BAMAKO - Aribert Raphael (red queen ebook TXT) 📗

verify that all contracts and permits pertaining to Sabodala are in order. So that if, and when Monsieur Flaubert decides to lend you a hand, he will be able to do so with peace of mind—”
“Do you think it’s absolutely necessary at this time?”
“Yes, it is, Monsieur Hjamal. Please remember what I’ve said earlier. You know very well you have no choice in the matter now.”
“All right then. But I’m doing this hoping that an entente between us can finally be reached.” By now, he knew there wasn’t any other way to try getting Carmine’s assistance if he ever wanted it. Nonetheless, he had to show his displeasure.
“Monsieur Fade?” Talya set her eyes on him. “If you don’t mind, you and I will remain at the hotel awaiting the results of Maitre Sangor’s investigation.” A broad smile came across his face. He had regained much of his aplomb somehow. He needed time off and so did Talya.
Hjamal tried once again to say something but she interrupted him before he even began, “Please go, Monsieur Hjamal, and get me the answers I need.”
“All right, Madame Kartz, as you say.” His face was stern but acquiescent. He took his briefcase and marched out of the suite.
Hassan wanted to approach Talya before leaving. She feigned to ignore him, turned away and walked out to the terrace. He stood at the door for a moment, dismayed and undecided. He then turned and rushed after Hjamal.
Samir watched Hassan and Talya, looking puzzled at her reaction. However, it was time for him to go. Johan plucked Rasheed out of his seat. The latter shook off his assailant and tried to regain the little composure he had left.
He called out to Talya. “I’m a powerful man in these parts. I’ll have you thrown out of Senegal …” She wasn’t listening.
She then saw Johan grab the fellow by the arm, and with Samir’s help, physically drag him out of the suite. They were on their way to Sabodala. Talya rushed to the door after them.
“Samir?” she called out. He turned, retraced his steps, came to face her and looked into her eyes. “Please, as soon as you can, let me know what’s happening, will you?”
“Of course, and please don’t worry, we’ll do our best. We’ll bring them back.”
“Have a safe trip then,” she said, still wanting re-assurance.
“Inshallah.” In a moment, he, too, was gone.
73
When the door finally closed, Talya had an overwhelming feeling that she had reached the end of the road. She was at the exit of a tortuous maze. She knew she had to leave Africa soon—that always troubled her.
Her thoughts went back to Hassan. Her heart was churning inside her. He had resurrected buried emotions as well as resentment, resentment of her past. Talya was not about to open up to him. She was comfortable shutting these events of her youth out of her mind. Yet, Talya cared for the man, but she couldn’t accept the way she felt about him. She knew their relationship couldn’t go any further than these few weeks of working together. The thought of abandoning him to his great or dismal future was uncomfortable, not to say guilt-ridden. Talya had to face Hassan and tell him that they had to part forever. She knew she was a master at negotiating her way out of the most intricate dilemma and a master at leaving the site of conflict. However, she also knew she wasn’t good at handling Love with a capital L. In fact, she was lousy at any kind of closeness with a man.
Mohammed had been standing in the embrasure of the bedroom door for a while, observing the spectacle that had taken place minutes earlier. He was more relaxed now. The edginess had gone. Since there was a small mosque adjacent to the complex, Talya thought he had probably gone to pray with Hassan when they were downstairs.
“You look pensive. What is it?” he said, coming to join her on the terrace.
“Nothing, my friend, nothing really.”
“I don’t know you very well, but I can see something is bothering you.”
“It’s nothing, I assure you. What happened this morning and during the past few days is starting to take its toll, that’s all.” Talya kept her eyes on the ocean.
“I’ve got to say something to you. And please hear me out.”
“What is it?” She turned to him.
“Yesterday Hassan told me how he felt about you. I knew already he was serious, but how serious he actually is, I didn’t know. You’re going to leave us very soon now. Your departure will be extremely painful for Hassan, do you realize that?”
“I know. Why do you think I’ve been trying to evade him since he arrived?”
“Yes, I’ve noticed that. I’ve seen you walk away from him just now.” Mohammed was looking at her with deep concern in his eyes. “You know, Hassan has a one-track mind, which is actually what got him where he is today. He won’t give up on you. You can be sure of that.”
“You mean Hassan is stubborn?” Talya smiled.
Mohammed laughed. “You’ve not known him for long but it seems to me you’ve been able to detect that little flaw in his character, haven’t you?”
“I wouldn’t call it a ‘little flaw’—it’s more like a huge and obvious streak if you ask me—but I know what you mean. I’ll have to deal with it when the time comes. I’ll tell you now; I will not deliberately hurt him. I couldn’t. But he’s got to face facts. There won’t be any way around it.”
They stood side by side in silence for a while, looking at the ocean. The white crests of the crashing waves in the midday sun were resplendent against the teal-coloured sea. There were people on the beach beyond the garden below the terrace. They were playing volleyball. The scene brought Talya back to her school days. She would often go to the beaches of Conakry to play with her friends. They would go swimming with their instructor in the early hours of the morning, until one day, a boy her age, a classmate, drowned. He had been dragged against the rocks by the under-tow and when they brought him back, his face was horribly wounded. His left cheek hung aside his jaw. Had he lived he would have worn the reminder of his ordeal in the same way Ahmed Hjamal did. His name had been Ahmed, too. Talya could feel the tears flowing to her eyes and down her cheeks.
Seeing this quiet display of emotions, Mohammed said, “I think you need a change of scenery. What about lunch at the beach? There is a spot in Dakar called ‘Les Almadies’. It’s quite a nice place and the restaurants are of international reputation. Let me take you there.”
Talya quickly wiped her eyes with trembling fingers. “That’s sounds like a good idea, but don’t you think we should stay? We could get a call...” Her voice faltered.
“That won’t happen for hours yet…. The sooner we go the sooner we’ll get back. What do you say?”
“I suppose a few hours away from this hotel wouldn’t do me any harm.”
“That-a-girl. Let’s go then.”
“Okay, but I want to change. I won’t be long.”
She made her way to the bedroom while Mohammed went to sit on the sofa and waited.
Talya was glad the porter had brought back the laundry while she was downstairs that morning. The white blouse and linen trousers were hanging in the closet. She quickly changed into them and went to the bathroom to splash water on her face. The mirror that never lied, told her how tired she looked. Never mind, you know what I’m going through, so don’t add to my self-pity, will you?
74
Abdul Rasheed tried to look as dignified as his unkempt appearance would allow. Samir and Johan were marching him across the lobby. Johan had his backpack slung over one shoulder. He had gone to his room, had packed it quickly while Samir and Rasheed had waited for him in the corridor. Samir had his bag already aboard the plane. He had known something like this was likely to happen, when he had gone to the airport that morning.
The porter in front of the hotel hailed a taxi for them and asked the driver to take the fare to the airport. They arrived some twenty minutes later. It was little after two o’clock. Given the time it took to fly to the mine-site and drive to Sabodala, they would reach their destination before nightfall.
Once Samir had filed his flight plans, the three men were on their way to the parked aircraft. The technician in attendance helped Samir to prepare the plane for take-off. Within minutes of climbing aboard, they were taxiing toward the runway.
Strapped in his seat, Abdul Rasheed looked positively belligerent.
Johan sat across from him. “Now, you bastard, let’s have it.” He fastened his seat belt.
“I have nothing to say to you or to anyone.” Rasheed averted his eyes from Johan’s glare.
“Keep that spiel for the courts. What I want to know is what you did with Madame McLean and Savoi.”
Abdul Rasheed turned his head to the window. “Why should I tell you anything?”
“Because you and I know what’s going on at the mine.”
Rasheed took off his glasses. “What are you talking about? There’s nothing going on at the mine.”
“Oh no? I’ve seen you. Remember, I was there. I know you’re planning something and I’d like to find out what it is.”
Seemingly indifferent to Johan’s pressuring questions, the man sitting opposite him took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his spectacles meticulously. “You know nothing. I’ve not planned anything. I just followed Hjamal’s instructions.”
Johan snickered. “Sure, sure, but what about all that nitro? Are you planning to have a wholesale event?”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.” Rasheed blew on the one glass and wiped it again.
“You’re gearing for something—I know that much.”
“Why all the questions then? As you say, you were there, so you should know there’s a lot we have done you and I.” He replaced the glasses atop his nose.
Johan was taken aback. What is this guy babbling about?
“Don’t look so surprised, Johan, you know darn well there’s more than nitro in that camp.”
“I gathered that, but that’s not the point. What I want to know is what you’re planning to do with the drugs.”
Rasheed laughed. “As if I’m going to tell you. It’s already bad enough that you meddled in my business for all these months. You were a real pain, you know that?”
“Okay. I can see that you’ve crossed me off your list—”
“You bet I have. I tell you something else; just watch your back. From now on I’ll have you in my sight and as soon as this is over, I’ll prepare for your funeral.”
Johan leaned to the back of the seat and closed his eyes. The weight of his conscience was bearing down on him. How was he going to tell Talya?
They traveled in silence for the rest of the three hours it took to reach the airstrip ten kilometres away from the mine.

While at the