Page 40 - Archangel
P. 40
Reckoning a course for Bukavu, MacIain was now fighting for his and
Ndara’s life against the more subtle enemies of exhaustion and despair
over failing to save the brave sister to whom was owed the lives of many.
Skye galvanized his recollection of the Land Rover and its markings.
Turning to his Kenyan comrade with the passion and piercing eyes of
Saint Michael, MacIain declared to him and all the Saints: “This isn’t
over. It’s just beginning. I will never stop, Layla! As long as blood money
from genocide gets legally laundered for profit through middlemen and
mines. As long as Bosnian warlord and convicted war criminal Illya Kosic
washes Balkans death money through the same Swiss bank that helped
finance Hitler’s mass murder decades ago. As long as that EuroMining CEO
finances militia who slaughter Africans for their lands mined for minerals
that make our cell phones and laptops. Greed and murder are not bound
by continents, and neither is righteous vengeance.”
Pushing the motor to full throttle, he added, “And those of you
responsible for killing this angel?” he promised. “You’re dead
men walking.“
In pain but still conscious, Ndara felt fear that MacIain meant the pledge
which could be the death of him.
Fighting sleeplessness and hours of stress from potential discovery, Skye
and Ndara watched the African daybreak start to color the skies in pastels
as the bateau finally nuzzled the dock in Bukavu. Two hours prior, MacIain
had radioed ahead an ETA which passed 1.5 hours ago. Both before
and after entering DRC waters, they twice killed the motor to remain
undetected as approaching boats with large engines and police light
configurations flew past.
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