25
A half hour later camp is broken, the tents and equipment
packed up and ready for travel. We’ve mounted our elephants and now are heading
in a northwest direction towards Kashmiri’s diamond deposit, praying all the
time we’re not spotted by one of his spies along the way.
The going is slow but steady as the
elephants bust through the thickest of foliage with all the powerful efficiency
of Abrams battle tanks. At one point, I turn to make an eyeball check on the
crew when I see that Rudy’s eyes are closing, his head bobbing. The
step-and-sway motion of his elephant is putting him to sleep. Meanwhile, Tony
is ever alert and vigilant and keeping his eyes open for bandits, his cheek
stuffed with fresh tobacco. Anjali has been quiet, and the most we’ve
communicated since waking h
