The Extinct

CHAPTER
52

Night came again over India and the darkness was always accompanied by a new wave of sounds. Insects and animals that slept during the day were now coming out and into the fresh night air in search of food. Life itself seemed to grow louder on the Andhra Pradeshn plains when the sun went down. As if some creatures served only the moon.

Jalani sat next to a small fire she’d made from dried bark and twigs, sharpening her hunting knife with a smooth stone. Another fire was built a couple yards away and Douglas lay in front of it, drunk as he was every night, Sandra sitting next to him. They were laughing and telling stories and Sandra would put her hand on his shoulder when he said something particularly witty. Eventually, she began rubbing his arm as he told a long story of his time in New Zealand whale hunting.

Jalani didn’t like it. Sandra’s husband was out risking his life; it was disrespectful. But it was not her place to say anything. In her culture, a woman could be executed for adultery. But she knew that in Western cultures it was quite common.

She thought of Eric and worry began to gnaw at her. It was not her intention to like or even get to know him. But he had innocence about him that she found intriguing. It felt like she wanted to throw her arms around him and protect him from the world.

Dr. Namdi came and sat down next to Jalani, two cups of tea in his hands. He handed one to her and stretched out his legs before the fire. “You look sad,” Jalani said. “I could not save a boy tonight. His infection spread too fast. I just told his mother he was dead.” “Nothing is easy.”

“No, nothing is.” Namdi looked over to Sandra and Douglas. “You know, her husband is a holy man but I think he will still kill the fat one when he returns.” Jalani smiled. “If he returns.” “You do not think Thomas will kill this animal?” Namdi asked. “He will.” “It is not like other animals I have seen.” “Thomas is not like other hunters.”

Namdi took a sip of his tea, letting it trickle down the back of his throat before speaking. “He has a reputation for being stubborn.” “He is stubborn. Especially with hunting.” “Why?” “Did you know he was married once?” “No, I did not.” “A girl from Johannesburg. They were married in Tsavo by a bushman priest.” “Were you there?” Namdi said. “No, he told me one night as we were traveling by ship to Cyprus and he was drunk. It was the same date as his marriage.” Namdi smiled. “Do mean anniversary?” “Yes, it was their anniversary. He told me about his wife.” “What happened to her?”

“They were camping with many people in Nyanza and she went out to gather wood for the fire with another woman. They came too close to a pride and a lioness attacked them and she was injured. The other woman ran back to Thomas. When he found her body, the hyenas were feeding on it.”

“He has never remarried?”

“No, I do not think he ever will again.” Jalani chuckled. “He says now that love is an illusion created by merchants.”

Namdi laughed and shook his head, staring into the warm glow of the fire. Jalani sipped her tea and placed the cup down on the ground as she leaned her elbows against her knees.

“Let me ask you something doctor; why are you still here? You could go to Johannesburg or Cairo. Make lots of money and find a beautiful wife.”

“I could,” he said matter of factly, “but that is not what I want. When I see these people suffer, I suffer with them. No one, even their own government, cares about them. They are seen as parasites because they live on the land and do not give taxes to the cities. But they are not parasites. They live with the land, not off of it. In harmony. They respect this place.”

Jalani felt admiration. To turn down money was not something most men could do. She thought it was to fight against our very nature.

“Let me ask you something,” Namdi said. “You are a very beautiful girl. I’m certain any man would take you to wife. Why have you not married yet?” “I do not know. I have not met anyone of worth.” “Except Eric?” Jalani looked to him, surprised at his perception.

“It is all right,” Namdi said with a smile. “I will not tell Thomas if that is what worries you.” He took a sip of tea. “He seems like a decent man.”

“He is. But he has much darkness in his soul.”

“Hm, we all do. It is part of who we are. Be careful in trying to heal him, Jalani. You may end up destroying the best part of him.” She took her tea and finished it in one gulp before standing up. “I must go to bed now doctor, but I enjoyed our talk.” “As did I. Tell me something Jalani, have you ever seen an animal do this? Kill so many people?” “No doctor.” Jalani looked out into the darkness. “But I do not think this is an animal.”