Private Gold

Chapter 22

“You think the zama zamas are actually inside?” Isobel whispered, staring at the pitch-black gap leading to the tunnel. She was glad that Joey was beside her. She found he reassured her in a way that went beyond the presence of his muscular and imposing body. He was calm, capable, surprisingly sensitive to her needs, and shrewdly intelligent.

“It’s very likely they may be here,” he replied. “We may be able to hear some activity if we go in, but first, let’s call for backup.”

“Who are you going to call?”

“First, the cops. Secondly, an ambulance.”

“Ambulance?”

“Confrontations between police and zama zamas tend to end violently.”

Isobel waited, watching, while Joey made the calls.

No sign of any vehicle approaching. She was sure now that the truck driver had been warned to avoid the meeting point. If that was so, then perhaps Joey was right, and the evidence they had discovered — the tire tracks and the breached mine entrance — would explain these specially scheduled detours. That would mean her husband’s South African employees had become involved in illegal mining.

Her thoughts were in turmoil as she considered how they might have found out she was here. Had Samantha innocently said something to the wrong person?

But then something else caught her attention. It was a strange, faraway sound, only just audible in the quiet of the night.

At first, she thought it might be an approaching truck; it was a low, drumming noise that reminded her of tires over rough ground, only not quite the same.

She turned toward the direction of the road to try to hear it better, but when she did, it faded away.

She moved closer to the concrete entrance, and that was when she heard it again.

Curious, she stepped through the dark mouth of the gateway, and then walked a few more steps. Now the throbbing was resonating through her body, the booming sound punctuated by sharper cracks, and a low babble of what might be voices. Shivers chilled the length of her spine and she felt her neck prickle.

“Joey,” she called.

He was off his phone, and he must have instantly picked up on her fear. In a few giant strides, he was inside.

“What’s wrong?”

“Listen.”

Joey listened, then spoke again, sounding shaken. “I don’t know what the hell’s going on down below, but something is seriously wrong.”

“Why?” Her mouth felt suddenly dry.

“Those aren’t the sounds of mining. They’re drumming on the rock with tools. I think trying to call for help, but it could also cause a structural collapse. People must be trapped down there.” He stared down the pitch-black tunnel. “We have to get them out.”