Page 36

ROXANNE FALLS

TWO DAYS LATER

I t’s beautiful…” Celine jumped out of the jeep, strode over to the edge of the cliff, and breathed in the mist as she gazed out over the thundering falls that cascaded down to the rocks below.

The roar of the water was so intense, she had to raise her voice to speak to Dominic, who was coming forward to stand beside her. “It’s perfectly gorgeous, isn’t it?”

“I had a reason to stop here, but I thought you’d like it. That’s why I gave the order to set up tents and overnight here. Two days on the road is enough, and I need to connect with Quinn before I go any farther into this damn jungle.”

“That’s fine with me. This is the first waterfall that had a name in those maps that you gave me to study.” She was looking at the map again. “It’s Roxanne Falls. And there’s some historical reference…”

“It means ‘princess,’” Dominic said. “And the reference is to the daughter of Darius, the Persian emperor whom this waterfall was named for quite recently. Roxanne later married Alexander the Great of Greece and helped save Persia. After that, there were a lot of monuments named after her, including this waterfall.”

“I’m impressed. How did you know all that about her?” She glanced down at the map. “It’s very interesting, but I wouldn’t think it was quite your cup of tea.”

“History usually fascinates me… particularly when I start to see it possibly leading to a use that’s very modern indeed.

” His lips tightened. “And there’s no one more modern and up to date than you, Celine.

I needed to see why Zakira seems to be so fascinated by the queens of Egypt that he chose to sacrifice you to honor one of them.

If Kontara remembered that temple wall correctly, that statue she spoke about was the one he had the most fondness for.

I’m betting it was Nefertiti. Though he had a few other powerhouse queens from whom to choose.

There was Cleopatra, who was a great strategist. Hatshepsut, who ruled for years as pharaoh and even went to war to protect her throne.

And Arsinoe, Ptolemy’s queen, who extended Egypt’s trading power and made it the richest country on earth. ”

“But you still think he chose Nefertiti? Why?”

“Because Zakira has the reputation for being the complete egotist. The reports I’ve gotten on him indicate that he not only has ambitions to be in complete control of this section of Africa, but he also can’t bear to have his orders questioned.

Which means he probably couldn’t tolerate the thought of having to compete with a woman who insisted on standing on equal footing with him.

He’d prefer to have her as a beautiful toy so that other men could envy him his possession. ”

“And that was Nefertiti? You mean she wasn’t that smart?”

“I didn’t say that. She was very intelligent.

A scholar and linguist who was also very good with diplomacy.

She just preferred to stay in her husband’s shadow.

Since that pharaoh was Ramses the Second, and quite the egotist himself, it was more comfortable for her to stay beautiful and adored and not get in her husband’s way.

Some call her the perfect trophy wife. That’s why Caldwell had to find a stunning woman like you to please Zakira as the ideal sacrifice to satisfy his followers.

He managed to get the surface stuff right, but there’s no way your personality is anything like Nefertiti’s.

Zakira would have been disappointed the minute you opened your mouth to speak.

There’s nothing in the least self-effacing about you. ”

She made a face. “Good. I take that as a compliment. I’d just as soon forget about those particular plans.”

“I wish I could,” he said grimly. “I’m having a good deal of trouble not imagining and reimagining that entire scenario.

And I can’t even try to dismiss it, because I have a hunch that statue was just the tip of the iceberg.

I doubt if Zakira has given up on you yet.

I think he’s still clinging to any plans he’s made for you.

According to what Kontara has told me, once he makes a decision, he sticks to it in every detail.

” He gestured to the waterfall. “I contacted the geographic mapmaking organization and found out that it was Zakira who recently insisted that the name of these falls be changed from the original African one to honor the wife of Alexander the Great. Evidently he also spent most of his life searching for this tomb of a lost queen that he’d heard about from his father since his childhood.

When he found it, he immediately started to plan how that discovery could make him famous and rich.

But he wanted to make sure every step was right and that anyone who came to the village would feel an emotional connection with not only Folashade but with other famous queens throughout history.

But I’d bet that he gave Caldwell specific orders to go along with his fantasies.

” His gaze went back to the thundering waterfall.

“This waterfall is fairly close to the village of Karimu, where the massacre took place. We know Caldwell was involved in that massacre. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to set up a command and lookout position down there in that tangle of caves and brush that let him control the attack.

I’ve been wondering if they might have also hidden something of interest in that cave.

He’s definitely an opportunist. Caves are traditionally great hiding places for things you don’t want found.

Or maybe the path through the cave leads somewhere else where we need to be—like Zakira’s village.

” He was suddenly heading down the cliff slope as he spoke.

“I think I’ll go see if I can find anything intriguing down there in those caves… ”

“Wait.” Celine jumped to her feet. “Why didn’t you tell me we need to go there? I’ll come with you!”

He didn’t stop. “No, not now. I’ve already told Rashid to watch out for you. Maybe after I check it out…” He disappeared around a bend in the cliff and she could no longer see him.

But she saw Rashid strolling toward the cliff and settling on a boulder a few yards away.

“Dammit!” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. It was clear Dominic had known he was going to those caves and had made arrangements to keep her safely here while he explored them. She wanted to hit him.

She was still angry when he hadn’t returned after over two hours. But by that time she was also beginning to panic. Where the hell was he?

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Kontara was strolling toward her, but she was gazing at the waterfall. “Dominic told me that we’d be spending the night here. I wonder if that roar will keep us awake?”

“Did you recognize the waterfall?” Celine asked.

She shook her head. “No, as I told Dominic, there are several waterfalls along this stretch of cliff, and they all look pretty much the same to me. Yes, it’s beautiful.

But when I was on the run, it was just a hazard to work around so that I could save myself.

There’s only one waterfall that I remember well at all, and that was the huge one on the far side of Shafira village.

I’d recognize that one because I almost drowned when I slipped out of the village and into the waterfall itself.

I was trying to reach the currents downstream, and I was lucky enough to find a limestone ledge on the edge of the bank.

I sheltered there until the soldiers gave up the hunt a few hours later.

I was sopping wet and almost froze when the temperature dropped that night.

” She made a face. “I decided I’d rather face the punishment the soldiers were handing out than get hypothermia.

You can see why I’d prefer to skip the spectacular waterworks show and stay warm and cozy at Bon Jaka. ”

Celine nodded soberly. “For any number of reasons. You’re being very brave, Kontara. If I can help, let me know. I realize it’s a nightmare for you.”

“Yes, it is. But the only way I would have refused to come was if you’d let me talk you out of it.

I wasn’t doing this for you. I owed Dominic, and I pay my debts.

” She gave a slight shrug. “And maybe I wanted to stick it to Zakira and Caldwell and give all those women they were torturing a break. By the way, where is Dominic? It’s been two days, and until now he hasn’t let you out of his sight. ”

Celine tried not to show how upset she was.

“A couple hours ago, he took off to explore those caves he noticed on the hillside beside the waterfall. He’s looking for a path to where Caldwell might have hidden more arms or anything else.

Or maybe another way to Shafira village.

” Celine couldn’t keep from scowling as she nodded at Rashid sitting on the bank several yards away.

“And he turned me over to Rashid, dammit. When I asked why I couldn’t go along, all he said was that he’d take me back there if anything proved interesting.

Then he was gone before I could start to argue with him.

” Her lips twisted. “But I’ll guarantee he’ll hear about it when he gets back. ”

Kontara gave a low whistle. “I can tell you’re not pleased with him.”

“To put it mildly. He went in that cave alone. He didn’t think it was dangerous enough to take a team with him. But it was too dangerous to take me when he knew I’d want to go. That wasn’t fair.”

“Then I’ll make sure not to be around when he appears on the scene.

” Kontara grinned. “Actually, I’m glad we’re stopping for the night.

I made preparations for a few decent meals while we were on the road, but I’ve been bored to tears with what I’ve had to serve to those poor men so far.

I didn’t want my reputation totally ruined. ”

“Those meals were very good,” Celine said. “Excellent.”