BAMAKO - Aribert Raphael (red queen ebook TXT) 📗

/> “Yes he was, Talya, but that doesn’t mean he’s still involved in that project.”
“I see….” What was the Dutchman doing in Sabodala?
“Anyway, we really didn’t talk to any one else that I can remember. Jean-Claude only suggested we visit the site on our trip back from Mali. We were on our way to Kedougou when we made a detour. We hadn’t been invited. We just dropped in, as it were.”
“You know, James, I have a hunch there may be a connection between Hjamal, Rasheed and Savoi, because why else would Savoi go to Dakar?”
“That’s a possibility, but we don’t know that for a fact and you should keep an open mind. Savoi must know quite a few people in Dakar so it may not be Hjamal he went to see.”
“I suppose. I’ll find out soon enough. It’s just a hunch.”
“Okay, I must go. Just give me a call when you’ve heard from the Dutchman tomorrow and let me know what his story is.”
“I’ll do that. In the meantime, would you tell Ken to expect my expense claim before I leave Bamako?”
“I hope you’ve been reasonable,” James said jokingly, “because you know him, he won’t accept anything out of the ordinary.” He was chuckling now.
“Oh, I know,” Talya replied, seeing Ken’s face in her mind’s eye when he read the claim. “Just tell him to deduct the few dresses I bought from Savoi’s next paycheque.”
James burst out in loud laughter then.
They spoke for a few more minutes about other projects that were waiting for Talya (the files were already on her desk apparently) and finally hung up. My phone bill will be horrendous. She could hear Ken’s remonstrance; “don’t you people ever use faxes or e-mail?”
Talya dialled Chantal’s number next. It had been a few days since she last heard from her. Chantal picked up the phone right away.
“Talya?”
“Yes…”
“I guessed it was you. I didn’t expect anyone else to call me at this time of night.”
“I’m very sorry, I know it’s late, but your message said to ring you back as soon as possible. So here I am. How are you? How’s Jean-Claude?”
“I’m fine. I’ve heard from him yesterday. He’s coming back next week.”
“Already? My goodness, that’s a bit quick isn’t it? He was under the knife only three weeks ago.”
“No! It’s not even soon enough, for me anyway. I don’t think I’m selfish, but I want him back to take care of him. My sister is a lovely woman but she works all day and I think Jean-Claude is doing too much on his own. I’m afraid he’s not resting enough. And he’s driving her crazy.” Chantal giggled nervously. “She’s not used to have a man about the house.”
“Well, if you think it’s best. I’ll be glad to see him again, although that may not be possible for a while. I’m going away next weekend.”
“Where? Dakar I bet. What have you been doing? Tell me what’s happening. Jean-Claude’s been asking after you and I didn’t know what to say. So, spill it out. What’s going on?”
“All right, all right here it goes…” Talya told her about her trip to paradise and a little bit about Hassan and she ended with the Dutchman’s call to James.
“Okay, when do I see you next, because all of that needs a bit more than a talk on the phone.” They agreed to have lunch together the next day.
When Talya hung up it was later yet. She got undressed, took a shower and when she lay back on the bed she heard her stomach grumble. Lunch was just a memory now. She ordered a sandwich from room service and began reading. Another hour went by. The phone rang.
“Talya? Hassan here, I’m sorry to ring so late, but I’ve just received a call from Mohammed.” Talya looked at the clock. It said 11:00PM. “Apparently the Canadian embassy in Dakar is looking for you.” Did he say the embassy? “Mohammed didn’t know we were at my father’s place today otherwise he would have contacted us there. There is trouble brewing in Dakar.” This must be a broken record. “Apparently your company is involved—”
“Hold on,” Talya interrupted, the broken record began to unsettle her thoughts. “I’ve learned there were some problems at a mine site in Senegal when I phoned James earlier this evening but he didn’t say anything about the embassy looking for me. In any case, we can’t do anything tonight. Let’s meet in the morning and go to Monsieur Fade’s office then.”
“Okay, but I still think this is serious and the soonest we know what’s going on the better off we’ll be.”
“Yes, I guess so, because the embassy wouldn’t be looking for anyone unless there was some urgency, but I think tomorrow is soon enough to respond to their call. So, let’s just settle down and you come and meet me in the morning for breakfast, how’s that?”
“That’ll be fine—” He hesitated. “Do you want me to come to the hotel and stay with you tonight?”
“Please. Let’s not start that again.” Talya was getting a little upset at this point. “We had a wonderful day together and let’s leave it at that, shall we? Besides, I need to be alone for a while. I’ll see you in the morning, would you mind?” She wanted to have time on her own. Hassan was getting too close. She was starting to buck. She wanted him off her back, for tonight anyway.
“All right, I’ll see you at seven-thirty tomorrow at the restaurant. Or, is that too early?”
“No. Seven-thirty is fine. Have a good night and thank you for the call. It is nice to know you care.”
“But, I do care, you know that. Anyway I’ll leave you be for now and say good night.”
They hung up and she breathed a sigh of relief that must have been audible in the corridor. Talya had enough.
32
Abdullah shuffled the sand in front of each step that were leading him to fishing boats beached haphazardly around a distant cove bathing in the early morning sunrays. He could hear the Imam call everyone to prayer.
The young fisherman wanted to ignore the arousing voice and reach Sam’s pirogue quickly. If he didn’t, he would miss this morning’s run. He hastened the pace. The Imam was urging the people to prostrate themselves in prayers. The boy was torn between responding to the harangue and his desire to allay some of his mother’s needs; being the eldest of many siblings, it was his duty to bring home some of the catch each night. He was running now. He wanted to distance himself from the Imam’s summons, but the chanting from the minaret was too strong. A pang of guilt hit him. Instantly, it seemed to plague his soul with shame; shame for being late, for putting his family’s needs before those of Allah.
Then, it happened. As if Allah wanted him to repent for ignoring the call to prayer, Abdullah tripped and fell to the ground. When he raised his face from the sand and shook his head, he saw the cause of his fall—a man, a body sprawled face down underneath his own. Horrified at the sight, the stench invading his lungs, he was mute—his lips quivered, but the words, the screams, would not come out of his mouth. He had never touched a dead man, let alone fell upon one.
Suddenly, sheer repulsion pulled him up to his feet and he began running and yelling and running and yelling: “Sam, please, Sam, please ... come and help,” but Sam was yet too far to hear his plea. Abdullah slowed down to catch his breath; he even stopped and looked back. He could still see the human shape escarping the beach like an incongruous remnant of a sand castle, the white hand clutched in a fist as if its owner wanton thoughts of vengeance beckoned beyond death. Abdullah turned away his heart pounding with uncontrollable terror, and ran without stopping, finally reaching Sam’s boat.
“The man is dead, Abdullah. We must not disturb him,” Sam said when he stood near the body of a well-dressed, white man laying on Yoff’s beach near a small fishing harbour, a mile away from Dakar’s airport.
33
Morning came far too soon. She was tired. The night had dragged on. Talya had not slept well. Her mind was running a hundred miles an hour but her body didn’t agree with the enforced exercise. When she reached the restaurant, Hassan was already waiting for her, impeccably dressed, as usual. Talya realized immediately that she was in a very bad mood. She liked to drink her coffee alone at that hour, especially when she had a wearisome night. However, there he was, looking pre-occupied. Now why is that, Talya wondered.
She sat down; put her purse and notebook on the chair beside her before she opened her mouth. “You’re here already? I thought we’d said 7:30. It’s not even 7:15 yet. Have you had breakfast?”
“Good Morning to you too, and no, I haven’t had breakfast. I don’t think we have time for it either.”
“What do you mean we don’t have time? It’s only 7:15. What’s the emergency?”
“I’ll tell you what the emergency is: I’ve received a call from the chief of police at six this morning. I definitely don’t like to be awakened by the chief of police at any time. But after the call from the embassy to Mohammed and your call from James, I think we should get going as soon as we can.”
“I see,” Talya said flatly, and ordered breakfast from the waiter standing beside the table. She wasn’t going to run out without some sustenance, no matter who was looking for her and for whatever reason.
“And what did the chief of police have to say for himself?”
“Talya, your attitude is going to get you in trouble. How can you sit here and eat at leisure when the police are expecting you.”
“The chief of police is expecting me, you say? Well, he could’ve come here or ring me (instead of you) if it was that urgent. We’re not going anywhere until I finish my breakfast in peace.”
“A man has been murdered, Talya. How’s that for urgent?”
“Who?” Talya stared. “I mean, who’s been murdered?” she blurted.
“The police are not releasing the name—but you’re involved…” In a sudden jerk, Talya dropped her cup of coffee on the table, splattering the hot brew everywhere. Instantly, they pulled away to avoid being sprayed. Talya hadn’t been quick enough. Her dress was a mess. The front of it was adorned with the large brown stain. Now she was truly annoyed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she shouted in dismay, trying to sponge off the spilled coffee with her napkin, without much success.
She returned to staring at Hassan. “How? How could I be involved? I am here, for goodness’ sake, not in Dakar.”
At the fracas, the restaurant patrons turned their astonished gazes to them while the waiter practically bounced to their rescue. “Madame Kartz, are you all right? Let me change all this for you.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry about the mess,” she muttered, still wiping the front of her dress nervously. “How?” Talya repeated, looking up from