Page 16 - Archangel

than English when passion turned his hazel eyes to blazing emeralds.
Working in more than 60 countries over 25 years, Skye often reflected
on his Low Country home which bore him, to re-center his soul and
restore peace.
A rogue wave suddenly peeled up over Kivu’s killer sand bars, slammed
into the wooden craft and jarred MacIain and 23 refugees back to the
present. He adjusted course into the hidden channel he followed often
on Kivu’s eastern shore. He sailed away, shrugging off thoughts of a home
to which he may never return. He needed all his focus. His catch tonight
wasn’t shrimp or fish. Hugging the deck of the wooden, flat bottom fishing
boat, or bateau, were 23 refugees clinging to each other for dear life,
refusing to join the +1 million who would perish in the Rwanda genocide.
The Scottish American humanitarian aid worker and his first mate,
Northern Irish physician Dr. Sean Michael Collins, were soaked to the
bone. Smiling and whispering passionately over his shoulder, he quipped,
“Jesus, Skye! You’re going to be the death of me, you are. You, me and 23
in this tub. Now get us the hell out of here.”
Along with a handful of able-bodied Tutsi they were rescuing, Skye and
Sean straddled and paddled quietly and quickly away from the Rwandan
shoreline. If they were discovered, all was lost. Hutu butchers with
machetes and machine guns were prowling most of the Central African
country of Rwanda to gun or hack down Tutsis and those moderate Hutus
who were helping them escape murder and massacre.

burning bush

Miraculously, MacIain, Collins and crew had put 50 yards between
themselves and the beach with scarcely a peep from the ragged refugees.
Skye could feel his heart trying to beat out of his chest. Feverishly
preparing to start the outboard motor and sprint toward safety in Bukavu,
DRC, Sean suddenly scampered over bodies, lunged, and caught Skye’s
long, curly hair from behind.
Pulling him within earshot and pointing to the forested bank, he
said, “Stop! Look at the shore, lad!” Peering over his shoulder in both
horror and elation, Skye saw the small flame burning brightly from their
departure point. The evacuation team’s standard signal for ‘Immediate
danger – life threatened.’

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