The Tides of War
Copyright© 2019 by Robin Lane
Chapter 35
They rode through the gate to the Crater as two of N’debi’s warriors detached themselves from where they were guarding the gate, crowding around N’debi jabbering away in their tongue.
They left them behind as they walked the horses up the track by the stream. Someone must have seen them, because the Gurkhas’ wives along with Susan were running down the track towards them.
David dismounted as Susan flung herself into his arms, their lips joined as he held her, feeling the tears of joy on his cheek at his safe return. He told her about the fight just saying the slavers would not be returning but there were men needing her attention. He left her as the four Gurkhas accompanied by their wives went towards the aid station. Tampa took charge of Khan, as Hanga started to prepare a bath for him.
That night after dinner with Martin and Jill they went out onto the stoop, where under badgering from them he related the full story.
“So the Sultan of Zanzibar will be wondering where his dhows have got too,” Martin chuckled.
David nodded, “After the men have had a much needed rest I’ll send a wagon out to bring back the ivory,” he murmured.
“I’ll go with them,” Martin replied. “It’ll give me a chance to see some of this country.”
Three days later Martin along with four Gurkhas, N’debi and six warriors set out with the wagon. They were gone for over ten days, before the weary mules pulled the heavy wagon back up the trail to the house. Martin explained that they had to make a raft to get the ivory over the other side of the river, and then carry it down from the hills to the wagon.
“Well I won’t unload it,” David replied. “We’ll wait a couple of days for the mules to recover, and then take it in to Nairobi.”
The teller behind the desk of the British East Africa Company handed over a cheque for £3469-15 shillings after weighing the ivory. David handed the cheque into the bank under the Khana Crater account and drew out £1300 in bundles of £100.
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