The Song of Mawu. Jeff Edwards

back out there.’

      Justine squeezed her hand, ‘I think you should go, but not like last time. We can’t repeat that disaster. I agree with Brian; we can’t stand out there trying to solve a problem by simply throwing money at it. In this case that won’t work. We have to have a plan, a plan that takes into account the prevailing situation, not only the physical situation but the political as well. But before we can devise a proper plan we need to know more about the country.’

      ‘How?’

      ‘We have Sam and Bree’s report to get us started, but I think we need to talk to a member of the Namolan community and actually find out what it means to live there,’ said Justine.

      ‘Where would you find someone like that?’ asked Suzie.

      ‘I think I might know someone who can find us the right person,’ said Brian.

      ‘Who’s that?’

      ‘Rani Smith.’

      The group considered the answer and nodded as they saw the possibilities.

      ‘I still think I can achieve something for the refugees if I go out there,’ insisted Eliza.

      ‘I think you should go,’ agreed Nori Akuba, ‘You’d be surprised what can be achieved with just a small amount of local cash,’ she went on to explain what Ali had been able to achieve to the rest of the board.

      Justine nodded, ‘I agree. I think we should send Eliza to be our person on the ground out there. She can do what she can for the refugees while interviewing the Namolans.’

      ‘That sounds as though you want Eliza to act as an intelligence agent,’ said Brain. ‘I’d be a lot happier if you didn’t go out there alone.’

      ‘Who do you suggest? Sam and Bree?’

      Brian and Toby exchanged glances, ‘We have other things for them to do here at present, but I’d definitely like them to follow you out there at a later date.’

      ‘Who then?’

      ‘What about Mick Sloane. As a reporter he’d have a natural ‘cover’ and would be the ideal person to interview the locals.’

      ‘Would he do it?’

      ‘I’ll have Toby put it to him.’

      ‘So I can go?’ asked Eliza.

      ‘Of course you can!’ smiled Suzie.

      ‘When?’

      ‘As soon as you finish your present task,’ said Brian.

      Eliza looked at him. She knew what he was talking about and knew that they could not openly discuss the topic in this room.

      When she had completed the copying of the videos she thought her job finished, but Brian obviously had some other task for her. She gave him a silent nod, knowing the topic would be discussed at another time and place. ‘How long?’ she asked.

      ‘You’ll be on your way to Namola in a very short time,’ he nodded. ‘Surely you don’t want to miss the grand opening of our new building?’

      ‘It’s just a building. There are lives at stake out there.’

      ‘Then we’ll get you on your way before the big event,’ he smiled.

      ***

      Joseph Lattua smiled with satisfaction.

      The small four seater aircraft circled above the new army camp and made ready to land at the dirt airstrip. Joseph could see the ranks of soldiers as they went about their training, while off to the side of the valley the sound of shots could be heard as more of the men practiced on the newly created rifle range.

      From this height he couldn’t distinguish between the men of his own army and Francis Bollan’s new recruits, but as the plane came in to land, he spotted the ranks of men without uniform who were having trouble marching in straight lines and knew that these were the new army in exile of Sonateria.

      ‘What a rabble!’ he thought to himself as the small plane bumped along the airstrip and taxied to a waiting jeep.

      His brother extended his hand in welcome as Lattua climbed in beside him. ‘Welcome home. How was Seattle?’

      Lattua grinned, ‘Our esteemed armed forces will soon be the proud owners of a fine new jet plane.’

      ‘Heavily armed?’ asked his brother.

      ‘Very,’ laughed Lattua. ‘It has a full bar, two bedroom suites, and a board room.’

      ‘Well I suppose we can use it to ferry supplies if we ever go to war.’

      Lattua laughed, ‘I’ll make sure that we never get into such a predicament.’

      ‘Then why am I training my men so hard?’ asked Thomas Lattua.

      ‘Because you like to play soldiers.’

      Thomas laughed, ‘And when does your latest toy arrive?’

      ‘Unfortunately I have to go on a waiting list. They said six months, but I suspect it will take longer. The airframe hasn’t been built yet and then it has to be fitted out.’

      ‘And how will you fly such a plane? Or do you intend it to sit in it at Lobacra Airport and look sexy.’

      ‘I’ve found a pair of pilots who want to leave Kenya and don’t have anywhere else to go.’

      ‘They’ve upset Mugabe?’

      ‘They’re white and spoke up against his regime. A few days of torture convinced them it would be in their best interests to leave the country. With nowhere else to go they’re more than willing to work for us. Especially as I’ll provide them with brand new Namolan passports to replace the ones the Kenyan government confiscated.’

      A sentry came to attention and saluted as they passed through the new gate to the army encampment. Their jeep passed between rows of camouflage patterned tents before coming to a stop in front of the prefabricated hut that had initially been The Funds hospital but was now occupied by Thomas Lattua’s headquarters.

      ‘Air conditioning!’ said Joseph as they passed inside.

      ‘It was one of the few buildings that had it connected, so I made sure it became my HQ.’

      ‘A wise decision,’ laughed Joseph. ‘An army commander must keep a cool head at all times.’

      Seated in comfortable lounge chairs in Thomas’ office, Joseph asked. ‘And how is our friend President Bollan going?’

      ‘His ‘army’ is a shambles. Most of the men are from the refugee camp and are so sick with the camp diseases that they can barely stand, much less carry a pack and rifle on a route march. If he tried to launch an invasion any time in the next year they will be annihilated. From what I’ve seen most have joined up to get the food ration. They use most of it to keep their families alive in the refugee camp. I’ve heard that some barely eat enough to stay alive so that they have more to pass on. Then there are the zealots and a few thugs amongst them who can’t wait to get back into Sonateria to take revenge on the Hansa for all the people they murdered and all the property they’ve stolen.’

      ‘Well we won’t worry about when, or if, he’ll return to his homeland. As long as he keeps paying us to take him in and arm his troops we’ll be happy. So far he’s paid for the deposit on my jet, but we need him to stay and pay for the rest of it.’

      ‘I’ll drink to that,’ said Thomas Lattua, as he raised an ice cold bottle of beer to his lips.

      13

      Sam Tait had become bored watching Bree type away at their report on Namola, and decided to make a further search of the new building.

      They both believed that if there was anything hidden it would be found in a place to which they had no access. So far,