Author's Note: If you aren't comfortable with race play, please don't read this story.
*
The American and his wife stood at Dodoma station looking east into the sun.
"Four Minutes, Mr. Nicks," said the translator. Tabora was to the northwest 383 kilometers after deep valleys and a great river and Jack wondered if they would make it by supper. The streets became unsafe after dark in Tabora and his guns were stowed and not carried in the open.
"This is all so beautiful," said Jack's wife Birdy. She was a pretty woman from a small town near the port of Jack's new outpost.
"It is. We'll get unpacked and go out tonight for a drink and hunt in the morning."
"Are you sure I can go with you? I don't want to slow you down."
"No, I don't trust the staff at Ristalemi. You'll be safer with me."
There was no breeze and the insects pecked at the two travelers like animals in the open field. The man swatted the bugs and they landed on the woman.
"Tell me again why we're doing this."
"I told you the number of hippos is dwindling and we have to get one now. Not everyone can do it. But I believe you can do it. A woman's a better shot than a man at midrange distances and you know what to do."
The bed was soft after the long ride and the couple stayed in instead of going out and cleaned up and unpacked and placed their shoes by the door. The window was open and a cool breeze dried their sweaty bodies and they could sleep.
In the morning there was coffee for travelers in the lobby and soon Abasi would come and take them to the field.
"Goodness, it's hot, Jack." She fanned her hat at her face and her arms and neck shined from wetness and the man held his hat against his chest like he was praying only he wasn't because he didn't believe in the supernatural, except where nature transcends like it does on the plain. There was no god in town but there might be in the wild.
"I think it would be better if you let me talk to the guide. I just think it's best."
The woman grabbed her bags and followed Abasi to the truck and they all rode in the back through the jolts and bouncing of the trek and the man thought how great his wife's breasts looked jiggling and bouncing on the truck. They had not made love in over three days.
"Over here," the guide said.
"We'd like to make camp before lunch. Is this the best place?"
"No, I will show you the best place." The guide Abasi knew the best places and what dangers white people from the West may not know. He'd seen many brave men fall to the beasts of the plains.
Abasi had wanted the money up front, so Jack and his wife stayed close to make sure he didn't leave them.
The grasses were waist high and insects were aggressive and the couple batted them down all day. "Son of a bitch, Birdy. These bugs are dangerous!" he said.
"It's really not that bad once you quit thinking about them. You should just quit, Jack. Really you should."
The day was unsuccessful at hunting. On the way back to the truck and then the hotel, Abasi pointed out a village that has the mightiest warriors. There is a legend of a man so fierce no one has defeated him. "Men come from 4 days away just to fight him. He wins with his hands. It's tradition that no weapons be used in a man to man fight."
The white couple asked if he had a weakness and Abasi said he has no weakness.
"Every man has a weakness. That is what makes him a man. Any man who doesn't think he has a weakness is a weak man and blind, to boot. I would like to meet this man."
"That's not a good idea, Mr. Nicks. His warriors do not take visits well, especially from white challengers."
"What does a man have to do to fight this warrior? Pay a fee?"
"No, much worse. He takes your woman. Well, if you win, he doesn't take your woman, but he's never been beaten. He has many women now. He and his men use the women."
Birdy said, "Why don't they just leave?"
"No one knows. Some say they like being servants to such a warrior."
"Set it up, Abasi. I will have my chance at this man, only let me meet him first."
That night the man and woman copulated quietly in the squeaky bed. The man finished quickly and went to sleep. Outside the insects and beast made their guttural sounds for mating and territory.