Still, the easy companionship without the extreme closeness made her long even more to see Isabella. The class were scheduled to go out on a dusk game drive later, and Cassie found herself impatient to get it over with. Crazy to think that way about her first game drive, thought Cassie wryly. If she didn’t have so many distractions whirling around her head, she might have been able to be more excited about it.
But by the time their Land Rover was bumping over red dust tracks, she was positively ashamed of herself. The hazy sunset turned the horizon lilac and gold, outlining thorn trees and grazing herds of gazelle and zebra. Cassie took a breath. Somewhere inside her Cranlake Crescent-self, she’d believed this stuff only existed on television. Yet there, only a few metres away, a giraffe cropped leaves from a tall tree. A real giraffe. She almost forgot the camera clutched in her hand, but then she began enthusiastically taking shots.
‘While you’re all acting like paparazzi, kindly do not forget your projects,’ Professor Newham announced sternly. ‘We’re researching the mutual dependence between the human population and the wildlife, the contribution of tourism to sustainable development.’
‘Of course we are, sir,’ Richard told the geography master, po-faced. ‘Nothing else ever entered my head. Well now, that’s certainly worth documenting, for example.’
Ayeesha and Cassie spluttered as he pointed at a buffalo cumbersomely mounting another. Professor Newham glared until they recovered their composure.
‘They all look so placid, considering they’re some of the most dangerous animals in Africa,’ murmured Ayeesha, then she turned, exclaiming, ‘Oh my God, lions!’
It was just as well the pride was plainly used to tourists, thought Cassie; otherwise they’d have been off like a shot at the commotion on the Land Rover as they all cried out and turned to look. Still, their driver knew exactly what he was doing, following at a respectful distance but keeping in clear sight. Fascinated, Cassie watched the sleek movement of tawny muscle through the savannah grass. ‘If we’re lucky, we’ll see a kill!’ Even Professor Newham was excited.
As it turned out, they witnessed a stalk and a hunt, but the zebras got lucky – somewhat to Ayeesha’s relief, Cassie realised with amusement.
‘I’m just glad they didn’t get that baby,’ declared the Bajan girl as they finally drove back towards the camp.
‘Bit tough on the poor lions,’ laughed Cassie. ‘They’ve got to eat too!’
‘You could go out and help them,’ said Richard, snapping his teeth and growling. ‘They looked like they could use a professional.’
Cassie slapped his shoulder hard.
‘Pity about the leopard no-show,’ mused Newham, who seemed to have forgotten all about sustainable development.
‘He’s a tricky cat,’ the driver called back. ‘Maybe another night and a later hour, but he’s very, very reticent. I wouldn’t bank on seeing him at all.’
‘It’s OK,’ said Richard. ‘Cassie can go out and flirt with him and— Ow!’
Cassie laughed. She’d enjoyed the game drive more than she’d have believed possible, and she was almost tempted to stay with her Few friends later that evening when they gathered round the open fire – for what Richard called ‘cocktail hour’, as he surreptitiously pocketed a hipflask – but the opposing attraction was too strong. Making her excuses, she slipped away into the dusk.
They’d been warned not to leave camp alone, but that rule, thought Cassie – slightly ashamed of her arrogance – could hardly be said to apply to someone with her powers. She could look after herself, no matter what came out of the night. Besides, she had to go alone and unnoticed, to get as quickly as she could to her secret rendezvous …
The lodge wasn’t far away anyway; Sir Alric had explained where it was, a little over a mile from the camp, and she’d made a note of its position as they drove from the airstrip. The quickest route was on animal tracks through thorny scrub – animal tracks, she reminded herself with amusement; what absurd risks she could take as a member of the Few.
Quite. You won’t be able to do THIS sort of thing if you throw me out!
‘Oh, put a sock in it, Estelle.’
Apart from anything else, she wanted to enjoy the night sounds of the bush – the cry of night birds, the low grunting of some unseen carnivore, the whistle and chirrup of cicadas. The Kenyan night wasn’t exactly silent, she smiled to herself, but it was an amazing kind of racket. Eyes glinted in the brush ahead of her as she flashed her torch, but just as quickly retreated, and whatever they belonged to scurried into the undergrowth. Ahead, she could see the lights of Sir Alric’s lodge now, glowing golden and welcoming from windows and veranda.
She almost ran up the steps, and they must have heard her approach. Before she could even knock on the door, it was flung open, and Isabella was hugging her, squealing with excitement.
‘I missed you! We missed you, Cassie! It’s so good to see you! Come in, come in!’ Then Isabella was dragging her into the spacious interior and allowing Jake just a quick hug before shoving Cassie into a comfortable leather sofa draped with woven throws.
‘Do you want a drink? You didn’t walk all the way here, did you?’ She poured Cassie a huge glass of Coke.
‘Course I walked!’ Cassie laughed, grinning at Jake. ‘It’s not that far!’
‘Well, you should still be careful.’ Jake shook his head, but he was smiling too.