WILD AND DANGEROUS ADVENTURE SERIES
Flying With Eagles GRAHAM VIVIAN LANCASTER
For Sydney and Murray
L TRAYBERRY PRESS
ALEXANDER HOUSE Incorporating
TRAYBERRY PRESS 29 Howick Road Pietermaritzburg 0836388813 Copyright 2011 Graham Vivian Lancaster Copyright 2011 in this published edition ALEXANDER HOUSE All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder and publisher. First published 2011
ISBN: 978-0-9869830-5-4 Cover design: G. V. Lancaster / Maxine Wicks Photography: Graham Vivian Lancaster, Neil Wiltshire Flight advisor: Mark Zank Distributed by Trayberry Book Distributors. Cell: 0836388813 Tel: 033 - 3427978
Works by the author: NOVELS:
SELF HELP:
Wind Song Storm Song Strength Of ten Everyone Can Do It Its Never Too Late Surviving The Ladder The Cost Of Money Who’s Shrinking Your Money? The Happy Customer
POETRY:
Marks On My Soul Gypsey Whale Song Gravel Roads Fledgeling African Ride Moments of Truth Picaroon Rusty Gates Poetry Study Guide
HUMOUR:
Bert and Co. Bert Another Story Nothing For Mahala
ADVENTURE SERIES:
Wild and Dangerous + Study Guide Secrets of the Sea Cyclone Tracy Wrath Of The Gods Dangerous Alliances When The Earth Thunders + Study Guide Awakening Africa Flying With Eagles Over The Edge + Study Guide * The Adventurous Life Of Rory Flint
INDEX AFTER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Darryl and S’bu have saved their money to buy a microlight aircraft each. Tension mounts as they visit the factory and have no idea whether their parents will allow it… FLYING WITH EAGLES Exhilarating microlight flying with eagles over the Eastern Transvaal, bring S’bu and Darryl close to reaching their dream… GOODBYE IS NEVER EASY Leaving the farm and baby Katie is heartbreaking as Darryl, S’bu and Grant head home with Daisy in the crane truck, while the Cessna flies Mister Myeko home...
After Kruger National Park It was a sombre gathering at Crocodile Bridge Camp as Grant, Matthew, Darryl and S’bu said goodbye to everyone at the fireside the night before they left. Murray Scott stood quietly with thoughts of the past two weeks running through his mind; the way Darryl and S’bu had raced through the smoke with the fire and the massive stampeding herd of buffalo almost upon them. Somehow they had saved themselves, Grant, Kaitlyn and himself from certain death that day.* Standing with him at the fireside was Doc. Muller, Jamie, Melanie, Doc. Saunders, Kaitlyn and Sydney Jade. “I’m going to miss you guys,” she said a little too brightly. “We are going to miss you too, Sinny. Working with you, Murray and everyone else has been an education I wouldn’t have missed for the world,” Darryl said as they stood with their arms around each other. “It was. You guys almost gave us heart attacks a few times,” she tried to laugh. “We will have to do it again next year,” Murray chipped in quickly. They looked at him, and standing behind all of them in the shadows with her myeko of white beads shining in the flickering firelight was the sangoma who had led them through the smoke and saved their lives. She nodded at S’bu and Darryl, waved and was gone as suddenly as she had appeared. “Um – uh - we accept! Thank you.” S’bu blurted out, adjusting his focus back to the people before him after the surprise of seeing the sangoma watching them. “And you will have to visit to see how Matthew’s leg is doing, Sinny?” Darryl told her. “If he invites me,” she said glancing at Matthew. * Awakening Africa 1
“I am inviting you and so is Sibusiso ---,” Darryl waited but S’bu didn’t take the hint so he kicked him on the leg. “Oh yes, of course we are – but why do we have to invite anyone, Darryl? Surely they must just arrive at the farm?” S’bu frowned as he sub-consciously rubbed his leg where Darryl had kicked him. “Of course they must!” Darryl agreed and everyone found the antics between the two of them most entertaining. “We agree,” Grant said from where he stood beside Matthew. S’bu fixed Matthew with a big eyed freezing stare and tilted his head to one side. “Oh – of course – everyone is welcome,” Matthew stammered as he suddenly took the hint and S’bu’s stare intensified. “Will you come and visit me, Sydney?” he asked shyly. “Yes I will. I would like that,” she smiled. “Shall I organize the next long weekend at the farm? Fishing, SCUBA diving, crayfishing, swimming with dolphins and braais on the beach? You can let us know how many will be coming, Sinny?” “What a brilliant plan. I will let you know,” Sydney smiled, suddenly not so sad anymore. * The following day, Devin Cavisham lifted the Cessna off Cavisham Estates landing strip into the pink sky of early morning. “I wonder if Jula is down there?” Gran asked as the aircraft banked over the ocean. “It’s a bit rough for him to be too close inshore if he is there, Sheila,” Granddad replied as he looked down at the foaming waves breaking in long lines along the coast and racing to shore. “He will be so excited when Darryl and S’bu get back.” “Jula will be excited? You hardly slept last night, Sheila!” “And how would you know that if you were asleep yourself, Devin Cavisham?” Gran watched him suspiciously. “You kept waking me,” Granddad looked mischievously at her. “Piff!” Gran snorted “Oh, ok, I am excited to see my grandsons,” Devin smiled and set course for Nelspruit. 2
* Matthew refused to ride in the crate on the back of the truck, so S’bu and Darryl helped him up into the cab of the crane truck. Shortly after the Cessna left Cavisham Estates, the Samil rumbled out of Crocodile Bridge Camp into the early morning sunrise. Thorn trees stood out starkly in black lacy silhouettes with animals standing close to the roadside, some with eyes shining green in the headlights, unsure what to make of the truck in the half light. “Natal is beautiful, but this is real African bush,” Matthew said. “Have you ever seen the Zambezi Valley, Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba?” Grant asked. “No,” Matthew replied and Darryl and S’bu shook their heads. “Now that is beautiful bush. The animals which you have seen in this game reserve roam freely there. The tiger fish in the Zambezi River grow sleek and strong. In Lake Kariba they tend to be fatter as they aren’t fighting the current all the time.” “So?” Darryl glanced at S’bu. “So what?” Grant asked. “So when are we going to see all of these wonderful things and catch some of these tiger fish?” Darryl asked. “Kariba and the Zambezi River are about two thousand kilometres from here, which requires some serious thought.” “So the answer is yes?” “I’m for the Zambezi any time, Darryl. Let’s see what we can work out,” Grant said. “I’m in,” Darryl said enthusiastically. “Me too,” S’bu, agreed and they looked at Matthew. “And me.” “Good, we’ll have to do that in the near future,” Grant smiled. They drove slowly up to the gate as the game scout saluted crisply. With hands on the steering wheel, Grant braced his arms in return of the salute as the scout opened the gate to allow them through. They drove onto the N2 to Nelspruit as the four of them sat quietly with all the memories of the Kruger National Park playing through their minds. 3
“We seem to have done a lot in two weeks,” Darryl reflected. “Everything we have done here doesn’t seem possible in such a short while,” S’bu agreed. “You have the weight of the world on your shoulders this morning, my friend,” S’bu observed as he sat beside Matthew. “Yes I do,” Matthew replied. “It will work itself out, Mr. Gardiner,” S’bu said kindly. “How do you always know what I’m thinking?” “Because there is only one thing going on inside here,” S’bu tapped Matthew on the head with one finger. “What?” Matthew wrapped one arm around his neck and they wrestled playfully, jolting against Darryl and Grant. “Hey! The two of you are going to cause us to crash,” Grant said sternly. “Leave me, leave me, I’m only a little boy!” S’bu squealed in a high pitched voice as they both ignored Grant. “That will be the day you are only a little boy!” Matthew laughed, “Apologise!” “Stop bullying me before you burst the stitches in your leg,” S’bu squealed, not fighting back in case that was what happened. “Apologise!” “Quickly - phone Sydney and tell her what’s going on here, Darryl!” S’bu shouted from beneath Matthew’s arm. “You leave her out of this.” “Ok, ok! I apologise,” S’bu laughed and Matthew slowly released his grip on him. “You are such a bully!” S’bu said as he sat up and indignantly jerked his clothing straight. Matthew made as though to grab him again. “No! You are interrupting my quiet time of early morning meditation, Matthew Gardiner.” “That will be the day,” Grant laughed. “What are you so excited about that makes you full of nonsense this morning?” Matthew asked. “We are going to see Katie and Mr. Myeko,” S’bu said brightly. “And we are going to tour the Microlight factory,” Darryl added. “Ah – the microlight factory! Could we have possibly forgotten?” Grant asked. “No, because we wouldn’t have let you,” Darryl said excitedly. 4
“And I suppose you just have your cheque book in your luggage?” Matthew asked. “No. It’s right here,” Darryl opened his jacket and they saw the cheque book sticking up out of his shirt pocket. “Oh boy! Do Devin and Sheila – or your parents know about any of this?” Grant asked with the beginnings of alarm in his voice. “By their special arrangement we have a cheque book.” “I know that. I mean the two of you wanting to buy microlight aircraft?” “Granddad did put us in touch with the Myburghs – remember?” S’bu pointed out. “So you just assume he also knows about the aircraft factory they own?” “I’m sure he will have researched everything thoroughly.” “I know the whole story, but you are not answering my question. Do they know or don’t they know?” Grant pushed his point. “Grant – it’s too early in the morning to be wondering about frivolous maybe this or maybe that and what if things. Fortune favours the brave,” Darryl smiled winningly. “That means they don’t know. Do they?” Matthew pushed them for an answer. “Oh my but you can go on so,” S’bu sighed dramatically and Matthew grabbed him again. “Let me go – let go of me! You big bully. Darryl – phone Sydney!” S’bu squealed dramatically. “I think we need Sinny here anyway. With all the flack we are flying into she will at least support us before we are shot down in a fireball,” Darryl said and snatched Matthew’s phone out of his top pocket. “Give that back immediately, you little pickpocket!” Matthew shouted. “Let go of S’bu immediately!” Darryl ordered as he dialed. “Hey! Give that back!” Matthew grabbed for the phone. “Didn’t your mother teach you it’s very rude to snatch, Matthew?” 5
“Tell her his name is Matthew Fortesque Gardiner,” S’bu shouted from beneath Matthew’s arm. “Don’t you dare!” “Why should I not tell her – Fortesque?” Darryl grinned. “Both of you just wait until my leg is healed!” “And then what?” Darryl jerked the phone out of the way as Matthew snatched for it again. “Hello, hello, Matthew is that you?” they heard Sydney’s voice faintly as she answered and Darryl put her on speaker phone. “You did dial!” Matthew shouted and snatched for the phone. “Don’t snatch, Matthew. Are you supporting us - or not?” Darryl watched him squarely as he held the phone out of his reach, but so that Sydney could hear what was going on and they heard her laughing. “Give me the phone,” Matthew said carefully. “What’s the magic word?” Darryl asked condescendingly. “Please,” Matthew whispered so Sydney couldn’t hear. “I beg your pardon?” Darryl cupped one hand to his ear. “Please give me the phone!” Matthew said in exasperation. “There’s no need to shout, Matthew, just ask nicely,” Darryl said, “Good morning Sinny, Matthew would like too speak with you,” Darryl spoke to her and quickly passed the phone into Matthew’s desperate hand. He held it against his ear. “Matthew, what is going on?” she asked as S’bu kneeled on the seat and wrapped an arm around Matthew’s neck in a vice grip and pressed his own ear to the back of the phone. Matthew tried to shake him off while Darryl and Grant laughed hysterically. “Get away! Get off me!” Matthew tried to fight him off. “Are you talking to me like that, Matthew?” Sydney asked indignantly. “No I’m not. This little pest is wrapped around my head with his ear glued to the other side of the phone so he can hear what we are saying,” Matthew exploded and Sydney laughed uncontrollably. “Both of them are terrorising us so early in the morning,” he blurted out. “And what support are they looking for?” she sobbed for breath in between her laughter. 6