Burning Angels

Konig seemed to relax a little, but Jaeger found himself choking back a suitably cutting response. Narov was playing her part to perfection. Maybe too well — he almost got the impression that she was enjoying this.

‘Indeed.’ Konig offered Narov hand the barest of handshakes. ‘But you, Mrs Groves — you do not sound so English?’

‘It is Andrea,’ Narov replied. ‘And these days, as you know, there are many English who do not sound very English. For that matter, Mr Konig, you do not sound so very Tanzanian.’

‘Indeed, I am German.’ Konig glanced at the massive warplane tethered in the water. ‘I am a German wildlife conservationist living in Africa, working with a local Tanzanian staff, and part of our responsibility is also to safeguard this aircraft.’

‘It’s Second World War, right?’ Jaeger asked, feigning ignorance. ‘I mean… unbelievable. How in the name of God did it end up here, so far beneath the mountain? Surely it’s too wide to have made it through the cave entrance.’

‘It is,’ Konig confirmed. There was a wariness to his gaze still. ‘They removed the wings and hauled the aircraft in here during the height of the rains, in 1947, I believe. Then they hired local Africans to bring the wings in afterwards, in sections.’

‘Mind-blowing. But why here in Africa? I mean, how did it land here, and why?’

For the briefest of instants a dark shadow flitted across Konig’s features. ‘That I do not know. That part of the story is long before my time.’

Jaeger could tell that he was lying.

43

Konig gave a curt nod towards the warplane. ‘You must be curious, no?’

‘To see inside? Of course!’ Jaeger enthused.

Konig shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, it is strictly off limits. All access is forbidden, as is any access to this entire area. But I think now you understand that?’

‘Got it,’ Jaeger confirmed. ‘Still, it’s disappointing. It’s not allowed by whom?’

‘The man who owns this place. Katavi is a private game sanctuary, run by an American of German descent. That is part of our attraction to foreigners. Unlike the government-run national parks, Katavi is operated with a certain Teutonic efficiency.’

‘It is a game reserve that works?’ Narov queried. ‘Is that what you mean?’

‘Pretty much. There is a war being waged against Africa’s wildlife. Sadly the poachers are winning. Hence the shoot-to-kill policy introduced here, as a desperate measure to try to help us win that war.’ Konig eyed them both. ‘A policy that very nearly got the two of you killed today.’

Jaeger chose to ignore the last comment. ‘You’ve got our vote,’ he remarked, genuinely. ‘Butchering an elephant for its tusks, or a rhino for its horn — it’s a tragic waste.’

Konig inclined his head. ‘I agree. We lose one elephant or rhino on average every day. Wasteful death.’ He paused. ‘But for now, Mr and Mrs Groves, enough questions, I think.’

He ordered them into the RIB. It wasn’t exactly at gunpoint, but it was clear that they had no option but to comply. The boat pulled away from the warplane, the bow wave setting the seaplane rocking. For her size, the BV222 had an undeniable grace and beauty, and Jaeger was determined to find an opportunity to return here and uncover her secrets.

The RIB took them to where an access tunnel threaded its way out of the cave system. Konig flicked a switch set into the wall, and the rock-cut passageway blazed into life, courtesy of electric lighting recessed into the roof.

‘Wait here,’ he ordered. ‘We will go to fetch your things.’

‘Thanks. You know where they are?’ Jaeger queried.

‘Of course. My men have been observing you for some time.’

‘They have? Wow. How d’you do that?’

‘Well, we have sensors positioned in the caves. But you can imagine, with animals always in and out, they are forever being triggered. And anyway, no one ever trespasses this deep inside the mountain.’ He eyed Narov and Jaeger pointedly. ‘Or at least, not normally… Today, something surprised my guards. An entirely unexpected sound. A series of gunshots—’

‘We shot hyena,’ Narov cut in, defensively. ‘A pack of them. We did it to safeguard the elephants. They had young ones.’

Konig held up a hand to silence her. ‘I am quite aware that you killed the hyena. And certainly they are a menace. They come here to scavenge juveniles. They cause stampedes, young ones get trampled, and we do not have many of those to spare. The hyena — we ourselves have to cull them, to keep their numbers down.’

‘So your guards heard gunshots?’ Jaeger prompted.

‘They did. They called me in some alarm. They feared poachers had made their way into the cave. Hence I arrived and found… you.’ A pause. ‘A newly-wed couple who scale mountains, penetrate caves and eliminate a pack of spotted hyena. It is most unusual, Mrs Groves, is it not?’

Narov didn’t so much as flinch. ‘Would you abseil into this place without being armed? It would be madness to do so.’