My time at the bar had been short the night before. My plan had been thwarted by the trio’s early return. I left after drinking only a few sips of my cocktail once the escort returned from dropping off the trio at their room.
I arrived at reception alert and ready for the morning’s activity. The morning game drive seating arrangement turned awkward, as each of the trio sat in a different row. The rest of us stared at them, not knowing where to sit. The Vankeys and Charlotte had no idea why the family wasn’t speaking. I assumed Jack had told Geri. But based on her look of confusion, I doubted myself.
Sensing the tension of the family, Jack guided everyone to a seat. I was glad Jack cued me to a side seat. I didn’t want to sit next to anyone in that family right now.
Sonny and Ray gave their regular morning greeting. Six of us cheered back when he asked if we were ready for a game drive. The trio did not join in.
We drove around for a while, seeing small clusters of animals we’d seen before. Sonny stopped occasionally for us to take photos. He always glanced back to ensure everyone’s cameras were down before he took off again.
I got a great shot of a warthog and her three piglets. I added to my photo collection of elephants. Really, could you have too many?
I enjoyed the views as we drove around more. The early-morning mist was evaporating off the land. The first rays of the sun awakened us and brought the heat of the day. Even without the Big Five, or other majestic creatures roaming the area, the natural beauty surrounded us. There was always something to see. The pillowy white clouds floating in the sky. A sky that ranged in color from pink of early dawn to pure blue midday to the orange glow of sunset. The countless shades of green of grasses and leaves. Even the heat, as it shimmered on the horizon, was something to take in. Nothing man-made in sight, except us.
We stopped again, but I didn’t see any animals in view. I took a photo anyway. The landscape was breathtaking, and my memory card was far from full.
Ray jumped off the front and called for the group to join him. We did, except for the trio.
“We haven’t seen any zebras yet, have we?” Ray asked. I shook my head no, as did the others. “Well, today is hopefully the day!” He pointed to a print in the dirt. “You see this? That’s a zebra’s track.” He knelt down and pointed closer to the hoof’s print.
“Let’s go,” Sonny instructed us. Five minutes later, after several points from Ray, we came upon a grouping of zebras. “Anyone know what a group of zebras are called?” Sonny asked.
“A dazzle!” I yelled out.
Charlotte elbowed me in the side. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a herd.”
I looked at Sonny. “Sonny told me it was a dazzle.”
“No, she’s right,” Sonny told Charlotte. “Some will call them by different names. But my dad, also a field guide in this area, called it a dazzle. Gold star to my favorite student!”
“OHHH!” Jack yelled. “Smarty pants isn’t going to like that!”
I gaped. Was he trying to start another argument within the group?
“Jack!” Geri yelled.
“What?” he answered. He leaned in and whispered, “I’m trying to defuse the tension.”
It had the opposite effect.
We stopped for juice and coffee. I too wanted to defuse the situation among the family. Also, I had an ulterior motive of wanting to solve a murder. A family divided might spill some secrets.
“You must have been excited to see zebras,” I said to Sabrina.
“Why?” she snapped.
“You obviously like the letter ‘Z’.” She looked at me as if she had no idea what I was talking about. “Zonah, Zaden,” I reminded her, pointing to her sons.
She looked in their direction. The trio had positioned themselves as far from each other as they could, without being so far from the group that Sonny would have to reel them in. “Oh, yeah, I guess.” She sipped her juice. “They’re named after their fathers.”
“Their fathers? How nice.”
“Yeah, I thought so at the time,” she mumbled and walked away.
Sabrina had been so sociable when we had started the trip. So sociable I thought she’d annoy me to death. As I was closest to her age, I thought she’d latch on and make me her best buddy for the trip. Two college dropouts forming their own clique. I preferred drinking at the bar with Jack.
But as the trip proceeded, she retracted more from the group, even from her boys. Maybe the fact that her husband hadn’t joined them on the trip was hitting her harder the longer we were here.
Or maybe it was something more sinister?
Sonny and Ray huddled over markings in the dirt as we finished morning refreshments. “What are you looking at?” I asked.
“She just sneaks up on all us, doesn’t she,” Sonny said to Ray. I started to ask what he meant but he continued, and answered my original question. “You’ll see,” Sonny told me. “Everyone ready?” he announced.
Once settled in our seats, Sonny spoke. “I heard there was another request for a leopard?” A few nodded but Sabrina remained quiet. Looking at me, Sonny continued, “Ray and I have found some more tracks. So we’re off to find another leopard! And maybe more zebras!”
I held on to the bar to brace myself as we took off. Ray kept his trained eyes on the dirt path and then signaled for Sonny to go off-road. I held on tighter as the terrain became bumpier. The four-by-four trampled grass and low bushes until we came to an abrupt stop.
A thorny branch slapped me in the face and I didn’t see why the others gasped. I rubbed my temple, hoping the branch didn’t draw blood. Glad that my hand was dry, I looked up to see what had stunned the others into silence.
A leopard hunched over a dead zebra.
The leopard looked up from its prey at us. The zebra lay on its right side. Its left legs were stiff and jutting into the air.
“Geez, that thing’s in rigor. That zebra’s been dead a while,” Jack said, when the leopard returned to its meal.
“Yes, we can’t tell when tracks are left.” Sonny looked over his shoulder and put the vehicle in reverse. This was not the photograph we wanted for our albums. He stomped on the brakes when most of his guests squealed in horror.
A gush of blood spewed from where the leopard had been munching at the carcass’ stomach. The leopard was equally startled by its meal’s response and jumped away, until the flow of bodily fluids stopped.
Charlotte and Hazel covered their eyes. Colin put his arm around Hazel and used his other hand to block the sight. Jack looked away while Geri buried her head in his chest. Zaden was getting it all on video, seemingly immune from the revolting scene.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Zonah said, before leaning his head over the side of the four-by-four.
I glanced at Sabrina to monitor her reaction, expecting her to soothe her son. But she didn’t. She stared at the scene.
Had she seen something like that before?
Had she caused it?