Zambezi Seduction by Tamara Cape Read Free Book Online

animals in the wild where they behave naturally. People think there’s nothing more we can learn, but they’re wrong. I accept that nobody’s going to discover the unicorn in some hidden valley. But we’re learning all the time, particularly in the field of animal communications. For example, we now know that elephants can communicate over distances of several miles using low frequency sounds inaudible to the human ear. And we know that certain monkeys have three distinct alarm calls: one warns of leopard, one python, one eagle. There are a lot more discoveries to be made out there.”
    “It’s like we’re time travellers who’ve slipped back hundreds of years,” Kerry said, wide-eyed with the novelty of it all. “We can talk without the distraction of television – while outside wild and dangerous animals prowl.”
    “Interesting point, feeling a link with the past,” Chad said. “The first Trekboers heading into the interior from the Cape would have experienced the same sights and sounds we did today. Most African tribespeople pray to their ancestors, seeking guidance. Maybe we just hit on why. As you say, out here in the wilds you feel a closeness with the past.”
    He got up and refilled his glass from the bottle of Dewer’s, adding a splash of bottled water.
    “Talking of Boers,” Kerry said. “Did Anna Grobler mention she’s invited us to her farm for a barbecue?”
    “Of course, she’ll want to hear every detail of the trip.” Chad grinned. “Hey! You’re the first Pom I’ve heard pronounce the Afrikaans G correctly.”
    Kerry was sure it was the first compliment he had paid her.
    “Comes of having Celtic blood. My mother was Irish. She and dad met in Galway when he came to fish Lough Corrib – it’s a huge lake famed for its big trout. The number of islands is supposed to match the days in a year – 365.  When I was little she was always going on about the lough. She made sure I pronounced the word right. The throaty ending is like your G.”
    Praying mantises and moths danced against the window glass. The pulse of insect noise throbbed non-stop in the darkness. Hyenas kept up their eerie chorus. Kerry was tired after the long drive in the heat from Bulawayo; but in spite of the early start planned for the morning, she didn’t want the day to end just yet.
    The jealousy was back. She felt ashamed, hating herself – yet her mind would not rest until she knew the truth. She tried to keep her tone of voice casual.
    “Anna told me to ask how the two of you met. Something about bumping into one another?”
    The South African laughed and got to his feet, refilling his glass once more. He looked at Kerry questioningly. She shook her head. The last thing she needed at their dawn departure was a sore head. Chad settled back into his chair, an amused light in his eyes.
    “We met head-on. A narrow road in the platteland , a notorious bend. I was in the Fiat, she in her bloody big Merc. Fortunately there was little damage. We had a shouting match, a right mix of English and Afrikaans. She seemed vaguely familiar. Turned out she’d been runner-up in the Miss South Africa Contest. Had her picture on TV and in all the papers.”
    “So you kept in touch after the accident?” Kerry inquired.
    “She telephoned – we had naturally exchanged names and numbers. I had my first major showing in Johannesburg and it was my turn to be in the newspapers. She came along and we became friends.”
    “She’s a stunner – so how come it’s me, not her, sitting here?”
    Chad’s eyes held Kerry in a stare so direct it seemed to pin her to her chair. She could feel colour come to her face and wished she’d kept her mouth shut.
    “I have a bachelor’s reluctance to discuss matters concerning my private life,” he told her bluntly.
    “Am I being awfully nosey?”
    “No – in your position, I’d be the same. ” He paused. “Anna is a beautiful woman. At times, in certain light, she almost takes my