Rhino Charge Read online

  “There’s much debate about that,” Tanya retorted.

  “Never mind walking, ladies. The focus of the next few days is driving. Prepare yourselves to touch down at the official Mara landing strip for the 2016 Rhino Charge.”

  As the small plane began its descent, Rose was able to pick out groups of antelope grazing peacefully, and in the distance, three long-necked giraffes turned to contemplate them. She braced herself as the plane bumped and jumped onto the dusty runway and decelerated rapidly, throwing Rose once more into the back of her seat.

  As the rotor spun to a stop, Jono jumped out and walked around the plane. He helped Rose down as she blinked in the bright sunlight. Chloe followed, wearing her sunglasses. The air was dry and full of dust from the landing.

  “The rains came early to the Mara, but they’ve been absent now for several weeks. So it should be dry for this year’s Rhino Charge,” Jono told them.

  A blue-clad African man ran towards them from a Land Cruiser car. He waved the keys at Jono, who shook his head.

  “A pilot that doesn’t like driving,” observed Chloe.

  “Something like that.” Jono averted his gaze. He opened a locker on the outside of the plane. “Let’s unload your luggage and be on our way.”

  They removed their bags and bedrolls: thin mattresses and bedding wrapped in waterproof canvas sacks which were rolled up for travelling. They also unloaded Chloe’s cool box, fresh fruit and vegetables, first aid supplies and drinking water.

  Jono grabbed a brown cardboard tube. “I mustn’t forget this. It is our final sponsor’s banner to stick onto the side of our car.”

  “You’re competing?” Chloe gasped.

  “Of course. I’m in the same team as Thabiti. He’s the mechanic and I’m the navigator. Unfortunately, our main sponsor and driver injured his foot playing hockey and is hobbling around on crutches. His son is stepping in.” Jono wrinkled his nose. “Right, that’s it. Let’s go.”

  Chapter Five

  The car crested the summit of a small hill and the Rhino Charge Headquarters appeared before them. It consisted of a central area of large and medium-sized white pointed tents surrounded by individual camps, each with a cluster of smaller tents.

  Tanya informed them, “Ladies, you will be staying in the officials’ camp at the far end where it’s quietest. The spectators can be a rowdy bunch, so they’re contained in an area next to the entrance. The teams set up their camps in between.”

  The car stopped behind a line of 4x4s queuing at the entrance, where vertical banners announced the 27th Annual Rhino Charge.

  “Wow, look at all that kit,” exclaimed Chloe. Each car was festooned with spare fuel cans, tyres, large water canisters, bags, and camping equipment.

  “You can only use what you carry out here,” explained Jono.

  “Where are our passes?” demanded Tanya. Their driver reached into the glovebox and extracted a brown envelope. Tanya tipped the contents onto her lap. “Yellow bracelets this year for officials.” She handed Chloe and Rose each a yellow vinyl strip with holes at one end and a plastic click lock at the other.

  Chloe assisted Rose.

  “Not too tight!” Rose exclaimed.

  Chloe snapped Rose’s bracelet into place. “Do competitors have a different colour?”

  Jono held up his wrist. “Green for us and blue for our supporters.”

  “Red for the spectators, so we can quickly spot if they are in the wrong place,” stated Tanya.

  They passed through the entrance with their arms raised to show their bracelets, and parked in front of a large tent at the centre of the headquarters.

  “Ladies, jump out and we’ll drop your kit at your tent,” Jono directed.

  “Welcome,” a voice cried, and they turned towards a fraught-looking man wearing shorts, with sunglasses balanced on his head of fair hair. He wiped his eyes before pecking Tanya on the cheek. “I’m so pleased you’re here, darling.” He turned to Rose with outstretched arms. “And you, Rose. And this must be Chloe.” Chloe reached out and he shook her hand. “Registration opens in twenty minutes, so it’s full on. Are you able to help?”

  Chloe and Rose nodded.

  “Great. Go grab yourselves a coffee. Open a tab with the Rusty Nail caterers and we’ll settle up at the end of the event. We all have a food and drink allowance.”

  “Fetch me a white coffee, no sugar,” called Tanya before entering an open-fronted tent. Two men were securing a banner above the entrance proclaiming ‘Registration’.

  Chloe rolled her eyes.

  Rose turned and looked around. To the left was a line of white pointed tents and opposite was the food and catering area. Cars and people milled about everywhere.

  “Is it always this chaotic?” asked Chloe.

  “Yes, but it used to be much smaller,” mused Rose. “Craig and I were involved with the first event in 1989, when thirty-one cars took part. Now there are over sixty, with huge team entourages. Actually, they’ve limited the number of spectators as too many were coming from Nairobi for a party. You know, back in the first year, we were delighted to raise 250,000 Kenyan shillings, but now the Charge raises over 100 million shillings. That’s a lot more pressure on the organisers. You just met Nick West, Tanya’s husband. He is the one who runs the event.”

  “Are you missing Craig?” Chloe asked.

  “Yes. It was because of him we were asked to get involved when it started. I prefer horses to cars, but officiating at the Rhino Charge has become an annual fixture. But it’ll not be the same without him.”

  Chapter Six

  “There’s a Dorman’s Coffee trailer,” Chloe pointed. “Let me buy you a tea. And I need a proper cappuccino.”

  “Now don’t forget Tanya’s coffee,” Rose said. They joined a small queue.

  Chloe lifted her sunglasses and secured them in her long blonde hair. “Can you explain again how the Rhino Charge works?”

  They shuffled forward as the queue moved. Rose began, “Each team is made up of two to six people and a 4x4 car, which has to be registered to drive on Kenyan roads.”

  Reaching the front of the queue, Chloe ordered their drinks. Rose continued, “The teams are required to visit thirteen checkpoints scattered over one hundred kilometres of rough terrain. The competitors have ten hours to complete the task and the winner is the car which reaches all the check points, and travels the shortest distance.”

  Rose took her tea from Chloe, added milk and swirled the tea bag around before discarding it in a rubbish bin. Chloe picked up the coffees and frowned. “So the winner is not the quickest team to reach all the checkpoints.”

  “Exactly,” agreed Rose. “The teams have to think about their route and the terrain. Just wait, you’ll be amazed at how they battle across uneven and rocky ground, push through dense thickets and even winch their cars up and down rocky outcrops.”

  Rose put her arm out to prevent Chloe being knocked over by Team 1 in a bright yellow 4x4, stripped of all comforts and fitted with oversized wheels. Company names were haphazardly stuck across it.

  Chloe asked, “So what’s the point?”

  Rose laughed. “There is no point. A bunch of crazy mzungus and Indians, and now some equally barmy Kenyans, spend a fortune on vehicles which are too impractical to travel far in for any distance. Then they try their best to damage their cars by attempting insane manoeuvres, in the middle of nowhere, and it’s all in the name of charity. Afterwards, the teams mend and improve their vehicles and it’s a race to enter the following year’s competition.”

  They stepped into a small tent beside the one for registration. Hard-backed posters hung along the sides of the tent and leaflets were strewn across a table.

  Rose picked one up. “The beneficiary is the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust. It began by fencing the Aberdare National Park, over which we flew, to reduce poaching. Now the Trust is enclosing the Eburu Forest, as it suffers from illegal logging and charcoal burning. It’s also involved with projects o
n Mount Kenya, building fences in the most densely populated areas, as these are where there is the most conflict between the wildlife and people.”

  “So what is our role?” asked Chloe.

  “On Monday, the day of the Charge, we’ll man a guard post which is one of the thirteen checkpoints. Now we need to help register the teams.”

  Chapter Seven

  Team 27 called themselves the Bandit Bush Hogs and their team colours were bright blue and yellow. They had established their camp behind the registration tent in an open area of red oat grass.

  Two clusters of tents, to the left and right, were positioned under the shade of thorny, flat-topped desert date trees. In the centre was a cream-coloured, domed, canvas events shelter, with blue-coloured trimmings and open sides. The Bandit Bush Hogs used it as their mess tent where they gathered for meals and team meetings.

  The head of the team, Kumar Chauhan, often relaxed in the shelter and was joined by his daughter-in-law, Lavanya, and sometimes by his eldest son, Mayur. Two other team members, Jono Urquhart and Thabiti Onyango also used the shelter.

  To the right, in a clear, sandy area, with no red oat grass, a large round metal fire pit had been positioned. Near it was a pile of branches and twigs gathered by the African camp staff.

  A larger desert date tree rose behind the events shelter, providing additional shade for it and the cooking tent, which was hidden from the main camp by the trunk of the tree and a clump of thorny bushes.

  The entrance to the Bandit Bush Hogs’ camp was separated from the main camp by a line of camphor bushes, known locally as leleshwa bushes.

  Thabiti Onyango was hidden under his team’s bright blue 4x4 vehicle, which he had accompanied on its journey from Nanyuki on a flatbed trailer. He was only twenty and his mechanical experience was limited, but he’d learnt a lot working on the car at Mr Obado’s garage.

  He pushed at the undercarriage, making sure it was secure, and ran through different repair options in his head. It was quite likely the car would drive over, or land on, a sharp rock, which would damage a drive shaft or rip open one of the protective panels. He heard raised voices approach the car.

  “Registration closes in fifteen minutes. We need to find that cheque, Jono, or we won’t reach our entry fee pledge. Run through the places you might have left it,” said an elderly male Indian voice. Thabiti recognised it as Kumar Chauhan, their team manager and former driver.

  He liked Mr Chauhan better than Mayur, the team’s new driver, who was arrogant and liked to throw his weight around. Whenever he got the opportunity he’d announce loudly, “We should have a qualified mechanic like the Rhino Force team.” Just because they’d flown one in specially from the UK.

  Thabiti smiled. Still, he was grateful Jono had suggested him as the team’s mechanic and he was thankful Mr Chauhan had agreed. Few young Africans were given the opportunity to participate in such an exciting event. He just hoped it wouldn’t be too difficult or dangerous. He twisted his head in the dirt and spotted the ends of Mr Chauhan’s crutches.

  Thabiti heard Jono say, “I landed at Equator Air and was driven into Nanyuki. At the Ford dealership the manager showed me the cheque before he placed it in a white envelope. But now I don’t know where I put it.”

  “I hope you haven’t left it on the plane. Let’s check the car which picked you up.”

  As their voices retreated, Thabiti rolled out from under the car. He remembered the brown tube which contained the sponsor’s poster. Jono said they’d fix it in place later, but he had time to do it now. He opened the tube, tipped out the contents, and unrolled a bright blue banner with the car dealer’s name and logo. There was also a white envelope.

  Thabiti turned towards Mr Chauhan and Jono and shouted, “Is this what you’re looking for?” He waved the envelope in the air.

  The men strode over and Mr Chauhan beamed. “Well done, Thabiti. Where did you find it?”

  “Rolled up inside the sponsor’s poster.” Thabiti looked across at Jono.

  “Of course, I must have dropped it into the tube. Thank you.”

  Thabiti caught sight of Jono’s face tightening and his lips pressed together. But then he smiled and said, “For ensuring the Bandit Bush Hogs compete, you can hand the cheque over at registration.”

  A thin, attractive Indian lady wearing a long sleeve t-shirt and sari ran across. “You must hurry up. Mayur will be furious if you miss registration. Let me help you, Kumar.”

  The sleeve of her t-shirt wrinkled up as she offered her arm to Kumar, revealing a raw pink mark with blisters.

  Kumar’s brow furrowed and he asked, “Have you hurt yourself my dear?”

  Hastily, she pulled her t-shirt down with her free hand. “It’s nothing, just a burn. It’s not easy cooking with charcoal safari ovens.” She met Jono’s gaze, but quickly averted her eyes.

  “Jono, I think we should hurry.” Thabiti twisted the envelope in his hand. “I’m sure Mr Chauhan will be OK following with Lavanya.”

  Jono blinked and said gruffly, “Of course. Come on.”

  Chapter Eight

  At five o’clock, registration closed. Chloe stretched her hands up in the air. She had handed out safety equipment to all the teams which included a medical kit, red bag, emergency flags, and numbers for each car.

  “Thabiti told me his camp is behind this tent. Can we visit him?” asked Chloe.

  Rose replied, “OK, but we mustn’t be too long as we need to organise our sleeping arrangements before it gets dark. Also, I’ll need to find the nearest loo in case I get caught short in the night.” Some aspects of growing old were challenging and she knew it was best to plan ahead.

  They found a gap between the leleshwa bushes, with their waxy dark-green leaves and fluffy cotton-wool-like seed heads, and made their way across to the events shelter. Smoke floated up behind thorny bushes signalling that an evening meal was being cooked by camp staff.

  Rose approached Kumar Chauhan. “Namaste,” she greeted him and bowed her head. “I’m sorry to see you are injured and cannot compete for the Rhino Charge title.”

  Kumar Chauhan began to stand, but Rose put out a hand. “Please do not get up on my account Mr Chauhan.”

  “Mama Rose, you know you should call me Kumar. Is Craig with you?”

  “Unfortunately, he’s not well and has to miss this year’s event.”

  “I am sorry to hear that. Please pass on my regards. Will you join us for a drink?”

  Rose looked along the table. An attractive Indian woman, who had assisted Kumar in the registration tent a short time earlier, was placing cutlery on a blue-spotted PVC tablecloth. Jono watched her as he twirled a penknife between his fingers. At the other side of the table a middle-aged Indian man sat in a white plastic chair and opened a bottle of Tusker beer.

  Rose replied, “Thank you, but Chloe and I only came to check on Thabiti and then we must return to our own camp. Another day perhaps.” The two elderly people bowed their heads.

  As Rose backed away, the middle-aged man announced, “Father, we really need some time to discuss my plans for the business before we get too busy with the Charge. I met some investors last week.”

  Kumar tapped his fingers on the table and replied, “We’re away from Nairobi for the weekend to have fun and not talk business. Anyway, whilst I am still head of the company, we are not wasting money and moving to a fancy, new, expensive warehouse in Runda. The current one on Victory Estate is quite sufficient and convenient for our workers.”

  “But we need to expand.”

  “Mayur, that’s enough. In the future, please don’t go behind my back and talk to other people about our business.”

  Rose and Chloe sat down in folding metal-legged camp chairs next to Thabiti, by the unlit metal fire pit. Beside him was Marina, a young Indian woman, who Rose had met earlier in the month. She’d helped Chloe at the registration desk for the Laikipia Conservation Society’s conference outside Nanyuki.

  “Ow!” Chloe cried
as she spotted Marina’s face. “What happened to you?” The area around Marina’s left eye was beginning to swell and darken with bruising.

  Rose took Marina’s head in her hands and tilted it for a better view. “You have a nasty gash which needs some butterfly stitches.” Letting go of Marina’s head she asked, “What happened?”

  “I got hit by part of my tent whilst trying to put it up.”

  “I still don’t get why you were erecting your own tent,” complained Thabiti.

  “For that you need to understand my family. I’m a young unmarried woman so I’m treated like a child. In fact, bossy cousin Elaxi and her husband went as far as suggesting I sleep in the children’s tent. Just because they can’t be bothered to look after their kids, why should I? But nobody disagreed with them, and my tent wasn’t unpacked. So I decided to put it up myself. I have to admit I was pretty furious, and I think a tent pole took offence and hit me in the face.” She smiled weakly.

  “Thabiti, can you find your team’s first aid kit?” Rose asked. “Then I’ll need some ice wrapped in a tea towel or clean cloth.”

  “Ice out here?” questioned Chloe.

  “In their cool boxes. Why, what did you put in yours?”

  “Freezer packs.”

  Rose found steri-strips in the first aid kit and carefully placed two across the gash above Marina’s eye to keep it closed and free from infection.

  Rose heard a ringing sound and looked around.

  Mayur answered his mobile phone. “Hi, Gautam. When will you be here?” Mayur listened to the person on the other end of the call. “What? Can’t someone else deal with it?”

  Mayur turned to his father. “Gautam said there’s been some confusion with today’s orders, and deliveries have been made to the wrong hotels and restaurants.” He put the phone back to his ear and continued his conversation.