Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of theatrics in it but, as I beamed at the journalists - 'At last,' I grinned, 'back in the north!'
- I saw, in the corner of my eye, that Boston was beaming with genuine pride.
With the journalists scuttling off to fill their columns, Boston and I headed on up the
road. For a time he was unusually silent. At a coffee shop we sat down to fortify ourselves
for the fifteen kilometres we meant to complete that day, and watched the tourists mill. It
felt strange to be in the presence of other outsiders. Until now I'd seen less than a handful
of white faces in weeks - I'd been living, eating, and breathing an unseen Africa, one far
away from the safari hordes and luxury lodges. The key rings being hawked from the side
of the road cheapened the experience, somehow, but they also brought us down to Earth.
'Lev,' Boston began, breaking his silence. By the look in his eyes, I thought he wanted
something. 'You know, we're like brothers now.'
Now I
knew
he wanted something. I put down my coffee. 'Yes, Boston . . .'
'Well, since I began this trip, I have been thinking.' He paused. 'I have been your guide.
I have done a good job, have I not?'
'You have.'
'And I have been loyal and worked hard. And . . .' He seemed to be growing bolder with
every statement. 'And we are brothers in arms!'
He had begun to beam, and I did not want to shatter the moment. Besides, though I
wouldn't have stated it so plainly myself, there was truth in what he was saying. Boston's
forthright banter had enlivened many monotonous days of hacking through jungle, or
trudging through swampland - it would not have been the same without him.
'We are,' I admitted.
'And I have taught you a lot about Africa.'
'You have.'
'And you have taught me a lot about your world. And also about leading expeditions.
Do you know, Lev, that is what I want to do in the future - to run my own expeditions . . .'
'It sounds like a good idea.' By now I was growing impatient. When he was not cutting
straight to the heart of Africa's problems and proselytising sudden, violent solutions, Bo-
ston had a way of dancing around a subject like the most slippery politician.
'This is the biggest expedition of your life, Lev. You will be promoted in the army for
this. You'll meet the Queen of England, and she'll make you a Sir. Then you'll become an
MP.'
Hot coffee erupted from my lips as I tried to stifle my laughter. 'Things don't really
work like that in England, Boston.'
Boston just snorted. 'You will,' he said. 'Believe me, Lev. I know.'
'Why don't you just say what you want, Boston? You're beginning to make me
nervous.'
