1. TAMAR OF THE FOREST
Chapter 1
ONE MUST DISAPPEAR
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a foregone conclusion. The man must die.” Marko Steffen’s voice is edgy with impatience. Standing in front of the window in the small hotel room, he rubs his hand over his forehead and sweaty scalp, framed by sparse, black hair.
“I think you’re being too hasty with your conclusions, Marko.”
“Too hasty!” Marko whirls around. The wings of his sharp nose twitch with indignation. His gaze is dark and even slightly hostile as he glares at the girl who has answered him so coolly.
Sandra Voronej’s green eyes do not waver from his. Around her full lips is the subtle smile that lends an unfathomable expression to her beautiful features. Her copper-brown hair hangs over her cheek on one side, and the light summer dress reveals her bare neck, shoulders, and the perfect curves of her slender body. In the oppressive heat, she looks cool and at ease, as usual. Despite his irritation, her beauty makes the blood rush faster through the older man’s veins.
“Too hasty, yes,” she repeats, and her rich, slightly husky voice heightens the great mystery and total aloofness of her personality. It is as if her words incite the others to anger. “We’ve barely discussed the matter yet.”
“What is there to discuss?” Steffen exclaims. “Here we are, a million miles from nowhere, between heaven and earth and...!”
“We are on the border between Uganda and the Belgian Congo,” she interrupts him calmly. “Which one is heaven?”
“It is undoubtedly hell that awaits us in the Congo!” Her light mockery has not escaped him.
“I must remind you, Marko,” she says coolly, “that we are not actually encouraged to use Biblical words excessively.”
“You must be kidding!” he bursts out. “Here we’re dealing with matters of vital importance and you...”
“And I refuse to discuss it until you have calmed down. In your current agitated state, you cannot reason logically.”
Marko Steffen clenches his fists in a shudder of frustration. He turns to the window as if he wants to seek help from outside.
“What possessed them to send a woman with us, I don’t know,” he grumbles sourly and in a martyred tone, like one who has already endured more than he can bear.
“That is a matter no one asked you to contemplate,” she remarks reprovingly. “I have not yet questioned your qualifications as an atomic expert, let alone Dan’s as an engineer, or...”
“I’m not questioning anything,” Steffen interrupts her hastily but dejectedly. “I just want us to resolve this matter. No one could have made more thorough preparations than we have. We are an innocent group of vacationers who want to come and hunt big game in the Congo. But hardly do we arrive this morning in this desolate corner of civilization than the damned fellow also shows up. Now you still doubt whether he is following us...”
“I have already told you that nothing has been proven yet, Marko.”
“But Sarkof saw him the day before yesterday...”
“You just expressed uncertainty about the purpose of my presence, Marko,” she cuts him off sharply. “But you will begin to see the wisdom of my inclusion in the expedition when I point out that you just called Sam, Sarkof.”
“But what does it matter? We’re alone here in a room. No one can hear us...”
“I’ll decide that, Marko,” she says coldly. “Nowhere and for no moment will we relax
