…Mary now had about ten people listening. Some only had a couple of minutes, so, were standing, eating the last of their lunches, not wanting to leave. I grab a fresh little metal pot of hot water for Mary’s tea. She used the same tea bag. Just like my grandma Jewel Gates. I’ve known a lot of blind people. Never move stuff on them without giving them the low down…Mary fixed her tea, felt around for her cup, but didn’t pick it up, then went on with her story…”I was still in bad shape as far as walking went, so, I was carried by porters hired by my new boss. I swung quite comfortably between these two men who had their gaits down to make carrying a load a minimum effort. They were happy at my 140 pounds. I was still a bit plump from all the rich food and partying in Paris. I wouldn’t have to worry about that any more. After four months, I never weighed over 115 pounds…In a million years, I would have never dreamed that I would outlive all these handsome young men…(I asked her questions for my notes before I took off, so, more on this at the end)…I also found out we were to meet up with some trucks in about five days’ travel. Now, you think five days and shrug your shoulders. Not in Africa. Every breath there is different. The smells are like no other on earth. From a whiff of some fragrant flower, to overpowering rotten guts from a hidden kill you’re traveling past. Many times you won’t see the animal, you will smell it though. If not the beast itself, the smells it leaves around. There are huge rutting spots where Wildebeest or Zebra stallions unload their urine scented with their own particular oils, all mixed together. They will then roll in it and fight each other. Lions leave them alone they are so vicious in this state. And the smell, oh my, I can still recall it. Horrid. I would soon learn many worse. You may leave Africa, it never leaves your nostrils. Also, it is horribly hot and muggy, then, rain will blow in, pounding you so hard it hurts your skin, then, blue skies and you’re once again burning up in the sun. Most travel along well established trails that skirt the jungle. Not game trails, but human, village to village trails. Predators stay off them usually. Too many warriors with spears or rifles and they well know it. They will pick off the old and small though. Especially the wild dogs. Did you know that the wild dog packs kill most of the game you see the prides of lions eating? It’s true! They can bring down anything, just about. The lions let them do the work, then, kill or run off the dominant female and take the kill over. I’ve watched them for hours, over weeks at a time. Oh, I’m wandering. Once we were in the trucks, I wished I was back in my sling. Oh my god did they beat you up. These were in very bad shape. They were from the 1920’s and looked it. Always breaking down. Leave one behind? Never. A man with a truck rates just below a King in Africa. The exhaust fumes made me get back into walking shape. I had to get away from the smoke as it was giving me a pounding head ache. I would walk as far as I could, then, back into the smoke for awhile. When I heard some of the men laughing and calling out, I knew we were at our destination. The village of the King of the Burundi. Coming around a bend of the wide trail, I was a bit amazed at first sight of the King’s palace. It was gigantic! Smoke lazed upwards from at least one hundred cook fires inside the tall wooden walls. Everything was whitewashed white. Even the stones that marked the paths. Patterns and art work were only allowed on the Kings close family members’ areas. We stay stopped for about two hours. Village children kept a distance, unlike the smaller, rural villages. My new boss approaches me as I’m wiping off my face and reapplying a balm that helped keep the insects from biting somewhat. He has a request. It seems he has just left the King’s presence and my services are required. I was dumbstruck. What was he talking about? He soon filled me in. “Ahh, I told the King we had a nurse who could cure his swollen feet!” Oh, my, I wanted to run away. When I was in the presence of the King and unwrapped his feet, oh, I wished that I had…