Chapter 14.
1993. / 1994
When ever David could, he would fly down to Cape Town. It could be just for the night then he would fly back to Johannesburg or it could be for the week-end and sometimes longer. Up until then neither him nor Kim had brought up the subject of marriage they were happy for the relationship to go on like it had for
Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon they would take a drive down to Kommekie and buy a couple of crayfish from the fishermen. Then David would cook them in sea water on a portable gas burner he had in his car and enjoy it with a bottle of wine while sitting on the beach and watching the sun set.
They were on our way home one day when she asked Dave if she could just pop in to a friend to collect a book that she had lent out. “It’s only five minutes out of our way David. Do you mind?”
“No not at all.”
It was one of the exes that she was involved with before him. When he opened the door, Kim introduced him. “James this is David.”
David’s first impression of James was that he was far from pleased to see Kim with him. James was a good looking man of medium height, a little paunchy, not fat and his thick blond hair was combed back. He wore beige cotton trousers, a blue striped open neck shirt and a navy double breasted blazer.
David thought. Why is the guy wearing a blazer while he's inside his house. He was divorced from his second wife and Kim was one of the in between friend-ships he had. They were still very good friends but no longer in the sexual way. That stopped when she met Michael, her ex-husband. He invited them inside.
“Would you like a drink?” He asked.
“I’ll have a Johnny Walker Black please?” David asked.
“I don’t have Johnny Walker Black.” He said in a way he doesn’t have Black but he has got Red.
“What have you got?” David asked.
“ Anything else but whisky.”
“In that case Could I have a cognac please."
“I don’t have cognac. Sorry.”
David thought. Is this guy having me on? “Do you have wine?” David asked
“What would you prefer, red or white? Kim I don’t need to ask you.” He said then walked out to fetch the wine.
“I’ll have whatever you’re pouring.” David said not showing his annoyance but he looked at Kim with a puzzled look as if to say; is this guy all there?
She looked at him and smiled then quickly pulled her face straight again, just in case he came back.
He came back with a bottle of Grand Cru from one of the local wine farms. “Is this okay Kim?” Then he poured a small amount in the one glass and passed it to Kim.
Kim took a taste. “That’s fine.” She said then held her glass up for him to fill it up.
“How is your mom and dad?” He asked looking at Kim.
“Fine, forever telling stories of his rugby days and the days when he worked for Encyclopedia Britannica. I think he misses those days."
“And Michael do you ever see him.”
“James, why should I see him? He’s been out my life so long.” Kim said.
They drank their wine, Kim got her book and then they left.
When they were in the car David said to Kim. “What a strange guy that is. He ignored me the whole time we were there.”
“David. Could you not see he was jealous as hell, seeing me with you. Of course he’s got whisky. Maybe not Johnny Walker but he's got whisky and cognac.” She laughed then said. “Poor guy has so many hang-ups.”
“What book did you lend him that was so important that you had to get it back today?” David asked.
“It’s called ‘Hills like White Elephants’ by Ernest Hemingway.”
“Is it a good book?"
“Yes. It’s one of his short stories. It’s about a conversation between an American man and a girl at a Spanish train station while waiting for a train to Madrid.”
“It sounds a bit of a bore to me.” David said.
“No it’s not. Hemingway is a fantastic author. How can you say it’s boring if you haven’t even read it?”
“Just sounds boring.”
She passed the book to David.“Here. While you’re sitting there read a couple of pages.”
He opened the book and started reading aloud. “They look like white elephants, she said.”
“I’ve never seen one, the man said as he drank his beer.”
“No, you wouldn’t have.”
“I might have, the man said. Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.”
“The girl looked at the bead curtain. They’ve painted something on it, she said. What does it say?”
“Anis del Toro. It’s a drink.”
“Could we try it?”
He stopped reading and put the book down.
“So what do you think?” Kim asked.
“I prefer Sidney Sheldon.”
“David how can you say that? There’s no comparison. Hemingway wrote novels, classics and books that people will be read 50 years from now. What has Sidney Sheldon written?”
“For starters ‘Master of the Game’ and ‘The Other Side of Midnight’ and there were more.”
“They won’t be read 50 years from now.”
"I don't really care because I won't be around in fifty years either"----He looked at her and laughed---"neither will you."
She looked at him."But many people will. And they will still read Hemingway."
When David got back to Johannesburg he heard from a good friend that the Zambian government was offering leases on ground to those who were interested and prepared to invest in the country. They realized that tourism was a way to obtain foreign currency, which the country so badly needed. The one way of obtaining it was to open more game lodges. Doing that was also a means to give employment to the people and to combat illegal poaching of the wild animals in those areas.
David since visiting Colonel brown at Shiwa Ng'andu had promised himself if he ever had the money, that he would build a lodge the same as that in another part of the country. It looked like his wish was going to be granted providing he got the land. Money wasn't the problem. He had US Dollars in a Swiss bank.
"Carol.... Carol."He called from his office.
"Yes, David."
"Can you come in here, please."
Like always she came in running and David had to smile."Yes David." She asked.
"Can you get me on a flight to Lusaka?"
"When do you want to go?"She asked.
"Any time tomorrow, and see if you can book me in at an international hotel for two nights. Make sure it's a decent place, I don't want to stay at some place where they have prostitutes hanging around."
"Okay David, I'll get onto it right away."
David flew out of Oliver Thambo airport at ten o'clock and two hours later the plane was taxing to it's parking at Lusaka airport. As he exited the plane he felt the heat of the Zambian air hit him. Straight away he realized that he wasn't dressed properly. He had on a suit, long sleeved shirt and tie and by the time he got in the building his shirt was already wet.
The African immigration officers seemed to have all the time in the world as they chatted to each other in-between stamping the visitors passports. David waited patiently in the queue as they found a fault on the document or passport of the guy in front of him. When he eventually got to the counter the officer took his passport, paged through it, looked at him then looked at the entry form that David so carefully had completed and disappeared. After ten minutes he returned and without any explanation gave the passport back. David knew better than to ask him what the problem was. He had his jacket hanging over his one arm and was wiping off the sweat from his forehead with the other.
David proceeded to the luggage hall. The air-conditioner wasn't working and David wished he could rip all his clothes off his body. The luggage had arrived but there was no system of receiving it. It was chaotic. The handlers brought it into the hall and dumped it. If you were lucky your suitcase would be on top and undamaged. That was not the case (excuse the pun) for David. After being pushed and pulled he eventually received his luggage and proceeded to exit but was stopped and pulled out of the crowd by a customs officer. David was taken to the side and after having his suitcase searched and nothing elicit was found, he was allowed to carry on. He was heading towards the exit door when he is knocked off his feet by some black guy who had snatched somebody's handbag and was trying to get away.The suitcase went one way and his jacket the other. By the time David got onto his feet he saw the thief was apprehended by two young policemen in khaki uniform.
When he got outside a couple of shouting taxi drivers made a dash for him and the one who got there first grabbed his suitcase. "Bwana, where you go?" he asked.
"InterContinental hotel." David said.
"Come... Bwana....Come with me." The taxi driver called, already ten meters ahead of David.
He followed him to his dilapidated car. Looking at the body work David didn't think that the car could get to the main road, but he got a greater shock when the door was opened. There was no seat. There was a piece of plank resting on some metal. He would have turned around right away and walked into town, but having lived there he knew it was a long way. When he got inside, the driver handed him his suitcase to put on his lap which was quite difficult because there were no floor boards. Again he had to rest his feet on some body work.
When David reached the hotel he said a little prayer and then paid the driver in Rands the South African currency which pleased him. A porter took his suitcase and lead him to the reception desk. David was attended to by a beautiful black lady who was dressed in a uniform and then he was taken to his room.
The next day he went to the government building to see if he could find out more about the new land act that was being passed in 1995. He went from one floor to another speaking to various people who he thought could help him but as soon as he was told how much it would cost he moved on to somebody else and so it carried on until he gave up. It seemed everybody was on the take. He realized it was a waste of time and money coming on this trip.
Back in Johannesburg David was with his brother Andy in a pub in Sandton City.
"I haven't told you yet. I'm thinking of opening a lodge up in Zambia."
"In Zambia!" Andy asked surprised.
"Yes. Zambia." David emphasized."Don't you think that's a good idea."
"Honestly Dave I think it's a crazy idea."
"You remember how we used to enjoy going on those week-ends to Itezhi Tezhi. Well if I could get a concession where we fished I would snap it up. I would build a lodge similar to what Col Stewart Gore Brown did at Shiwa Ng'andu. You never saw it. I went up there with one of the Wellensky girls for a week-end. Don't you remember that?
"No."Andy said then grinned. "Was she as easy as the others you had up there?"
"Andy believe it or not. Not all the chicks fucked."
What the Colonel did up there in 1947 was a miracle and in that time it was a lot harder than today. Now there are roads and transport. They didn't have that in those days."
"Where will you get the money to build a thing like that."Andy asked.
"Hey brother, I've been putting money away overseas for years. Money isn't the problem right now."
"So what is the problem. "Andy asked.
"I can't get a concession. I've tried but I knock my head all the time. All those guys want bucks before they do anything."
Andy took a drink of his beer then looking at David he said,"why don't you get hold of Simon and see if he can help you."
"Shit why didn't I think of that. Come here let me give you a kiss." He took Andy's head with his two hands and kissed him on the forehead.
"If I get those concessions I want you to build the place."David said.
"You're crazy. I couldn't build a place like that,"said Andy surprised.
"Oh yes you can. Think big brother."
Simon was a guy that the two of them met when they went fishing with their dad. They were fishing from a rock where they had a good view of the animals and they were safe from crocodiles. They hadn't caught anything although they had the latest fishing gear. Suddenly this kid appeared from out of the long elephant grass, bare footed and carrying a piece of bamboo with some line connected and about six good size bream tide together with a piece of grass.
"Have you caught anything?"He asked in perfect English, looking up at them.
"No, we haven't." David said a bit disappointed after seeing what he had caught with his simple fishing rod.
"What are you using?"
"Worms."Andy said.
He dug in his pocket and pulled out a ball of paper which he opened and handed to David some.
"What is this?"David asked.
"Zudsa. Put some of that on your hook."
Both Davy and Andy reeled in their lines then stuck some of the zudsa on the hook and cast it back again.
"Hey Andy look..."Davy said when he had a bite. He struck and when he felt his line go stiff he started reeling in, "hey I think I've got something."
By that time Andy also had a bite."Look Davy... my float has disappeared."
"Strike Andy." Davy shouted.
While they were reeling in their catch Simon was looking up and laughing at the two white kids. After they landed their fish they both ran off to show their dad what they had caught.When they got back to their fishing spot Simon the little black guy was gone.
The next day he came back.
"Come sit up here..."David said..."What's your name?"
"Simon."
"My name is Davy and this is my brother Andy."
Simon brought out some more zudsa (Maize meal that's been cooked.)
They learnt a lot from Simon. They would go with him and hunt for small buck. He taught them how to make a catapult and how to use it. Andy became very good and he would practice by shooting at tins.If they shot a buck Simon would skin it and they would share the meat. David's dad would soak the meat in vinegar and when he got back to Lusaka would make biltong (Dried meat)
They would go into the jungle and Simon showed them which roots and berries to eat if they were sick or hungry and how to collect water if they were thirsty. He also taught them how to read game spoor and speak his language.That friendship would go on for years until Davy and Andy immigrated to Southern Rhodesia just before Northern Rhodesia got it's independence from Great Britain in 1964. They knew that the friendship would end and they would never see each other again but they never spoke about it.
A week later David took Andy's advice and flew to Lusaka. He booked into the InterContinental hotel and then found somebody with a light aircraft to fly him to Ngoma a small town on the outskirts of Kafue National Park. That would be the nearest air strip to Itezhi Tezhi. First he was going to see Chief Kabumba, Simon's father who was one of the chiefs in the area. It was a long shot but if he was alive David could kill two bird with one stone. He could talk to him about opening the lodge, then find out where Simon is and what he was doing.
When David walked into the kraal the smell of burning wood brought back to him memories of the old days when him and Andy used to go there with Simon.
Today, as he walked towards Chief Kabumba, he saw the older women sitting in a group making necklaces and bangles from beads while the young ones, topless were crushing maize into meal that they would cook at a later time.There were young men sitting on another spot making wood carvings while the little boys with fat stomachs and belly buttons that stood out ran around steering their cars made out of wire. He nearly tripped as a couple of chickens ran under his feet while one was in a pot pecking at the dry zudsa that was left. Obviously it didn't know that was going to be the way he ends his life, in a pot.
The chief was sitting under his tree and looked inquisitively to David as he approached. When they met he recognized David the moment that he said who he was. David gave him a bottle of whisky he had brought along specially for this occasion. "Chief Kabumba, I don't know if you will drink this, It's white men's spirits."
"Thank you Davy. At night I will drink some and see if the spirits can help me." They both burst out laughing. David wanted to savor the moment because he may never come back.
For Mrs. Kabumba he brought a role of very bright patterned material. "I don't know if you can do something with this mama." The name that was used for old African ladies. She opened the package and when she saw what it was she said excitedly. "Master Davy, you good boy, thank you, thank you." She said then clapped her hands. "I make nice dress for me."
Chief Kabumba who was about eighty years old, invited David to come and sit with him under his tree which was an honor for anybody. Mrs.Kabumba who was sitting outside her hut and busy making beaded bangles and and headgear could not believe David was the young boy who came to visit them when ever the Paterson's came camping. They were excited and wanted to know what had happened to the white father and his two sons that used to camp in the area.
They insisted that David stayed and shared their lunch. This gave him a great opportunity to tell them about what he wanted to do. They knew about Shiwa Ngandu and what was done there.
A lodge would first be built that would employ approximately one hundred staff. When that was finished he would build a clinic for emergency purposes that could accommodate at least ten patients. Then he would build a school and sport fields and then a shop where they could shop at discount prices. They were very exited about the idea and would do all they could to get the project done. Chief Kabumba told David how well Simon had done and where he could find him.
Just as David thought; Simon was a government official, in Lusaka. When he arrived back in Lusaka he booked into the InterContinental hotel and then went to search for Simon. He had not been back to Lusaka since he left in 1964 and what a shock he had to see all the changes.
There were buildings of 10 floors or higher dotted all over the place. The main road named Cairo had been widened and had an island in between for one way traffic. There were a lot more businesses like franchised eating houses and bars, big name hotels, chain stores that originated in South Africa, new stadiums, a good airport and even a museum.
There were new suburbs and plans for more on the drawing board and new schools and hospitals. There were also businesses owned by South Africans and the Chinese were investing a lot of money to develop it. Of course they were also getting their share of the raw materials that they were extracting and sending back to China.
A weak before there was a bomb that had exploded outside the offices of the ANC (African National Congress, The political party that had been outlawed in South Africa) And the South African defence force was blamed for planting it there. Some South African minister owned up to the fact when they had the truth and reconciliation meetings a couple of years later. All the government departments were located in the same building in the center of town.
The next morning David went to the office building where he thought Simon Kabumba might be working. It was a modern building only a few years old. Lusaka had changed a lot in the thirty years since he had last been there. There were dozen of multi storied buildings, lots of shops that David recognized as South African. More hotels and franchised restaurants and even Patels was a lot larger than when he saw it last. 'I wonder if the Chinese paid for the construction of some of these buildings.' The Chinese had come into the country and built hospitals, schools, new roads and and railway lines in exchange for the right to mine for minerals which they sent back to China. He saw them every where. I don't think they will be going home soon. He entered the building and asked the lady at the reception desk if Simon Kabumba worked there.
"Yes he does. Would you like to speak to him sir?" She asked.
"Yes please."David replied. After a minute or two the receptionist asked David to take a seat. Simon would see him in a few minutes.
Simon appeared. He was a big man, good looking and had a build like a body builder."Good morning Mr. Paterson." He said not recognizing David.
"Good morning Simon...You don't remember me, Do you?"
"No."He replied.
"Do you remember the two white kids you used to fish with when we were young?"
"David...David Paterson he said then broke out in laughter. This is a surprise. How are you?" He asked excited.
"I'm fine Simon." David said with a grin on his face. "It looks like you're alright as well."
"Look we can't stand here. Come up to my office."He asked.
Simon had done well. He held a senior position in the ministry of sport. His office, on the fourth floor was big and well furnished. It had a large desk with a chair behind and two in front and on the wall behind him a picture of Dr. Kenneth Kaunda the president who had ruled since 1964. In the corner he had the Zambian flag and against one of the side walls a cabinet with book.
"What brings you to Zambia Davy?" He asked.
"I came to see you." David replied.
"You're surely kidding me."Simon didn't believe a word he had heard.
"Believe it or not, that's the truth."
"You haven't seen me in thirty two years. Then you suddenly appear at my office with a story that you came to Zambia to see me. I don't believe it."
"Simon are you married?"David asked.
"Yes. Have been for twenty years and I'v got two boys, one of eighteen and another aged nineteen."Simon replied. "Here's a photo taken quite recently." He handed David a framed photo that was standing on his desk.
"You have a beautiful wife Simon and your sons, they're like you. Big and handsome."
"Yes I'm very proud of them. They are at university, both studying to be doctors and very good soccer players too."
"Where did you and your wife meet?"
"At school in Itezhi."
"That's wonderful. Are her parents still alive?"
"Yes but they're in the seventies."
"Look Simon I don't want to take up too much of your time."David said, "why don't you and your lovely wife join me for dinner tonight."
"Let me phone her and find out if that's possible."
Simon phoned her at home and asked her if they could join David for dinner and she said that they could.
"Where are you staying David?" Simon asked. "And what time?"
"At the Intercontinental. Seven O'clock, is that okay."
Simon arrived at half past seven. 'That's African time for you.' "Hello David this is my wife Debra."
'They're a handsome couple.'
"Would you like to have a drink first before we go in for dinner?"
"No thank you David. I think we're both starving."
They went through to the dining room which was packed with Chinese and Indian business men sitting in groups 'I suppose they all want a piece of the pie.' and European tourists who David saw arriving by bus earlier.
They had already been served and were busy eating when David said to Simon."Look the real reason I've come to see you is, I want to open a lodge in Itezhi Tezhi. I've heard the Zambian government is granting concessions to those who want to invest and develop areas for tourism."
"Yes that's right. They've amended chapter 184 of The Land Act. But why have you come to see me." He replied.
"I've been to Lusaka a couple of times but have had no success in speaking to the right people. It seems they either don't know anything about it or they want me to pay them before they will help me, which I don't want to do."
"So how do you think that I can help you?"
"How big would you say is the average size of a family living out there?"David asked.
"I don't know. Maybe six." Simon replied.
"Look I don't want to put up a little tent camp. I want to put up a lodge with about fifty rooms, with a chance of expanding later if it turns out to be a success. Very much like Shiwa Ng'andu. There will be employment for about one hundred people to build the place and then the same amount when we open.That means that when we are up and running we will be responsible for the welfare of six hundred people. If you say there is six to a family. After we have opened I want to build a school and a small hospital and some sport fields."
When David mentioned sport fields Simon suddenly sat up."But how can I help you?"He asked.
"I saw your father yesterday and told him what I plan to do and he said that he would agree to it, if The Local Authorities and Zawa does."
"But David you are not telling me how I can help you."
"Simon I need some-one in Lusaka who speaks the language and knows the people who they have to speak to. And for that I'm offering that person a share in the business."
"I can't help you David. Working for the government I can't hold shares in a private company."
Both your parents are getting old and are going to want their children close to them. Wouldn't you like to be living close to them in the last years of their life?"
"Yes of cause." They replied.
"Well I'm going to give you the chance. Simon I'm going to offer you 20% of the business without you putting in a cent and what's more your salary will remain the same and paid in American dollars if it is possible. David knew it was a better deal doing it that way rather than him moving to Lusaka and paying all the bribes because that is what he would eventually have to do. He had no chance of getting the concession if he stayed in Johannesburg.
"It sounds good David but how can I believe it?"
"Simon contracts will be drawn up by lawyers here in Lusaka with Andy, you and I. Of course there will be certain conditions included. "
"David I will have to think about it." Simon replied looking at his wife Debra.
Two weeks later after many sleepless nights and discussions between Simon, Debra and their two boys he decided he would join with David. The contracts would be drawn up by lawyers in Lusaka as David said and signed by the three of them.
It would still be a while before the new land acts bill was approved by parliament but in the meantime Simon could do the necessary research and planning.
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