As the afternoon waned on and the hour approached for an inconspicuous journey back to the village, their work slowed a considerable amount. Eventually, Huxley, satisfied with his collection for the day, gave up altogether and sat waiting for Akan to tire himself out, a feat that seemed increasingly unlikely as he toiled about on his knees with the mud-encrusted spade firmly planted in his hands. Therefore, he passed the time by retrieving a small leather-bound sketchbook from his satchel and drawing the surrounding flora that caught his eye.
"What's that for?" asked Akan upon witnessing his partner's activity.
"For one, it gives us a modicum of proof if we are questioned about what we were doing today without raising any further queries. For another, I find it somewhat relaxing. I believe I'm getting better with my sketches, and have you seen my recent painting? The last was marvelous, I must admit."
"Ah," said Akan, satisfied as he returned to his digging.
"Perhaps this is what I'll do with my share. I'll take up the life I've been pretending to lead."
"But you aren't a real artist."
"Maybe not, but I could be. I've posed as men of many professions in my lifetime, and for once I'd fancy one of them to be legitimate."
"Whatever you say," mumbled Akan, only half paying attention to the rambling words of his partner.
"Finish up, won't you? We should be heading back soon, and you'll have plenty of time tomorrow to pick up where you left off."
"Fine," said the giant, reluctantly climbing to his feet and strapping the sack full of diamonds securely to his body. "Let's be on our way."
They made their way back through the jungle, sticking closely to their initial path, now marked with the telltale signs of tracks and well-positioned landmarks. As they drew near the river, however, Akan let out a cry, pointing off in the direction of the water. Huxley's view, however, was completely obscured by thick clusters of trees.
"What?" asked Huxley. "What is it?"
"Maybe nothing," said Akan, "but for a moment there, I believed I saw a boat on the river. That's impossible, though, isn't it?"
"Not necessarily. It may very well be other missionaries in the area. After all, we hadn't the slightest idea we'd find the lovely Ms. Virginia Pear in an area we were assured would be tucked safely away from the scraps of civilization that are slowly littering the entirety of Africa."
"Maybe so. The only thing I'm certain of is that they are heading for the village--our village."
"Our village? Really? Since when did you become so concerned about the state and safety of our village?"
"All my equipment is there," said Akan, "and most of my best clothing."
"Ah, that's more like it."
"I'm serious, Huxley. Where else would that boat be heading?"
"If there even was a boat. You say you only caught a fleeting glimpse, isn't that right?"
"Well, yes--"
"You've been working long and hard, and there is always the possibility that you've begun seeing things that aren't there, and say there is a boat--why should that worry you? Do you assume there must be some malevolent intent on sailing a boat upriver?"
"There's nowhere to go upriver, except for the village. They'll hit the falls if they go any further."
"Huxley Falls."
Akan sighed. "I simply don't see a reason for anyone journeying to the village unless they have similar intentions to our own. Perhaps they're delivering supplies or something of that sort. Fine, but the village seems to sustain itself well enough on its own. What if someone else is after the diamonds? We should make a run for it, I imagine--sometime in the middle of the night."
"Calm down. Let's not leap to any hasty conclusions. We aren't far from the village now, and we can sort everything out once we've spoken to Virginia. Agreed?"
"Agreed," said Akan, though as they continued through the jungle, he could not escape the feeling that trembled in the pit of his stomach, warning him that all was not well.
"What's that for?" asked Akan upon witnessing his partner's activity.
"For one, it gives us a modicum of proof if we are questioned about what we were doing today without raising any further queries. For another, I find it somewhat relaxing. I believe I'm getting better with my sketches, and have you seen my recent painting? The last was marvelous, I must admit."
"Ah," said Akan, satisfied as he returned to his digging.
"Perhaps this is what I'll do with my share. I'll take up the life I've been pretending to lead."
"But you aren't a real artist."
"Maybe not, but I could be. I've posed as men of many professions in my lifetime, and for once I'd fancy one of them to be legitimate."
"Whatever you say," mumbled Akan, only half paying attention to the rambling words of his partner.
"Finish up, won't you? We should be heading back soon, and you'll have plenty of time tomorrow to pick up where you left off."
"Fine," said the giant, reluctantly climbing to his feet and strapping the sack full of diamonds securely to his body. "Let's be on our way."
They made their way back through the jungle, sticking closely to their initial path, now marked with the telltale signs of tracks and well-positioned landmarks. As they drew near the river, however, Akan let out a cry, pointing off in the direction of the water. Huxley's view, however, was completely obscured by thick clusters of trees.
"What?" asked Huxley. "What is it?"
"Maybe nothing," said Akan, "but for a moment there, I believed I saw a boat on the river. That's impossible, though, isn't it?"
"Not necessarily. It may very well be other missionaries in the area. After all, we hadn't the slightest idea we'd find the lovely Ms. Virginia Pear in an area we were assured would be tucked safely away from the scraps of civilization that are slowly littering the entirety of Africa."
"Maybe so. The only thing I'm certain of is that they are heading for the village--our village."
"Our village? Really? Since when did you become so concerned about the state and safety of our village?"
"All my equipment is there," said Akan, "and most of my best clothing."
"Ah, that's more like it."
"I'm serious, Huxley. Where else would that boat be heading?"
"If there even was a boat. You say you only caught a fleeting glimpse, isn't that right?"
"Well, yes--"
"You've been working long and hard, and there is always the possibility that you've begun seeing things that aren't there, and say there is a boat--why should that worry you? Do you assume there must be some malevolent intent on sailing a boat upriver?"
"There's nowhere to go upriver, except for the village. They'll hit the falls if they go any further."
"Huxley Falls."
Akan sighed. "I simply don't see a reason for anyone journeying to the village unless they have similar intentions to our own. Perhaps they're delivering supplies or something of that sort. Fine, but the village seems to sustain itself well enough on its own. What if someone else is after the diamonds? We should make a run for it, I imagine--sometime in the middle of the night."
"Calm down. Let's not leap to any hasty conclusions. We aren't far from the village now, and we can sort everything out once we've spoken to Virginia. Agreed?"
"Agreed," said Akan, though as they continued through the jungle, he could not escape the feeling that trembled in the pit of his stomach, warning him that all was not well.
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