Chapter 3 - Page 28 - Africa Bound

   Chuck jumped in before Jim could comment. “If you need any help, Jim, you know Mario and I would be glad to stay.”

   “No,” Jim insisted, “they need you two back in Dallas.”

   “All right, we’ll see you on the next trip. You be careful. Africa can be a dangerous place.”

Jim shook Chuck’s hand. “I will. And I’ll see you when you come back to get me.”

   Mario reached out to shake Jim’s hand, and they said good-bye. Then Jim gathered his bags and walked down the ramp to the taxi waiting to take him to the hotel.

   Minutes later, the taxi deposited him at the Ambassador Hotel. Jim asked the driver to return to the airport to get Mario and Chuck, then checked into the hotel.

   He hadn’t seen much of Africa, but what he had seen so far didn’t look too bad, Jim mused as he waited for the desk clerk to give him a key card for room 214. He was happy to learn that Kenya’s primary language was English.

   He followed the bellhop who took his bags to his room, then thanked him for his help and gave him a tip. He didn’t stay in his room, though. He was tired and hungry-he had to get something to eat. He closed the door to his room and rode the elevator back down to the first floor, ate a chicken-fried steak in the restaurant, then returned to his room to relax for the rest of the day. He could start his work the next day, fresh and relaxed. Jim fell asleep before Mario and Chuck got to the hotel.

End of chapter three