Beneath the African Sun
by
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‘This is ridiculous’ was the first rational thought that went through his head. He sobered instantly. ‘This can’t fucking be happening to me. I am an international star. I am staying at a goddam five star exclusive resort – not some fucking war zone’
If he carefully lifted his eyebrows he could see the Boma Fire, he could hear it crackling - breaking the rhythm of the African Drums, and the enthusiastic revelry just beyond the Acacia pole fence. He could smell the barbecued warthog.
‘I am within calling distance of the other guests, within five fucking miles from a hot shower and cold Buds’, he rationalised but he dared not open his mouth not even to spit out the dirt, let alone scream for help.
The whole thing was completely surreal……….... and yet, his face WAS pressed into the warm African dust, its acridness pervading his nostrils. He felt grit beneath an eyelid. His heart thumped out of sync with the drums, and the cold barrel of the AK47 hunting rifle pressed against one cheek.
Your life was supposed to flash past in situations like this – but no, it actually slows down to a deadly focusing clarity.
‘I must correct this misperception.’ He thought with complete absurdity. ‘Am I going to live. Who are they, why aren’t they saying anything?’ He was completely frozen with terror.
A small African beetle passed by him just centimetres away blissfully unaware of the unfolding drama. The silence surrounding him was deafening, drowning out the music and partying as his ears were filled with a buzzing, punctuated only occasionally by drunken laughter and joviality.
‘What the fuck has just happened, what the fuck IS happening?!’
He remembered staggering out of the boma to take a leak. Interesting how he has just lost the urge. He couldn’t have walked more than 10 yards to the tree – just to get out of the direct light. Nothing much had been going through his head. He was at that stage of drunkenness where everything seems to slow down and a perpetual feeling of euphoria takes over. He hadn’t heard anything. Just the shove and tracker boot on the back of his head, his mouth open against the dirt.
‘What the fuck has just happened?’
Ricky remembered back over the evening……………….
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About the Book
Ricky Garrett a Hollywood celebrity is in South Africa to host a music awards when during a short safari he falls foul to a group of poachers. After a long stay in hospital he recovers and making use of his celebrity status joins a group of conservationists in Botswana, tracking a poaching ring in the hope of bringing the criminals to justice. When he meets Sandra, sparks immediately fly, but are the two able to keep this hidden from Sandra’s very powerful boyfriend. Beneath the African Sun follows Ricky’s slow awakening to the beauty and harshness of Africa, his guarded acceptance into the group, and his quest to find the people that nearly took his life. His journey is thwarted with problems. Is someone in the group hiding something, and will they all stay alive long enough to see justice done.
About the Author
Amanda Michelle Grierson was born and grew up as part of the affluent classes in Southern Africa. She comes from 3 generations of wildlife enthusiasts. All members of her family are actively involved in the conservation of the lands, seas and skies of Southern Africa and the animals that inhabit them. Whilst doing a finance degree at Stratford University, Toronto Amanda did a dissertation on the effects of poaching on toursim in Southern Africa. All facts in the novel were taken from research done regarding the importance of wildlife in Southern Africa as relates directly to tourism and the consquences of poaching and illegal animal trade. Many of the scenarios in this book are taken from personal experiences. Her three children all grew up in rural Africa. Amanda now lives in Hampshire with her family.