Nineteen

Archer has a sinking feeling when he steps off the plane and onto African soil. The dirt crunches under his boot and he draws the hot air deep into his lungs before lighting a cigarette. He adjusts his sunglasses and turns to his partner, the Egyptian named Ameni.

"Welcome home, Danny," he says after killing the engine. He hops out and around the plane to Archer.

"Ja, welcome home," Archer nods, blowing smoke out of his nostrils.

"How was your time in America?" Ameni asks as he pulls a cigarette out of his own pocket.

Archer waves his hand as though clearing dust from in front of his face. He'd rather not talk about his 'time in America'. It was uneventful and stressful and it was more of a waste than anything. Ameni takes his cue and falls silent as he sucks on his cigarette. The two men walk side by side until they reach rocks worth sitting on. Ameni lowers himself onto a flat one and looks up at Archer.

"What now, Danny?"

"I need a buyer for my stones," he says. He looks at the ash of his cigarette before flicking it away.

"Do you still have the pink?"

"Ja, ja, what do you think, Am?" He looks at the man before kissing the back of his teeth with annoyance. "I don't want a buyer for that one."

"You're not going to sell it?"

He shook his head. "Not yet, bru."

"I have someone in Cape Town who might be interested in your diamonds, Danny."

"Cape Town?"

Ameni nods.

"Who is he, huh?"

"He's got ties to Van de Kaap."

"He's a middle man, then."

"Of sorts, yes," Ameni nods again. "He can get you a pretty penny for your rocks. He'll keep you anonymous, Danny"

"What's his name?"

"Max."

"Max, huh," Archer sucks in the last breath of nicotine from his cigarette before flicking the butt away. "Never heard of him before."

"I've known him for a while, he's good for his word."

"I want to meet him, Am, arrange it for tonight."

"What happened to that journalist girl?" Ameni asks as he nods.

Archer looks at him. Ameni feels like Archer is about to pull a gun out to shoot him right in the head.

"Did she live?"

Archer nods.

"Is she still in America?"

"If you were so interested in her, I would have left her your card," Archer says dryly.

Ameni shakes his head. "What about Solomon, the black man?"

"He's in America waiting for his family," he says shortly. "Are you done with the questions, Am? Christ, bru."

"Are you going back to your old apartment?"

He shakes his head as he marches down a dirt path down the side of the mountain. "I'm going to find a new place, huh, keep your phone on."