Burning Angels

43

Konig gave a curt nod towards the warplane. ‘You must be curious, no?’

‘To see inside? Of course!’ Jaeger enthused.

Konig shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, it is strictly off limits. All access is forbidden, as is any access to this entire area. But I think now you understand that?’

‘Got it,’ Jaeger confirmed. ‘Still, it’s disappointing. It’s not allowed by whom?’

‘The man who owns this place. Katavi is a private game sanctuary, run by an American of German descent. That is part of our attraction to foreigners. Unlike the government-run national parks, Katavi is operated with a certain Teutonic efficiency.’

‘It is a game reserve that works?’ Narov queried. ‘Is that what you mean?’

‘Pretty much. There is a war being waged against Africa’s wildlife. Sadly the poachers are winning. Hence the shoot-to-kill policy introduced here, as a desperate measure to try to help us win that war.’ Konig eyed them both. ‘A policy that very nearly got the two of you killed today.’

Jaeger chose to ignore the last comment. ‘You’ve got our vote,’ he remarked, genuinely. ‘Butchering an elephant for its tusks, or a rhino for its horn – it’s a tragic waste.’

Konig inclined his head. ‘I agree. We lose one elephant or rhino on average every day. Wasteful death.’ He paused. ‘But for now, Mr and Mrs Groves, enough questions, I think.’

He ordered them into the RIB. It wasn’t exactly at gunpoint, but it was clear that they had no option but to comply. The boat pulled away from the warplane, the bow wave setting the seaplane rocking. For her size, the BV222 had an undeniable grace and beauty, and Jaeger was determined to find an opportunity to return here and uncover her secrets.

The RIB took them to where an access tunnel threaded its way out of the cave system. Konig flicked a switch set into the wall, and the rock-cut passageway blazed into life, courtesy of electric lighting recessed into the roof.

‘Wait here,’ he ordered. ‘We will go to fetch your things.’

‘Thanks. You know where they are?’ Jaeger queried.

‘Of course. My men have been observing you for some time.’

‘They have? Wow. How d’you do that?’

‘Well, we have sensors positioned in the caves. But you can imagine, with animals always in and out, they are forever being triggered. And anyway, no one ever trespasses this deep inside the mountain.’ He eyed Narov and Jaeger pointedly. ‘Or at least, not normally… Today, something surprised my guards. An entirely unexpected sound. A series of gunshots—’

‘We shot hyena,’ Narov cut in, defensively. ‘A pack of them. We did it to safeguard the elephants. They had young ones.’

Konig held up a hand to silence her. ‘I am quite aware that you killed the hyena. And certainly they are a menace. They come here to scavenge juveniles. They cause stampedes, young ones get trampled, and we do not have many of those to spare. The hyena – we ourselves have to cull them, to keep their numbers down.’

‘So your guards heard gunshots?’ Jaeger prompted.

‘They did. They called me in some alarm. They feared poachers had made their way into the cave. Hence I arrived and found… you.’ A pause. ‘A newly-wed couple who scale mountains, penetrate caves and eliminate a pack of spotted hyena. It is most unusual, Mrs Groves, is it not?’

Narov didn’t so much as flinch. ‘Would you abseil into this place without being armed? It would be madness to do so.’

Konig’s face remained expressionless. ‘Possibly so. But still, regrettably, I will have to take your weapons. For two reasons. One, you are trespassing in a closed zone. No one but myself and my guards are permitted to carry arms in here. ’

He eyed Narov and Jaeger. ‘And two, because the man who owns this place has ordered anyone found here to be arrested. I think perhaps this second ruling did not extend to guests of the lodge. But I will reserve judgement, and keep your weapons, at least until I have spoken with the owner.’

Jaeger shrugged. ‘No problem. We’ll have no need of them where we’re going.’

Konig forced a smile. ‘Of course. In Katavi Lodge you will not require any weapons.’

Jaeger glanced after two of Konig’s guards, as they headed off to retrieve the gear that he and Narov had stashed by the lakeside.

‘The pistols are under a small rock, next to our supplies!’ he shouted after them. He turned back to Konig. ‘I guess it doesn’t look too good, carrying weapons into a restricted zone like this?’

‘You are right, Mr Groves,’ Konig replied. ‘It doesn’t look good at all.’