Chapter 7 A tale in the telling

                              NICKEL & DIME PRODUCTION'S 
                                    proudly present's 
               CONNEMARA FEENEY & TAYLOR DAVIES 
                                             in
                       THE HEART STONE OF AFRICA
The next afternoon Connie & Taylor had a meeting with the Belgium Ambassador Hans Von Baston , a report for all that had happened had already been sent to the Embassy.

They were meet by his Secretary, a nice young lady named Elsie Wier.

Elsie" The Ambassador is expecting you, may I take your coats ?"
After taking their coats Elsie lead them into a room were the Ambassador was waiting, after shaking hands & as Elsie was leaving the room.
Hans"Please take a seat, may I get you anything to drink ?"
They both set-down  & replied thankfully but refused the drink.

Hans" I've had my people look into the matter & have some news for you,
Soon after Stanley returned from the Congo, King Leopold tried to recruit him. Stanley, still hopeful for British backing, brushed him off, however, Leopold persisted and eventually Stanley gave in"

"Stanley, much more familiar with the rigors of the African climate and the complexities of local politics than Leopold, persuaded his patron that the first step should be the construction of a wagon trail and a series of way-stations. Leopold agreed and Stanley set off to Zanibar. To avoid discovery, materials and workers were shipped in by various roundabout routes, and communications between Stanley and Leopold were entrusted to Colonel Maximilian Strauch"

"Stanley lead a successful expedition & our records show that Claude Peeters was a member of the expedition & that one night he, a native guide & four other men stole some pack animals & supplies & took off into the night never to be heard of again, that is until you found his remains, that's about as much as I can tell you about Peeters as our records don't show of anyone ever reporting him missing, but given the kind of man he seemed to have been I think it would be safe to bet that Claude Peeters was not his real name, its not uncommon for a man with problems to come to Africa under a false name to escape from whatever his problems might be"

Taylor & Connie thanked the Ambassador for his time & help & headed back to the hotel to meet with Boswel & Defour.

Taylor & Connie were sitting outside when their two friends arrived.

After a drink the group headed inside for dinner, over dinner Taylor & Connie them about the diamond she'd found on the remains of Peeters & how it was intended to sell it & give the two of them along with Jim Browns family back in England an equal cut of the money, Taylor also told them what they learned from the Belgium Ambassador & what his plans where & asked them if they like to take part.

Both men agreed that Connie had done the right thing to keep the find to herself & thanked her for her kindness in giving them a share, Defour refused the offer from Taylor to join him saying that he was more at home in the air then tracking Africa on foot, but Boswel was interested & wanted to hear more,so after dinner they went back outside to the cool of the evening, after saying goodbye to Defour the other three seat-down to start making plans.

Marco Boswel had spent most of his life leading expeditions & safari's in Africa & Taylor knew he couldn't have found a better man for the job, but while interested Boswel hadn't agreed to join in yet.

Marco"Before we start let me ask you Taylor, this isn't some fool hearty search for the fable King Solomon's mines your taking on is it ?"

Laughing Taylor replied "No Marco its nothing as romantic as that, this is a very serous business exploration I'm under taking, that diamond came from somewhere & its my experience that where there's one there's more"
"I'm hoping that we can use the point where Peeters left Stanley's expedition & the point where we found his remains to triangulate where he might have gone to find that diamond"

Marco"That's good to hear & I agree that where he took off is a good starting point, but I'm afraid to say that where we found him is of less use as for all we know he might have been lost or had jungle fever & been wondering aimlessly"
"Stanley as we know carried on more or less due West from that point, so I think it would to say that Peeters didn't head that way, nor is it I think likely that he doubled back but that still leaves a lot of ways he could have gone & as its so many years ago were not going to be able to pick up any trail"

Taylor" That's a very good point you make Marco & is why I'd like to have you along, I don't know if you know this but diamonds are formed by volcano's so I'd guess were looking for a mountainous area, so what I'd like to do is make to where Peeters took off & then giving the lay of the land let you decide which is the most likely way he would have gone"

Marco" Well to be honest Taylor I think you might be looking for a needle in a haystack but I've grown fond of you pair so count me in, tell me will Miss Connie be coming along ?"

Taylor "Absolutely not Connie will be heading back to the US as there is n...
Connie "Stop right there Taylor, if you think I'm going to go back to the US & spend the next God knows how long worrying day & night about you you have another think coming, either I'm coming along or I'm resigning & heading back to Ireland"

Taylor "But Con...
Connie her temper now rising "No buts Taylor the choice is yours, either I come along or you never see me again"
Taylor knew Connie well enough to know she meant what she said & as there was no way he was going to let her leave (as he intend to ask her to marry him when all this was over) he relented.

Taylor "Ok Connie ok, what do you think Marco is Connie up to this trip ?" he asked hoping Marco might side with him.
With a grin on his face Marcol "From what I've seen of Miss Connie I's say her more then up to it Taylor & I'm glad to have her along"
Taylor "It looks like I'm been railroaded here, ok Connie your in"

The three talked for awhile longer making plans, Marco would start the next day on organizing the man power while Taylor & Connie set about securing the supplies.

Two days later just after breakfast Taylor & Connie had a visitor.

Stranger "Pardon the interruption but would be Mr Taylor Davies & Miss Connemara Feeney ?"
Taylor "We are, but have us at a disadvantage Sir"
Stranger "My humble apologizes, allow me to introduce myself I'm Akmid  Khan"
Taylor "Pleased to meet you, now what can we do for you ?"

Sitting down uninvited Akmid "Word has come to me that you are getting ready to depart on an expedition & as you are a businessman I have a business, how do you say it, a proposition for you, would you be interested in a partner ? I've a good knowledge of Africa & have men & supplies ready to go"

Taking a disliking to the man Taylor"I don't know what you've heard sir but my business is my own, but if you must know we are setting off on a safari, not to hunt animals but to take some pictures, its a little vacation before heading back to the US"

Akmid "Come now Mr Davies you can not expect me to believe such a story"
Starting to lose his temper Taylor "Believe what you will sir, now I wish you a good-day"

Akmid rising to his feet "Do not brush aside the hand of friendship so easily Mr Davies, Africa can be a very dangerous place & I pray it is not your intention to take such a lovely flower of the world as Miss Connemara in to such danger"

Connie noticing how Taylor's anger was reaching breaking point "I welcome your concern for my health but worry not I'm sure I shall come to no harm, now I really do think its time you left"

Bowing slight Akim Khan turned & walked away, after he was gone.
Taylor "I don't like this Connie I've a feeling Mr Khan is a nasty piece of work, would you not reconsider staying behind ?" seen the thunderous look on Connie's face Taylor continued with a smile "No I guess you won't"

That's a rap for this post, as always my thanks for dropping in & if you like to be a film critic & leave a comment it would be welcomed :)