The Amulet of Power - Mike Resnick [78]
Do not speak aloud, said the leopard silently. I can hear your thoughts.
I will be on Praslin Island soon, thought Lara.
Many will still try to stop you.
I know, she thought. Then: You seem to want me to find you. Will you protect me?
The leopard snarled.
I yearn to be found, to be used as Mareish wanted me to be used. But I protect no one. If you are worthy of me, you will come to me. If you can be stopped, then you were not the One.
“Fair enough,” she said aloud. “Just don’t hinder me.”
This meeting is done. Move away, for when I release the animal, it will do as it pleases. It has already killed the dog you are looking for.
Lara backed away a few feet and bumped into the shed.
“Fine,” she muttered to herself. “I’ll wait inside here until you go away or Malcolm sees you and blows you away with his rifle.”
She entered the shed and felt around for the back wall, and her hand came into contact with one of Oliver’s old hunting rifles. She checked the bolt to see if it was loaded. It wasn’t, but she felt numerous boxes of cartridges on a small shelf.
She opened one up and slid it into the rifle, only to find that it was the wrong size.
She looked out the door at the leopard, and could tell by his eyes, by his entire demeanor, that he had regained possession of his body. He began slinking through the grass toward her.
She slipped another bullet into the rifle, and this time it fit. She lined the leopard up in its sights as best she could in the darkness, then stood motionless at he stalked closer and closer, his tail twitching nervously.
Finally, when she was sure that the leopard was about to spring, she fired the rifle over its head. The leopard leapt back, snarling, and dashed away into the night when she raised the rifle again.
Oliver came racing out of the house, rifle in hand.
“What happened?” he shouted. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Malcolm,” she said. “Just a close encounter with a leopard.”
“Did you wound him?” Malcolm asked urgently.
Lara shook her head. “I also believe leopardskins look better on their original owners. I fired a shot to scare him off.”
“I’m surprised that old rifle didn’t break your shoulder,” he said. “It’s a .550 Nitro Express.” He looked around. “Did you see any sign of Max? I hope he didn’t run into that leopard.”
If I tell you the leopard killed him, you’ll ask how I know, and I don’t think it’s an answer you’re prepared to hear.
“No,” she said truthfully. “I haven’t seen him.”
“I guess he went off on a hunting expedition of his own,” said Oliver. “He does that every now and then. Ah, well, no sense waiting around all night, maybe all weekend, for him. I’ve got my rifle; that’s what I came for.”
They returned to the car, where the first thing Lara did was unpack her pistols and wrap her holsters around her hips. She tossed the shoulder bag on the rear seat, and then they drove down out of the Ngong Hills and were soon back on a level road again.
After a few miles she turned to him, and said, “You’re heading for the Rift Valley. Why?”
“We’re not going that far,” he replied. “This is Old Limuru Road. We’re only taking it to Banana Hill.”
“Never heard of it.”
“It’s about twenty miles out of Nairobi,” answered Oliver.
“What’s there?”
“A very pleasant, very peaceful, almost-unknown little hostelry called the Kentmere Club.”
“The Kentmere Club?” she repeated. “Didn’t we eat there once on the way back from a safari?”
“Did I take you there?” he said. “I don’t remember.”
“Well, I remember,” said Lara. “Duck was the specialty of the house, and I also had a wonderful chocolate roulade for dessert.”
“That’s the place, all right.”
“But it’s just a restaurant.”
“Most people think so,” answered Oliver, “but it’s actually a hotel. It’s got about a dozen rooms.”
“Okay,” she said. “Why there?”
“It’s not in Nairobi, it’s not in Naivasha, it’s not in Nanyuki, it’s not in Nyeri, it’s not in any city. And as I say, very few people know it’s a hotel.”
“Can we stay hidden there until Tuesday?” she asked doubtfully.
“I don’t know,” replied Oliver. “I hope so. I suppose it