Elephant Dropping (9781301895199) Read Online Free PDF

the equipment.
Golden Palm had seemed to be that lifeline, a huge injection of
capital putting him back in the lead. Now he could see that was
only a pipe dream. His best bet was to sell the family holdings,
and leave.
    Evan’s
behaviour proved he simply could not be trusted. The staggering
amounts of money earned, seemingly so easily, had blinded Patel to
the reality of the theft, and the bank manager’s panic today had
cleared his vision.
    Fatima, joined
him on the balcony. ‘You’re quiet this evening,’ she said, ‘is
everything alright?’
    Patel smiled.
‘Yes my sugar, I’m just thinking it’s time we moved from
Malindi.’
    ‘Move, where
to? Why?’
    ‘To London, the
big city.’
    ‘Oh, big shot
now,’ she teased. ‘London! Perhaps we could have the queen to tea,
stay at Buckingham palace heh?’
    ‘I’m serious
Fatima,’ Patel said.
    ‘Oh Jugdish,
please don’t tease me.’
    ‘I think it’s
time we sold the factory,’ he said quietly.
    ‘Sell the
factory and then what? Open a corner shop in Manchester and live in
rented accommodation like my uncle? No wonder you’re quiet, what a
prospect!’
    Patel laughed
at the idea, chucking his wife under the chin. ‘Yes dear, you would
make a great shopkeeper. Your beauty would bring us love struck
customers throwing money about, hoping for one glimpse of your
magic smile.’
    She blushed.
‘Silly man, Jugdish, you know I have always wanted to live in
England, don’t lie to me, you can be so unkind.’
    ‘Yes sugar. By
the way, I unkindly bought a present for you today.’ He dangled a
set of car keys in front of her. ‘Why don’t you go and have a
look?’ Fatima took the keys, staring at the logo. ‘What’s this,
have you lost your mind?’
    ‘Go and look,’
he insisted.
    Fatima needed
no second bidding and sped to the back door. She saw the sleek
Mercedes in the moonlight and squealed in delight. ‘Oh, Jugdish! My
favourite colour!
    She returned to
the balcony, breathless. ‘How, but how, can we afford this
car?’
    Patel told her.
‘I have been working on a lucrative project over the last few
months.’
    ‘What project,’
she demanded, ‘why don’t I know about it?’
    He wagged his
finger. ‘No, it’s better you don’t know. I will tell you when we
move to London,’ he teased, ‘come on let’s try out your new toy, my
sugar?’
    Fatima was
torn. She knew better than to nag him and was dying to drive the
new car. Making a decision, she ran off to the bedroom to get
changed, squealing. ‘Oh, I’m so excited!’
    Patel smiled in
delight. He loved her innocence; it took the edge off his cynical
mind. If there was any truth and goodness in his life, it was
Fatima. He loved to see the world through her young eyes.
    She called out
from the bedroom. ‘We can pick up the kids from my sisters! Oh
won’t they be surprised?’
    ‘Come on then,’
he shouted back. ‘Hurry up!’
    Fatima’s eyes
were like spotlights flashing round the interior of the car in
wonder. Stroking the leather seats in delight, playing with the
electric windows, unable to sit still. ‘Where do I put the key? Oh,
I see it,’ and plunged the key into the ignition. Nothing happened,
taking her aback. Patel laughed at her confusion.
    ‘It’s an
automatic dear,’ he said, pointing at the unfamiliar T-bar where
the gear lever should be. ‘Oh,’ she looked at the lever and glanced
at the floor pedals, ‘there’s no clutch!’ she exclaimed.
    Patel was now
in stitches, Fatima, laughing as well, demanded. ‘How do I drive
it? Come on tell me, tell me, you horrible man.’
    This was the
best half a million he had ever spent! He distracted her by
adjusting the electric seats. This brought more peals of laughter
until they got it right for her small frame and at last, with
Fatima at the wheel, tyres spinning they lurched out of the car
park.
    Patel was up
early the next morning, on his balcony with a coffee where he
watched small fishing dhows put out to sea,