Page 33 - Archangel
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medic, I imagine I’ve treated more bullet wounds than you have. You can
fire me tomorrow, but right now you’re heading to bed.”
“As I said,” Sean smiled tiredly in acquiescence with the wise counsel of
the giant nurse who could bench press the slight Northern Irishman
for amusement.
Six hours later, Ngetti jostled Dr. Collins and announced, “Ndara awoke
first.” Shaking off the morning fatigue and pulling up a stool, Sean quickly
examined the Kenyan captain, who whispered, “I’m so sorry we failed, Dr.
Collins. There was nothing we could do. She was tortured, murdered and
hung on the beach well before we approached. We’re lucky to be alive.”
Nonverbal communications passed between Kenyatta and Ngetti. The
captain smirked and added, “By the way, your mad hatter Highlander?
Pretty damn good shooting for an ‘aid worker.’ MacIain believes Layla was
betrayed by Hutu informants posing as refugees in our own Bukavu camp.
Just like Keesie.” His eyes cold black with passion, he seethed, “I believe he
is right.”
After reflection, Collins then admitted that the last Operation Moses
land-based escape route to the north had also been compromised and
all 17 souls in the last party lost. Stating the obvious for all concerned,
Collins confirmed, “We’re running out of time, mates, and the increasing
number of rescues blown means each effort going forward approaches a
suicide mission. Keesie and Layla told us this day might come if the world
refused to confront the evil and greed driving genocide in Africa’s Great
Lakes region.”
‘Operation Moses’
and Its Martyrs
Amidst what would become one of the worst genocides in recorded
human history, thousands of heroes emerged every week in Rwanda and
neighboring countries among those who were finding, evacuating, hiding,
transporting, and resettling a million human beings running for their lives.
Witnesses of thousands of murders, Keesie Tinyuka, her friend Layla
Marayika, and a small army of rag-tag volunteers had been involved in
no less than 20 Rwandan rescue missions when Jack Lozi and Skye met
them. Godmother to Layla’s son Moses, Keezie told her friend, “The clock
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