Nairobi's reputation for violent crime had earned the Kenyan capitol the nickname 'Nai-rob-ee. Commander Tim and his Kili Initiative team had warned that I shouldn't leave the grounds of the YMCA.
"We can not promise your safety," shrugged Fast Steve. "A white man is a target always after dark."
I had walked thought a slum Chinese casino in Bangkok's Klong Toey with a baseball bat to attack a low-level gangster, but I had been 50 and knew Thailand. Now I was 66 and this was my first time in Africa, but I had to say, "I want a beer."
"It's Sunday night," said Fast Steve and added, "All the stores selling beer are closed we will have to go to the centre."
"Can we walk there?"
"No." Fast Steve and Felix shook their heads. "We can. Not you. We will go by taxi."
"Maybe we shouldn't go."
"You are with us. No one will touch you."
They called a taxi and five minutes later we were heading into the city.
No pedestrians were on the streets.
Only a few cars.
It was only 9 o'Clock.
As scared as I was of hyenas, I understood the voracious carnivores were not to blame for the emptiness.
The Lower East Side had been the same in the 1970s.
Crime and ruin and killer police.
I had been in my 20s.
I was much than that now.
But I hankered a beer and the taxi stopped before a disco.
The street was dead.
Homeless children appeared from the shadows.
They demanded to be my bodyguards.
"Don't show any money," cautioned Fast Steve and he pulled me into the disco.
Chelsea was playing Man City and I said, "Great, we can watch a little footie."
Except the score was 5-0 after twenty-three minutes.
I bought some drink and we went outside.
Felix and Fast Steve brought me to a corner and pointed to concrete benches.
"This is where we became part of the Kili Initiative. Commander Tim had met with us and explained his goals about trying to save young people's lives. Felix and I sat down and discussed the future. We both agreed the Kili Initiative was a good thing and here we are. Here with you." Fast Steve hailed a passing taxi.
"And I am with you in Nairobi." I cracked open a beer.
Neither of them were drinking.
Tomorrow was a big work day.
We were leaving for Kilimanjaro, but it wasn't a work day for me.
"Cheers."
"Akishangiliwa."
Not only was I in Nairobi, but I was in Kenya, Africa and the Tusker was cold.
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