Read Online The Perils of Skinny-Dipping by J A Sandilands - Free Book Online

annoyed. ‘I have put a lot of thought into this and I am not going to change my plans now. Mopele, put the boat into the water.’
    Phil walked over to the makoro once it was in the water, and noticed it already had a puddle of water forming on the floor.
    ‘ Not watertight, not safe, not going,’ he announced firmly, looking at Abbey and pointing to the deepening pool in the bottom.
    ‘ Are you refusing to take part in this activity? Because if you are, you leave me no choice but to report this to Head Office,’ spat Richard, incensed at their lack of cooperation and appreciation for all his hard work.
    ‘ No, I am not refusing Richard,’ replied Phil. ‘I am just saying that I have serious concerns about the whole safety aspect of this. However, if you are prepared to go over to the other side of the river and return in one piece, I will think about - no, I will gladly - join in.’
    Without a word, rucksack still on his back, Richard stomped over to the water and climbed precariously into the makoro. He took the paddle and pushed away from the bank. The makoro weaved into the water and, within seconds, the back end started to dip. Richard, realising he was sinking, shouted over to Mopele for help. Abbey turned around just in time to see Mopele walking with speed back towards the town, a fifty-pula note sticking out of his hand.
    ‘ Richard, get back here now, before you drown!’ shouted Abbey, trying to control her voice.
    Richard paddled furiously back towards them. About a metre away from the riverbank, the makoro disappeared under the water and Richard, totally drenched, crawled back onto dry land on all fours. Abbey and Phil were both bent double, shaking with laughter.
    ‘ Are you alright?’ spluttered Abbey, reaching out her hand to help him stand on his own two feet. He ignored her offer of help. Instead, he hauled himself to his feet and stormed off back towards the office, the rucksack trailing on the ground behind him, which attracted the attention of a troop of monkeys who could smell soggy, wet sandwiches in the near vicinity. They congregated into little groups and followed him as he walked up the road, making high-pitched screeches in excitement, as the distance between them and their lunch narrowed.
    ‘ Well, what now?’ asked Abbey, tears streaming down her cheeks.
    Phil, in no better state of control to the point where he couldn’t speak, pointed over to the Chobe Fish Eagle, which was boarding a group of tourists for the next trip.
    An hour later, Phil and Abbey were comfortably entrenched on a bench seat on the top deck of the steamer, sailing down the Chobe River with their second double gin and tonic.
    ‘ I know,’ said Abbey standing up, glass in hand. ‘Let’s play spot the hungry hippo,’ and she pointed to a family of hippos bathing quite happily in the cool water.
    They both crumbled into a heap as they laughed, going over Richard’s ungracious landing. ‘Actually,’ continued Abbey, ‘I read that hippos don’t eat humans, they just kill them if they find them in the water.’
    ‘ Well hun, that’s something I don’t ever want to put to the test.’
    The river cruise wound its way down the river, Zambia on one side and Botswana on the other. Above them was an immenseness of pale blue, which stretched as far as the eye could see. Wispy clouds created a latticework across the sky.
    Herds of elephants waded out into the river, totally ignoring the steamer as it gently chugged its way through the reeds and the water. Baby elephants followed their mothers, struggling to keep up as the water got deeper. They trumpeted loudly as they drank and cooled themselves, using their huge trunks to squirt the river water across their backs. Crocodiles slithered back onto dry land, camouflaging themselves against fallen logs, waiting patiently for the next hapless victim to stumble on their paths.
    The top of the steamer was uncovered and the relentless sun beat down on them.
    ‘ You