CHAPTER FOUR

Treville's celebrations were temporarily halted as the tax office interviewed him over an allegation of underpayment. The allegations were quickly proved false; but had been hugely disruptive. It was only because Treville had chosen his backers carefully and they knew him to be a man of honour, and that he kept impeccable records that things got back on track.

After that, everything was completed within three months and in March, they made their first visit to the reserve that Treville was to call "Heshima," which was Swahili for "Honour."

Still stung by the tax allegations against him, Treville knew, though, that they had acquired an unknown enemy.

oOo

There were many foreign players in Africa; China, India and Russia being among the biggest.

Russia had built oil refineries and were increasing their presence in an attempt to become the major "soft power" player in the continent.

The old Soviet regime had established operations in Africa and the present regime were re-establishing those links. There was even talk of a satellite system that provided surveillance of the entire African continent: "Operation Condor."

Several African leaders had been educated in Moscow and the USSR at that time, as huge amounts of money was invested in military advisers, equipment and support for the KGB. When the Soviet Union collapsed, more than 50,000 Africans had studied in Soviet universities and military institutions and at least another 200,000 Africans had received Soviet training in Africa.

Several military coups and the collapse of the Soviet regime had put an end to it all. Until recently; when their interest was once more being felt.

Botswana.

Botswana covers an area of some 225,000 square miles and is similar in size to France. Having achieved independence from the UK in 1966, it became a self governing republic

It is a land-locked country of just over two million people. It is flat, with up to seventy percent of its land forming the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast and is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Ten per cent of the population live in the capital, Gaborone, its largest city. Botswana has over the past few decades transformed into one of the world's fastest-growing economies, dominated by mining, cattle and tourism.

Its main ethnic group is the Tswana, which makes up almost per seventy eight per cent of the population.

oOo

"Heshima":

Treville already had a name for the game reserve, and he did, duly, call it Heshima – the Swahili word for "Honour," which everyone thought appropriate. The land comprised around 1,500 square miles (3,880 square km). It lay on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta, itself 16,000 square miles in size.

The nearest town was Maun, the fifth largest town in Botswana and the major gateway to the Okavango Delta.

The Delta itself was diverse, comprising woodland and lagoons which spanned the Delta and the mainland. The Delta itself was bone dry, covered in mopane woodland. The mopane tree is also called the "butterfly" tree, because of its butterfly-shaped leaves. It can attain a height of up to twenty five metres; the bark of the tree is light to dark grey in colour with very prominent longitudinal fissures.

On all sides of the Delta lay a labyrinth of rivers, fresh water lagoons and floodplains. It had the honour of being named the 1000th World UNESCO Heritage site. The best time was the middle of the year, the dry season but conversely, the flood waters peaked then, making game viewing spectacular from July to October. The weather was extremely hot from October to the rains in late November, early December.

Heshima was remote in its location within the Delta. The permanent water in this area led to it being home to wild dog and leopard among other savannah game which included elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, hyena, impala, giraffe, lion, Cape buffalo and black rhinoceros and over five hundred species of bird life, from water birds to forest dwellers.

A downside was that because of the abundance of water, the area had a high malaria risk; and caution had to be exercised at all times. Hence the Heshima uniform of long sleeves and trousers. Rangers and wardens were also not allowed to wear bright colours; predators were attracted to them.

In all, it was a dangerous but beautiful place and above all else, Treville wanted to preserve this land in its most natural, unspoilt and impressive condition.

It took Treville, Athos and Porthos over a week to view their new operation, and then, they only saw a part of it. After initial excursions, it was then down to research, decision-making and the construction of an operation base and living quarters.

Travel would be by 4 x 4, flat bed truck or by canoe; called mekoro, made from fibreglass. Traditionally, such canoes used to be hewn from the trees but now those trees were protected and preserved.

A small landing strip was to be constructed for use by light aircraft, for game viewing and transfers.

For four months, they lived in temporary accommodation, and made the acquaintance of the nearest local community, some ten miles from their base perimeter. These were a branch of the Tswana people and the village was compact; but the people welcomed them with a grace and friendliness that overwhelmed them.

The Garrison

Soon, a complex began to take shape within Heshima. It was soon christened, "The Garrison." Within eight months there was a large lodge-like main house, six cabins, stables, and living quarters for ten staff. Medical facilities were planned for both humans and animals and also fenced-in animal facilities with accommodation for those animals. There was a large lake in front of the Lodge. Another large house was situated about half a mile away, which provided six bedrooms, with staff, to cater for visitors.

It had been an exhausting but exhilarating time, watching the Garrison rise up quickly amid the heat and the dust. It was created by the construction company that the Board had commissioned to create their base. It was a happy day when they watched the heavy construction trucks depart and the dust finally settle on their new venture.

Treville had met the people of the Tswana when he was originally scoping the land, and had met Nyack Seko, the most senior of the elders. Nyack had three sons, Oba, Tabansi and Rach who were full-blooded Tswana, and one daughter, Nkosi, who appeared to be mixed race.

During construction of the house that was to be the hotel, Treville had called Athos into his office, in the now-completed main Lodge. It was an impressive building, with a balcony that wrapped around the front, which would give good views of the whole Garrison and the lake.

Athos wiped the dust off his boots on the mat outside the door and knocked twice before stepping inside.

A young woman sat with Treville, dressed in full Tswana traditional dress.

"Athos, this is Nkosi Seko," Treville said, as they both stood. "She will be our Consierge, when the hotel opens."

She was wearing the traditional head dress which framed her face; the material wrapped intricately around her head. Her close-fitting ankle length dress was crisp and colourful and highlighted her lithe figure.

With no chance to put up his guard, Athos had taken her slim hand in his and met her eyes. He had never seen such beautiful brown eyes, and something had hitched in his chest; taking him by surprise.

For her part, Nkosi had never seen such eyes in a man. They were the colour of the ocean, with astonishing depth. She had fallen a little right there – an extraordinary feeling. One her mother had described to her when she was a little girl;

"To love at first sight is a wonder, daughter; to live in that love is truly a blessing."

Her mother, Jayne, had died when she was four years old, but her father, Nyack, had often repeated that simple statement to her; for he had truly and deeply loved her mother.

oOo

In the following weeks, the evenings spent talking to Nkosi had awakened the anthropologist in him once more and he had enjoyed discovering what she knew of her customs. He picked up on every detail and quizzed her until she was exhausted; telling him he must meet her father, Nyack, who could tell him everything he wanted to know.

She had looked up at him through her dark lashes and he knew then that she had slipped quietly under his skin.

She had taken him to her village and he had met her three brothers first, before being introduced to the old man.

Athos had been in African villages before, and the Tswana village was typical; a mixture of traditional round timber-framed circular single roomed houses with conical thatched roofs and other multi-roomed rectangular houses with roofs of corrugated iron.

A common meal was chicken or beef stew, cooked in a large metal pot, which they sat down to that day.

Nyack Seko liked Athos. On that first meeting, Athos had given the old man a wind-up radio, and the old man was able to listen to news and political stations. Thereafter he would take pleasure in engaging Athos in political discussions, his views astute and balanced, and Athos enjoyed hearing stories of his life and that of his ancestors. Once back at the Garrison, he made a point of committing Nyack's words to paper, for future research.

Nyack was a man of tradition; but that first day, he had seen how his daughter had looked at this man. As his second wife, Jayne, had been white; who was he to complain? Their love had transcended the previous limits of their own cultures at a time when such bounds were untested. Nkosi was added testament to their bravery and the great-heartedness of his people had surprised and humbled Nyack and Jayne.

And so to Nyack, watching his daughter with this man; love was above all else.

Porthos had roared with laughter that first evening and said that Athos had probably married her with that meeting. Athos had looked horrified; before Porthos and Treville had laughed and he had relaxed.

The following day, he remembered looking across at her as they all sat together in the kitchen of the Lodge, and wondering briefly if that would be such a bad thing.

She was as graceful as a gazelle and her laugh trickled happily through the very bones of him.

To be continued ...