Mists of the Serengeti(72)

I shot a concerned look at Jack, but he rolled his eyes. “I’m sure we can ask someone at the orphanage to give you something for the pain,” he said. “Until we get you to a doctor. You want to come in?”

“I don’t think I can get up.”

“Food?” I tempted. “You hungry?”

“No. I don’t think I can eat. My jaw is bruised. My nose is bloody. I can’t taste anything, and I have this cut right here.” He stuck his tongue out for me to see.

“The kids are all waiting for you. The staff, too. You’re a hero, Bahati,” said Jack. “They want to take pictures with you.”

“They do?” Bahati rolled his tongue back in.

“Yeah. But don’t worry. I’ll tell them you’re not feeling up to it. Come on, Rodel.”

“Wait.” There was a loud rustling as Bahati unpeeled his blanket. “Maybe I can pop in for a bit.”

“You sure? You’re in pretty bad shape there, buddy.”

“I know, but I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“All right. Come along then.” Jack held open the door and stuck out his hand.

“No. Not like this. Pass me my bag. I will go in my Maasai clothes.”

“You’re not serious.”

But Bahati insisted, so we turned our heads and ignored the thudding and swearing as he changed in the car.

“So how did you find him?” I asked Jack.

“I hopped into Suzi, trying to catch up with you, and found the rest of the train, unlinked from the main body. I thought they’d got you. God, Rodel, I kind of lost it. I picked up a couple of tracks and was heading that way when I heard something. I followed the sound until I came upon two tufts of grass. It was Bahati. Sneezing. He’d jumped off the train and covered himself up with dirt to escape the men he thought were still looking for him. It wasn’t until he told me you’d managed to get away that I could breathe again.”

“I was so worried for you.” I cupped his cheek in my palm.

“And me?” Bahati piped in from the car.

“You, too.” I laughed, letting my hand fall away. “I’m so relieved that you managed to escape from those men.”

“It was a very clever camouflage. You think the kids will want to see it? I have a memento.” Bahati held up an uprooted sprig of grass.

“Here. Let me get that for you.” Jack took it and helped Bahati out. We supported him as he limped to the gate.

“Name?” asked one of the guards. He already had Jack and me on his list.

“My name is Bahati. Well, that’s not really my name. It’s my nickname. Or rather, a part of my nickname. I never really got my warrior name, but I’m a real warrior now. I saved my father. He’s the chief. And I saved the children and Ro here. I have been invited in, so open the gates. They are waiting for me!” He held his spear out as he said it, in full drama.

The guard quickly confiscated it and left him standing there, with his fist out. Jack inserted the yellowing tuft of grass into his hand, and we waited solemnly as the guard looked from me, to Bahati, to Jack. Seconds ticked before he shook his head and called the office.

“Miss Josephine says you can go in.” He unlocked the gates and stood aside.

“See?” Bahati shook the grass at him as he limped by.

The children surrounded him when he entered, cheering as if they were meeting an old friend. Bahati’s back straightened, his eyes brightened, and suddenly, he didn’t need us to prop him up anymore.

“I think we’re okay for a while,” said Jack, leading me toward the office, where Josephine was waiting for us. He called Goma while I filled out the paperwork. I could make out the relief and the swearing, the laughter and the threats from the other end of the line.

“How is Scholastica?” asked Jack. “Any updates from Inspector Hamisi about her father?” He was quiet for a moment. “Okay. No. You stay put. I’ll see you soon.”

I shot him a questioning look after he hung up.

“Nothing on Gabriel yet,” he said.

“I already talked to Josephine about him.” With her permission, I showed Jack the register and all of Gabriel’s entries.

“He’s legit,” said Jack, flipping through the pages.

“Gabriel?” Josephine’s eyebrows shot up. “Absolutely. You had doubts?”

“I wasn’t sure what to make of him. So now the question is, where do we find him? His sister is worried, and his daughter is eager to be reunited with him.”

“Like I told Rodel, he’s building a house in Wanza. You may want to follow up with that.”

“I think I’m done here.” I slid the pile of paperwork across Josephine’s desk. Thirteen children, a gazillion forms. “I filled them out as best as I could, but there’s a lot missing. Birth dates, place of birth, name of mother, name of father . . .”

“It can’t be helped. We’ll try and fill in the blanks.” Josephine walked us out to the courtyard, where Bahati was re-enacting how he’d jumped between the freight cars. It was more of a hop, given his bad knee, but the kids seemed suitably impressed.

“You must have some food before you leave,” she said.

“Food?” Bahati spun around. “What about the photos?”