Page 43 - Archangel

And come back in one piece, Highlander. I don’t have time to train a
replacement,” causing them all to chuckle.
With plans for MacIain’s flight established, Skye’s colleagues left him
alone with his thoughts to prepare. Ensuring none were in sight or earshot,
he again quietly slid the compound’s satellite phone into his backpack and
walked out onto the Operation Moses lake docks to ensure he was alone.
Calling and getting Dane’s encrypted voice mail, Skye shared, ”Cousin! As
promised, I’m giving a sit rep so you don’t disown the family do-gooder.
As you offered earlier… if you have any contacts, I would love anything
you’ve got on the disappearance of that Irish Aid worker, Dr. Liam
Kelly. My friend Dr. Lozi I told you about is friends with Kelly who was
kidnapped. Sean is also asking his brother whom you know has contacts
in both Irish-based logistics and INGO types. Thanks for getting back to
me. Slainte.”
Two hours later, Ndara locked up the ancient brakes of Sweet Chariot
and slid to within a foot of the freight entrance fence at the Bukavu airport.
Smirking, Skye said, “Damn, Ndara. Let me unpin my eyelids from my
skull and wipe away the clay tears. You nearly killed me, and I think we
lost Ngetti on that last turn.”
Smiling broadly, the Ndara challenged, “That’s for nearly killing me in
the bateau and drugging me without my consent.”
Just then two Kenyan military personnel with the UN flag on their
epaulets swarmed over Sweet Chariot, embracing Ndara and Sergeant
Ngetti, chattering in rapid fire Swahili until the Kenyan pilot came over the
radio with, “Family and unit reunion is over. Tower says I lose clearance
for take-off, if we don’t start taxiing within 10 minutes.” To Kenyatta
and Ngetti, the pilot keyed his radio mike and yelled, “Kwaheri, Kakas
[Farewell, Brothers, Swahili],” laughed, and directed, “Now move!” The
Kenyan flight crew snapped to attention, crisply saluted the retired but not
forgotten Captain Kenyatta and Sergeant Ngetti, and said goodbye as they
sprinted for the mid-sized transport plane.
Designed to carry substantial loads and land on poor surfaces, the
sturdy de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo cargo plane resembled a
grasshopper with broader wings and balloon tires for feet. Pulling their
jeep up to the plane’s central loading door, the flight crew threw Skye into
the hold, parked the jeep, leaped inside, scampered to their respective
stations, and strapped themselves in. The two engines immediately started
screaming louder.

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