76. A cheetah surprise.
1294 Words
Today was the day. Drake had it all planned out, but he didn't plan on getting so sick. He threw up breakfast and was having a high fever.
The doctor was tending to him.
" It looks like a mild case of dengue fever?
" Well, should I stay with him? " Stella worried.
" He needs rest, IV fluids, analgesics for fever. He cannot travel Mrs. Calloway, your husband needs to rest."
" I see, well we will cancel the safari." She smiled and held his hand.
" Nonsense, wifey. You came all this way, now is the time, the rainy season is coming soon."
Drake sat up and held his head, "Oh, I can't get up just yet."
" Listen, Stella sweet wifey, go. If I feel better in a few days, I will catch up to you."He promised.
The guides came in green land cruisers to pick up the tourists to head to Kilamanjaro.
Stella limped to the truck and pulled herself up. She held her side as she felt her mending rib catch. " Ah, Oh... jeesh!" She was breathing hard.
The head guide(Bwana) helped her in.
" Your husband put me in charge of you. I will take very good care of you Mrs. Calloway." said Baraka.
She took his hand as he buckled her in.
She looked back to wave at Drake, he was still in his sick bed.
Off they went across the Savanah.
There were large birds flying above, Stella took pictures of everything.
When they got to camp, there were bomas surrounding the wood huts, these were built with sharp shrubs, barbed wire, and thick vegetation.
" What are these for?" She dared ask.
"Mrs. Calloway, lions. We have guns, but we do not want to shoot them, we protect them."
Stella was excited. " Lions, wow."
That evening, it was very warm out there were delicious aromas coming from the outdoor kitchen. She read the menu written in English.
samoosas (triangle-shaped pastries with minced meat or vegetable)
kababu (minced meat sausage)
egg chops (a whole egg covered in mashed potato)
boiled eggs.
grilled meat skewers and chipsi mayai.
Fried cassava,
grilled bananas and fruit plate.
Stella filled her plate with the veggie items. She tasted each thing and looked up each time sighing from the delicious flavors.
When night fell on the Savanah she heard the nocturnal animals coming out.
Around 2am the big cats made rounds on the camp, encircling the boma and making incredibly loud roaring noises.
Stella went out of her hut. She felt those roars in her gut they were so loud
Her guide Baraka ushered her into the land cruiser.
" Come, special night safari for brave woman." He grinned.
She nodded and took his hand. They headed out into the night air to go driving, the top was up, but the windows were down.
Stella saw the moon. The stars in the sky were incredibly bright. She could see the constellations.
Baraka took her on the dusty trail. He shone the spot light onto the water. She saw a powerful male lion drinking water. His head was huge.
Several members of the pachyderm herd drinking as well. The huge bull elephant shook his wide ears and trumpeted.
Baraka stopped and got out. He called to the elephant.
" Tembo, come!" He yelled.
" What are you doing, your gonna get hurt!" Stellas yelled.
" This elephant Baraka raised from calf." He said.
Stella hopped out, she limped to Baraka.
He looked at her. "You are a chui- tiger woman. You have no fear?" He smiled.
The elephant came over to them. Baraka put his hand out.
"Tembo," she said in awe watching Baraka pet the large mammal.
He took Stella's hand and put it on the elephants trunk.
She closed her eyes. "Am I really here Baraka?"
His eyes sparkled. "Mrs. Calloway, only you. The others hide in their huts."
She smiled. " People are scarier than animals to me." She admitted.
" Hmm...this is why you were so sore when you climbed in the truck?" He asked.
" Yes, exactly. I came here to heal, but maybe to hide too. My husband, his daddy, he really hates me." She looked away.
" That's a shame, you are very... ya kupendeza, delightful?" He said.
" Thank you, and thanks for trusting me with Tembo."
They went back towards camp, Baraka offered her some Bongo Don Gin Spirits from a small flask.
" Not for all guests, we make this in Tanzania, you will love it. This is said to make you appreciate the present and all of tomorrow's possibilities." He handed it to her.
" Wow, that...right there is some great stuff." She coughed.
He laughed. " First sip not easy, but next three will be smooth."
She took two more sips. " Okay yeah, I see that."
She got back to her bed and fell into a deep peaceful sleep.
She felt like she was finding herself....
Drake was working from his sick bed. He found it to be quite peaceful. He could sit up and he began to get his appetite back.
"Hey, Sam I'm alive, Africa didn't take me out yet." He laughed, it was a rich laugh full of joy.
" Nice to hear your voice ..brother."...he said feeling out the new title Drake had.
" Are these projections real, I mean we are talking 90 million for the next quarter?" He asked.
" Yes, I have been working my ass off. It did help when the Calloway group invested in our company, we opened two new offices over seas." He smiled.
" Sam, are you saying Stella brought us business over seas, where?" He was amazed.
" Japuir, and Rome to start. She wanted to boost the local economies there and provided several lasting jobs. She is amazing. By the way...how is my love doing?" He asked.
" No idea, she's all alone on safari, I mean she has guides, but no Palmer brothers around her.
I worry about her every few minutes, but I can't blame her for anything she does, she was a mess when we got here, very scared, your dad messed her up worse than Olivia did."
" I should send one of the boys to her?" He offered.
" No way, I'm here, this is my thing. Sam didn't you propose to her 7 times?" He grinned.
" Yeah, she's very lovely. I better get back to work, feel better bro, and hey...I love you Drake." He added.
" Wow, you are full of love. But, I love you back brother." He smiled as he hung up. He was happy Sam said that to him.
Oh Stella, how are you changing my heart? he thought.
Stella was watching several cheetahs running, then a surprise happened two cheetahs jumped on top of the roof of the car and layed down.
She put her hands to her chest and closed her eyes. She couldn't believe they were so close.
After long day, Stella asked Baraka if she could sleep under the stars in the Savanah.
He couldn't believe how un afraid this girl was compared to his other guests. She wanted to be totally immersed in his country. He smiled.
" I will make arrangements, but Stella you will not get any sleep out there." He raised his brows to see if she really wanted to do this.
" Yes, I really do want this. And...I want to do it alone."
He frowned. " Mr. Calloway...he wouldn't like that Stella."
" Well Baraka, I am Miss Caloway, and I would love it, so I will do it." She winked at him.
He grinned. " Like the stubborn rhino that one."
- Writer
