Chapter 36.
They left for the airport after breakfast. As the shuttle bus from the hotel was driving out of Windhoek, David asked Copper who was sitting in the seat next to him. “Tell me bud, what makes you love the bush so much?”
“David.” He said. “It’s thoroughly in my blood. The bush has a way of taking hold of you whether you like it or not, whether it’s good or bad. It makes little attempt at correctness and does not apologize for it. We are lucky we get to living like we were meant to. I have almost everything I want in the bush. If I want to eat meat, I go and shoot a buck. Nothing goes to waste. What I don’t eat I give to my buddy, my tracker. If I want to eat fish, I go and catch a couple and there is always enough to share. We plant our own vegetables and there is always some root, leaves or berries to eat when we’re sick.”
“Yes,” said Peter. “If you wanted to live in the bush the proper way David, not like you, in a fancy lodge, you have to change the way you think about some things, if you want to function with minimal frustration. All the best adventures happen in the bush. Try it, pack your bags and head for the bush that is the only way you will find out why it’s in our blood.”
Dave knew what it’s like. As kids Andy and him had the pleasure of doing it. That’s why they came back to the spot to open HIPPO’S CROSSING.
“How are you feeling?” David asked Copper.
“David.” He said. “Other than with my father, only a couple of times in my life have I spent more than one month with a guy. Most of the times, it was when I was in the army, when I had to. On one of the occasions, when I did my military training, I was with both you and Peter. On this trip I was with three other guys and if I can say something, I haven’t had a better time in my life. If you asked me to come with you again tomorrow I would jump at it.”
“Hell Copper, that’s very nice of you to say that. If I ever need to, you will be one of the first I will call.”
“Yes but I would only do it, if you paid me the same, as on this trip.”
“I knew you wouldn’t do it for nothing. You soldier of fortune.”
“What about you Andy? You have been the quiet one. I suppose you can’t wait to see Gail. Hey?”
“Absolutely, that wife of mine is going to be chased by me tonight.”
“And my mate Peter. What about you my bud?”
“Hey David, you and I have been friends for a long time. If you weren’t married I would have proposed to you tonight. I love you so much.”
“Pete if I wasn’t married, I would have accepted because I love you too my brother.”
They flew to Johannesburg airport. Copper and Peter said their farewells while David and Andy waited for Kim to arrive from Cape Town.
They were in the pub. "So tell me Andy?"David asked."How was your holiday."
"What holiday?"
"Well it was you who said that you haven't had a break for two years and isn't that what you had?" David looked at him and a grin appeared on his face."You have to relieve Simon now. After all he is the one that allowed you to go."
Andy looked at David and shook his head without answering.
David and Kim walked into the garden. With the sound of water running over the rapids in the background they could see the changes that Ma had made in the short time they had been away. The lawns were now luscious, the flowers colorful and evergreens providing great habitat for the polinators including the bees and butterflies. She had totally transformed it. It was now beginning to look like Shiwa. They found her putting bird seed in the boxes that she had got made specially to protect the fruit from the birds. David put his arm around her. “We got your money back Ma. Plus interest.”
“Hello David where is my child? Hello my darling."She said addressing Kim."Oh, I'm so glad to see the two of you. How can I ever thank you enough? Do I owe you anything?” She asked.
“We can take it off the bill that you are going to send me for transforming this garden and all the work you’ve done here.”
“Does that mean I have money in the bank now?”
“It’s much better than that Ma.” He handed her an envelope with one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, instead of five hundred thousand Rand. “With the exchange rate it works out you have a gain of twenty three thousand Rand. I would go and put that in your safe in the room if I was you, and if you come across any investment advisers in future, plead poverty."
“I’ll do that right away,” she walked up the garden path and into the lodge.
Later she came back to him. “Davie, you misunderstood me. I said I had invested five hundred thousand Rand not one hundred Sixty thousand Dollars.
“Didn’t Robbie say that you would earn 35%? well, it's not quite that much but you got your money back plus."
“I was silly, wasn’t I David? I should have invested much more.” The three of them held each other as they laughed. It was lovely to hear her laugh again."Oh how I wish Attie was here." She said as they walked to the entrance of the lodge.
”I forgot to tell you. Robbie has been arrested.”Kim said.
“Robbie …arrested. Why?” David asked.
“I believe he’s been a naughty boy. It was reported that he’s been embezzling money from a company called Robbie Bruce Investments.”
“I thought that was his company?” David asked.
“No. It’s owned by Diane Bruce.” Kim replied.
“Sounds like he’s future will be back selling scrap iron.”
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