you’re doing what is right. You’re a scientist. Scientists would be failures if they did not listen to their hearts. Their gut instincts. Communication, Jack, is a powerful thing, and it’s even more accurate when it happens between the mind and heart. Without it, where would our species be? Any species, for that matter? The heart and mind should not be exclusive of one another.”
“So what are they saying?” Jack asked, desperate to change the subject.
“Giving thanks, wishing a fruitful life full of energy and keeping enemies away,” Kamau said, scoping the crowd. “I wonder where the groom’s brother is? I was going to introduce you, because he told me not long ago that he wanted to try and save up to go to college. He has his sights set on exploring the world. America, perhaps. I didn’t want to discourage him, because times are tough, but I figured meeting you would be exciting for him.”
“Sure. Let me know if you spot him.” Jack hoisted Pippa onto his shoulders to balance her weight more evenly. Amazing how a little thing like her could strain a guy’s back with all the squirming. There were so many people, so much going on. And as unique an experience as it was, he wanted tomorrow to come. He needed to accomplish something concrete toward sorting out the whole mess. Something solid and secure to calm the waves that kept rippling through his chest.
Pippa reached down and covered his eyes.
“Hah! Who did that?” he said, grabbing her hands and peering up at her. More giggles. This kid didn’t run out of them. He straightened, and caught Kamau watching Niara. Jack wouldn’t be surprised if the whole “groom’s brother” thing had been a cover-up so he could steel glimpses of her and Haki.
“And you’re doing what’s so obviously in your heart,” Jack said. “Way to practice what you preach.”
Kamau went from surprise to sheepishness. “This case is different. Leaving her alone is the right thing. She was the victim of a violent act. A relationship, or trusting a man, isn’t possible for her right now. I’m there for anyone who needs me at camp, her and Haki included—even Anna. But beyond that? No. My work is dangerous and demanding. Keeping my distance is the best I can do. She’s a great mother. She’s all that boy needs.”
“Sounds to me like you’ve put a lot of thought into it. I mean, considering you have no feelings for her or anything like that,” Jack said with mock sincerity. “I’m sure this constitutes nothing but scientific analysis.”
“I should feed you to the lions,” Kamau said.
“No!” Pippa jumped in. His little girl was defending him.
Jack kissed her tiny fist. “He’s kidding, honey.”
“He’s right, Pippa. Instead, we should lock him in a pen with Ambosi and a bucket of pepper tree plums,” Kamau said, making a silly face so that she would understand the humor.
Pippa did. She started wriggling and pawing through his hair like a monkey, and before Jack could set her down, she threw herself backward. He hung on to her ankles in a panic and Kamau grabbed her from behind, getting her off Jack’s back safely.
“Pippa!” Anna said, running up.
“She’s fine,” Jack and Kamau said simultaneously.
“She could have fallen on her head,” Anna replied.
“I had her the whole time,” Jack said. “Really.”
“Yes, I could see that.” Nonetheless, Anna led Pippa back to where Niara stood. Jack knew he and Kamau looked like idiots standing there, staring after the women.
“They don’t need us, do they?” he asked, but it came out like a statement. An affirmation.
Kamau grimaced. That was answer enough.
* * *
W ITH TOO MANY of them for Mac’s charter helicopter, Anna had booked seats to Nairobi on a plane from Amboseli National Park’s airstrip. The drive there, piled in an open Jeep, had left them coated in dust that clung to them all the way to Nairobi.
The airport was bustling and the crowds put Anna on guard. She
“So what are they saying?” Jack asked, desperate to change the subject.
“Giving thanks, wishing a fruitful life full of energy and keeping enemies away,” Kamau said, scoping the crowd. “I wonder where the groom’s brother is? I was going to introduce you, because he told me not long ago that he wanted to try and save up to go to college. He has his sights set on exploring the world. America, perhaps. I didn’t want to discourage him, because times are tough, but I figured meeting you would be exciting for him.”
“Sure. Let me know if you spot him.” Jack hoisted Pippa onto his shoulders to balance her weight more evenly. Amazing how a little thing like her could strain a guy’s back with all the squirming. There were so many people, so much going on. And as unique an experience as it was, he wanted tomorrow to come. He needed to accomplish something concrete toward sorting out the whole mess. Something solid and secure to calm the waves that kept rippling through his chest.
Pippa reached down and covered his eyes.
“Hah! Who did that?” he said, grabbing her hands and peering up at her. More giggles. This kid didn’t run out of them. He straightened, and caught Kamau watching Niara. Jack wouldn’t be surprised if the whole “groom’s brother” thing had been a cover-up so he could steel glimpses of her and Haki.
“And you’re doing what’s so obviously in your heart,” Jack said. “Way to practice what you preach.”
Kamau went from surprise to sheepishness. “This case is different. Leaving her alone is the right thing. She was the victim of a violent act. A relationship, or trusting a man, isn’t possible for her right now. I’m there for anyone who needs me at camp, her and Haki included—even Anna. But beyond that? No. My work is dangerous and demanding. Keeping my distance is the best I can do. She’s a great mother. She’s all that boy needs.”
“Sounds to me like you’ve put a lot of thought into it. I mean, considering you have no feelings for her or anything like that,” Jack said with mock sincerity. “I’m sure this constitutes nothing but scientific analysis.”
“I should feed you to the lions,” Kamau said.
“No!” Pippa jumped in. His little girl was defending him.
Jack kissed her tiny fist. “He’s kidding, honey.”
“He’s right, Pippa. Instead, we should lock him in a pen with Ambosi and a bucket of pepper tree plums,” Kamau said, making a silly face so that she would understand the humor.
Pippa did. She started wriggling and pawing through his hair like a monkey, and before Jack could set her down, she threw herself backward. He hung on to her ankles in a panic and Kamau grabbed her from behind, getting her off Jack’s back safely.
“Pippa!” Anna said, running up.
“She’s fine,” Jack and Kamau said simultaneously.
“She could have fallen on her head,” Anna replied.
“I had her the whole time,” Jack said. “Really.”
“Yes, I could see that.” Nonetheless, Anna led Pippa back to where Niara stood. Jack knew he and Kamau looked like idiots standing there, staring after the women.
“They don’t need us, do they?” he asked, but it came out like a statement. An affirmation.
Kamau grimaced. That was answer enough.
* * *
W ITH TOO MANY of them for Mac’s charter helicopter, Anna had booked seats to Nairobi on a plane from Amboseli National Park’s airstrip. The drive there, piled in an open Jeep, had left them coated in dust that clung to them all the way to Nairobi.
The airport was bustling and the crowds put Anna on guard. She
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