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So they drove back to the bungalow with Grant Williams driving behind them, and he came into the bungalow to have a few words with Jess.
She was startled to see him. Wrapped in a cotton dressing-gown, her short hair damp from her bath, she flushed as she shook hands.
'I'm sorry to intrude at this hour,' he said uneasily, and explained his mission.
'If Mr Davidson comes along tomorrow he must be very quiet,' Jess said. 'I don't want any disturbances near the waterhole. The animals scent any intruders and keep clear for hours until they're sure the coast is clear.'
'I'll bring him myself,' said Grant. 'I think I can vouch for his discretion if I'm there beside him.'
Jess lifted amused blue eyes to him. 'I see,' she said, her glance measuring him.
'Will you trust me?' he asked.
'I think I will,' she said softly.
Next morning at dawn they all set off in two Land-Rovers. Jess, Marie and Jeremy drove in one, Peter, Grant Williams and Rahaib came behind them in another. The journey was slow and painful. The roads were soon nothing but cart-tracks through the jungle, jolting roughly over them they clenched their teeth at each great bump, their faces soon grey with dust.
Soon they left the Land-Rovers parked in a clearing and went the rest of the way on foot, walking carefully in single file through dark jungle paths, listening to the screech of green parakeets overhead, watching the flicker of wings as greenshanks and golden orioles flew between the branches.
'We shall be coming to the river soon,' Jess said softly.
The heat was oppressive, steamy, humid. High grass whispered on all sides of them under the shade of the twisted creepers. At dawn the mist was still slowly clearing from the river banks; a luminous pearly whiteness hung around them everywhere.
Suddenly a kingfisher flew out, a silver fish in its beak, the flash of bright blue making them jump.
'Here we are,' Jess whispered.
They emerged on a river bank, the sides stony with pebbles. A few feet away on the other side some roe deer, small spotted deer with liquid eyes, were grazing. They shot away, vanishing into the mist with a silent speed that was very impressive.
Jeremy froze, clutching his mother's arm. She followed the stare of his round eyes and smiled.
'It won't hurt you, darling. It's only a monitor.'
The lizard slowly moved into the safety of the jungle again, his green skin merging with the trees.
They moved on towards the stilt hut the King had had built for Jess. Thatched with dry grass, open-sided, it was reached by a rickety series of bamboo steps, like a ladder. Below the stilts it stood on the grass was trodden flat and yellowing.
'Doesn't look too safe to me,' Grant Williams observed with a frown.
Jess laughed. 'It does very well for me.' Then she surveyed them all with a little grimace. 'But you may be right. I doubt if it would support the weight of a small army like you. Some of you must stay below for a while.'
'I'll take Marie off to see the temple,' Peter said eagerly.
'I'll stay with you, Mummy,' Jeremy insisted, clinging to her hand.
She looked at Rahaib, who inclined his head politely. 'If you will permit, my lady, I will visit the village and see if I can find fresh milk and eggs.'
'That would be nice,' Jess thanked him. 'You know where it is, Rahaib?'
A look of dry amusement crossed his face. 'Yes, my lady.'
Grant Williams laughed. 'Rahaib knows where everything is,' he told Jess.
Peter took Marie's hand. 'Coming? The temple must be along here somewhere…'
'No, sir,' Rahaib interrupted. 'It is along that path over there…' His brown finger pointed confidently to a very narrow, overgrown path.
'Thanks,' said Peter, with a grin. He and Marie took the path indicated, finding it heavy going because it was so overgrown. Peter slashed at the creepers with a sinister-looking knife he had carried with him from the Land-Rover. The river ran to the right of them, chuckling over great grey boulders.
