Rose returned home expecting to find Craig resting quietly, but she heard laughter as she walked around the side of her cottage.
“That’s a ridiculous answer,” called Craig. He was sitting on his large cedar chair, with its striped kikoi cushions, whilst Thabiti was sitting at the dining table, twirling a pencil in his hand. A piece of paper lay in front of him, which Rose presumed was a crossword puzzle.
“It’s not a complicated clue,” chided Craig. “It just needs some knowledge of modern history. The answer is the name of the warring country which was reunited in 1975.”
Thabiti threw up his arms. “I wasn’t alive in 1975, so how would I know the answer? And I don’t consider that modern history.”
Craig tutted. “I don’t know what they taught you at school. The answer is Vietnam.”
Thabiti started to write the answer on the piece of paper but asked, “How do you spell that?”
Rose saw Craig pinch his lips together so she stepped across and stood beside Thabiti. She peered at the puzzle but shook her head. “I can’t read it without my glasses.”
Thabiti wrote ‘VIETNAM’ in large letters at the top of the piece of paper.
“Yes, I think that’s right, and that’s enough sparring between you two for today.”
“I’m only teasing him,” said Craig.
She moved to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know, and whilst thinking and having some banter is good, you still have to be careful. I know your blood pressure is rising by the colour of your face.”
Papers were scattered across the cushions on the large wooden sofa. She gathered them up and noticed tables of numbers and photographs of cultivated crops.
“I saw Marina in Dormans,” she reported as she sat down. “Apparently the family who own the lodge aren’t coming next week after all.”
Thabiti swivelled on his dining chair, faced her and said, “I know, she phoned me earlier and told me the wife’s injured herself, but they offered the main house to some friends instead.”
“Did she also tell you Ollie has agreed that Craig and I can stay as well?” She turned to her husband. “That is, if you want to go.”
“Oh yes, do come.” Pink spots appeared on Thabiti’s cheeks and he glanced down. “I’d love to show you around Waitabit Farm in person, where Borana conservancy is slow growing its own fruit and vegetables. And we could discuss the potential for some form of hydroponic agriculture at the lodge.”
Craig rubbed his chin, “But what about Chris? Do we know if he’s planning to stay with us?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t heard anything more from him. Marina thinks it would be fine for him to stay as well, although I suspect he’ll want to be with his army teammates over the marathon weekend. We could see if he wants to join us for a night or two before or after.”
“And talking of the marathon.” Rose turned to Thabiti, who shrank back. “I understand the family has offered Marina and you their entries. She thinks it’s a great opportunity, and I agree. Do you know that places in the marathon are expensive and hard to come by?”
Thabiti stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Rose continued. “She said that she’s not as fit as Chloe, and couldn’t run the whole way, but perhaps the two of you could walk round. Lots of people do that. I know some of the army wives and Podo School mums have been in training to jog and walk the event this year.”
Thabiti crossed his legs. “Wives and mums. I bet the husbands and dads aren’t walking. They’ll be running with the British army and I’ll look like an idiot shuffling along at the back with all those women.”
“I wouldn’t be too worried,” said Craig. “Everyone will be too anxious about their own performance to be interested in you. I presume this is for the half marathon?”
“Yes,” nodded Rose.
Craig placed his hands on the arms of his chair to support himself as he leaned closer to Thabiti. “In my experience, it’s impossible to tell who’s doing the half and who’s running the full marathon, and people run and walk at different stages during the race. You’re pretty fit, so you could combine running and walking. Have you ever been to the Lewa Marathon?”
“No,” admitted Thabiti, uncrossing his legs and scraping his feet across the tiled floor.
“It really is a spectacle, with long lines of competitors snaking their way along tracks across the vast Lewa Downs. I’ve never competed, but I love the atmosphere of hope, determination and, to an extent, suffering as runners battle their own internal demons, as well as the external demands of one of the toughest marathon courses in the world. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity and not one you’re likely to be offered again anytime soon.”
Rose clasped her hands together. “And you’re young and fit. And Marina is very excited. Surely you don’t want to let her down. If you’re worried about what people will say or think, hide under a baseball cap or something.”
Thabiti removed his hands from his pockets and clasped them together. “I’ll think about it,” he said grudgingly.
Rose raised her hand to her lips, thinking. “There was something else I needed to ask you.”
Craig peered at her over his glasses. “Was it about Julius and the jackals?”
“Ah yes,” she smiled at him and turned back to Thabiti. “Julius and his team at the Animal Orphanage have been raising four orphaned jackals, which were found on Borana at the end of last year. They’re ready to be released back into the conservancy and he’s been told about an empty den near Aureus Lodge. He’s looking for a lift over there to check it out, and he’s asked me to go with him. I wondered if you were planning a day visit early next week and could give us both a lift?”
Thabiti pulled his legs together and said, “Marina’s asked me to go on Tuesday and deliver some furniture she’s ordered. It might be a bit of a squash on the way there.”
Craig tapped his leg. “I’m sure Julius can put up with that.”
Rose sat up and looked at Thabiti. “So we’ll plan for a day visit on Tuesday with Julius.” She turned to Craig. “And shall we go to the lodge on Thursday and stay for the weekend?”
Craig nodded. “Why not? As long as Marina and her team are happy to help me. Then I can give Samwell a few days off. Will Thursday be OK, Thabiti?”
Thabiti shrugged. “I guess so. I think I’m heading back on Wednesday with more furniture and whatever supplies Marina needs, and then I’ll stay down for a while as we make the lodge fully operational. The owner’s friends and the yoga group are due to arrive on Thursday, too.”