The Rhino was exhausted. Between the grass and sand it fell down, out of breath.
"We have him," said a voice from behind the trees. The sun glared down at the Rhino. It wasn't moving.
"Don't think it's dead mam." said another voice.
Two figures walked out into the open. They approached the rhino.
"Grab him Amadou!" Cried the voice. A lady pushed forward a young man who had a rope wrapped around his hip.
Bang!
"Ouch my arms!" Cried the woman
Bang! The bullet missed Amadou by an inch. He dived behind the rhino.
"It's over Karen!" Said a man. He walked over to the woman who was holding her arms.
"No Zayd!" Shouted Karen "Never!"
Two other men came with Zayd. Papis and Omar.
Amadou had been captured by Omar and was in handcuffs.
"Papis take care of the rhino," instructed Zayd, "The van is on the way."
Karen looked angry,
"You won't get away with this!" She shouted "I'll get you for this".
"Your poaching game is over Karen McCarthy," said Zayd.
The van came. Park ranger Fatima and the driver her husband Musa, helped to get the rhino onto the van. Karen and Amadou were put into the back seat. Amadou looked distraught.
Tears rolled down his face.
"Oh be a man," growled Karen
"I wish I was the man my father taught me to become," said Amadou "I fell into the wrong crowd doing the wrong things".
The van jostled on the bumpy road. Along the way they passed two rangers who found a dead elephant with its tusks missing.
"Your game is coming to an end Karen," said Zayd. Zayd has dark shades and was wearing a red bandana. He had lived in Northern Kenya for most of his life having been born in Malawi.
Karen, an American South African poacher was being hunted for the last five years. She was finally caught after a tip off from her former body guard.
Karen screamed. Everyone ignored her.
At the conservation centre Karen and Amadou were put in two different cells. Yes the centre had cells to put captured poachers. In the last two years, 17 poachers were arrested. Karen was their leader.
"Let me go!" Screamed Karen as she was led into the cell. Her cuffs was take off. She rubbed her wrists.
"I'll make you pay for this!" She shouted, "You'll pay big time Zayd". Zayd ignored her.
Amadou sat on his bed in silence.
"I only did what I was told to do," he said with remorse "I didn't want to harm animals." Zayd felt sorry for him.
Karen was outraged and paced up and down the cell. She paused for a moment, her hands trembling out of anger.
The cell was quite clean. There was a newly made bed, the duvet and pillow smelt fresh. The walls were painted white. In one corner was a sink with a fresh towel.
"This is quite unusual," said Karen out loud, calming down.
From the cell bars, Karen could see Zayd and his staff having food. He broke some bread, poured some lentil soup and passed it round to the others. They were smiling and laughing with each other.
A man came over to Karen's cell with a tray of food. He slipped it through.
Karen didn't want it.
"Eat," he said, "It's good."
Karen looked over to the food. There was a beef soup and roast potatoes. There was also two pieces of naan bread and a bottle of water. The food remained there for a while until Karen did feel hungry and ate it.
Karen looked at herself in the mirror. A slim white woman. Her face, covered with dirt mark. Mascara now smudged due to tears. Tears of anger she assured herself. Her blue eyes, looked like a dark thunderous day.
She looked over to Zayd and saw that he was praying. The Muslim prayer. Zayd was leading Musa and Kay, the man who got Karen her food. Karen had never seen Muslim pray. She didn't like Muslims, especially the Imams in Kenya who spoke out against poaching. It affected her business.
Karen observed for a little longer until they finished praying. Not knowing what to do, she went and sat on the bed. What will happen to her? Where is she going to be taken? Has her life of poaching come to an end? What will happen to her mansion, her cars, jewelry? She snapped out of her thoughts as someone was speaking to her.
"Tomorrow you stand before the judge in Mombasa," said Zayd who was standing outside her cell. He was a well built man. A fist length black beard. He wore a camouflage jacket.
"Now you sleep," Zayd continued. He passed across a set of clothing, what looked like pajamas, thought Karen. Upon that Zayd drew a curtain across the cell and called out "This is for your privacy."
"Am I in jail or a hotel" said Karen out loud. She was very surprised at everything that was happening.
That night Karen couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned. She saw dreams of the rhino chasing her. She saw an elephant charging at her. She saw herself falling into a roaring crocodile infested river. She saw a white dove flying above her and a hand suddenly reached out. It pulled her out from the river. A radiant face. A man all in white. He spoke with an African accent.
"My daughter now is the time," he said. Karen slowly woke up repeating those words. 'Now is the time'. It was still dark outside.
Karen got up. Without thinking, she fell on the floor.
"Oh God save me, I'll work for you," she cried "Forgive me." She sobbed, with her hands covering her face.
Next day, Karen and Amadou were taken to the court. The judge sat at the front. Karen thought she recognised him.
"Get up," he said to Karen and Amadou. They both got up. Karen gulped. Amadou's hands shook.
"What would you do if let you go now?"
Karen seemed surprised.
"Well, your honour," she began, her voice trembling, "I had a change of heart last night. I prayed to God and asked him to forgive me. I don't want to go back to the life of poaching again."
"What made you want to change?" asked the judge. Karen narrated to him the dream she had. She kept looking at the judge, who was smiling. He looked familiar, she kept thinking.
"Hey I had the same dream!" Exclaimed Amadou. His face beaming.
"Now is the time," said the judge. "Change, for God loves a person to change for the good"
Karen and Amadou were both shocked. That's the words they heard in their dream. 'Now is the time.'
"Go you are free," said the judge, Shaykh Habib Al-Hanafi, the Grand Mufti of Kenya. The people in the court gasped with surprise.
In happiness Karen decided to donate much of her wealth to the conservation of animals fund. The judge accepted and Zayd was happy too.
"But your honour," began Karen, "Why did you set me free?"
"Your dream, Karen," said Shaykh Habib with a smile. How did he know, thought Karen,
"Also my good friend Zayd heard you calling to God last night," continued Shaykh Habib.
"Your honour after all I've done for greed of wealth. I realised yesterday I was put into a clean cell with clean bedding. I was given food which was better than the food Zayd and his men had. And now you release me. Why?"
"My daughter," began Shaykh Habib, "Our religion teaches us to be kind to people. Our Prophet Sallallahu Alyhiwasallam taught us to look after our prisoners. We all need a chance in our life. It is now your time."
Karen took a gulp. She was in awe of the judge. She remembered everything she had done all these years. Poaching and selling animal parts for large sums of money, partying, drinking and smoking. She fell into this lifestyle having joined the wrong crowd.
"I..I," she began to sob, "I'm so sorry your honour. I have done so much wrong and have never been told. Never been shown what is right and what is wrong."
Shaykh Habib smiled. He signalled her to leave. She turned around. Taking a couple of steps forward she stopped. She turned around.
"Your honour, I want to join your religion," she said. Everyone gasped. There was a murmur in the court room. Shaykh Habib got up from his chair and came over to Karen, smiling.
"Then repeat after me my daughter," he began. He helped her say the Shahadah.
"Ashadu," said Shaykh Habib.
"Ashadu," repeated Karen.
"An Lailaha," Shaykh Habib continued.
"An Lailaha," said Karen with a tear in her eyes.
"Ilallah," said Shaykh Habib.
"Ilallah," said Karen. A tear rolled down her eyes.
"Wa Ashadu," said Shaykh Habib.
"Wa Ashadu," said Karen.
"Anna Muhammadan," said Shaykh Habib. He put his palms on his chest.
"Anna Muhammadan," said Karen as more tears rolled down her tears.
"Abduhu wa Rasuluh," said Shaykh Habib finishing.
"Abduhu wa Rasuluh," said Karen. She fell on her knees. She cried.
"Allah has forgiven you my daughter," said Shaykh Habib looking down at her, "We have too."
Everyone was pleased. Smiles beamed on their faces. Zayd was very happy too.
Shaykh Habib instructed park ranger Fatima to show Karen how to pray. Karen had made intention to join the conservation group. She wanted to make a difference now.
A few days later Karen received a marriage proposal. Shaykh Habib had suggested she marry Zayd. Karen felt shy. She had never thought of marriage. Zayd was also sent the same request. He was surprised too.
They both accepted!
"Now is the time," said Shaykh Habib to himself as he sat on a rock outside a cave watching Karen and Zayd walking together towards their new house.
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