The crispness of the air made Jimmy's short blonde hair stand on edge as he entered the world of consciousness. I must be dreaming, he thought to himself, but as his bare feet hit the floor, the static electricity from the steel bunk jolted him fully awake and aware of his surroundings. He shot off his bed rubbing the backs of his knees. "Blast it! What the ....?" Moving over to the window, he searched through the curtains into the darkness outside. The game park was still. He leant closer, nose pressing against the cold glass of the window. To the left there was an unearthly glow that seemed to hypnotise him. He went still as a soft voice called to him. He surveyed the scene before him, barely able to focus his ice blue eyes past the haze. A lion roared near the river bed not far from the rondavel making a mockery of the feminine chanting he believed he could hear. "Who are you?" His gravelly voice broke as the nervousness tore at his throat. The tone of the chanting changed and became more insistent and Jimmy felt his muscles twitching in response. His heart racing, he felt the need to move to the door and walk outside. "No! No! --- Bongani, help me!" His dry lips defensively formed the words though only soft whispers filled the room. Racing into the room the small wizened native saw the outer door standing open. Bongani lunged towards the entrance and hurled himself outside, shaking and mumbling to his protective spirit. He saw Jimmy walking jerkily toward the strange light on the other side of the river. Straining against the unseen force that was pushing him away, he stumbled on and managed to clutch onto the tall man's shirt. "No, Boss Jimmy! You must not go there! They will take you away like they took Gladness. We need you here. You must not look there!" Bongani's frantic urgings pierced the mind-numbing chants that filled Jimmy's head. "Bongani, how do I stop?" He whispered softly, still unable to completely fight the compelling feeling that consumed his body and willpower. "Look away, Boss, look away. They can only take you if you watch them!" Bongani's words became loud and desperate as he felt his grip on Jimmy losing strength. His hands dropped to his sides and he fell to his knees, giving in to the repelling force. Jimmy's inner mind took over and wiped Bongani's words from his ears. The chanting became peaceful as Jimmy continued to move to the river. He smiled. It's not so bad, Bongani. They are friendly, they won't hurt me. They want to talk. Bongani? Bongani, are you there? Jimmy turned to see why his friend was not answering. He realised he had not spoken out loud when he saw Bongani kneeling on the ground, hands fervently clasped together, tears streaming from his eyes. The sight of his friend looking so desolate made him stop and walk to him. "Bongani?" Bongani's face lit up as he saw Jimmy bending towards him, his large hand outstretched. "You all right, Boss! You all right?" "What is wrong, Bongani? Why are you outside? It's the middle of the night and you know it is dangerous to be out now! The fence around the camp is only a deterrent! When are you people ever going to learn that this is a bloody game park and not a botanical garden!" Bongani smiled at the berating from his friend. He knew that it would be fine. He bent his head and mumbled a thanks to his spirit. First light saw the ruggedly handsome warden rising from the bed. He was not normally this late and his alarm clock - Bongani - should have been to wake him up already. He stood, feeling his strong knees tremble slightly. Baffled, he sat back down and thought of the dream he'd had. It was still vivid in his memory, as if he had brought the dream with him into reality. "Bongani!" He ignored the sensation and rose again to walk to his dresser and pull out the khaki uniform that was so prominent on the reserve. He spun around at the noise in the doorway. Bongani stood there, a proud yet very tired old man. "Have you been at the Shabeen again, Bongani?" Shaking his head ruefully he turned back to the dresser to find his socks so carefully rolled by his caretaker who, at that moment, looked relieved. "No, Boss Jimmy, I was at the Sangoma to sort out the problem from last night." Bongani's hand moved up to finger the necklace of shells and bones. "I have something that will keep you safe so you will not hear the voices again." Jimmy's back stiffened. How did his friend know what he had dreamt about last night? He turned, looked down and saw the necklace being offered to him. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the little brown man. "What voices?" Jimmy cautiously asked holding his breath until the man in front looked up with a frown on his weather-beaten face. "You don't remember, Boss? You went out last night when the voices call you. Same like when Gladness went. Very bad medicine, Boss, bad, bad!" Bongani shook his head as he spoke and still offered the necklace. "You take this and keep it on. You will not want to walk to the voices when they call again. My Sangoma has very strong medicine." Jimmy walked slowly towards Bongani and accepted the necklace carefully with respect. He was very familiar with the traditions and beliefs of the people around the area. He knew that they were not just superstitions but a complete way of life. "Bongani, tell me what actually happened last night." Bongani sat on the floor as Jimmy perched on the edge of the bed, leaning towards Bongani - elbows on knees. Bongani closed his eyes and seemed to go into a trance as he recited what had occurred the previous night. Jimmy sat in a daze as he heard his dream unfold into reality. "Get the truck ready as soon as you can, Bongani. We must see what is there" said Jimmy. Bongani opened his weary eyes to see the man on the bed jump up to fetch his boots. "No, Boss Jimmy. Don't go to the place of the bad medicine." He gravely advised, "You will not see anything. Not even the animals will go to that place for a long time." Jimmy finished pulling on his boots and looked at Bongani in earnest.