A Kiss of Adventure Read Online Free PDF Page A

believe it is Christmas Day somewhere, though not here. I know I will not live to see tomorrow. The Bight of Benin the blight of Benin. Ailie when I get back will you let me rest? Will you keep the Moors away? The Bight of Benin the blight of Benin. Ahmadi Fatouma has the wealth in safekeeping for me. Ailie we will buy that house on Chester Street. Mine mine mine! I have the wealth. I possess the treasure of Timbuktu. One day, one day the white man will come here. One day, one day the white woman will come here. She will plant trees and make it a garden for tea parties. She will plant trees. She will find the treasure of Timbuktu. And the curse of the Bight of Benin will be ended.
Mungo Park
    Graeme lifted his chin. “So what does it say?”
    “It’s weird. Sounds like he’s rambling.”
    “Who? Who’s rambling?”
    She looked at the document again. Mungo Park—he was the explorer Arthur had told her about. Had he really written this? And what about the tree planting? What was the significance of that?
    “Are you finished?” Graeme’s deep voice broke into her reverie. “May I see it now?”
    He reached out to take the paper, but Tillie whisked it away. “Wait a second!” she whispered. “First I want you to tell me something.”
    “What?”
    She could sense his eagerness, like a leopard stalking prey—muscles coiled and ready to spring. It seemed all he could do to resist overpowering her to have his way.
    “I want you to tell me who you are,” she said. “Why do you want this paper so badly?”
    “I told you. I’m Graeme McLeod, I’m an American, and I’ve been trying to find that paper for nearly two years.”
    “Why? What do you think it says?”
    “The more you know about it, the more danger you’ll be in. Just let me see it.”
    “First tell me why you want it.”
    He sighed and she could see his knotted biceps tighten further. “I believe that paper is a page from the diary of Mungo Park.” He searched her eyes as if seeking confirmation.
    “Mungo Park,” she murmured, keeping her focus trained steadily on him, betraying nothing. “The explorer.”
    “Yes, the explorer. Almost two years ago, I heard rumors that the page had come to light. There’s been a theory—a legend—that a secret message written by Mungo Park exists. It supposedly talks about some strange things. About a woman who plants trees, for example.”
    Tillie shivered and turned the paper over in her hands. “What are you going to do with it?”
    “I hope I’m going to get to read it.”
    “I mean after that.”
    “I don’t know. I need to read it to find out what to do next.”
    She looked down at the sheet of paper, then took a deep breath and placed it on his thigh. He stared at her for a moment. When he gingerly picked up the paper, she leaned over and held the flashlight at his shoulder while he read.
    Tillie tried to reread the yellowed scrap with him, but she found her attention drawn away by the nearness of his shoulder and the thick mane of black hair that brushed her hand. How strange that she should be tempted to rest her head against such a man’s shoulder.
    Well, she was tired and disoriented. She wished Hannah were here. Hannah would know exactly what to do. Pray. That’s what she would recommend. But Tillie felt she hardly had time to think, let alone formulate a prayer.
    “He wants you to walk in him one day at a time.” One day at a time. How about one minute at a time? Tillie flushed at the memory of Hannah’s gentle reprimand. Her big plans were worth less than nothing at this moment. “He’s the vine and you’re only a branch. If you remain in him and he remains in you, you will bear fruit. . . . But apart from Christ, Tillie, you cannot do a thing.”
    Apart from him, nothing. Walk in him. One minute at a time.
    Oh, Lord, help me.
    Tillie opened her eyes and looked down at the paper. Graeme obviously had read and reread it by now.
    “This is just great,” he snarled suddenly. He