Chapter 19: Alina Arrives

Swimming gave me time to do some of my best thinking. I used the opportunity this morning to go over how I felt about what had happened during the night. I was really surprised by just how awkward making love to Daise had been, and how it had confirmed for me what I had guessed the day before; that she was a virgin. I realised that I hadn't really believed her when she told me I had guessed correctly about that. She deserved an apology from me, and I resolved to do that as soon as I finished my swim.

Once I had reached my limit, I climbed out the pool and towel-dried myself. Daise stood and did the same when she saw me getting out and we walked back into the house. Once we were dressed again, we met on the veranda for breakfast.

Nqobile had made us fried eggs, bacon, tomato, and lots of toast. We didn't share more than a few words during breakfast.

"Daise," I started, once I had finished eating, "I just wanted to apologise to you about last night."

"Oh no, there is no need for you to apologise. I am the one who should apologise; I wanted to make it good for you."

"No, that's not what I meant. I wanted to say that I was sorry that I said you should have told me that you were a virgin. You did, yesterday at the pool. I am afraid I either didn't remember, or I didn't really believe you."

"That's Ok. You were still very gentle with me. I appreciate that."

"Ok. Please clear you head of the idea that you have any reason to apologise. We can work at this and make it better as we get to know each other."

Daise was obviously embarrassed to talk about it, so I let it lie there.

"Almost time for us to go," I told her as I checked my watch. "Is there anything you need?"

"I just need to make a trip to the bathroom then I'll be ready."

"Ok. I'll meet you at the car in ten minutes then?"

"Ok."

We both went upstairs. I cleaned my teeth and returned downstairs within five minutes. Cpl Maseka climbed into the back of the Land Rover together with his two guards and we were forced to wait for no more than three or four minutes before Daise joined us and we could leave.

The trip to the car rental agency took us twenty minutes through the early morning traffic. Sgt Major Dhlamini called me on my cell while I was driving to tell me that he had arranged for the various people to be picked up and was also en route.

I pulled into the rental agency grounds and found a parking spot, then walked over to the office to sort out the rental agreements. When I walked out of the office, the Sgt Major was waiting for me and I threw him the keys to the over-watch car without saying a word. Cpl Maseka got the second set of keys and I kept the third. The Sgt Major gestured to Daise and she joined him in his car. I waited to see that everyone was set, and then we set off in a convoy of three white Opel Corsas; chosen to be as nondescript as possible.

We arrived at the airport half an hour before Alina's plane was scheduled to land, and Cpl Maseka dropped off one of his guys to wait for her. He parked his car in the "Drop and Go" area, climbed out, and opened the boot to give him the excuse he needed to stay there without the airport security types moving him on.

I drove right through and parked at the petrol station to wait, while the Sgt Major drove onto the third floor of the parking garage and climbed out so that he could watch the entrance to the Domestic Arrivals hall.

I was in contact with Cpl Maseka and Sgt Major Dhlamini via a set of cheap, short-range walkie-talkie radio sets I had bought. Cpl Maseka had instructions to report in as soon as his man emerged with Alina, so I settled in to wait for her to arrive.

I was surprised when fifteen minutes later I got a call from the Sgt Major.

"Nine, this is Niner-Fox. Message. Over," he called me.

"Nine, Go." I answered him.

"Niner-Fox, Hens in the Hen-House. Over."

"Nine, Wait one mike."

I thought for a second. If he was reporting possible hostiles, then our security precautions were not in vain after all. I wondered how he had identified them positively. 'Hens' was our code for people that were definitely hostile. 'Chicks' would have meant that they were only possibly hostile.