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.
. Still I'd like to see it. You will, she promised, and she was so carried away by Daniel's interest in her work that she laid her hand on his arm.
You'll come to Gondola where I live? Bo
BOSS could market it through their pharmaceutical company. It would be worth a billion--2BOSS? Sir Peter? Kelly jerked her hand off Daniel's arm and stared at Bo
Tug Harrison, ducky, Bo
Kelly stared down at him. You and that monster Harrison! How could you? She whirled and ran from the restaurant, shoving her way through a pack of American tourists who were blocking the aisle.
Daniel was on his feet mopping the coffee that had soaked his trousers.
What the hell did you do that for? he snarled at Bo
She was not in the hotel lobby. Daniel headed for the front entrance and called the doorman. Did you see a woman- He broke off as he spotted Kelly on the far side of the road. She was astride a dusty cc Honda motor cycle, and at that moment she jumped on the kick-starter and the engine shrilled to life. She swung the handlebars hard over, banking the cycle into a tight turn, the engine whining and popping jets of oily blue exhaust smoke. Kelly!
Daniel shouted. "Wait! Give me a chance. I can explain. She wrenched the throttle grip fully open and the cycle reared up on its back wheel as it accelerated. She turned her face to him as she flew past where he stood. Her expression was at once angry and stricken and he could have sworn that there were tears on her cheeks. Hired gun!
she cried at him.
Judas!
And then the motor cycle howled away. She banked it sharply, the steel foot-rest raised a shower of sparks as it grazed the tarmac, and she weaved into the traffic in Kimathi Avenue.
Daniel ran down to the corner. He caught one more glimpse of her two hundred yards down the avenue, leaning over the handlebars like a jockey, her braid standing out stiffly from the back of her head in the wind.
He looked around for a taxi to follow her, and then realised the futility of even trying. With the lead she Had, and the Honda's manoeuvrability no car could hope to catch her.
He turned on his heel and marched back towards the hotel, intent on finding Bo
He checked his stride and thought about it. It wasn't worth the pleasure of pi
I'd better go and cool off somewhere. He chose the Jambo, Bar, one of the notorious bars down near the station.
It was full of black soldiers in camouflage, and mate tourists and bar girls. Some of the girls were spectacular, Samburu and Kikuyu and Masai, in tight shiny skirts with beads and bright ribbons braided into their hair.
Daniel found a bar stool in the corner, and the antics of the middle-aged European tourists on the dance floor helped to alleviate his foul mood. A recent survey of the Nairobi bar girls had determined that ninety-eight percent of them were HIV positive. You had to have a death wish to enjoy fully all that these ladies had to offer.
An hour and two double whiskies later, Daniel's anger Had cooled sufficiently, and he headed back to the Norfolk Hotel.
He let himself into the cottage suite and saw Bo
The bedroom was in darkness, but the lights in the courtyard shone through the curtains sufficiently for him to make out Bo
Neither of them moved or spoke for fully five minutes and then Bo
Her fingers were warm and silky down his flank. She wants to show him how sorry she is. He caught her wrist, but it was too late. She was cu
In the morning when Daniel checked the hotel bill before paying it, he noticed an item for 120 Kenya shillings. International telephone calls.
He taxed Bo
Please get it for me again now. It's ringing, sir.
A voice answered on the third ring. Good morning, may I help you?
What number is that? Daniel asked, but the speaker was guarded. Who did you want, please? Daniel thought he recognized the voice, the strong African accent. He took a chance.
Is that you, Selibi? he asked in Swahili. Yes, this is Selibi. Do you want to speak to the Bwana Mkubwa? Who shall I say is calling?
Daniel hung up the receiver and stared at it.
Selibi was Tug Harrison's manservant. So Bo
Curiouser and curiouser, Daniel muttered. Miss Bo
The hostess was a tall Hita girl in flamboyant national dress.
She handed out packets of sweet biscuits and plastic mugs of luke-warm tea with the haughty air of a queen distributing alms to her poor subjects. Halfway through the four-hour flight she disappeared into the toilet with one of the soldiers and all cabin service came to a halt.