Shane Simba’s vice presidential duties sent him to Russia and Holland.  It was a hushed trip, the president wanting no fanfare.  There was no accompanying press corps.  It concerned high level talks of a confidential nature.  Shane remained between the two countries for two weeks. 

 

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Betty Chimpo threw herself in to her job.  Her video interview with Nelson Mandela’s second wife, Graca, was a huge success.  Brilliantly crafted, it sold to stations outside of Kenya.  The footage that she had filmed in Greece was of the same arresting quality accompanied by flawless narrative written by Betty.  It sold to the Travel Channel.  Irving Impala gave his star anchor a raise.  Glenda Gorilla was a very unhappy camper.  There were two females in the Mara who were gunning for Betty.  Glenda, unknown to her, had an ally in Caroline Cheetah. 

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Shane returned to the Mara, telling Betty that he needed a week alone with his kids.  He felt, keenly, the quality time that was stolen from them by his high pressure position as vice president.  He called Betty and told her that he would be concentrating on them exclusively during that seven day period.  She was nervous but agreed fully that he needed to spend time with Staci and Sean. 

She dined with Bertram Baboon and me during that nerve wracking week.  We went to OKAPIS for lunch.  You could see the tension in our friend’s face. 

“I am sure he has to neglect his children with a role such as his,” said Bertram as he smeared a piece of Melba toast with goose liver pâté and popped it in his mouth, crunching wildly.  “That’s why career oriented beings should never have to contend with offspring.”

A small piece of the toast hit my face as he spoke.  I wiped it off with my dinner napkin. 

She lit her fifth cigarette of the meal. 

“Betty, he does have a difficult thing to contend with in those motherless cubs and the high pressure job,” I sighed.

“I realize everything.   I am still always nervous when he backs off but am determined to be calm and patient.”

“I am much more content now that I have regained my home,” announced Bertram, who is a not at all hesitant to return to him as the subject matter of choice. 

“I’m sorry about you and Chad breaking up,” said Betty.

“I’m not. Actually we still see each other and have a most pleasant working arrangement.  It is back to being what it should have remained.  I was a fool to have invited him to live with me.  I know myself to well.”

“I would so love to live with Shane,” said Betty with a far away and very pensive look. 

“Betts, you tend to tire of your males, remember?” reminded Bertram, who had now latched on to a cherry tomato.  I shielded my shirt front from a juicy red attack with the napkin. 

“It won’t be that way with him, Bertram.  I never tire of him.”

“There’s a line from Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.  ‘She makes hungry where she most satisfies’…. I believe it goes. It seems to describe your feelings for Shane Simba,” observed Bertram. 

“Bertram, that is so beautiful.  It’s true - the more he satisfies me, the more I want him.”

---

      Shane saw his children to bed and drove to Betty’s house.  She tried to tamp down the exuberance she felt at seeing him again, but failed miserably.  They engaged in a passionate greeting in the hall before going to her patio.  He poured a drink and lit a cigarette.

“I have to leave again, right away, Betty.”

She fought the rush of disappointment, pushing it as far to the back of her consciousness as it would go. 

“I know you have a tremendous schedule, darling. I’ll miss you.”

“No you won’t, Fifi. I want you to go with me.  I’m going up the Amazon River with the president of Brazil on a private boat.  I can bring only one reporter and my aide.  I’m asking you.  Do you think Irving will give you the time?”

Excitement rose in her. 

“I have a great deal of leverage with Irving these days.  My videos of Mandiba’s wife and Greece sold for a lot money to satellite stations.”

“Then you can bring your camera along.  The president’s name is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.  We are going to explore and try to get a bead on the destruction occurring along the Amazon Basin.   We’re even going into the Pantanal marshlands.   It will be fascinating fodder for a talented journalist like you.  We’ll be gone for two weeks.  Think you can take it that long?”

“Of course I can take it,” she said, leaning up to kiss him.  “I can take anything as long as I’m with you.”

 Betty and Shane left the Masai Mara on the official 757, a smaller plane than Ralph One.  Ashley and Leah Lyon invited his children to stay with them.  

The plane flew toward Senegal where it would bank to the south for its destination, Brazil. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

     Bob Bushbuck was realizing that his news director was not getting any bulletins from office of the vice president.  He was disturbed at this and called Caroline Cheetah to his office. 

“Caroline, is there bad blood between you and Shane Simba?”

“Actually, we don’t see eye-to-eye on many things.  He’s my former brother-in-law as you know.”

“It would seem that he would give you support, if that’s the case. I know he certainly must have loved your sister.”

“To be honest, Bob, I’ve clashed with him over Betty Chimpo.  I think he is seeing someone too soon after my darling sister’s death,” answered Caroline, attempting to manage a few tears on the subject.

 Failing that, she took a tissue from Bob’s desk and dabbed daintily at the corner of each eye. 

“I know that must be distressing to you, Caroline, but still we have to keep him in our corner.  After all, he is a story all by himself in Kenya.  He is doing amazing things in the short time he’s been in office.  Try to go easy on him.”

_________________________________________

Shane and Betty arrived in Brasilia, the capitol of Brazil.  The president met them. Reporters swarmed the couple.  They stayed in the presidential residence and the next day flew to Porto Velho, a beginning area for seeing the Amazon by boat.  They boarded a  nice but far from luxurious craft but certainly adequate with enough of the comforts to render it pleasant. 

The boat….

 
Shane and Betty in Porto Velho the first evening on the Amazon River…..



Porto Velho on the Amazon River in Brazil….

Betty, watched quietly as the captain untied the mooring.  The boat slowly left the dock and began to navigate the shadowy waters of the Amazon River.  They were on their way.  Shane put his arm around her as they both looked to the retreating port town. 

“Oh, Shane, I’m so glad you brought me. This is going to be wonderful.”

“I wouldn’t have come without you, Fifi.”