As the tractor’s lights drop from view, Rudd turns to Father Norman. “Thanks for your help. You’ve been brilliant. Kept me standing.”

The priest grins. His hair is untidy, his shirt mud-splattered, and his trousers rolled lopsidedly up to his knees. “Don’t mention it. Can’t remember when I last had such fun. Or so much exercise. Not sure I’ll be able to move tomorrow, but it’s been a relief to do something useful and physical.” He pauses, and looks up at the night sky. “And these skies. Doesn’t feel the right thing to say right now, but they are something I’ll never forget.”

Rudd nods, and links his fingers behind his head. He looks up and lets his eyes sink in amongst the millions of stars above them. “I’m going to miss this,” he says, pulling his elbows back as tight as he can to stretch out the tension in his shoulders.

“Of course … but you’ll come back won’t you?”

“That’s my plan. Right now I just need a break. Although right, right now I need to go and sort out transport for the rest of the guests. The tractor driver told me that some vehicles had reached the village below the tea factory. He didn’t know where from, but they got there.”

“Sounds promising,” says Father Norman. “We should probably get back then.”

“Ja. And I’d like to catch the doctors. Saw their helicopter come in as we were heading up here.” The pair follow the others down over the wet slip of the road, churned up by tractor tracks.

Marybelle and the doctors are in the kitchen. The doctors are chatting, while she cooks by candlelight. The news is not good. The worst is that a school has been flattened, with at least ten children and two teachers missing, presumed dead. In another village a river has swept away two families. Dr Hove says he is certain the numbers lost will have doubled by the morning.

The only good news the doctors have, is that they came across Tim and Jacobus who were both well, and asked them to pass on the news that Tonderai’s family were safe.

“I’m so thankful to hear that,” says Marybelle, her tired face shining briefly as she grates cheese for the evening’s pasta.

“Hallelujah,” says Father Norman.

“Amen to that,” says Dr Hove.

“Do you know when they’ll be back?” Rudd asks.

“Tomorrow. First they’ll hand out the medicines we left them, then they’ll walk back. It’s not too far,” says Dr Jabu Ndlovu.

Marybelle puts down her grater, and raps on the large saucepan beside her with a ladle. “Right everyone, supper is ready to be served. Rudd could you wash that dirt off your hands and pass me some plates from the cupboard there?”

“Sure,” says Rudd, taking over from Father Norman at the sink. He lathers his hands under the tap, wondering as he does so at Marybelle’s stamina. He collects the plates and takes them across to her.

“Thank you,” she says to him. “Let’s get these ready, and through to Fred and Bernard on the verandah. They’ll want to hear the news, and the others can come and help themselves.”

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023