Read Beyond Life for Free Online

else about to hear them.
    ‘I want the tall one with the oval face. What did her parents die of?’
    Knowing that HIV and AIDS was prevalent in Zambia and one of the major reasons for the large number of orphans, Gary was always careful when choosing his next sex slave victims.
    ‘I’ll check her medical records,’ said Daniel, ‘but it may take a few days.’ His appointment meant that he had access to records of all the children, but would have to ask the clerk to take out the file. This could well cause suspicion when the girl went missing, even though the police investigation would be cursory.
    ‘Not good enough, my friend,’ the words sent a shiver up Daniel’s spine and he avoided looking into Gary’s eyes, frightened at what the man would make him do.
    ‘I’m taking Val out later on, and when her friend takes some of them to get water this evening, I want you to make sure the girl doesn’t go if she was due to go with them?’
    Daniel nodded and Gary continued.
    ‘You will arrange for her to go out via the back door.’
    Daniel started to protest but Gary silenced him with a look.
    ‘Then one of my men will grab her. You’ll be in the clear as long as you can think of a believable excuse for her to go outside. But before all that, go and check her medical documents. Comprende?’
    He understood all right and he also realised that the Englishman was willing to take more and more risks. However, his lifestyle had improved since he’d been helping Gary and at least these girls were getting decent accommodation, not like those orphans living on the streets of the capital and having to prostitute themselves just to get food. Daniel’s warped reasoning helped him to justify his actions and he knew deep down that he’d do anything to be able to keep the luxuries to which his family had become accustomed. His wife treated him with respect these days and that alone was worth the risk.
     

Chapter 4
     
    It was Val’s afternoon off and she hastily dragged a comb through her hair when she heard the Land Rover pull up outside the staff accommodation. She checked her appearance in the cracked piece of mirror leaning up against the old, uneven dressing table. She’d accumulated a few more wrinkles since working in Zambia and her roots could do with a touch up, but under the circumstances she was content with her looks. Losing Ron almost two years before had aged her but she was finally starting to get her mojo back and wanted to play a bit as well as work hard. She hadn’t been with another man since the dreadful time of Ron and Ken’s death and the memory of her guilt back then made her frown. She’d admitted to herself that she missed physical contact and was ready for a bit of fun, but certainly wasn’t ready for another long-term relationship. Val didn’t know if she’d ever be ready for that.  She wondered if Marion ever missed having a sex life. They’d talked about many things during their friendship but Marion’s sex life wasn’t one of them and Val wondered, cruelly, if Marion didn’t like Gary because he was interested in her and not Marion. Jealousy would explain why Marion had made such unkind comments that were so out of character. Val knew to trust her own instincts, especially after the attack the previous year and she didn’t get any bad vibes when she was with Gary. In fact, he’d acted like the perfect gentleman.
    The beeping horn brought her back to the present and she put her hair in a ponytail and ran down the wooden stairs. She stopped and composed herself at the bottom not wishing to appear too keen.
     
    They laughed and chatted on the journey. Val knew that the nature reserve was too far to travel there and back in an afternoon, but Gary had said that they might see some elephant and antelope. He added that if they were really lucky and very quiet, their patience might be rewarded with the sight of a leopard. Val was used to the bumpy roads and tracks around the orphanage