The Star of Simbako Page 20

  The discovery of the diamond intensified the search of the washed material. Half an hour later, just as the sun sank below the horizon, one man pointed out a small crystal square. Sam would not have recognised it as a diamond, but as soon as she examined the stone she experienced the thrill of finding something manufactured deep in the mantle and shot to the surface too fast to carbonise.

  ‘That is a classic type II diamond,’ said Tamba. ‘It’s worth a lot more than the brown one you found.’

  ‘It’s a lot smaller,’ said Fergus. ‘But even I can see that this is a diamond.’

  They packed up the tools and covered the pit, leaving a guard to make sure no-one returned to dig in the night. Sam put the two diamonds into an empty film canister and zipped the container into an inner pocket of her rucksack.

  ‘We should enlarge this pit and follow the gravel down the slope,’ said Sam.

  ‘You’re the geologist. What you say goes,’ said Fergus. ‘Tamba, take the boys home to rest. We have a full day ahead of us tomorrow.’

  The team left for their homes and Sam and Fergus returned to the car.

  ‘Home James and don’t spare the horses,’ she said.

  Fergus snorted. Then to Sam’s surprise, he put his hand on her thigh and stretched across to look into her face. He took it tenderly in his hands and kissed her softly. So softly she thought she might faint.

  ‘I’ve been dying to do that all day,’ he said and started the car.

  Chapter XXII

  Alex’s car was parked in the yard under the tree. Its driver sat on the veranda with what appeared to be a large gin and tonic in his hand. Sam licked her lips.

  ‘Hello, folks. The sun is over the yardarm. Shall I tell Fatimata to make you one too?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ said Fergus.

  ‘Me too,’ said Sam.

  ‘Should you be drinking, young lady? You were dicing with death only recently.’

  ‘She frightened the bejazus out of us,’ said Fergus.

  ‘I’m fine now,’ said Sam. ‘And I want a drink.’

  ‘Two gin and tonics please, Fatou, one light, one heavy. How did it go today?’

  ‘Not bad,’ said Fergus, after Fatimata had gone inside. ‘We found two diamonds.’

  ‘You found diamonds? Where are they?’

  Sam reached into her rucksack and rustled around. Alex leaned forward, craning his neck.

  ‘I can’t find them,’ she said, and winked at Fergus.

  ‘You must. How could you lose them? Fergus, do something.’

  Fergus laughed. ‘Don’t tease. Give him the diamonds.’

  She passed Alex the film canister. He popped off the lid and tipped the diamonds into his hand. He rolled them around. ‘Nice,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t expecting these. It’s a bonus.’

  ‘Some parts of the terrace have been worked already, but not all,’ said Sam. ‘I’m hopeful that we have not yet reached the deepest part of the gravels.’

  ‘Where did you get these?’

  ‘In the pit where they found Pakuteh. It’s in the middle of the terrace, but the bedrock is sloping into the river bank.’

  ‘I learned about Pakuteh from Fergus. How awful for poor Adanna. That girl has no luck. Do you think there may be more diamonds there?’

  ‘Definitely.’

  ‘Dinner is ready.’ Fatimata loomed in the doorway.

  ‘Okay, let’s eat.’

  No-one spoke during dinner. Fatimata had excelled herself with the arrival of the big boss, cooking a tasty stew with potato leaves and piles of fluffy rice. Bananas baked in brown sugar followed, causing groans of approval. Afterwards, they sat drinking coffee on the balcony.

  ‘Do you mind if Fergus and I discuss business?’ said Alex.

  ‘Not at all,’ said Sam, not moving.

  Alex squirmed in his chair. Fergus shrugged at him. Sam got the hint.

  ‘I’ve got to go to my room and tidy up my notes,’ she said standing up. Both men relaxed. ‘See you later.’

  As soon as she was gone, Alex turned to Fergus. ‘Tell me about the diamond.’

  ***

  Sam sat on the chair in her room and sulked for a bit. The fact Alex might want a private chat with Fergus had not escaped her, but she still felt left out. They were making headway now, but Alex did not appear interested in the terrace. He couldn’t wait for her to leave so that he could talk to Fergus, but about what? Were they discussing the Star of Simbako? That seemed obvious. But would the Chief be prepared to part with it?

  This appeared unlikely, especially since it was now bound up with Adanna and Pakuteh and the history of the village. How much was it worth? She had not got a good look at it, but Fergus’ eyes had nearly fallen out of their sockets when he’d found it in the pocket of Pakuteh’s satchel. It must have been twenty-five carats or more.

  How irritating that she could not listen in to their conversation. Hopefully, they would deem her worthy of an explanation in the morning.

  Speculation over, her thoughts soon strayed to that kiss. Was Fergus some sort of magician? He was arrogant and grumpy and said inappropriate things. Not her sort of man at all, in theory anyway. That was the problem. Bad boys were always so appealing, especially ones that made you explode with passion on the strength of one long soft kiss. Was he toying with her? It didn’t seem so, but there was something she didn’t understand. Now she had to go to bed alone, with her blood boiling and her curiosity unassuaged. Bugger.

  She was none the wiser the next morning. Sahr arrived to take her to the terrace and Fergus stayed with Alex.

  ‘See you later?’ she said.

  ‘Perhaps, I’m taking Alex to talk to Chief Sesay. Let’s see how it goes. Sahr will collect you if we are busy.’

  ‘Okay, bye then.’ But they did not answer, having already turned away to resume their conversation.

  Normally, she enjoyed a day to herself with Tamba and the crew, but this was irritating. She had no choice, but to get into the car and be driven off by Sahr, who was his usual sunny self.

  ‘Good morning, Sam. Mr Fergus not coming with us?’

  ‘Not today. We can misbehave.’

  Sahr smiled, but his eyes flickered from side to side as if he was unsure of the correct answer to that statement. ‘Let’s go then,’ he said.

  They stopped in town to buy some fresh bread, tins of tuna and big bottles of fizzy orange to supplement the lunch carried in by the crew. Sam bought a large bag of homemade banana chips which were her favourite. They arrived at site to find that the crew were raring to start and had already marked out the new pit borders. Their energy was infectious and Sam soon forgot that she was sulking and got down to making notes and suggestions. They were enlarging the previous day’s pit along the line of the inclining bedrock. The material was fresh and well-sorted into precise layers, some of which contained rounded pebbles of a similar size and others which were more haphazard with a sandier matrix and fewer stones. The layers were thickening towards the land edge of the terrace as the slope steepened.

  They stopped for lunch and the extra provisions disappeared at lightning speed. Sam sat sharing her banana chips with Tamba.

  ‘Did you find it here?’ she said.

  ‘Find what?’

  She laughed. ‘Come on. You know exactly what I mean.’

  He shrugged. ‘Not here. At Mano.’

  ‘So how come the Chief had it?’

  ‘He dug it up in his artisanal pit. When he was younger, he used to go there and dig for diamonds.’

  ‘So how did he become Chief?’

  ‘His uncle didn’t have any children. He died soon after Joseph came back to Fona from the British army. Chief Sesay was elected by the village elders and kept the diamond hidden all these years. I confess I thought it was long gone.’

  Tamba stared at the ground and did not raise his head. He sighed.

  ‘Let’s get back to work,’ said Sam.

>   ***

  Fergus and Alex drove into the compound, creating a cloud of dust. They sat in the car waiting for it to abate and Adanna appeared on the veranda. She beckoned them in and they got out and crossed the yard. There was an odour of coffee and fat insects bombed across the compound, buzzing and chirping. A vulture sat on the roof, inspecting them with a practiced eye.

  ‘I hate those things,’ said Alex.

  ‘They’re the rubbish collectors of Africa,’ said Fergus. ‘Someone has to do it.’

  They climbed up the stairs into the visitor’s room where they hesitated. Adanna opened the door, carrying a tray of fruit juice.

  ‘Come in. My father’s waiting.’ She ushered them into the family room.

  ‘Thank God,’ said Fergus. ‘Those chairs outside are murder.’

  The family room was claustrophobic both in heat and smell. All of the windows were shut and a single lightbulb hung on a ratty-looking wire. The Chief sat on a wide chair which all but engulfed his frail frame. He did not attempt to get up. The change in his appearance was shocking. Joseph Sesay looked as if someone had vacuumed out his insides. His shallow breathing rasped out of his chest into the ears of his discomforted guests.

  ‘Welcome,’ he said. ‘Apologies for my appearance. I have been unwell.’

  ‘Not at all, Chief Sesay. I hope you will recover quickly,’ said Fergus.

  ‘I’m glad to see you,’ said Alex. ‘It’s been too long.’

  ‘My house will always be open to any brother-in-arms,’ said the Chief and held out his frail arms to embrace Alex. The two men hugged for several seconds and, when they release each other, both had tears staining their cheeks. Fergus was startled. He had not been aware of any link between the two men that predated their work in Simbako.

  ‘My dear friend,’ said Alex, still holding the Chief’s hand and patting it with the other.

  ‘You saved my life,’ said Joseph. ‘I wouldn’t be here without you. What can I do for you?’

  ***

  The team set to work with renewed vigour and, under Sam’s instruction, removed all of the material except the bottom gravel. This they transferred to the plastic sheet at the surface. The gravel was wet and the pebbles glinted in the sunlight. Sam felt a frisson of excitement.

  ‘Careful now. There’s no hurry,’ she said as they edged their way down to the river with their heavy cargo.

  Once they had laid the plastic sheeting down, the process of washing and sieving the gravel began. Sam took photographs of the work to distract herself from her heart which was pounding. They spread the reduced material onto the plastic. The rest of the team sat on the bank. Tamba and Sam searched, separating the barren gravel with their fingertips. Time stood still as they moved the small pebbles aside.

  They both noticed it at the same time. A clear stone of about half a carat was sitting half-hidden in the middle of the plastic. Tamba reached over and picked it up.

  ‘Lovely,’ he said.

  ‘Wow! You can understand why they drive people to war,’ said Sam.

  Then she realised there were two more, like bits of glass from a windscreen, lying side by side. Carefully, she removed them from the gravel and put them in her film canister. Tamba handed her the other one and she snapped the lid on tight. They kept searching and turned up one more darker diamond of a decent size.

  ‘This must be the bottom of the slope,’ said Sam. ‘We should follow this gravel tomorrow.’

  ‘Okay. I'll tell the Chief what we've found. Will you bring the diamonds for him to see?’

  ‘I expect Alex will do that. I’ll come to work as usual.’

  ‘You’re the one who found them. You're a great geologist.’

  ‘Thank you, Tamba, but we found them together. We’re a great team.’

  He shook her hand and turned to direct the men to store the tools and cover the pit. Sam waited for them to finish and then walked to the car where Sahr was waiting for her.

  ‘Good day, Sam?’ he said.

  ‘Not bad.’

  ***

  The Chief sat motionless and his shallow breathing made a painful, dry sound in his throat.

  Alex waited. He brushed a large horsefly off his arm and swatted it to the ground with his hat, squashing it to the floorboard with a wet crunch. A blood stain sank into the dry wood and he watched fascinated as it crept along the cracks. A cough alerted him to the fact that Chief Sesay was ready to speak.

  ‘Alex, I must apologise to you. I’ve broken the terms of our agreement.’

  ‘How so?’

  ‘I no longer have the Star of Simbako,’ he said. ‘It’s now the property of my daughter, Adanna. If you wish to purchase it, you must speak to her.’

  Alex thought for a moment.

  ‘Will she sell it?’

  ‘She has plans for the money. A modernisation of Fona starting with sewers and electricity.’

  ‘I’ll pay top dollar if she sells it to me.’

  ‘I know I can trust you to be fair. How will you calculate the market price?’

  ‘I’ll take it to the diamond exchange in Njahili and get it cleaned. They will set up an auction. That way I can bid on the diamond and win it fair and square. Adanna can come with me and witness the whole procedure.’

  ‘An auction might raise the price you have to pay.’

  ‘If the price goes too high, I’ll retire from the auction. I want that stone.’

  ‘You’re an honourable man, but you must deal with my daughter. She won’t listen to me anymore.’

  ‘Is Adanna here today?’

  ‘She’s in her room, but I don’t know if she’ll speak to you.’

  ‘Please can you ask her? I’ll meet her at any time that suits.’

  ‘I’ll try. She’s been in mourning for her husband and she doesn’t come out often.’

  ‘Sorry to hear about Pakuteh. She must be shocked.’

  ‘We all were. Sorry, Alex. This matter is out of my hands and I can’t help you with it.’

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘I will find out if she’ll speak to you and let you know.’

  ‘Thank you, Joseph, and don’t fret, nothing will ever break the bond we have.’

  Alex stood up to go.

  ‘Come alone,’ said the Chief.

  Fergus was waiting for Alex in the car. His stormy countenance spoke volumes about his thoughts on being made to leave the room like a child while the adults were speaking.

  ‘Any luck?’ he said.

  ‘Maybe. Adanna is in charge now.’

  ‘Will she speak to you?’

  ‘I don’t know yet. Let’s go home.’

  ***

  By the time Sam got home that evening, Alex and Fergus were having their second drink on the veranda. She had stopped off in town to have a celebratory soft drink with Tamba and Sahr and was now stifling her burps.

  ‘Hi Sam. Good day at the office?’

  ‘Not bad.’

  ‘Not good?’ said Fergus.

  ‘I wouldn’t say that. Give me a gin and tonic and I’ll show you.’

  ‘Fatou, get the geologist a drink please.’

  ‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ said Sam and she slipped through the front door. She went to her room and peeled off her dirty clothes. After a quick rinse under the shower, she took her hair out of its bun and brushed it. As she had hoped, it had soft waves in it after being confined all day. She put on her denim shirt and clean khaki trousers and examined her reflection in the mirror. Almost glamorous, she thought.

  Both men looked up as she returned. Fergus stared at her as if he hadn’t seen her before.

  ‘Is my drink ready?’ she said.

  ‘It’s on the table,’ said Alex. ‘Did you find anything today?’

  Sam gave him the canister which he shook.

  ‘That sounds good,’ he said.

  After dinner, Sam put on her Walkman and lay in the hammock whi
le the two men examined the booty. Their surprise at the day’s haul had been all the praise she needed.

  ‘The diamonds you have found will cover all our expenses,’ said Alex. ‘That’s good work.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Sam. ‘I followed the clues.’

  A car pulled into the yard with its headlights on. They covered their eyes to protect them from the glare. Sam got out of the hammock and leant over the railing. Sahr opened the door and half got out of the car.

  ‘Mr Simmonds, Adanna will see you now.’

  ‘Now? Okay, give me a minute.’ He walked across to the car. ‘I’ll be back,’ he said.

  ‘Do you want me to come?’ said Fergus.

  ‘No, it’s not necessary. I’ll fill you in later.’

  Sahr drove off as suddenly as he had arrived.

  Fergus came over and stood beside Sam at the railings. She could sense him close to her, close enough to make the hairs on her arms stand on end, and she suddenly became awkward and unsure. Turning around to say something witty, she felt herself pulled into his arms. He peered down into her eyes and she drowned his gaze.

  ‘Did anyone ever tell you that you’re as beautiful as a pint of Guinness?’ he said. He had a strange look on his face.

  ‘Um, no, I don’t think so.’

  ‘Are you some sort of witch, Sam Harris? You have me befuddled.’

  She searched for an answer but was paralysed with anticipation.

  ‘How long do you think he’ll be gone?’ said Fergus.

  ‘Long enough, I hope,’ said Sam.

  ***

  Alex knocked at the door of Chief Sesay’s house in the compound. It opened almost immediately and Adanna stood there, regal and sombre in a loose robe of dark colours.

  ‘Please come in,’ she said.

  ‘Thank you for seeing me,’ said Alex. ‘Please accept my deepest condolences.’

  ‘That’s nice of you. Finding Pakuteh has been very shocking.’

  ‘I can’t imagine how awful that was. I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Won’t you sit down?’

  Alex perched on the edge of a chair with his elbows on his knees.

  ‘Did your father tell you why I wanted to see you?’

  ‘He did.’

  ‘Look, I know it’s very early to talk about these things as you are so recently widowed …’