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.Nhari said, "and don't knowhow Major Jenkins would respond to that theory.However,you did have a friend who was murdered, and Major Jenkinsdoes appreciate sentiments like loyalty and friendship."Richard read through the double-talk.Christopher wantedto go, and he was going.He got everything he wanted,including Richard.Richard had wants of his own.He wanted alover in one piece."I'll see what Major Jenkins says," Dr.Nhari promised,coming to his feet."You'll hear his decision shortly." Hebowed smartly in Richard's direction and left."You're angry," Christopher said to Richard, and it wasn't aquestion.Richard's feelings were clearly visible on his face."Don't you dare tell me you don't know the why!""These poachers have got to be stopped," Christopherinsisted."I've seen what they've done, remember? I sawseven bloated elephants dead at the water hole.I lost afriend, because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.I saw Melissa poisoned and her calf dead within a few feet ofher.I can't forget all of that; I can't forget that I almost lostyou beneath a stampeding herd of elephants.And you don'tunderstand why I want to make sure this is handledeffectively?"326Tusksby William Maltese"I understand it," Richard said, "but there are men outthere who've killed animals and people, and they may killyou.That's what upsets me.""I promise to keep out harm's way," Christopher said,making light of something in which Richard could see nohumor.Christopher was going.Richard would, too, if he werein Christopher's shoes.Christopher felt a sense ofresponsibility; he was not the sort of person to leave thingsentirely up to others.Knowing that, though, didn't erase thefact that Richard's lover was going into a danger zone andmight not come back.The poacher who killed the lastelephant would wipe out millions of years of evolution, andthe man who killed Christopher would wipe out Richard'sfuture."I'm coming back," Christopher said."I promise."How could he promise? No man knew his future.Anyway,it wasn't his worthless promise that would make Richard lethim go.Christopher's need to participate was a vital part ofthe man Richard loved, and Richard wouldn't have him anyother way."You'd better come back me," Richard said,wrapping his arms around Christopher's waist, laying hischeek against the hard smoothness of Christopher's chest.Christopher's shirt was unbuttoned, and his skin warm.Onebullet could turn his flesh cold and lifeless."I won't forgiveyou if you don't.Never!"Christopher kissed Richard.It was ended too briefly,interrupted by Dr.Nhari's return."Major Jenkins wants towelcome you aboard, Christopher," Dr.Nhari said."I'm delighted to be aboard," Christopher responded.327Tusksby William Maltese"We're leaving immediately," Dr.Nhari informed."Time isof the essence in these matters of surprise."Christopher left Richard with another brief kiss and amental scrapbook of wonderful memories.It wasn't enough,even if some people never got that much.Major Jenkins was waiting outside with a wide smile and afriendly handshake.He looked like a military man, ramrodstraight and ruggedly thin, somewhere in his late fifties.Craigwas there, too, not looking pleased.Richard couldn't blamehim.It would have been a feather in Craig's cap had hesolved the problem before losing his command.On otherhand, Dr.Nhari was right: Craig had wasted too much time.Too many elephants had already died under Craig's watch,and too many more would likely keep on dying while Craigstruggled helplessly for solutions that escaped him.Everyoneshould hope the present plan would end the slaughter; Craigshould favorably chalk Major Jenkins's success up againstCraig's own bruised ego.This was a one-time operation thathad to work.Soldiers couldn't be spared every day from morepressing duties, as Craig himself had explained to Richardsome time ago.Richard waved after them, and Dr.Nhari and Christopherwaved back.Major Jenkins talked strategy with his aide-de-camp.Craig stared straight ahead.The driver steered the cartoward the troop convoy regrouped at the militaryencampment.The three trucks in the parking lot remainedwhere they were.The soldiers who had arrived in themstayed to make sure no one else left the surrounding area.328Tusksby William MalteseRichard didn't know where Christopher was going or howlong he would be gone.The Great Zimbabwe Reserve, evenshrunk from its original nineteen-thousand square kilometers,had plenty of rugged terrain that made travel time-consuming.He could be gone all day and all night.He couldbe gone longer.Richard had early-morning coffee in the restaurant.He sawno one he knew, and after coffee he went to his room.Theyellow stone was still hidden away in his drawer, and after amoment's thought, he went to the dresser and removed thegem.Whatever threat it offered would be nonexistent ifChristopher didn't come back."Oh, Christopher, please don'tdie!" he said.He-put the stone back in the drawer.IfChristopher came back alive and well, they would work outtheir problems, including the one presented by the diamondif that was what it proved to be.Richard wanted Christopher.He wanted to commit to himinto old age.His need to do the right thing was deep.He left the room and began walking from the hotel to themilitary encampment [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]