EXTRACT FOR
Kebi's Tribe
(Kelly Addams)

The first faint light of dawn crept across the canvas of her tent but Shauna was in no hurry to get up. The previous morning she'd been eager to watch the wildlife at the waterhole, but today is different she decided, outside there was little of interest, just grass and trees that go on forever.

She could hear Joshua beginning preparations for their breakfast and morning shower, beside her Ted turned in his narrow cot, the frame squeaking softly under the strain. She thought about home, about her situation with him. His parents, they were decent people? she opened her eyes and looked at her husband in the strengthening light and realised that for years she'd been living in a state of denial. He wasn't respected in his own right, he was respected because of his parents.

In fact, far from being respected I'm pretty sure the people that really know you don't like you very much. She saw it all so clearly, he was arrogant, mean, petty, selfish? everything that a man of God shouldn't be.

I have to get away from you she thought as he struggled from his cot and pulled on a pair of shorts and a light cotton shirt. I've never be so sure of anything in my life. You are slowly killing me Ted.

"But where can I go?" she whispered to herself as she heard him beginning his morning prayers. Obviously she couldn't consider making any move while she was still in Africa. And when I get home? All of those fingers would be pointed at me, how could I do such a thing to their beloved Minister. She would bring shame upon his family, and his parents really don't deserve that, they are everything that he isn't.

"But I can't live my life for others, for the first time I have to live for myself."

Maybe Prince Charming will ride in on a white stallion and rescue me, Shauna smiled ruefully, fairy-tales happened to other people, not her. But I can dream she told herself then hopped out of the bed and slipped into a delicate lacy night gown.

Dawn had broken outside the tent and the air was refreshingly cool, Shauna breathed deeply then smiled and said good morning to Joshua who was preparing yet more sausages.

Her mind was still running through her options, some were realistic, others fanciful and completely impractical. I just have to bide my time and bite my tongue until we all get home, then I shall make a clean break, I shall explain to his parents why I'm leaving, then I shall move into a small apartment somewhere far from Louisville and start again, I have my savings, so I can survive until I find a job.

Her thoughts were suddenly shattered as Joshua cried out in alarm before falling face down across his mesh grill. Shauna spun around, instantly she thought of accident or heaven forbid, heart attack? that was when she screamed.

Standing over the fallen guide was the largest, fiercest and most terrifying beast she could ever imagine. The huge male lion stared directly into her eyes, and snarled.

Shauna screamed again, this time the sound was thinner, she couldn't draw breath and urine flowed down her inner thighs to pool around her bare feet. The dark maned monster snarled again revealing curved and heavily stained canine teeth, that sight was sufficient to break Shauna out of her trance and she began to back away. Slowly at first she shuffled her feet, the lion pressed a massive paw down on the side of Joshua's head, the man whimpered and Shauna felt another trickle of warm pee escape.

Where is Ted? She suddenly asked herself, she might not like the man very much but she'd hate to think that he was going to be the lion's next target.

Intense amber eyes burned into her, the lion still hadn't moved. Despite her terror Shauna had dragged up a snippet of information from deep in her random memories. Lions were cats, and cats reacted to movement. Something told her that she was safer standing still and facing the menace that running. To run would probably spark the reflex to chase, and she knew within just a few bounds he would be on her? and that would be the end.

"Ted?" she whispered. The lion's ear flinched so she decided to stay both still and quiet. She still wanted to know where he had gone? Was he hiding in the tent, she hadn't seen him move, but then again she'd been too busy absorbing the horror of the attack on Joshua.

Her answer can just a few seconds later when she heard the Toyota engine start.

That was quick thinking she told herself as she realised that her chances had suddenly improved, Ted would move the vehicle until it was between herself and the lion, then she could jump into the cab and they would both be relatively safe.

But what about poor Joshua? She asked herself, then averted her eyes from the pool of blood that was rapidly swelling around his head. I think it's too late for him she told herself then braced to move swiftly, the engine roared and gears crashed as Ted tried to force into first using too little clutch. 

Any second now Shauna thought, every sinew and muscle in her body was taut and tensed ready to spring, and then she felt the bottom drop out of her world as the Toyota raced away across the savannah.

"You coward!" she screamed at the rising dust cloud, "You fucking coward Ted? I hate you, bastard!" The words may have stemmed from her fear and shock, but Shauna knew that they had been living inside her for years, she was simply too conditioned by her dismal life to ever let them out.