Page 134 of The Sun Sister

‘Look, Cecily, those are wildebeest – the ones with the manes on their backs. And there’s Nygasi’senkang– his settlement where his wives and children live.’ Katherine pointed to the left.

Cecily looked at what appeared to be a grey circular hedge made up of branches. Women in deep red robes were strolling towards it with bundles of wood under their arms and goats at their heels. Some had makeshift papooses containing babies slung over their shoulders. At the sound of the passing pick-ups, the women stopped to wave and smile.

‘Did she say wives in the plural? You mean Nygasi has more than one?’

‘It’s the Maasai way,’ Bill answered. ‘The more cattle and women and children you have, the more respect you command within the tribe. And Nygasi commands quite a lot of respect.’

‘Look over there!’ Katherine shouted to her half an hour later, pointing into the distance where Cecily could see animals gathered around a hazy silver shimmer. ‘Do you see those Thomson’s gazelles there, the little ones with the straight horns? They’re very brave drinking the water, you never know when a croc will come out and snap at them! But that’s life here on the plains.’

Cecily was awfully glad when Bill eventually pulled the pick-up to a halt by a copse of fever trees, and Bobby pulled up beside them. The sun was beating down on the open-topped pick-up and she’d felt horribly sick the whole journey.

‘Are we stopping here?’ Bobby called to them.

‘Yes, Nygasi says it’s the best spot for today,’ Bill nodded and climbed down from his vehicle.

‘Time to set up camp,’ Katherine said cheerfully as she began to help Bobby unload the equipment and supplies. Cecily made a move to assist her, but Bill laid a hand on her shoulder and held her back.

‘I’d like to help,’ she protested.

‘You’d be best to stay out of the way while we set up,’ he said firmly. ‘You look flushed, Cecily. Go and sit in the shade and drink some water.’

Cecily sat down on a convenient rock under a clump of trees, sipping water and watching the others ready the camp. Large rolls of canvas, iceboxes and the hampers were heaved from the backs of the pick-ups and placed next to her in the shade of the trees. The three Maasai men worked together as they laid out the ground sheets then swung the canvas over supple bamboo poles to create tents, replete with mosquito netting. Then they packed armfuls of grass on top of the canvas until the tents seamlessly blended in with the surroundings. Katherine unpacked provisions from the iceboxes and eventually sat down beside Cecily, handing her a sandwich wrapped in wax paper.

‘You’d best eat up, we’ll be doing a lot of walking today. Bill doesn’t believe in driving around to view the animals, then shooting them from the comfort of the pick-up.’

‘He’s planning on shooting game?’ Cecily asked. She had seen the large rifles being unloaded but had thought they were for protection.

‘What else are we going to eat for supper?’ Katherine chuckled. ‘Here, have some tea, it’ll keep you cool.’

Cecily accepted the flask of hot, strong black tea laced with sugar and felt her nervous stomach begin to calm.

‘Oh, and if you’re concerned about the...facilities,’ Katherine whispered to her, ‘simply do your business behind a bush, no one will look. Just don’t pull up any rocks; you never know if a snake or a scorpion is having a nap underneath them.’ Katherine patted her knee and stood up to help Bobby, while Cecily sat frozen with apprehension.

After the camp was set up and everyone had eaten, Bill and Nygasi led the march into the Bush, with the two other Maasai men bringing up the rear. Cecily walked closely beside Katherine and Bobby and listened as they regaled her with stories of previous safaris.

‘I once heard that Lord Delamere tracked a bull elephant for a whole seven days,’ Bobby commented. ‘He was absolutely determined to get the bugger. The tusks are still hanging up at Soysambu; I’ve never seen such big ones...’

Behind them, the other two Maasai conversed softly in their own language, and Cecily found their presence reassuring. It was now well past midday and the sun hung high in the sky. As she looked up, she saw the shadows of vultures circling above. A soft breeze rustled through the grasses, bringing with it the humming of insects and the occasional grunts of wildebeest. Katherine pointed to their right, where a dozen zebras were standing together in the shade of some acacia trees. Cecily took out her camera and snapped as many shots as she could, only hoping that the photographs would do this incredible place justice.

Eventually, when Cecily wondered if she could walk another step in the heavy boots, Bill gestured for the women to squat in the long grass as he indicated a large watering hole a hundred yards or so away. He, Bobby and Nygasi crept forward, Nygasi gripping his spear lightly, while Bill and Bobby carried their heavy rifles over their shoulders.

The watering hole was densely packed with wildlife, but Cecily watched as Bill pointed out a herd of large striped animals, some sporting majestic twisted horns.

‘Kudu,’ Katherine whispered to her.

Cecily watched Bill cock the gun and look through the sight. A heartbeat later, a loud shot rang out. Startled birds took to the air, and the animals around the watering hole bolted for safety. Cecily could see the slain kudu lying on its side.

The five men walked towards the kill, Nygasi thumping the ground with his spear to scare off the jackals that were already circling, sniffing at the carcass. Despite herself, Cecily found she couldn’t look away as they methodically skinned the animal, which was the size of a horse, then gutted and quartered it. Eventually, the three Maasai heaved the large parcels of meat over their shoulders, while Bobby and Bill carried the head between them, its horns the length of an adult’s leg.

‘Clean brain shot,’ Bobby said with admiration as they arrived beside Cecily and Katherine. ‘Bill’s the best hunter I know. A full-grown kudu; look at these mighty horns!’

Now faced with the blood-spattered men and the gamey stench of the kill, Cecily turned away and tried not to vomit. Katherine helped her to her feet, and they all began the long trek back to the campsite, Cecily trying to take discreet gulps of fresh air.

‘Are you all right?’ Katherine asked her.

‘I will be,’ she managed. ‘I’ve never seen an animal killed before.’

Katherine nodded sympathetically. ‘It’s quite a shock, I know. As abhorrent as I find shooting for trophies, I believe there is a raw honesty to shooting for sustenance. Every part of that kudu will be used, Cecily. And look behind us.’ She gestured to where the remains lay by the water’s edge. Vultures, jackals and hyenas were already fighting over the spoils. ‘The cycle of life continues; we are simply taking our place in the food chain.’