AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Of course. That’s what I’m here f
or.’
His grin widened and Zak’s face soured further. ‘Are our tents ready?’ Zak asked.
Peter released her hand, looked over towards the SUVs and shouted instructions in Kiswahili at the group erecting the sign. ‘They are. I’ll have your luggage taken to your assigned tents when you’re ready.’
‘We will. The sample lodge is ready to view?’ Zak asked.
Peter nodded. ‘In the west compound, as you instructed.’
‘Take me there, I’d like to inspect it.’
‘Sure thing,’ Peter replied, in no way daunted by Zak’s hit-the-ground-running attitude.
‘When we’re done, I’d like a tour of the rest of the site, if that’s not too much trouble?’ Violet asked.
Zak frowned. ‘We just arrived. You should rest.’
She shook her head. ‘I’m not tired and I’ve been cooped up in the car for hours. I’d like to stretch my legs and familiarise myself with the landscape in preparation for when the volunteers arrive tomorrow.’
His lips firmed and he clicked his fingers. One of his bodyguards rushed forward and a low exchange took place in Montegovan. Before Violet could blink, a wide-brimmed straw hat magically appeared. Zak held it out to her. ‘Heatstroke is a serious issue here. I’d hate to have to use the chopper on our very first day.’
She’d packed a hat for herself but with her luggage still stowed in the SUV, she had no choice but to accept Zak’s offering.
‘Thanks.’ She pulled on the hat, glad for the shade it offered.
They made their way from the parking area to the heart of the site, where the large building that would house the reception, restaurant and spa were located.
The construction crew were in the final stages of pouring concrete for the foundations. The handful of volunteers who’d been on site from the beginning would leave as soon as the new volunteers Violet had helped select arrived to start their work erecting the lodges.
They bypassed the central building and she spotted a sleek helicopter, the one Zak had referred to, on the far north side of the flat landscape. Its discreet little red and white cross caught her attention.
‘Why the medical chopper? I didn’t think it’d be needed at a project like this,’ she said to Peter.
He glanced briefly at Zak before he answered. ‘This isn’t strictly a medical helicopter but it’s useful since the nearest medical facility is thirty miles away. It’s purely a worst-case scenario option.’
Of course, with the VIP royal who happened to be second in line to the Montegovan throne on site, safeguarding him was paramount. Looking closer, Violet spotted the monogram of the Montegovan royal house on the tail fin of the aircraft, confirming her theory.
Zak sent her a sidelong glance. ‘Before you think the pampered Prince has a chopper on tap to deal with his splinters, you should know that the chef in charge of feeding the whole camp happens to be eight months pregnant. She refuses to leave before her rotation is up in two weeks. The helicopter is primarily for her in case she goes into early labour.’
Shame lanced her and she was glad for the wide brim of the hat hiding her chagrin. Zak’s mocking gaze returned to the path as they left the first row of lodges and headed west.
The eco-lodge came into view as they rounded an acacia tree.
The single storey building was functional, compact but beautiful, designed for a small family. It blended into the landscape and had a simple wraparound veranda at the front to make the most of west-facing sunlight.
Zak stepped onto the veranda and opened the front door.
The functional theme was echoed inside with an open-plan living room and kitchen, and two small bedrooms tucked into the back of the house. But it was the hidden extras that Violet was interested in.
‘Bath water is recycled into sanitary plumbing?’ she asked.
Zak nodded. ‘And solar panels on the roof at the back provide energy. A central borehole has been dug ready to harvest natural artesian water and rain. There’s a large borehole for the whole village.’
According to the report she’d read back in New York, the eco-lodges had been a joint-design between Zak and Tanzanian architects to exact specifications, with as much locally sourced materials as possible, after which they were constructed and flat-packed in Montegova and shipped three weeks ago. It was clear this project was close to his heart as he inspected every corner of the dwelling, pointing out areas he wanted rechecked and improved in the yet-to-be-built units.
Peter answered every query, providing intelligent solutions when Zak demanded them. Before they left the sample house, it was clear why he’d been chosen as foreman.
