Boss Takes All (39 page)

‘Right now we stick to our jobs down here. There is much to do. Debbie and Rebecca are over at the site. And think of all those people of the town helping with the work. Every piece of the old site is gone. Jim Sawyer has got the concreters sending their stuff in by the truckload. And, listen to this. No charge for material, time and transport. I wish we could let Paul and the others know about that.'

‘Maria's right, Tom. Things to be done. It's over to the fields for us. Stephen is going to be late this morning. He's down at Iolo's grave helping the masons to finish the work. There'll be no spelling mistakes on the headstone when he's around. It should be all done by the time of the sunset farewell.'

For most of the day, Abel Rubai remained in his cosy room up at the farmhouse high above Nanyuki. No one made any effort to coax him out. When he did appear, he was either complaining or boasting.

‘Why do you have to keep those hideous black curtains on the windows? And I see that there are steel shutters outside. Are you growing mushrooms in there?'

‘Why don't you check that out? Give you something to do. But sir does not seem to be in the best of spirits today. By the way, could you stop the shouting and screaming? Nobody around for miles.'

‘Miller, I'm going to make sure I'm in the front row when they string you up!'

‘For trying to save the country from a psychopath like you?'

‘For treason and kidnapping!'

‘Don't be tedious. We've been over that one already. Hey, perhaps you do need some air. I hope you breathe through your nostrils. The gag will be tight and we'll have to have someone guide you on a rope. That blindfold is made of special material.'

Rubai picked up a china ornament from the table, hurled it into the fireplace and stalked back to his room. ‘You uncivilised bastards!'

‘And that ornament was expensive. It will go down on your bill. You can pay before or after the trial. And we do take American Express!'

‘Shut the fuck up!'

The bellow was muffled by the thickness of the heavy door.

* * *

There were more tears at the farewell service than at the funeral. Fifty people at most were gathered around the white marble grave. The gold letters on the headstone dazzled, as they were caught by the last rays of the setting sun.

Ivor sang a Welsh song much loved by Iolo, a lament for the lover's beloved Myfanwy and Rebecca responded with the ‘Ave, Maria' that she had first heard on her first morning in Santa Maria College. At that moment, in that place with a pink and mauve afterglow filling the western sky, Myrtle would have been happy to join her son on his journey into eternity.

‘Nos da, Cariad!'

* * *

It was fortunate that the visitors from Wales flew back home later that night. Early next morning, at around four am, a party of policemen burst noisily onto the gravel driveway at Londiani. They had made one other stop in Naivasha and now they were fully prepared for the task of the day.

Hosea Kabari was thrown out onto the ground from one of the vehicles, in his night clothes and barefooted. The loud bass voice of a constable called out towards the upstairs windows. ‘You inside, get down here at once! We need information!'

Lights went on upstairs, but there was no sign of movement inside. The inspector in charge of the twelve man group, angry that obedience to his command had not been instant, called out himself. ‘Do not try to skulk away like the cowards you are! We have a traitor here. All come now, or he will suffer.'

Rollo and Eddie were the first to appear on the veranda.

Rebecca and Tom followed. The veranda lights were switched on only when Maura and Alex came in.'

‘And the old witch? We know she is here.'

A silent and tense two minutes passed before Rafaella, in full make-up and dressed immaculately, made her entrance. Her ladyship peered distastefully into the darkness and called to her son in a loud stage whisper.

‘Alex, who are these boorish people who don't know that it is bad form to make a call at this unearthly hour?'

Eddie and Rollo could not resist a smile that they tried to hide from their visitors by lowering their heads. The inspector was furious and attempted to win back the high ground by grabbing Hosea by the neck and throwing him forward onto the veranda steps. If he felt any pain, Hosea did not show it. He knelt silently, aware that he would be the whipping boy these invaders would use to have their way.

Self-control was becoming an issue for the number one cop in the Central Nairobi District. He had expected instant submission, not the casual defiance that was raising the levels of his anger.

‘You Europeans are not in charge now …'

‘We are not Europeans. We are Kenyans, just like you!'

‘McCall Junior, if I am not mistaken. I've been warned about you. These three officers with the guns know how to shoot straight! Be very careful!'

Before Tom could reply with a sarcastic jab, there was a disturbance from the direction of South Lake Road. In seconds, a breathless woman appeared in the circle of light. A dishevelled Maria ran to the steps and cradled her husband's head in her arms.

‘Darling, I am so sorry to be late. If I had only taken time to learn to ride the bicycle of yours properly. Your head is bleeding! I'm taking you home at once. Alex, can you help us?'

‘Maria, I'll do it. I don't care for this company.'

‘Rafaella …'

‘Mokubu, fire one at the steps!'

The whirr of the bullet and the ping of the ricochet had the desired effect for the increasingly angry inspector. At last he had the serious attention of this arrogant bunch.

‘Joseph, grab the mad woman and throw her up the steps to be with the other animals in this zoo.'

The inspector removed his hat and replaced it after giving his head a nervous shake. ‘To business! We want information. The traitor here, this disgrace to the police force, has been involved in a very serious crime against the state. You all have. We know this and you know it. Where is Mister Abel Rubai, our next president, being held? Answer at once!'

Nothing.

‘Joseph, the little finger on his right hand!'

The inspector was unmoved by the gasps and screams of pain as a heavy boot stamped down on Hosea's hand.

‘Now then!'

No words.

‘Little finger, left hand.'

The screams were louder and Hosea collapsed. Rollo sprinted forward and managed to get a kick into the face of the snarling Joseph. Two swinging punches and he lay unconscious on the gravel.

‘Bastards, are you going to kill all of us? We don't know what you are talking about!'

‘Totally predictable response from Thomas McCall. But perhaps you, Mrs Kabari, are beginning to understand. How much do you value this man's life?'

Maria took several deep breaths and stepped forward. The unflinching glare did not move from the eyes of the inspector's face. One step down, two and her head was level with the inspector's. She knelt and touched her unmoving husband. Standing again she looked along the line of the whole group in front of her. ‘God, forgive these men for their foolish ignorance.'

She turned and was immediately grasped by the arms of Rafaella. Tom and Rebecca helped Maura to lift Rollo and carry him to the sofa against the wall of the veranda.

The inspector, more disturbed than he showed, chuckled nervously. ‘Hey, boys, we have found us a nest of Christians. But, just because you people are soft in the head is not going to help you.'

Alex, speaking quietly and with nervous passion, spat out his words.

‘You mean you are going on with this … this unspeakable crime?'

‘Sir, you have fine words, but your brain must be blocked in some serious way. I will spell it out for the last time. Tell us where Rubai is or, yes, this Kabari will receive summary justice for his treason, bone by bone. Notice, no numbers on our shoulders and the names you have heard are false. When we are finished with him, he will go for a sail on your lake and provide breakfast for the little fishes. Do you understand?'

‘Perfectly!'

The reply did not come from anyone on the veranda. Before anyone could turn, the voice continued.

‘There are four of us. We know which three of you have the guns and we can see you clearly, Mister Big Mouth. Our guns are pointing straight at you. I must warn you that our weapons were made by the finest gunsmith in London. They were used in the old days for bringing down bigger boys than you. Understand? Buffalo, elephant, dead with a single shot. Very messy. Big holes in those fat bodies of yours.'

The inspector turned and made a nervous attempt to call a bluff. From the circle of light he peered into the early morning darkness. He saw four shadowy outlines and the glint of four well-oiled barrels. What he could not realise was that three of the four gunmen had very little idea about discharging shells, let alone pointing their heavy weapons confidently at even the largest targets.

‘Now, look here. You are …'

Bertie fired at the veranda wall and gouged out a big chunk of plaster and stone.

‘Sorry about that, Alex. I'll get it fixed later. Get your guns out, please. Then we can take out eight at a time. Big Mouth's mine! Now, gentlemen, if you three sharpshooters would just step out towards us and place your guns on the ground quietly. Then return to your colleagues and lie on the ground stomachs down.'

‘You will hang for this!'

‘Of course we will!'

Alex, Tom and Eddie, all good shots, moved to the top of the steps carrying their own guns. Alex raised the butt of his rifle to his shoulder and pointed it at the inspector. By now Bertie and his Welsh companions had moved to the veranda. On his way around the line of prone bodies, Bertie took out a moment to inspect the damage in the veranda wall. By now the women were focused on helping their wounded patients.

Alex lowered his gun and grasped his old friend's arm tightly. His stomach was still churning and his heart racing as his terror began to subside. He stood in awe at Bertie's casual confidence. Bertie himself sat on the top step, cleared his throat and began.

‘My friends, we have a dilemma here. What can we do with you … policemen? Whatever. But you cannot invade innocent people's homes at dead of night.'

‘You taught us these bad ways when you or your friends took off our boss. You have him hidden here? Or have you killed him?'

‘You mean bone by bone? Not so. Not guilty. But whoever managed to prise him away, well, he has our blessing. Anyway.'

‘We are twelve. We have two police vehicles. Too hard to hide.'

‘Not so either. Here's the choice for us. We each put a single bullet up the spout. Eight down. Then reload for the remaining four gentlemen! Yes, we are well prepared. We shoot you in the head, strip you, drive you ‘round to the far side of the lake. We know just the place where there are many hungry little fishes. We burn your cars and drop them into the lake and disturb a few hippos. All finished before dawn!'

One or two of the younger prisoners began to shudder and to sob. Bertie consoled them.

‘But we are not barbarians. We will not harm a hair on your heads. I have a friend. He lives close by. Until a few years ago, before the flowers came to the lake, he owned a vineyard here. Made good wine. To keep it cool and safe he got his men to dig out cellars out of the rocks. Six in all. I inspected them just last week. I won't tell you why. Heavy doors and the lights are still working. Lo and behold, the keys.'

He stood up. His tone changed dramatically. He was firm and threatening.

‘One at a time you will stand up and take off your clothes.

Keep your underwear, boots and socks. We presume you all carry that policeman's best friend, a strong pair of handcuffs. You may keep those, too, carried on your very own wrists. Then we will escort you to your accommodation. Yes, it is cold, but not as cold as the waters of the lake.'

The reaction of the prisoners on the walk across the fields varied. Four tramped in silence. Boss man ranted and raved, spat and cursed. The others, the youngest and the oldest, walked submissively, seeking assurances that that they would be unharmed and freed soon.

Bertie promised nothing.

‘Just remember that if something should happen to us, then there will be nobody to check on you, and, more important for you, to make sure you eat. You can shout as much as you like. No one will hear you.' He added with an angry warning. ‘And, do not forget that you are getting a much better deal than you deserve, you bunch of savages.'

At breakfast around the large oak table in Londiani, the atmosphere was one of relief, not of triumph. Maria had been home to fetch her ointments and her powders. The damage to Hosea's fingers was less than she had feared. The large sofa on the veranda was the hospital bed and soon she was singing her ancient melodies in the Aramaic language that soothed the minds of the two patients, but of everyone who heard them. Bertie was assuring them all about the security of the cells.

‘If you three had gone back to Gilgil last night, that bit of cheek would not have worked.'

Maria's voice called out from the next room.

‘Synchronicity, Bertie! It never stops! That's why we are going to win out!'

‘By the way, where's Tom?'

Alex smiled. ‘Bertie, did you notice that the cars have gone? Tom and Stephen are over the yard, doing a little paint job. Plenty of room over there to hide them in a corner, in case they send another lot of snoopers.'

Alex hesitated and took a wry sidelong look at his schoolboy friend before continuing.

‘Bertie, how long have we known each other?'

‘Ah? Forever, thank the Lord!'

‘It's just that I've never seen you like that before - smooth, calm, like a Naivasha version of James Bond.'

‘Put it like this. You remember that new bottle of Famous Grouse on my sideboard?'