Run Through the Jungle - Epilogue

[margaret_r]

Over on the mountain
Thunder magic spoke,
"Let the people know my wisdom,
Fill the land with smoke."

Better run through the jungle,
Better run through the jungle,
Better run through the jungle,
Woa, don't look back to see.

Forgerty, John 1970

Amongst the flats on offer they found a nice little unit in Chelsea with secure parking in a lock up garage at the back. Two bedrooms with a large kitchen and open plan lounge/dining room. They converted the spare bedroom into an office and computer room, Ray having developed a fondness for computer games. The flat was spacious enough for entertaining - usually their fellow CI5 agents. If any of them thought anything about the huge bed that occupied the main bedroom while the second bedroom contained bookshelves, a large desk a computer and a television screen with attendant Nintendo console permanently attached, and the rather small single bed in the corner, it was never mentioned. Or at least judgements were wisely kept to themselves.

There were times when Bodie wondered if they would make it as partners both in the professional and private sense, now their relationship had changed. Ray’s moody nature was hard to handle on a twenty-four hour a day basis; the need to keep one step ahead and ready to ward off impending battles a challenge. Apparently Bodie’s complete and unnatural (according to Ray) obsessive tidiness was an irritant demanding the forbearance of a saint (again, according to Ray). But they learnt to live with each other and they loved. In fact they loved very often and very imaginatively and that took care of most of the dramas and sulks. Life went on as usual.

It was six months almost to the day after the bomb explosion had shattered ANC Headquarters that Cowley called them into his office. It had been an ordinary day of tracking down international drug dealers and running gun battles - nothing to mark it as being exceptional or unusual and they were just about to go home when the summons arrived via Mary.

Bodie knocked on the door and Ray opened it. Cowley was standing by his desk looking down at a newspaper fanned across its surface. He was smiling. No, he was actually grinning, a bit like a cat who’d managed to grab all the cream

“I suppose you two haven’t seen this evening’s newspaper?”

“Eh, no, Sir,” Doyle told him. “Been a bit busy with, um, guns and things like that.”

“Yeah,” Bodie agreed. “And drugs. Why? Something we should know about.”

“Indeed yes, Bodie,” Cowley’s grin got, if anything, wider. “She did it.” Indicating the newspaper he stepped aside to allow his agents access. The headline was large and garish.

SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNALISTS REVEAL SECRET MILITARY SLUSH FUND CONNECTED TO DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION

The details were finely etched and irrefutable, promising more revelations in future editions, the by line attributed to Nicole Goossens and a fellow journalist.

Doyle laughed. “She certainly has.”

Bodie kept reading through the article, his smile widening. “It’s all here, everything she told us about. I bet Johnny’s pleased,” he said. If he was about to add anything else it was left unsaid as the telephone rang and Cowley moved to answer.

They waited while Cowley listened, his features blanching white and his grip on the handset tightening before he spoke. “You’re sure? When? Yes, I’ll tell him.” and then “I’ll arrange to fly out tonight.”

He replaced the receiver and stood for a moment with his head bowed.

“Are you all right, Sir?” Bodie asked

“No. No, I’m not all right, Bodie.” With a heavy sigh he lifted his head and looked directly at the two men. His face had aged in the last few minutes.

“That was Nicole’s father. There’s been an accident. A light plane crash in the Drakensberg Mountains. Nicole was the only person on board, apart from the pilot.” Cowley paused for a moment, before continuing. “They suspect it may have been sabotaged.”

==============

ANC Headquarters lay deserted but for Johnny Nkosi, sitting alone in his office staring out of the window. His own newspaper, the one that had given him so much joy because it showed his lover’s success, lay neglected on the floor.

Mr Cowley had come to see him earlier with his news. The man had been white faced and grim with a sadness around his eyes that spoke of too much sorrow, too many losses. Bodie had phoned him as well, a little later, wanting to know if he was okay and should he come over. Of anyone, he knew Bodie understood best and he would seek out his and Ray’s company later, but not now.

Rain and sleet slashed against the pane, sending whorls and rivulets of water gushing down the slippery glass but Johnny wasn’t really seeing the results of London’s bleak winter. Instead his eyes were fixed on brilliant sunshine and open veldt and laughing blue eyes that matched the sky stretched endlessly before them.

The phantom in Johnny’s vision turned and smiled at him, a sweet loving smile he knew so well

“Hamba kahle,” he whispered, tears streaking his face.

“Sala kahle,” the phantom’s lips mimed in return before returning again to her journey across the veldt

Gradually the brilliant sunshine and endless sky faded, as did the phantom image and Johnny Nkosi was left to watch the rivulets of rain on the window.

-end

Comments

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Oh what a sad, if realistic, ending. This was just brilliant though. Was the topic something you already knew quite a bit about or did you end up doing lots of research? Regardless, the detail here was good and the original characters engaging. And of course I loved Bodie and Doyle's developing relationship in the middle of it all. Well done!

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks! I'm so glad it all came across so well and you liked the characters and the story so much. I wanted it to be realistic, to show a different face of South Africa and South Africans than the often slightly stereotypical one and I kind of knew early on it had to end that way.

I was living in South Africa when the Info scandal (or Muldergate as they called it!) was uncovered by the Rand Daily Mail journalists, but after thirty odd years memory gets a bit hazy*g* I was lucky enough to get hold of the book two of the journalists wrote about their investigations and that gave me a lot of material to work with, and I did quite a bit of reasearch into stuff that was revealed much later. It was very interesting and I enjoyed writing it!

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Well, I really enjoyed this well-written and well-researched story. I thought you did an especially great job with the other characters -- I was not only interested in them, I cared about them. Very nice job!

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That is a wonderful compliment and I'm really glad you enjoyed my story. That you cared about my other characters makes me very happy:)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed your story a lot. I liked your original characters and their relationship. Your Bodie and Doyle were great. I liked their relationship a lot as well. I think you did a good job with your story line and how you showed me that Bodie and Johnny were once friends.

Your descriptions of events and surroundings was quite vivid. I could picture the scenes as they unfolded. Thanks so much for presenting me with a wonderful case story with our lads doing what they do best.

I think the political aspects of the story were well done. It was interesting to read about how much the decisions of a government can affect people's lives. Your writing is very tight and your presentation moves the plot along so that I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

I think you did an excellent job.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Thank you for such wonderful comments! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story and found so much to like in it. I wanted it to be realistic, to bring the lads, as well as the additional characters, to life and it’s great to know that I succeeded for you. It was interesting to bring in the political side of the story as I was living in South Africa when it all happened so had a first hand view of the effects at that time, writing about it revived quite a few memories.

Thanks again for your feedback and for reading - you’ve made my day:)

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

That was fascinating - such a gripping, provocative backdrop. It really was like watching a well-paced episode develop in front of my eyes! Well done, that was a smashing bit of story telling.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the great comments! I’m very glad you liked it:) And thank you and przed for giving me this opportunity to jump into writing fanfic in the Pros fandom. It’s been a great experience.

[mysteriousaliwz.livejournal.com]

Nice depiction of Bodie and Doyl, and I liked your OCs. Lots of local detail brought the South African side of things vividly to life.

Sad ending - I'd come to care for the characters involved - but it would be many years before a happier ending would bcome possible, which makes the story rather poignant.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading and for your comments:) I’m glad that you felt a connection to my characters and I could convey their life and the difficulties they faced - it was a sad period in history.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Well, obviously I'd read and re-read it - and I have to apologise for the few tiny typos I didn't pick up (and will email to you for later editing) but I enjoyed reading it all over again. Especially with the lovely art - and I must remember to comment to the artist, too. I cried at the ending every time I read it even though I knew it was coming. Thank you for making the political background against which the lads are portrayed so real. Thanks, too, for reminding us that however hard they work they can't guarantee happy-ever-after for the people they protect. I loved the banter at HQ and the idea of the strawberries and cream. I loved Cowley with his haggis and Nicole with her bobotie. Such attention to detail is impressive. A lovely story and one I will keep to re-read again and again.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

And if it weren't for you standing behind me all the time, encouraging me on and telling me that I could really do this - it wouldn't have been written! So thank you for your belief in me:) And for pointing out where I was going wrong and for being a fantastic beta reader:D

As for the typos, sheesh! I'm sure those pesky little things breed overnight because every time you find one there is always another one lurking somewhere!

Looking forward to yours now, it going to be great:)

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Thank you for such a gripping read - I love the backdrop of the South African political situation; it's hard to remember that that's how things were then - things have changed so much. I really like the ending too - it's not the easiest or happiest conclusion, but it works wonderfully with the whole tone of your story. Thank you again - I enjoyed every minute.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your lovely comments! I'm glad you found so much to like about the story and enjoyed reading it. Things have changed a lot since the apartheid era and revisiting that time when writing the fic brought back a lot of memories, it was a sad time in history for a lot of people.

Thanks for reading and commenting, I appreciate it:)

Re:

[antonytit.livejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMzgVshG6CI