Page 55 - Archangel
P. 55

In response, Ndara chimed in with, “A Kenyan UN charter flight lands
            in Bukavu airport from Goma in three hours, onward to Benaco. The pilot
            and crew members are my former Special Forces unit comrades.”
              “Of course they are!“ Skye, joked. “Do we have wheels available to get
            me there?”
              Kenyatta said, “He’ll hold the flight long enough, if you leave within the
            hour and get there in two. All of the Rovers are in the field so I’ll take you
            there in Sweet Chariot, Mzungu.”
              Skye started walking down the sand path and called over his shoulder,
            “Well, what are we waiting for?” As Sean started to follow, Skye said,
            “Whoa, not you, Leprechaun. I’m starving, and I ain’t leaving without Isa’s
            red beans and rice. All they’ll have in Benaco is high energy biscuits which
            taste like a week-old hash brown.”
              Laughing, shaking his head, and changing course toward the canteen
            as the Kenyans escorted MacIain to collect his backpack and meds bag,
            Collins quipped, “Pog Mo Thoin [Kiss my ass, Gaelic]. I’ll fax Jack.
            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 who 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 inches 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.” 4
              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,

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