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'Message for you. And by the way, congratulations.'
'Thanks,' they chorused.
Li opened the note. It was a printout of an e-mail. She read it out. '"I have just visited my daughter in hospital, where she is making good progress. I would very much like to meet the brave team who rescued her. This is an open invitation to them to join me for a few days at Teak Lodge, my small conservation reserve in the north-eastern corner of the Luangwa National Park, so that I can thank them in person. Sincerely, Joe Chandler."'
Paulo's eyes lit up. 'Cool,' he said enthusiastically.
'That'll do nicely,' grinned Amber.
'Just as long as they have some nice soft beds!' said Paulo. 'I could sleep for a month.'

5
BIG GAME
A few days later John Middleton came down the steps of the hotel and folded his tall body into the back of the cab. He had business to get back to in New York, and Amber and the others were waving him off on his way to the airport.
'By the way' he said, 'two sports equipment firms are interested in sponsoring Team Alpha Force in this year's Eco Challenge in Patagonia. It'd be right on your doorstep, Paulo.'
Paulo felt he should say something appreciative. But if he sounded too keen he might upset Amber. 'Patagonia's nice,' he said.
'What did you tell them?' Amber asked her uncle.
'I said you'd think about it, of course.' He pulled the door closed. 'Have fun at the game reserve and don't feed the lions.'
As the taxi pulled away, Amber folded her arms crossly. 'I said he wouldn't let this go. He's like one of those pushy parents who want to put their kids on the stage.'
Hex poked her in the ribs. 'I don't think anyone would want to put you on the stage.'
Amber gave him a steely look. 'Your parents clearly abandoned you to be brought up by computers in a darkened room.'
'Hey, guys,' said Paulo. He was looking towards the end of the drive. A dusty open-topped Jeep had pulled over to let John Middleton's taxi pass. 'Do you think this is Joe Chandler?'
As the Jeep came closer, they saw the driver was a powerfully built jet-black African. 'Not quite Tessa's colouring,' quipped Li.
Alex was looking at the steel bars that formed a skeleton roof on the Jeep. The underside of the vehicle was also reinforced. 'Interesting,' he said. 'The last time I saw accessories like that, they were on a Land Rover my dad had been driving around a minefield.'
'So how is Tessa?' Paulo asked the question but it was the first thing everybody had wanted to know. The introductions had been made and they were on their way, speeding along a dual carriageway with the breeze in their faces. Four of them sat in the back, with Alex in the front passenger seat.
Their driver was one of Joe Chandler's rangers, Patrick Nabwalya. He had the kind of rugged features that suggested a lifetime spent out of doors and made his age impossible to guess. The Jeep also looked well worn: the steering wheel was bent out of shape like a tin can that had been stood on.
'Tessa's much better and Joe's been able to bring her home,' said Patrick, 'but she'll be out of action for a while. The wound's infected and she's on massive doses of antibiotic. If you hadn't done what you did, she wouldn't be here at all.'
'She's a very brave girl,' said Paulo.
'Yeah,' said Amber beside him. 'After you told me about her pulling her leg off that stake, I don't think I'll eat for a week.'
'She was in a lot of pain,' said Hex. 'To do that took real guts.'
The road became narrower as they left the town behind. The crash barriers disappeared and on either side was bush - a wide plain of waving grass the colour of sand, studded with thin teak trees and bulging baobabs. Mountains formed indigo shadows on the horizon.
'Sorry about this old truck, by the way,' said Patrick. 'The smart Range Rover's being used to ferry some guests to the airport.' He shifted into four-wheel drive. 'However, that means we can take the scenic route.' He swung the wheel and swerved off the road into the golden grass.
'Hey, good