jade. “I’ll go to your compound and tell Perkins right away,” he said. “Where should I direct him?”

Jade pulled out her notebook, tore out a page and drew a map showing the lake, Longonot, and Hell’s Gate. “When they get to the plane, they should ask for Tajewo. He can lead them to the
kraal
. They should tell them that Bwana Mti Mguu sent them.”

“Who’s that?” asked Sam.

“You. You’re Bwana Tree Leg.” She grinned as she watched his response. “You’re rather famous, actually. Word’s gotten around about the man with the tree leg who flies the big dragonfly across the sky.”

“Makes sense,” agreed Avery. “I’m jealous. I’m just known for my pipe.”

Sam folded the map and slipped it into his pocket. “Wait. I can’t go see Perkins now. I need to accompany you to the police,” he said just as Chalmers joined them.

“I’ll take our Jade to the constabulary,” said Avery. “Finch might toss you behind bars again if he thinks you tried to sabotage your own plane to hurt Jade.”

Sam ran a hand through his hair, pushing the longer strands on top back from his brow. “You’re right. He probably would.” He noticed Chalmers for the first time. “Ah, Chalmers, thank you for rescuing Jade.”

“My pleasure,” he said. “But did I just hear you say your
aeroplane
was sabotaged?” He looked at Jade. “Is
that
what you meant by engine trouble?”

Jade felt her face grow warm. “That’s right.”

“Huh. Well, that’s interesting,” he said more to himself than to her. Then he touched his hat. “It seems you’re in capable hands now, so I’ll push off. Good day to you all.”

“I’d better leave, too,” said Sam, “if I want to catch Perkins or Daley at the warehouse.”

“Take my car, Sam,” said Avery. “Meet us at my house as soon as you’re done.”

“Thanks, Avery,” said Sam.

“Watch your back,” Jade cautioned. “When someone finds out that you weren’t in that plane, they may try again.” She frowned, realizing that both Chalmers and Harding already knew. How long before word spread?

“Will do.” Sam reached out and touched her hand before driving off in the Hupmobile.

Jade felt more joy than she had in several days. Just knowing Sam was out of the hospital, alive and not angry at her for busting his plane, did wonders for her.

“You probably would rather not walk anymore,” said Avery. “I’ll call for a rickshaw.”

“Don’t. It’s not far, and I don’t feel so tired now.”

Avery laughed. “Fancy that.”

They followed Government Road toward the Tin Shanties that served as the police headquarters, but when they were just outside of the New Stanley Hotel, they heard a loud ruckus of shouting and police whistles.

“Sounds like quite a
shauri,
” said Avery.

They hurried ahead to the Court Building to see what the commotion was about. To Jade’s horror, one European constable and three African constables were dragging away a half dozen native prisoners, all of whom where vehemently protesting their arrest. Foremost in the group was Jelani.

CHAPTER 16

The colony frowns on cattle raiding and hunting the lions that
would make sport for others, so they are taking steps to shorten the
amount of time warriors may stay in a manyatta. Of course,
Maasai are not proving so tractable as other tribes.

—The Traveler

“JELANI!” JADE SHOUTED above the din. The boy looked up at hearing his name. The native man next to him had his hands up protecting his head from a club wielded by one of the African constables. It was Jelani who surprised Jade. She knew the lad had courage, but she’d never seen such a look of defiant superiority on anyone’s face before. It was as though he was willing to be martyred for a cause. She pushed through the growing crowd toward him.

“And just where do you think you are going, miss?” said a constable, blocking her path.

“I demand to know why you are arresting these natives. I know one of them personally.”

“We’re not arresting them,” he said. “Did that yesterday. We’re taking them to court today to charge and sentence them.” He pointed to Jelani. “That boy there. He’s the reason for this
shauri
. Trying to incite a riot, he is.”

The officer didn’t stay to continue the conversation. Once the African policemen had the group firmly in hand, the white officer directed them in hauling the offenders into the building.

Jade saw the grim set of Avery’s jaw and knew he was as upset as she was. “Can you do anything, Avery?” she asked.

“I’ll do what I can,” he said, “but it will have to be through the court. My title might not carry much weight here. I’m not sure who the magistrate is these days. I’ve been gone awhile.”

They entered another flimsy-looking building, went into a courtroom set aside for native cases, and took seats two rows behind the prisoners. Jelani and his companions weren’t the only ones awaiting judgment. An assortment of natives, mostly male, mostly Kikuyu, filled the first three benches behind the European constable. Everyone rose, willingly or not, when the magistrate entered.

The first case involved a native woman selling
tembo,
a euphemism for home-brewed alcohol. She was fined ten rupees, an unheard-of sum for a poor native woman, or had to face thirty days in the native prison. Unfortunately for her, she hadn’t made that much selling the drink.

Jelani and his companions were the next case to be decided. The officer read the charges: refusing to work and, for Jelani, inciting a revolt. The magistrate’s brows rose at this last charge as though he couldn’t believe a boy of Jelani’s young age could foment a riot. Jelani, for his part, did his best to give the impression that he was capable of that and more. He straightened to his full height, nearly five foot, five inches, and jutted out his chin.

Avery stood and addressed the magistrate. “Your honor, I would like to speak in defense of these men.”

“And you are?”

“Lord Avery Dunbury.”

“Are these your laborers?”

“No, sir. In point of fact, I do not know any of them except Jelani.” He motioned to Jade. “This young woman knows the lad as well.”

The magistrate turned to Jade, who also rose. “And your name, miss?”

“Jade del Cameron, sir.”

“An American, by your voice.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very well, speak your mind, but I should warn you that I take a very dim view of lazy natives. As they are not your workers, I doubt you will be able to convince me otherwise.”

Jade took a deep breath and kept her eyes on Jelani, waiting for Avery to have his say.

“I have known the lad, Jelani, for over a year, as has Miss del Cameron, who has acted as his tutor, teaching the boy to read and write. We are concerned first of all about this charge of refusing to work, especially as the boy is not yet old enough to fall under the laws requiring poll and hut taxes.

“Is this true, boy?” asked the magistrate, addressing Jelani. “Are you still a child by our reckoning?”

“I do not know how many long rains I have been alive,” Jelani answered. “But I study with the mundu-mugo in my village, and he has passed to me a symbol of authority. I have also gone through the manhood rite, so I am a man.” His young voice, still cracking, resonated clearly.

Jade felt a surge of pride as she watched him. He’d grown in the past months, like new grass shooting up after a fire. From where she stood, she couldn’t see his heel, but she knew that he bore the scars there proudly, a sign of his bravery in escaping slavery barely six months ago.
Yes,
she thought,
he is as much a man as any of the others standing with him
. But it was the English standards that decided who paid taxes, and by that standard, he should still be exempt.

“How old is this boy?” asked the magistrate. He looked at Avery for an answer.

“We don’t know, you honor. Possibly twelve.”

“And more likely thirteen by the looks of him,” said the magistrate. “In which case he is required to pay the hut tax and work to earn it. When he is not working, he should be in his village, and not wandering without travel papers. But,” he added before Avery could protest, “I will dismiss
this
charge on the grounds of uncertainty. We will register him as being of age starting next month.” The magistrate turned to the officer in charge. “See to it that this boy is fingerprinted and registered. We will deal with this other charge in a moment.”

If Jade expected Jelani to show some relief at avoiding one of his charges, she was in for a surprise. His lips tightened and his brows furrowed.

“As to these other men,” said the magistrate, “they were all found away from their current employers with no papers to justify their movement.” He nodded to the officer in charge. “Repeat offenders?”

“Only one, your honor,” replied the officer. “A man called Ngigi.”