Chapter 17

 

“What’s wrong with you?” Pieter asked. “You’re jumpy as an impala.”

“I was followed part of the way, but I lost them.” Mhlongo didn’t meet his eye.

“What?” He muttered something in Dutch under his breath. “Who was it?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t recognize the car, and I didn’t let them get close enough to see who was driving.” Mhlongo clutched his hands around his canvas hat, squeezing it and crushing the brim.

Pieter fumed and stormed, pacing the dusty earth. Finally he turned to face Mhlongo.

“I want you to stay away for a few days. Completely away.”

“What about the certificates?”

“Get someone else. Pay someone if you have to. Don’t take the certificates yourself. Have them dropped off, and I’ll have Johanne fetch them.” The tension between the two men snapped in the air.

“I can do my job,” Mhlongo said quietly.

“Yes, and I’m telling you what I want. Stay away.” Pieter enunciated each syllable carefully as if Mhlongo couldn’t hear well.

“What if I get a black rhino for you? How will you know?” His pupils flared black in golden irises when he glanced up at Pieter.

“Are you close?”

Mhlongo shrugged.

“Johanne will check in with you in a few days. Make sure you aren’t followed anymore. We’re close. Don’t foul it up for me.”

The two men set about moving some of the precious cargo of ivory and rare animal skins to the secret compartments carefully designed in the pen. They handled each piece gingerly, as if it were worth a million Rand. In some cases, it was.

Inside Pieter still fumed. Something would have to be done. He couldn’t have Mhlongo leading someone to the heart of his operation. Most of the time they functioned as a normal legal campsite but at times, like tonight, it would be disastrous to have someone poking around. It just wouldn’t do. Pieter trusted Mhlongo’s instincts about being followed. He was a good tracker. But who was trying to watch them? How much time did he have?