Page 4 of Worlds Apart
“It wasn’t an accident!”
“She kind of deserved it though.” Martin cocked his head. “Didn’t she?”
“Yes, but it doesn’t matter how satisfying it was, none of our guides will work with him now. Ethel will have to live with Kapen.”
Martin thought about Ethel Merriman, surly Maasai game spotters, and the paperwork he was supposed to catch up on that week. “You know what? I don’t have anyone coming in from the city this week, and you’re going to be busy trying to fix that elephant damage to the pipes.”
Errol pouted. “It might not be elephants.”
“It’s always the elephants.” Martin slid on a pair of boots. “Why don’t I drive the group this week?”
“Are you sure you remember which way to go?”
“Yes, very amusing.” Martin added sugar to his tea before he drank it. “The land hasn’t changed, Carberry. I still know my way around.”
A friend of his manager’s, a family of four, and one sprightly retiree.
How much work could they be?
ChapterTwo
“Welcome to Kenya.”The friendly woman at immigration stamped her passport. “I hope you enjoy your holiday.”
“Thank you.”
Alice called almost as soon as Sunny walked from immigration to the luggage claim, squealing her excitement over the phone.
“How are you feeling?” her friend asked. “Are you exhausted?”
“No, actually.” Sunny was a little shocked, but she wasn’t that tired. “I had an empty seat next to me on the flight and I slept really well.” The cool, dry air of Nairobi was already flowing into the luggage claim. It felt amazing after the humid heat of DC.
“Excellent,” Alice continued. “I’ve arranged a driver for you; he’s a friend of mine. His name is Trevor. He’s a really tall guy and he’ll probably be wearing shiny mirrored glasses.”
Sunny cast her eyes toward the exit where a dozen tall men wearing various mirrored sunglasses waited, most of them looking at their mobile phones. “You may need to be a little more specific.”
“I told him to make a sign! Send me a text when you meet him, okay? He’ll get you to Wilson and get you through all the traffic. Ah! I cannot believe I’m going to see you soon. Text me when you’re at Wilson.”
Wilson Airport was the smaller, local airport Sunny would take to get to the Mara North Reserve, the private land trust where Alice worked.
She spotted her bag on the luggage carousel and grabbed it, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and walking toward the crowd of drivers, all of whom came to attention as passengers started to exit.
“Miss, do you need a hotel?”
“I can recommend city tours. My car is available for hire—”
“I have the best rates in Nairobi, madam. Can I recommend—?”
“Sunny!”
She swung her head toward the voice saying her name.
“Sunny Randolph?”
She spotted a tall man with short twisted hair wearing mirrored blue sunglasses waving at her from the back of the crowd.
“Hi!” She waved back. “Trevor?”
“Nice to meet you. Alice sent me.” He reached out his hand, guided her through the crowd, and took her suitcase handle. “Wow, so crowded today. Let me help. Are you very tired?”
