Murder on the Safari Star Page 3

  ‘Of course. Sorry.’ Erik looked down, embarrassed at being told off. Hal felt a pang of warmth for the man who’d exhibited no more self-control than a curious boy. ‘I’ve never been on the footplate of a more impressive loco,’ Erik mumbled.

  ‘You must have to shovel a lot of coal,’ Hal said to Greg.

  Greg shook his head. ‘Janice uses a stoker: a giant screw below our feet. As it turns, it collects the coal in the tender and delivers it right into the heart of the firebox.’

  ‘Made in Glasgow, wasn’t she?’ Uncle Nat said as he admired the cabin. Flo nodded.

  ‘In Scotland?’ Hal was surprised.

  ‘The North British Locomotive Company sold engines all over the world,’ Uncle Nat said. ‘Janice would have come to Africa on a ship.’

  ‘It must have been a very big boat,’ Hal said. ‘She’s really heavy.’

  Uncle Nat nodded. ‘Some of the ships sank. There are drowned steam trains lying on the ocean floor to this day.’

  ‘Well, there’ll be no drowning on our journey,’ said Flo. ‘There are barely enough water stops to fill Janice’s tender. Steam’s dying out in South Africa.’

  ‘I travelled on an A4 Pacific that filled up from water troughs under the track,’ said Hal.

  ‘Water is precious in the savannah,’ said Flo. ‘That’s why Janice has a huge tender.’

  ‘Over eleven thousand gallons of water and nineteen tonnes of coal,’ Erik marvelled. He looked at Hal. ‘More than twice as much as an A4.’

  ‘I can’t think of anything finer than driving a loco and seeing elephants and rhinos from the footplate,’ Uncle Nat said to Sheila.

  ‘I see elephants and lions,’ Sheila replied, ‘but never a rhino. They’ve been hunted almost to extinction. Although there’s always Rhino Rock.’

  ‘Rhino Rock?’ Hal asked.

  ‘A rock formation that, from the south, looks like a male rhino with a horn. It’s so convincing that it’s scarred by bullets from hunters. When we pass it, passengers think they’re seeing the real thing and take photos.’

  ‘Surely no one would mistake a rock for a rhino?’ Erik laughed.

  ‘You can judge for yourselves tomorrow evening when we’re going round the Hook – a huge curved bit of track just after Mooketsi,’ Greg replied. ‘You can’t miss it.’

  ‘Don’t you tell people it’s a rock?’ Hal asked.

  ‘No,’ Flo replied. ‘They are so happy when they think they’ve seen a real rhino in the wild. Why disappoint them?’

  They were collected from the footplate by a smiling attendant with braided hair, also wearing the green uniform. She led them down the platform to their carriage. ‘Here you are, gentlemen.’ Opening a door halfway along the nine-carriage train, she gestured them inside with a white-gloved hand. ‘Your luggage is in your compartment.’

  Hal darted up the steps, eager to see inside the train. The carriage was lined with cherry-red wood panelling, scarred by dents and scratches from trolleys and suitcases, and there were threadbare patches on the forest-green corridor carpet.

  ‘You are sharing the carriage with Ms Brash,’ she said, showing them to a door. ‘This is your de luxe suite.’

  ‘A de luxe suite?’ Uncle Nat frowned. ‘I was expecting a standard compartment.’

  ‘Mr Ackerman wishes you to have the best experience of the Safari Star.’ She handed him a brass key with a leather fob. ‘My name is Khaya.’ She pronounced it KAH-yah. ‘If you need anything, pull the bell cord. It will be my pleasure to assist you. We have only a small number of guests on this journey – peak season isn’t until May.’ She bowed and stepped back. ‘In one hour, Mr Ackerman will be welcoming all the Safari Star’s passengers in the observation car, at the rear of the train. He asks kindly that you arrive in good time.’

  ‘Thank you, we will,’ Uncle Nat said.

  Khaya gave a short bow and left.

  ‘A de luxe suite!’ Uncle Nat looked at Hal. ‘It must be big.’

  Hal unlocked the door, sliding it open. ‘Oh, wow!’ He stepped inside, turning left, then right. In front of him was a small table with a silver platter of sandwiches and fruit. Either side of it were armchairs. Above it hung a flat screen TV, and to the left a two-seater sofa marked out a lounge area. Opposite that were a built-in wardrobe and drawers. ‘We’ve got real beds!’ Hal exclaimed, flopping face first on the one beside the window. Rolling over, he called to his uncle, who’d opened the door at the far end of the compartment.

  ‘Can I have this one?’

  ‘You may have whichever bed you like.’

  ‘What are you looking at?’ Hal bounded to his side and looked under his uncle’s arm. ‘We’ve got our own bathroom? With a bath! Oh, this place is fancy.’ He thought about how wonderful having a bath would be, with the water sloshing about as the train rattled down the tracks. ‘What’s through there?’ He pointed to a door at the other end of the compartment.

  ‘I think it’s a connecting door. It must lead into Beryl’s room. It’s probably locked.’ Uncle Nat went to the drawers with his bag, transferring some books and his journal inside. ‘The Safari Star was once one of the most glamorous trains in the world. It was the height of luxury, but it’s looking a little tired now. I can see why Mr Ackerman is keen for me to write about it. He needs more paying customers.’

  Hal sat down at the table, picking up a tiny triangle of cucumber sandwich and jamming it into his mouth. ‘Uncle Nat –’ he swallowed – ‘I need to talk to you about something.’

  ‘Is everything OK?’ Uncle Nat looked at him over his glasses.

  ‘I’m not sure.’ Hal pulled out his sketchbook and put it on the table. ‘I saw Mr Ackerman doing something odd.’ He pointed to his drawing. ‘He took a roll of money – a lot of money – from this man. They were hiding in the trees. It looked like they didn’t want to be seen. Like their activity was . . .’ He paused. ‘Criminal.’

  Uncle Nat came over and looked down at the sketch. ‘How odd.’

  ‘Do you think we should tell Erik Lovejoy?’

  ‘Goodness! No. Hal, he’s just retired. He’s on this train for a well-earned rest.’ Uncle Nat chuckled. ‘The train hasn’t even left the station and you’re hunting for a crime to solve.’ He gestured at Hal’s drawing. ‘This could be perfectly innocent.’

  ‘Or it could be a bribe. He could be blackmailing someone, or selling something illegal, or . . .’

  ‘Stop!’ Uncle Nat was laughing now. ‘You’re quite right. It could be any of those things. In fact, that suspicious gentleman could be paying Luther Ackerman to bake a giant cake for his mother’s secret birthday party!’ Hal frowned at Uncle Nat’s joke. ‘The thing is, Hal, we don’t know what they were doing. Let’s not jump to conclusions.’

  ‘I’m not accusing anybody of anything,’ Hal replied defensively, ‘not until I’ve got proof, anyway, but I know I saw something I shouldn’t have.’ He looked down at his picture. ‘Mr Ackerman is up to something.’

  ‘He may very well be, but he is also the owner of this train, and the person who gave us this compartment to stay in.’ He opened a drawer. ‘Oh, look.’ He lifted out a pair of binoculars. ‘You can use these to spot the Big Five.’

  Hal took the binoculars, aware that Uncle Nat was changing the subject. ‘I keep hearing people talking about the “Big Five”. What are they?’

  ‘The animals everyone hopes to see on safari.’ Uncle Nat counted them off on his fingers. ‘The lion, the leopard, the Cape buffalo, the African elephant and the rhinoceros.’

  ‘But why those five? There are lots of animals in South Africa – I’ve seen more than five already.’

  ‘Back when safaris were about hunting, those were the hardest animals to hunt.’ He opened the wardrobe and his suitcase. ‘There’s a book on the table.’

  Hal picked it up. ‘Animals of South Africa,’ he read out loud, and flipped through the pages. ‘Hey, it’s Chipo! It says here, mongooses are related to meerkats.’ He paused. ‘Oh yuc
k! She eats lizards and spiders!’

  ‘Who’s Chipo?’

  ‘A yellow mongoose I met. She belongs to Winston, the son of the safari guide on the train.’ He looked at his uncle. ‘It was Chipo who led me to the clearing where I saw Mr Ackerman.’

  Uncle Nat sighed. ‘Be careful, Hal. Luther Ackerman knows you’re a skilled detective. If he is up to something, he’ll be watching you. I think you’d be better off letting this go. Why don’t we just enjoy the safari, eh?’

  Hal nodded, looking down at the picture of the yellow mongoose. Now even Uncle Nat was turning his back on adventure. Why was everybody so concerned about upsetting Mr Ackerman? Hal wasn’t scared – if he was doing something illegal, then Hal was going to catch him. ‘Sherlock da Vinci is on the case,’ he muttered to himself.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Just . . .’ Hal smiled brightly. ‘We don’t want to be late.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Ackerman’s Address

  On their way to the observation car, Hal heard raised voices. A man and a woman were arguing in one of the sleeping compartments.

  ‘I cannot believe what you’re asking of me!’ the man shouted.

  ‘I’m asking you to be civil.’ Hal recognized Portia Ramaboa’s commanding voice. He paused to listen. ‘Don’t make this trip about him.’

  ‘After what he did to me? You expect me sit and smile while he charges up and down like a silverback gorilla. If I’d known he’d be on this train—’

  ‘That is exactly what I expect you to do.’ Portia cut him off. ‘You’re an actor, aren’t you? So act. There is more than your pride at stake here.’ Her voice softened. ‘Please. For me.’

  ‘Hal, are you coming?’ Uncle Nat had reached the end of the corridor and was looking back at him. He hurried forward, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping.

  The observation car was bright and airy, with high windows. It was furnished with brocade armchairs, their backs to the wall. Beryl Brash was reclining on a comfy armchair near the glass doors at the end of the carriage; they opened on to a balcony over the tracks. Through the doors Hal could see Luther Ackerman standing beside a tall woman in a dark green polo shirt and combat trousers, with a hunting rifle slung over her back, its leather strap crossing her chest. Hal guessed she was Winston’s mum. He spotted Winston sitting hunkered down in the corner behind Beryl, and waved.

  On the seat beside Beryl’s, Mervyn Crosby was absent-mindedly picking his nose. His wife and daughter were looking bored. Erik beckoned Hal and Uncle Nat to a sofa across from him. Mr and Mrs Sasaki nodded politely in greeting as they sat down, introducing themselves as Ryo and Satsuki. Hal resisted the temptation to ask Ryo Sasaki if he was a surgeon.

  ‘Ah, Mr Mbatha and Ms Ramaboa, welcome. Take a seat.’ Luther Ackerman made a grand gesture as Portia and Patrice entered the room. Patrice was moving stiffly, suppressing his anger, but Portia was poised and serene.

  ‘Now that we’re all here, I shall begin.’ Mr Ackerman stepped into the room from the balcony, framed by the double doors, making the marshalling yard his backdrop.

  ‘This can’t be all the guests, can it?’ Hal whispered to his uncle. ‘There are so many empty seats!’

  Before Uncle Nat could reply, Luther Ackerman clapped his hands together. ‘Welcome aboard the Safari Star, Ackerman Rail’s finest luxury train! I am your train manager, here to ensure your journey is unforgettable. We are so happy you chose to travel with us, and look forward to sharing the wild treasures of South Africa and Zimbabwe with you.

  ‘Today, we journey east, through the planes of Mpumalanga, then on through the lower peaks of the Drakensberg mountains. Overnight we will venture north to the station at Hoedspruit beside the world famous Kruger National Park, in time for tomorrow’s safari. The park stretches over two million hectares of land, which bristle with hundreds of species of mammals and birds – including Africa’s Big Five, so bring your binoculars.’

  There was an appreciative murmur from the train guests.

  ‘We will return to the train in the afternoon for high tea, before heading north once more towards Beitbridge. When you wake up on our second morning, we’ll be at the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. After breakfast and the requisite paperwork checks, we will steam onwards through Zimbabwe’s beautiful vistas until we are deep in the Hwange National Park, ready for an afternoon safari. Our journey reaches its dramatic conclusion the next morning, when we will cross the breathtaking Victoria Falls Bridge, reaching our final destination in Zambia.

  ‘You will witness nature’s greatest wonders from the comfort of your five-star luxury suites. There will be many opportunities to experience the wildlife from closer quarters, and you will be guided at all times by our experienced and knowledgeable zoologist, Liana Tsotsobe.’

  Winston’s mother stepped forward. ‘Thank you, Mr Ackerman.’ She smiled. ‘It is my pleasure and responsibility to lead two safari expeditions on this journey. You will be seeing a rich variety of wildlife on this trip. It may seem obvious, but these are wild animals. When outside the train, in the parks, you must always follow my instructions. Nature is beautiful, but she is dangerous, and even on land fenced in by man we must be respectful and cautious at all times.’

  ‘Is that why you’re carrying a gun?’ asked Beryl, ogling the weapon.

  ‘My rifle is only ever used as a last resort.’ Liana’s hand went to the leather strap across her chest. ‘It is for your protection. Unfortunately, a tranquillizer gun will not bring down a charging animal fast enough to save your life.’

  ‘I see!’ Beryl’s eyes were wide.

  ‘I’ll keep you safe.’ Mervyn Crosby leaned over his wife and patted Beryl’s knee. ‘I’m a sharpshooter.’ He looked up at Liana with a crooked grin. ‘Nothing gets the blood singing like the thrill of the hunt – am I right?’

  ‘While you are travelling on Ackerman’s railway, no one is permitted to carry or use a gun but me,’ said Liana with authority.

  ‘Oh, please,’ Mervyn Crosby scoffed. ‘I’m a damn fine hunter. Moose, elk, bear, racoon . . .’ He thumped his chest proudly. ‘I’ve shot ’em all.’

  ‘Let’s get back to the itinerary,’ Mr Ackerman insisted, glancing nervously at Liana, who was glaring at Mr Crosby.

  ‘Hey now, listen,’ Mr Crosby said, ignoring him. ‘I’ve been shooting big game in Africa for years. Takes more than a couple of lions to scare me. I’ve got the heads of four of the Big Five mounted on my wall back home – all I’m missing is a rhino. It would be nice to complete the set. That’s why I brought my hunting rifle, and that’s why I’m on this train.’

  Everybody in the carriage looked at Mervyn Crosby in shocked silence. It was Patrice who finally spoke, through gritted teeth. ‘The rhinoceros is one of the most endangered species on the planet.’ Portia put her hand on his arm.

  ‘Can’t be harder to kill than an elephant,’ said Crosby, mistaking his incredulity for respect. ‘You want to see the size of the one I bagged? I’ve got a picture, look.’ He pulled his phone from his blazer pocket.

  ‘Stop it, Pop!’ Nicole Crosby had her head in her hands. ‘Nobody wants to see.’

  ‘When I use a gun, Mr Crosby,’ Liana said, ‘it is to save lives, not take one. This is not a hunting expedition. This is a rail safari. You will not be shooting any animals on our journey. Not only will I not allow it, it is prohibited by law.’

  ‘What if I pay?’ Mervyn Crosby said, ignoring her and addressing Luther Ackerman. ‘I’ll double my ticket price, all of our ticket prices –’ he gestured to his family – ‘if you let me hunt from the train. If I bag a rhino, I’ll pay extra for you to strap the corpse to the roof so I can ship it home.’

  ‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible,’ said Mr Ackerman, flashing a placatory smile. ‘It is illegal, for one thing, and—’

  ‘Who’s gonna know? C’mon, everyone’s got their price.’ Crosby pulled out his wallet. ‘What if I pay triple? Quadruple?’

  Mr A
ckerman hesitated. ‘I . . . Mr Crosby.’ He smiled again and pressed his hands together. ‘I think we have strayed from our topic. Let’s discuss this privately – why don’t you come to my office later? It’s the train manager’s compartment on the other side of the lounge. I can explain our hunting policy to you in more detail, and I’m afraid I will have to ask you to bring your gun. We’ll . . . look after it for you, just for the duration of the trip.’ He clapped his hands together to signify the topic was closed and smiled at them all. ‘Liana is a fount of knowledge when it comes to the wildlife of South Africa and Zimbabwe. She’s here to answer any questions you may have during our journey together.’

  Liana was staring stonily at Mervyn Crosby, who was either unconcerned or unaware.

  ‘Now, I think it’s time for a toast –’ Mr Ackerman lifted a bottle of champagne from a bucket of ice in a stand beside Beryl – ‘to celebrate our great railway adventure.’

  Khaya stepped forward with a tray of empty glasses. Mr Ackerman popped the champagne cork and everybody politely applauded as he filled the glasses.

  People started talking, introducing themselves to each other as the glasses were passed around, although no one spoke to Mervyn Crosby. Winston appeared next to Hal’s seat.

  ‘Uncle Nat.’ Hal tugged his uncle’s sleeve. ‘This is Winston and Chipo.’

  Chipo leaped up on to the arm of the sofa.

  ‘Pleased to meet you.’ Uncle Nat smiled at Winston, then turned his attention to Chipo. ‘You really do have a yellow mongoose. How wonderful. Is she tame?’

  ‘She’s Chipo.’ Winston chuckled. ‘She does what she wants. I try to train her, but . . .’ He shrugged.

  ‘Excuse me, Nat, but have you met Portia Ramaboa?’ Erik asked, and Uncle Nat stood up to introduce himself.

  Winston sat down on the sofa beside Hal. He glanced at Mr Ackerman, who was laughing and sipping champagne with Beryl. Lowering his voice, he said, ‘There’s something I think I should tell you.’