Rula Sinara - Every Serengeti Sunrise

“This isn’t about poachers. We’re not trying to encourage elephant killing. You know I wouldn’t do that. This is about protecting the only land the tribes have left. It’s about protecting their livelihood.”

Ben pinched the bridge of his nose, then rubbed the back of his neck. This was going about as well as she’d expected. Every ounce of confidence she’d been mustering up for tomorrow sank to her feet. Why did conversations with him always leave her feeling confused and plain bad? She put down her steaming mug and gathered her laptop. Even if she didn’t sleep, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling would be better than arguing.

“Maddie, you need to tell them you can’t work on this case.”

“I can’t do that and you don’t get to make that call. My future depends on me helping to win this. This is what I do.”

“What about conflict of interest?”

“I don’t understand. There’s no conflict of interest, especially not if we win.” The only conflict is between the two of us right now.

“Maddie. I’ve personally seen that proposal, and I support it. It was submitted by a wildlife advocacy group and has the backing of Busara and other rescue groups around the national parks. I have no doubt it’ll get passed.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because Haki helped put it together. He, of all men, won’t stand by and watch you tear it apart.”

CHAPTER FIVE

MADDIE ARRANGED IT so she could fly out west to Camp Busara with Pippa, Jack and Mac midday, after reporting to the law office that morning. Her dad had promised to stay out of it and not call Haki with a briefing. She wanted the chance to talk to him in person. If he’d worked on the proposal, then all she had to do was get through to him. Haki was a listener. He’d hear her out.

The aerial view of Busara, nestled on a plateau with the river valley to one side and grasslands to the other, was nothing short of spectacular. A lone acacia tree shaded a small observation platform Dr. Bekker used when watching the herds passing through the valley. Lush groves of wild fruit trees flanked the camp, giving it the appearance of an oasis. She could even spot several keepers in rimmed hats leading the baby elephants in their care out for some sun and socializing. A cloud of dust trailed along the road beneath Mac’s helicopter and turned into the camp ahead.

“Haki just got back,” Pippa said into the mic of her headpiece. She pointed at the man shielding his eyes and looking up.

A flutter of excitement mixed with apprehension swirled in Maddie’s stomach. She nodded to let Pippa know she saw him.

Mac began his descent into a clearing just far enough from the camp to keep the draft from kicking up a dirt storm. She waited for the all clear, then removed her headgear, hoisted her backpack onto one shoulder and managed to climb out of the chopper without stumbling. Pippa grabbed her hand and tugged her at a jogging pace toward the jeep.

“Look who’s here, Haki!” She ran to his side, then stretched out her arms and made a show of presenting Maddie. Sometimes the pep in Pippa was too much.

Haki stood there, his strong jawline softened with a few days’ worth of stubble that looked disconcertingly good on him. His shoulders seemed broader, too, unless it was the dark green shirt he wore with his khakis and the way his hands rested on his hips. He’d put on a few pounds of muscle for sure. The corner of his mouth lifted and he let his gaze rest on her for a few seconds.

“Maddie-girl. Finally here.”

She ducked her head and smiled. Why did she suddenly feel shy?

“It has been a while, Haki. Pippa says you’re becoming quite the hero around here.”

He shot Pippa an annoyed glance and let his hands fall to his sides.

“No. Nothing I’ve done comes close to what others do here. But I hear you’re on your way to becoming a world-famous lawyer.”

“Not even close. Pippa,” she admonished. Was he being sarcastic? Had someone already told him what she was here for?

“We could use good counsel around here,” he said.

So he didn’t know.

“Both of you are much too humble,” Pippa said.

Haki put a hand to his shirt.

“I wanted to shower. I mean, I thought I’d make it back ahead of you—all of you—and have time to clean up.”

Mac’s chopper whirred as it lifted off. The air current pushed past them, and Maddie quickly pulled her arms back and wrapped them around her waist before anyone realized she almost went in for a hug.

“Hey, Dr. Hak-man, do you know if Anna is here or off in the field?” Jack asked, walking past them and giving him an air salute.

“I just got here. Last radio communication, my father was out, so she’s probably in the clinic.”

“I’ll check. See you guys at dinner,” he called back.

“Sounds good. I’m going to head in to wash up,” Haki said, thumbing toward the house. “I’ll see you two afterward.”

No hug, then. Friends hugged, didn’t they? Even if he’d been covered in mud from head to toe, it shouldn’t have mattered. This all felt so anticlimactic, but what had she expected? They’d both been so busy the past few years that they hadn’t seen much of each other even when she’d visited her parents. She hadn’t made the effort. So why did it matter now? Because she was afraid he’d hate her by tomorrow?

Pippa looped her arm in Maddie’s and they made their way to the house, purposefully lagging behind Haki. His long, focused strides made it easy.

“Dr. Hak-man? Really?”

“My dad is silly when he’s in a good mood. He doesn’t get that it annoys Haki. By the way, you have to find time for a reading while you’re out here,” Pippa said.

“No way. I don’t need my fortune told. I have enough in my head without cluttering it with nonsense. Besides, it’s kind of overstepping. It’s a tribal custom, not a tourist attraction.”

“You’re not a tourist and you’ll be right there talking to the villagers and elders anyway. One reading wouldn’t be disrespectful or overstepping. It would show that you respect their ways.”

The aroma of freshly baked chapati wafted past them and Maddie inhaled deeply.

“Why is the mere smell of freshly baked bread like a drug? I don’t need to eat anything else but that while I’m here.”

“You’re switching subjects.”

“I’m not promising anything.” She had to admit, Pippa had a point about respecting the Masai culture. It was all in fun, though, right? Or was it? The one reading she’d done, back when she was seventeen, had come so close to the truth it made her nervous. The Laibon had taken one look at his stones and told her she would go far away. Journey far. Leave. Those had been his words. She hadn’t yet told anyone that she’d been applying to colleges in the US, not even Haki or Pippa. She hadn’t told anyone she’d desperately needed to get away. To escape. To live without parents or siblings constantly checking over her shoulder. The Laibon had known, though. Whether it had truly been the stones, or the old man had simply guessed it from her notoriously expressive face, he’d been right. And it had freaked her out a little.

“Fine, but at least think about it. For old time’s sake. I miss having you around and doing things like henna tattoos and...ditching Haki. Oh, yes. Right now. Don’t say no.”

“No. I want to go in and say hi to Auntie Niara and the boys, then run by the pens to see Auntie Anna.”

“Come on. Wearing a suit all day is really sucking the fun out of you. Leave your backpack on the porch steps. We won’t go far. Just far enough to get his attention.”

Haki’s attention. As if Pippa didn’t already get enough of it.

* * *

“WHAT DO YOU mean you haven’t seen them?”