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The tuk-tuk was about the size of a golf cart, but the driver certainly managed to demonstrate James-Bond-like skills the way he weaved in and out of the impossibly narrow streets.
After we rounded a corner, I saw we were closing in on the girls. I leaned out to yell at Veronica to stop, but the clatter of our engine swallowed my words.
“Faster, please!” I urged, leaning forward as our driver nodded with determination and coaxed an unexpected burst of speed from the tuk-tuk.
Up ahead, Veronica and Daphne’s ride screeched to a halt at the colorful entrance of the outdoor Zanzibar Cultural Festival—a sprawling celebration of music, dance, and local art that lit up the night. Caleb and I tossed some bills to our driver and hit the ground running.
An upbeat blend of traditional African music throbbed through the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the crowd. Locals and tourists swayed in colorful, flowing garments while they ate street food and examined handmade crafts for sale. Caleb and I weaved through the throng, our eyes scanning for any sign of Veronica and Daphne.
Our pursuit took an unexpected turn when a group of local dancers ensnared us in their rhythmic circle. The female dancers, adorned in vibrant khanga dresses that were as bright and beautiful as their smiles, spun us around in a dizzying sequence, encouraging us to dance with them.
“Not now, folks!” Caleb chuckled, breaking away from the festive intrusion with a playful twirl. “We’re on a mission!”
“Thank you!” I said, giving them an appreciative smile, then also escaping without losing much time.
Unfortunately, our progress was abruptly halted again a few seconds later when Caleb’s elbow knocked into a stand filled with exquisite bongo drums. The drums tumbled like dominos, each strike a loud clash against the next. Mortified, Caleb quickly smoothed the situation with a flurry of apologies and a wad of bills he handed to the stall owner. Her disappointed face relaxed into a grateful nod as she accepted the compensation.
During that time, I spotted Veronica and Daphne entering a booth that sold traditional African dresses. Each of them quickly selected one and slipped it over their clothes. Veronica, aware of the broad distance separating us, shot a mischievous glance my way before she and Daphne melded seamlessly into the immense crowd near the main stage.
Was she actually enjoying the chase? And how was I going to find her? I was pretty sure the only thing I could do at that point was focus on finding them from their faces or hair, since they were now dressed like at least half the attendees.
Caleb and I plunged into the mass of festival-goers, but despite our best efforts to find Veronica and Daphne, the sea of bodies seemed to swallow any trace of them. Minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last, as our search proved fruitless. Just when I was about to give up, I spotted them in the area to the left of the stage.
“There they are! Over there!” I called out.
“Let’s go!” Caleb said, just as eager as I was to catch them.
We hurried forward, zig-zagging through the revelers until we snuck up behind them. I reached out, tapping Veronica on the shoulder, looking forward to seeing the look on her face when she turned around. But as they turned, a stream of rapid Portuguese unfurled between them—a language I recognized, but didn’t understand. Their faces, unfamiliar and amused under the masks, confirmed they were not who I hoped.
My cheeks burned with the mistake as I held my hands up in defense and muttered an apology, hoping they understood a little English. Stepping away from the two women, exhausted and out of breath, the realization sunk in that we’d lost them. Again.
“They’re gone,” I admitted to Caleb, the adrenaline fizzling out, replaced by a mix of frustration and admiration for their cunning escape.
He patted my back, his chuckle ringing out amidst the festival noise as he tried to catch his breath. “We lost them, but what a rush that was. I don’t remember the last time I had so much fun.”
I couldn’t help but agree, a reluctant smile tugging at my lips. “It would’ve been better if we’d caught them, though.” I glanced around again, but it was no use. They were nowhere to be found.
“What’s our next move?” Caleb asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
I thought for a moment, then straightened and gestured behind us with my thumb. “Let’s head back to the hotel so we can get there before they do. They’ll have to get their things from their room and check out if they’re thinking of leaving the island to escape again. We’ll just have to wait it out in the lobby, no matter how long it takes, then we need to talk some sense into them.”
Caleb shook his head, an amused grin on his face. “You may know my sister well, but I know Daphne and she doesn’t look like she’s in a hurry to leave soon. She wants to have some fun, and I’m pretty sure Veronica does, too. I saw her laughing, and honestly, I haven’t seen that in a long time.”
“You may very well be right,” I conceded, “but Veronica is always one step ahead of us. Today proved she can outmaneuver us at every turn.”
Caleb chuckled. “She’s got that knack, doesn’t she? Always keeping us guessing. It’s very annoying.”
“And impressive,” I said with a grin. “The bottom line is, I refuse to let it happen again.” I gave his shoulder a firm pat as we turned to go find a tuk-tuk to take back to the hotel. “This time, we’ll be one step ahead of her.”
Chapter Eleven
Princess Veronica
After almost two hours at the Zanzibar Cultural Festival, we made our way back to the Park Hyatt Hotel. Daphne and I were both still buzzing from the fun and excitement of outrunning August and Caleb, not to mention the hour-long dance session we’d had in front of the main music stage.
It was absolutely liberating that I could have so much fun without the fear of someone recognizing me or telling me it was not proper royal protocol to act that way. I was a nobody in Africa, just a carefree tourist who was living in the moment, and I loved it.
I smiled, recalling the thrill of our tuk-tuk chase through the streets of Stone Town. “I think our driver used to be a former Formula One racer.”
