Rose heard a car engine, and a few minutes later Marina and a member of the lodge staff stepped onto the platform carrying a folded table and a cool box. They erected the table and the staff member collected another cool box from the car. Marina shook a red Kanga cloth and placed it over the table.
She approached Rose, Thabiti and Pearl and asked, “How was your bush walk? Did you see anything exciting?”
Wendy turned in her chair and exclaimed, “Oh yeah. We’ve just seen ourselves a mighty herd of elephants.”
“A group of about five with a young baby came down to the waterhole,” explained Rose.
“I’ll just get set up for sundowners. The car with the other guests should be here shortly,” Marina said, and gave Thabiti a deliberate look as she moved back to the table.
Rose tapped Thabiti on the leg. “You should help Marina. You are being paid by the lodge now, and she can’t do everything on her own. Besides, I think you will find it more comfortable fixing drinks than talking with the guests.”
Thabiti glanced nervously behind him as they heard another car approach. He stood and set up the remaining chairs before joining Marina.
The giggling yoga women danced onto the platforms and with oohs and aahs. They pulled three chairs to the edge of the platform and began pointing as a family of warthogs appeared and warily approached the watering hole.
“I’ll have a large gin and tonic, boy. Tanqueray if you have it.” Rose turned around and saw that Robert was addressing Thabiti.
Thabiti had his head bowed, but Rose could see that his mouth was set in a thin, hard line.
Nina stood behind Thabiti’s empty chair and asked timidly, “Do you mind if I sit down?”
Rose patted the seat, “Do join us and tell us all about your game drive. Borana is quite incredible, isn’t it?”
Nina relaxed and her eyes sparkled. “To start with, I didn’t think we’d see much, and then we turned a corner and there was a rhino, with its baby.” She whispered, “And we were able to drive quite close.”
Marina moved amongst the guests and ensured everyone had a drink. As the light dimmed, they watched birds, antelope and a giraffe all drink at the watering hole.
Marina stood to one side and announced, “If I could have your attention for a few minutes so we can run through tomorrow’s itinerary.”
A hush descended over the group.
“As some of you know,” Marina continued, “tomorrow is the famous Lewa Marathon. Robert and Nina, you will be leaving with Thabiti and I at six-thirty am. There will be a light breakfast set up in the dining room from six.”
She turned to the yoga women. “A full breakfast will be served in the dining room from seven until eight. And your lunch will be provided by the pool, as it was today.”
“That sounds just perfect,” shrilled Wendy.
Marina joined Rose’s group. “What are your and Craig’s plans for tomorrow?”
“We’d like to come to the marathon and support you all.” She turned to Nina. “Have you competed in any marathons before?”
Nina looked down and rubbed her wrist. “We’re only running the half marathon. I’ve completed a few 10K races at home. This will be much more challenging, but I have been training. I was very careful to follow a set programme so I undertook the right amount of running without getting injured.”
“And your husband?” inquired Pearl.
“Oh, he doesn’t need to do so much. He’s a natural athlete, unlike me.”
She shuffled her feet and knocked over her glass. Jumping up, she cried, “Silly me.”
Marina patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry.” She picked up the fallen glass. “The wood will soak up whatever has been spilt. Sit back down and I’ll fetch you another drink.”
Pearl asked Nina, “Is this your first trip to Africa?”
Nina nervously sipped the drink Marina handed her and then clutched the glass. “I’ve visited South Africa before, but nothing like this. We always take a suite in one of the upmarket hotels, which has good business facilities so Daddy can keep in touch with work. And Mummy would hate being in the bush, as there are too many insects and not enough shops.”
Rose placed a hand on her leg. “But you’re enjoying it, aren’t you? And are you happy?”
“Oh, yes.” She looked across at Robert who had joined Wendy and Reuben and her voice cracked as she said, “I’m so lucky to have Robert. We moved to the country when I was twelve, but Mummy and Daddy still spend a lot of time in London. We are what people call nouveau riche, and because my parents still speak with native London accents, I don’t get invited to many parties.”
Pearl asked, “So how did you meet Robert?”
“At Ascot, at the races.” Her eyes shone. “I love horses, which is why I went with Mummy and Daddy. Normally I find those things so dull, but the horses’ coats were gleaming, and the racing was really exciting. Robert was in the neighbouring box. He came out onto the balcony and saw me standing alone, so he started talking to me. I just thought he felt sorry for me, but a year later we married.”
Thabiti and a member of staff started clearing the table.
Marina said to Rose. “Will you drive across to the marathon in the morning in your own car? You could come with us, but I’m not sure how long we’ll be. And what do you want to do about breakfast?”
Rose stood so Thabiti could fold away her chair. “I thought I would grab something from the breakfast table. Could someone in the kitchen prepare a flask of hot water with some tea, coffee and milk?”
Marina nudged her arm playfully. “We can do better than that. I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare you a proper picnic breakfast and some sandwiches in case you stay longer.”