HAUNTED PARK

CHAPTER 6

ANNE

The plane breaks through the clouds as it descends to grip the runway, marking the end to the long hours we have been traveling. We have finally reached our destination. The city can be seen clearly from the sky and the sprawling park as it starts from the edges of the city, that is going to be our home for a week.

The airplane touches the runway and we all smile with joy. Dan, Moses, Rachel and I are finally in the African city in the afternoon to start our vacation. The airport is surrounded by sprawling plains with green vegetation and a cool breeze that neutralizes the hot sun. This alone is a welcome relief from the freezing climate back home, where heavy clothing is the order of the day.

Everyone is jubilant as we wait for our taxi to the city where we need to find a travel agent who will take us to the park. We don't want to spend any night in an hotel, this is a camping expedition, to connect with nature, to live in the same environment with wild animals and even see some wildlife we have only seen on TV.

Dan is my boyfriend and one of the reasons we are coming out here is to make a baby out there in the wild and we are all upbeat about it. Moses and Rachel are also a couple in a similar mission.

We have been friends with each other since our days in college and even after graduating we came together to save funds for this journey. A friend who has visited the park we are interested in gave us the contacts of the tour agent who will guide us to the park but for three days he hasn't been reachable on phone.

We have his physical address though and we are planning to visit him when we get to the city, about ten kilometers from the airport.

The taxi arrives and we are driven straight to the tour agents office. We are ushered to his office where we find him looking drowsy, as if he's been drinking. The guy is not himself and I wonder what the friend who directed us saw in him. His eyes are swollen and so red it's as if he has been crying.

“We have been trying to reach you on phone unsuccessfully, what's up?" I ask him after introductions.

“Sorry, I have been away on a business trip but now that you are here let's discuss business." He says unconvincingly.

We take turns to explain to him why we are here and the aim of our mission, omitting the baby making part.

He gets up from his seat and walks to the window, stays silent for a whole minute then paces around the office.

“I can't take you to that park for reasons I can't disclose.” He says, perusing some maps on the table.

“Why?" I ask, “You were highly recommended by a friend.”

“It could be so, but circumstances have since changed. I strongly advice you against venturing there. If you choose another park anywhere in this region I will be only too happy to accompany you, but this one is a big no for me.” He says, and looking at him I get the impression that something deep is troubling him. A nasty divorce maybe?

“Unfortunately our minds are made.” Moses says. “We ain't going to change our plans because of your unwillingness to guide us. We'll go there on our own. Thanks for your advice." Then he gestures us to move.

The agent rises from his seat to see us out. He hands out to us some business cards.

“The name is Maurice. Call me if you need something.” He says.

“That is a very unlikely scenario." Moses whispers but I am pretty sure Maurice hasn't heard him. Dan has picked a map of the park from the table on our way out. We may not need a guide after all.

At the agency's parking lot we congregate under an acacia tree in the hot sun to plan the way forward now that the tour agent has turned down our offer.

After much deliberation Dan suggests we hire a van to take us to the park's gates, we can figure our way from there and we are all in agreement.

“It saves us a lot of money, just imagine how much we would have paid that creepy man in there. A man who has the audacity to call himself a businessman. Look how opportunity passes by the unwilling." He adds.

“I suggest we get moving now. Its getting late and we don't want to get there at night." I quip.

We summon a van that charges us reasonably and thirty minutes later we alight at the park's gates. A government agency let's us in after we have paid camping fees and just like that we find ourselves in our dream destination, a place we have saved finds for years to visit, after reading about it in travel magazines.

“I want to see a lion before nightfall.” Rachel says and a game warden from the gates overhears.

“Beware young lady, these animals can be dangerous. Stay a safe distance from them." The warden says.

“Thanks warden, we will remember that." She tell him as we strap our heavy camping gear on our backs and start trekking. Our mission is to get to a point marked on the map in our possession about four kilometers from the gates.

We walk along an established trail for about two kilometers when the climate changes drastically. Heavy rains start immediately and we find ourselves with nowhere to run for shelter. The plains are so vast and only grass surrounds us so we trudge on in the heavy downpour, getting drenched to the core. We can see tree cover about two kilometers away and we hope to find a camping site beyond the forest.

The rains subside just when we are on the verge of the forest and the sun is almost setting because there is inadequate lighting. Clouds cover the sky and as we enter the dense forest darkness prevails.

“This is amazing. I never imagined I would be in a good environment as this. I'm used to streetlights and vehicles and more hustle and bustle of city life. Here I feel like I am in heaven." Dan says as we get deeper and deeper into the forest.

“I call this value for money." Replies Moses.

We rest under some trees with tall canopies but only for a few minutes because rain drops trapped in the leaves above start falling on us, prompting us to move on.

The rain has stopped and the clouds cleared, paving way for some remnants of sun rays as it sets. Night will be falling in a few minutes.

We emerge on a clearing with a slope and a high ground with no trees where we intend to set camp. I am too tired from walking in the rain with a heavy load on my back and I am longing for a rest, but as we start our way up the slope Dan gestures for us to be silent.

“We need to get out of here. Just pay me my dues and I will walk to the city right now.” A man declares.

“We are in this f*****g expedition together young man. If we die we die together. Ghosts or not we ain't moving out without the damn ivory. Do you understand?" Another one responds.

The voices degenerate into a heated argument up the slope and we cancel our plans of going up there. We don't need company. In our map we identify another camping site one kilometer further and we trudge on.

“Who could be those guys?" Dan asks no one in particular.

“Who knows? But something they said is of interest to me. Are there ghosts here? I would say I want to meet them. This definitely will be a fascinating expedition." Replies Moses.

I wouldn't like to meet the ghosts though I know deep inside that ghosts and ghouls are nonexistent entities.

Thirty minutes later we get to our destination and unstrap our bags ready to put up our camp.