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Alex could see Satara airstrip ahead and made out the cargo net full of the morning’s ivory haul sitting waiting in the open. Two soldiers in camouflage fatigues were sitting on the ground next to the tusks, but they got to their feet at the sound of the approaching helicopter.
‘I have to touch down before they attach the net to the hook under the helicopter,’ Kobus said into Alex’s headphones.
‘Why?’ Kufa asked. He was still sitting in the copilot’s seat, wearing Petrice’s helmet.
Alex answered for Kobus, who had flared the nose to bleed off speed as they started to descend towards the airstrip. ‘The rotors build up static electricity while we’re flying, particularly in dry dusty weather like this. Kobus needs to ground the helicopter to discharge the energy, otherwise when those g
