TUSKS

A cloud ofdust twisted wildly through the wind as a black and white jeep came barreling down the road. The brutal African sun bore down on the two occupants as their laughter rang out above the vehicle's noisy engine. Winston, the driver, was a gaunt Englishman with a sharp, craggy face and piercing blue eyes. Named after his mother's favorite statesman, he bore no resemblance to his famous namesake. Thinning sandy hair flopped over his freckled face as he crinkled his pale blue eyes against the sun's glare. His companion, a tall muscular Black man by the name ofMaso, jostled against him as the jeep swerved and bumped along the rocky road. Winston, the big game hunter and Maso, his African guide, were headed for Gabon in search of elephants. A former French colony, Gabon is located on the Equator, in central Africa. Sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and the Gulf ofGuinea, it is one ofthe most prosperous countries in the region, with an extensive system ofrain forests covering 85% of the country. As they approached the Gabonese border, Winston patted his top pocket and checked to make sure his passport was still there. "How many more times are you going to check that?" asked Maso. Winston laughed nervously. "Nervous habit, I'm afraid, just making sure." And he patted his pocket once more. Maso laughed to himself, and then turned to survey the passing landscape. "I say, old chap," Winston continued in his clipped English accent, "I do hope they let us through." "Well, old chap, replied Maso, mimicking Winston's upper class accent, "I'm Gabonese, so I'll have no problem; they'll definitely let me through." He smiled brightly, revealing perfect white teeth. "Not so sure about your lily white English ass, though," he added with a wink. "Money talks," replied Winston. "At least it did in Equatorial Guinea. I've never known such a corrupt bunch of criminals in all my life!" The two men had spent the last couple ofweeks in that country and had found that bribery and corruption were a way of life. "Everyone's on the take there, from the top down, including the police, government officials, customs and immigration, you name it," said Winston. "They would have kept my passport if I hadn't handed over a couple of hundred dollars." Maso nodded. "You got that right, man." "And that president, Obiang, is the worst of all," said Winston. "I'm glad to be leaving there." "Me too," replied Maso. "Glad to be going home to Gabon." "Well, it's probably just the same in Gabon. I'll just grease their palms and we'll be on our way," chuckled Winston. He slowed the jeep briefly and placed two one-hundred dollar bills between the pages ofhis passport. "There, that should do it." Now at the border crossing in Mongamo, Winston slowed to a stop and took a deep breath. "Here goes," he whispered to Maso. Two armed guards in full uniform stood on either side ofthe jeep and glared at the two passengers. "Passports!" demanded the taller ofthe two guards, whose face sported a large jagged scar running from brow to chin.