Blood on Tanganyika

CHAPTER FOUR: Unchartered Ground

Typical Rhodesian weather, eh?” said Rosemary, stepping out into the parking lot with a hand over her squinted eyes, Yombwe grunted, struggling to keep up under the weight of her bags. It was mid-day but the sun was already out all her glory, casting two jet- black shadows onto the face of the hard brown earth; one tall and sturdy, the other shorter and more wobbly, disfigured by a great lump on it's shoulder.

“Yes Madam, it is very hot.” he said, panting for air , wondering how many bricks she had carried and most importantly, why.

“Oh, I’ve seen worse, trust me! Try touring the Kalahari, death; that’s what it is. I mean, I’m a tough woman and all, but half-way in I suddenly realized perhaps pursuing a giant sandworm wasn’t that urgent a priority. The heat; it’s so slow and deliberate; a giant human barbeque! One of the worst ways to die, to be honest; beautiful view, though!” She said, pulling a camera from her bag, adjusting the lens to a backdrop of infinite blue , bordered by smudges of white and distant green hills . It flashed, Yombwe paused, eyes wide with amazement.

“ Ah! You like?” she said, lifting the camera, he nodded.

“Well come on, then! Don’t just stand there, come! I’ll show you how it works!” she said, beckoning him as he approached, peeking over her shoulder.

“ See , this here’s a Kannon DSLR 990 .” She said, flipping it. “ The 994 launched about a week ago, but I don’t mind, I’ve had this three years and it’s never failed , look! It’s got hyper magnification, color inversion, triple zoom and bifocal focus, what more do you need, right? See, all you do is peep through this hole right here, you can zoom in and out if you want, and when you like what you see, you press this little red button like so , then voila! You have your shot! Step backwards, I’ll show you!” she said, shoving him back.

“Huh?”

“ Just one picture, I promise! Put down the bags and give me a little pose.” she said, adjusting the lens as he nodded, lowering the bag slowly, then standing still, arms flat on his sides. She chuckled.

“ Oh, relax, Yombwi! It’s a casual shot, not a soviet parade! Come on, loosen those arms, flash those beautiful white teeth !” she said, as he chuckled, tilting his leg with a hand on his thigh, as sweat poured down his temples. She winced

“There we go! Hold still!” she said, as the camera flashed. “Here, come see!” she said, as he ran back to her.

“ Look through that little hole , what you do see? “ she said, lifting the camera to his squinted eye as he gasped, looking up at her then back down at the lens. He blushed.

“Well ?”

“It’s_ It’s me, madam; I’m the one!” he said, struggling to conceal his smile as she giggled.

“Yeah! A mighty fine shot too! Well take more , as soon as we get to the village, alright? For now, I think we’d best be on our way .” she said, looking at her watch as he snapped out.

“ Oh! Oh, Yah! Come madam, this way! The car it is this side.” he said, leading her down the parking lot to a rusty yellow sedan with blotchy paintwork, and a rusty Rhodesian license plate.

“ Wow , this is it, huh?” she said , stopping inches from the vehicle as he nodded, plugging his keys into the door. “ I see the commissioner spared no expense with this. At this rate, he should’ve sent over a bicycle, or scooter!” She chuckled, scratching her chin. “ It’s like a clown car , with really good self-esteem. What’s the top speed, forty? “She whispered, biting her lip as she walked around the vehicle, growing all the more anxious.

“Oh, don’t worry, madam, it is a very strong car, she goes very far! These scars you see are not from running away, they’re from fighting!” he said, patting the sunken roof with a broad smile. “ Come in, I’ll show you!” He said, opening her door, she winced.

“ Wow, I’m flattered, Yombwi. No offence, but I quiet frankly expected something a little more_ different, you know? Something much more practical for off-road trails, not a toy-car, I mean; my niece would have no trouble driving this, and she’s thirteen !” She said, tossing herself on a faded velvet seat , he chuckled.

“ Trust me madam, we will reach.” He said, closing her door, as he took the driver’s seat. “ She is old but very strong! I have driven her many times and she has never failed me, you see those big cars they carry their weight on the head, but this one she carries in her stomach, she can’t flip! Besides, this was the only car in the garage, one it has gone to fort Rosebery , the other one is down, it is at the mechanic.” He said, as her eyes rolled.

" Well, I’ll believe it when I see it! I’ve read about this route for ages and it’s no easy feat; even for the finest off-roaders ! Factor in the steep hills, sharp bends, steep inclines and flash floods and we’ve mapped the route to hell!”

"I know madam, I have been there!” he said, with a smile. “ Not to hell, no! I mean the road, I know it! I’ve been there before; that’s why they chose me to come. We will reach, I promise, just trust me.” He said, strapping his seat belt, before plugging his keys into the ignition. Left and right, he twisted, but the engine remained cold, wheezing feverishly as the key spun through the ignition, she sighed.

“ Wait, let me guess; couldn’t make a full tank either, huh?” She said, peeking over his shoulder

" Ah, no! No madam; fuel it is there, full tank! It is just the engine , it is cold because we stopped, but don’t worry, just one kick we’ll be on our way, just let me_” He said, tilting his head, as he twisted the key through the ignition, when suddenly _ something popped, cranked and jerked, thrusting the tiny car violently forward as a woman’s blood curdling cry burst through the radio, rattling the car’s metal frame, they startled.

" Jesus, Yombwi! Make it stop!” cried Rosemary , plugging her ears with her fingers, as Yombwe nodded, smacking the dashboard over and over until the sound gently subsided. He fell back, panting.

“What on earth was that? Sounds like a bloody Banshee!” She said, slowly unplugging her ears.

“ Sorry Madam, it’s_ it’s just this radio; It behaves as if it’s possessed! I haven’t touched it, it just switches on and off whenever it wants, it makes me look like a fool! As if I don’t know what I’m doing!” He said, scoffing at the lifeless object. “ It doesn’t like being touched, I cant even tune it, look! All these buttons, don’t work!” he said, frantically clicking a row of hard square buttons as she watched in awe. “ I keep telling the Boma, to change it but they refuse; it needs a very good mechanic_”

“Or an exorcist” she whispered.

“ A lot of customers complain, but it’s not my car I can’t throw it! So, I just sit and watch, honestly; I’ve come to get used, sometimes I can even tune it, what music do you like to hear?” He said, smacking the dashboard.

“Hey! Hey! Stop!” She cried, leaning forward. “ Stop it, please! Thank you.” She said, falling back, as he nodded, shifting the gear to ‘R’, as the car backed out of it’s lot, chasing rattling beneath them.

“ That’s suppose to happen, right?" she said, lifting her feet as he chuckled.

“Yes! Oh yes, madam, don’t even worry, it’s just a few screws that need replacing, but you are safe, the noise will stop as soon as we reach peak speed, you will see.”

“God, and I thought my flight was rough.” she said, falling back into her seat, as the car branched off into a clear gravel road, leaving a cloud of thick orange dust behind it.

True to his word the vehicle soldiered on, gaining momentum with each bumpy mile. Past hills and Valleys it raced; a tiny yellow Ant upon the back of an infinite grey Serpent, that weaved in and out of hills, infinite green on either side. Rosemary pulled her camera, sticking its cylinder through the window as Yombwe watched through the rear-view mirror, summing the courage to speak. He cleared his throat.

“A-hem!_ I see you are enjoying Rhodesia, Madam. It’s your first time to come here?” he asked, smiling at her reflection. She chuckled.

“First time? Are you kidding me? I was practically born here, Yombwi, well; figuratively anyway. My actual birth was in Lindon, Lindon Moats to be exact; a sleepy village in rural England, on a cold and foggy night_ or so my Mother says, I wouldn't know, she could be lying for all I care. I have but vague flashes of the place; dark skies, grey bricks ,good people, very bad teeth; literally, no one smiled. There was something in the water, I believe, or the air; everyone suffered cavities or some sort of dental malformity. Local Bishop had two rows of upper teeth , the Dentist , none; ." She whispered, scratching her chin.

“I digress, point is; I’ve always believed my spirit manifested here; in Africa, long before I ever physically birthed, you understand? I’ve always felt a deep connection to this place; I mean, just look at this for God’s sake, who wouldn’t?” she said, breeze blowing back her hair, as she gazed out the open window. “So at 24, I made my mind and bought a ticket and came to Africa, twenty-two years later, here I am; a full-fledged denizen of Mufulira, in the Copperbelt!” She said, with a smile as his face instantly lit up .

“Wait_ Copperbelt, Madam? Me too! Even me!” He cried, smiling at her reflection, she gasped..

“ No!”

“Yes! I’m telling you, Madam, ask anyone! They know me very well at home, just go to Kwacha compound, and_” he froze , smile instantly evaporating. Suddenly, Geography didn’t make such an interesting topic. In these few seconds he soon realized that his Copperbelt and hers where as different as night and day. What did she know of ifimbusu (Pit latrines) and koloboi’s (plastic lanterns) and he, of running water and cable T.V? The only cable in his house ran twice round the ceiling beam, through a hole, into the wall; supporting the weight of their unhinged door, a fact that sealed his lips perfectly shut as Rosemary waited with wide green eyes.

“Well? Go on! Tell me more about this ‘Kwacha,’ of yours, I’ve only heard it in passing, I’m genuinely intrigued!” She said, leaning forward. “ How big is the estate? Are your restaurants as good as ours?” she said, with wide eyes, he winced.