by Roger Weston
Soon he hiked through caverns which were at least a hundred feet wide and ten feet tall. His path weaved through natural floor to ceiling columns created by the joining of stalactites and stalagmites. The weird limestone formations he encountered looked like human internal organs and even had a pink-reddish color. The cave walls resembled exposed brains. Little pings of dripping water continually hit the floor. As amazing as the cave was, he didn’t slow down. He knew that his pursuers couldn’t be far behind.
CHAPTER 50
Abu Bakr put his hand on Marwan's shoulder. “Son, how could this have happened?”
Marwan shrugged. “I don't know. I guess they came back and got him.”
“You have become a man since I last saw you. The way you deceived him and led him to Dailia was impressive. It must have been hard on you.”
Marwan fidgeted. “What do you mean?”
“You traveled with him for a long time, you got to know him, and you probably grew somewhat attached to him.”
Marwan's shoulder muscles tensed. “He's an infidel.”
“He saved your life.”
Marwan said nothing.
“Son, do not lie to me. I can tell if you are lying to me. Did you help him get away?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He saved my life twice, and I betrayed him.”
Abu Bakr sighed and watched his men climbing the side of the gorge toward where they lost sight of Paul Cook. “My son, one day you will be a great man. You cut that man to get what you wanted. You understand that in our world, only the strong survive. Dailia wanted to leave the jungle of Middle East politics in hopes of sheltering you and your descendents from the harsh realities. She didn't understand destiny. I do.”
“Why did she have to die?”
“You did wrong by letting him go. You were wrong to kill that guard. I credit you for your strong sense of loyalty, but I fault you that it was misplaced. You showed me that you have a certain degree of ruthlessness by killing the guard. But you also showed me that you have a large degree of sentimentality and illusions by allowing your attachment to the American to affect your judgment.”
“I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him.”
“If it weren't for him, your life would never have been put in jeopardy to begin with.” Abu Bakr grabbed a handful of the collar of his robe in his fist. “Don't ever betray me again—ever! Is that clear?”
Marwan's head fell. “Yes.”
“Good.” Abu Bakr gazed up at the mountain to check his men's progress. “We'll catch him again soon. And when we do, you’re going to kill him.”
***
Sheikh Saleh saw the hole first. His lungs burned from the hike up the mountain. He gestured to his men to gather round and he crouched down behind a large rock.
“Cook,” he yelled, “we've got you surrounded. Come out of your hole or we'll have to kill you.”
He waited but got no reply. “Come out or we'll throw a grenade into your hole.” Again no reply. “Alright, you've given me no choice.” The sheikh waited a few seconds more then squeezed a burst of automatic fire into the hole. He turned to his men and nodded at Qasim Khan. “You go look in the hole. He's probably dead by a ricocheted bullet.”
Qasim Khan's jaw fell slack. When his mouth shut, his eyes narrowed to slits of bitterness and hate. “And what if he's still alive?”
“Then shoot him.”
“I'll be climbing up there without cover. If anyone gets shot, it'll be me.”
“Have you heard him shooting back?”
“Maybe he's just waiting for us to go out in the open where he can see us.”
“Then look to Allah for your reward in heaven.”
“I'm in no hurry.”
“Get going.”
“Do it yourself.”
Sheikh Saleh slapped him across the face.
Qasim Khan winced. Overcome with fury, he started to raise his gun, but Sheikh Saleh was faster. “You want to die now?” the sheikh said.
Qasim Khan looked up the barrel of the AK at Sheikh Saleh and stayed still. “I'll go,” he said.
“Good. If you get scared and try to turn back, I'll shoot you.”
“I'm not afraid. I'm just not eager to die.” He started slowly, cautiously up the mountain. Sheikh Saleh looked at the others. “Any more cowards among you?”
They shook their heads.
“Good.” He watched Qasim Khan, who crawled up to where the slope turned into vertical cliff, then worked his way along the cliff toward the hole. When he got to the hole he surprised the sheikh when, without much delay, he risked his life and looked in. Then, without saying anything, he crawled into the hole and out of sight. A minute later the sheikh saw his head poke out of the hole.
“He's gotten away,” Qasim Khan said. “This is a cave.”
Sheikh Saleh got Abu Bakr on the walkie-talkie and explained the problem.
“Go after him,” Abu Bakr said. “We’re leaving now.”
They followed the cave for close to half an hour before they broke out into daylight again in another gorge. When Sheikh Saleh saw the terrain, he breathed a sigh of relief. Although the gorge was surrounded by hundred-foot limestone cliffs, the canyon floor resembled a natural garden with tropical trees and other foliage. Good, he thought, I'm ready for some level ground. He hacked up some phlegm from deep in his burning lungs and spit. “Let's hunt the dog down and kill him.”
He led them through a grove of palm trees, but then stepped behind one for cover when he saw something that confounded him. His men retreated behind other trees. In the clearing beyond, eleven humps rose on the ground. The humps were round, about six feet in diameter, and each had a hole big enough for a person to crawl into. They were about three feet high, made out of branches, twigs and palm fronds.
Sheikh Saleh smiled. It occurred to him that the natives they'd seen might live or sleep in these crude structures. “Cook,” he shouted, “come out or you will be shot.”
Silence.
Sheikh Saleh raised his gun and nodded to him men. On cue they all stepped out from behind the trees firing, riddling the little huts with a storm of gunfire. Branches snapped, palm fronds caved in, huts sagged under the relentless assault. Sheikh Saleh heard one of his men scream. He dropped his gun and tried to pull a twelve-inch arrow out of his neck. A wave of arrows swept down into the line of gunmen and another man staggered and dropped his weapon. As the sheikh and his men began to respond, a thunderous barrage of gunfire rained in on them from both ridges. Bursts from AK-47s riddled two of his men in the crossfire.
By now Sheikh Saleh and the others who hadn't been hit took cover behind trees. Some of the wounded made for cover too. One crawled over behind the sheikh, but as soon as he tried to stand he collapsed at the sheikh's feet.
Sheikh Saleh scoped out the ridge and saw movement. He squeezed off a burst of fire and pounded the ridge with deadly gunfire until his clip ran out. He ejected his clip and slammed in another.
CHAPTER 51
Paul hiked for less than half an hour before he overtook the others, who had stopped and waited for him in a small canyon that abounded with foliage. When he came upon them, Kelly looked scared and ashen. Jawara mumbled angrily and he had bags under his eyes. Devin stared at the ground as though caught in a net of depression. Gabriel winced in pain from his wound. Only Otto appeared to be content.
He limped up to Paul, smiling and blowing cigarette smoke out of his nose. “I thought you were dead,” he said.
“Is that why you're in such a good mood?”
“No, it's just that I was prepared to join you.”
“You may yet.” Paul kneeled down by Kelly, who was sitting against a palm tree. “Are you okay?”
“I heard the shots,” she said. “I thought you were dead. How are we going to get out of this?”
“We’ll make it,” Paul said. “I met up with Marwan.” He explained what had happened to him. Then he asked her how Gabriel was d
oing.
“We ran into a hunting party from his tribe. They treated his wounds with some kind of leaves, then went to attack Abu Bakr and his men.”
“With what?”
“Five of them had AK-47s and the other seven had poison arrows that they use to hunt lemurs.”
Paul sighed. “Arrows? Did they understand what they were getting into?” He walked over to Gabriel. “How's your wound?”
“It hurts,” he said, “but the herbs are healing it.”
“Sorry about the hunting party.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kelly told me some of your tribe went to fight Abu Bakr's men with arrows. I heard all the gunfire. It didn’t sound good.”
Gabriel smiled and looked away.
“Do you understand what I'm saying?”
“Of course, look at my leg. I lost two of my kin at the river. I warned my brothers of the danger. They are expert lemur hunters. And they have rifles, too.”
“Monkeys don't shoot back.”
“No,” Gabriel said, “but my brothers know the tsingy better than the intruders. Did you see them?”
“No,” Paul said.
Gabriel smiled.
“I see,” Paul smiled back. “Are you well enough to travel?”
“Yes,” Gabriel said.
Paul stood up. “Okay, then. Let's get moving.”
***
Crouching behind a palm tree, Sheikh Saleh keyed his walkie-talkie. “Abu Bakr, we have come under attack.”
Abu Bakr's voice came back: “By who?”
“The natives.”
“So why don’t you kill them?”
“They ambushed us with poison arrows.”
“Have you killed any of them?”
Sheikh Saleh hesitated. “They've killed five of ours. I don't know if we've gotten any of them because I can't see them.”
A long silence followed, then Abu Bakr's voice came over the walkie-talkie again. “I thought you knew what you were doing.”
Sheikh Saleh looked down at the corpse that lay twisted on the ground near him. He winced and shut his eyes. “It was horrible. The poison paralyzed them. We put them out of their misery.”
“And what about your machine guns? Did you forget how to use them?”
“You can't shoot what you can't see. They used the tsingy for cover.”
“Be careful how you talk to me or I'll make you wish you'd died with the others.” Abu Bakr paused. “We're approaching the palm trees now. Where are the natives?”
“Hiding up on the ridges. I haven't seen them in several minutes.”
“Wait for us. Over.”
Ten minutes later Abu Bakr's men entered the palm grove. When Sheikh Saleh saw them approaching, he retreated deeper into the grove, well out of sight of the ridge above. He hurried up to Abu Bakr. “If we go out into the open,” he said, “they will attack us with more arrows. We will be easy targets. I think we should go back.”
Marwan scoffed at him.
Abu Bakr glared. “Sheikh Saleh, you know what we do with cowards, don't you?”
The sheikh's cheek twitched from the tension. “You didn't see what those little arrows did to my men. They were paralyzed.”
“Why are you so squeamish? I've seen you do worse to men in your interrogations.”
The sheikh nodded slightly, but avoided eye contact.
“Where's the cave entrance?” Abu Bakr said.
The sheikh pointed. “About forty meters across that open area.”
Abu Bakr shook his head and exchanged a look of disgust with Marwan. “Sheikh Saleh, you are a coward. You would disgrace a woman or a mule. I'm going to show you how to cross forty yards. And never again will you allow men with primitive arrows to embarrass me.”
The sheikh nodded eagerly. “What will you do?”
Abu Bakr motioned to two of his men who moved into position near the edge of the grove. “My men will provide overwhelming cover while you run for that cave entrance.”
“Me?”
“Do you have an objection to following orders?”
Sheikh Saleh shook his head. “No, of course not.”
Marwan smirked at him.
Sheikh Saleh grimaced.
“We're wasting time,” Abu Bakr said. “Are you ready?”
The sheikh dropped to his knees and touched his forehead to the ground. He said a final prayer and then rose. “I am ready, but what will happen to my wife and my son if I should be killed.”
“I will watch out for them.”
Sheikh Saleh considered asking Abu Bakr to give him his word, but he knew that would not make any difference. “I am ready.”
Abu Bakr motioned to his men. They opened fire, raking the ridge with gunfire. Sheikh Saleh ran for the cave entrance. When he broke out into the clear, his mind could fathom nothing but getting to the cave. His strides felt as if they were in slow motion. When he arrived inside the safety of the cavern, he fought the impulse to cry in gratitude. Before he realized it or could stop it, hot urine ran down his leg. He cursed in anger.
Another wave of gunfire sprayed the ridge. Abu Bakr and the remaining men ran across the clearing. Sheikh Saleh found himself irresistibly drawn closer to the entrance to watch the spectacle, his eyes darting from the running men to the ridges. Deep down something in him hoped that the natives would kill at least one man in order to vindicate him in the eyes of Abu Bakr. If they didn't, he would surely look like a fool. As the men entered the cave, Sheikh Saleh realized that the natives had gone. He shook his head in disbelief.
The machine gun fire hammered his ear drums as he watched the ridges. The last two men made it to the cave unharmed. Marwan smirked at the sheikh, and Abu Bakr looked at him for just a second before ordering the men to proceed. But that fleeting glance told the sheikh of his gross shame and failure. As he started into the tunnel, a sharp sting hit the back of his leg. “Aaah!” he wailed.
He twisted around to see what had happened. He saw the arrow sticking out of his leg. He collapsed and started to cry out in horror. “Why me?” he said. “Why me?”
***
After crossing the gorge with a loss of two more men, Abu Bakr ordered the survivors to help the sheikh sit up. “Marwan, go through his pack and take a few things. Then the rest of you divide up what Marwan doesn’t take. Only bring the essentials.”
“I'm finished,” the sheikh said.
“Don't worry, you'll soon be rewarded.”
Within ten minutes, Sheikh Saleh fell over, totally paralyzed, staring out of dead-man's eyes.
“Should we kill him?” Marwan said.
“Save your bullets,” Abu Bakr said. “Let's go.”
CHAPTER 52
After they heard more gunfire, Paul led the others for an hour’s hike above and below the tsingy. They passed through an area where the trail ran alongside a stream through a narrow fifteen feet wide rift in the tsingy. Sixty foot limestone cliffs lined each side. When Paul first saw Ryan Lebarge standing in the trail, he could hardly speak. Ryan hadn't changed at all since Paul last saw him. He stood six-feet, six-inches tall. A tousled head of wavy dark hair fell over his weathered face and gaunt cheeks. He stared at Paul.
“You're alive.” Paul said.
Kelly ran to him. “Ryan!” She threw her arms around him and clung to him, but Ryan didn’t look happy to see her. He looked several times at Paul. When Kelly finally let him go she started to ask him all kinds of question, but Ryan said, “Just a minute.” He walked over to Paul. “You brought her here?” Ryan delivered an uppercut that caught Paul off guard. The fist caught him under the cheek. The blow made his teeth bite flesh off both sides of his tongue. Pain and the taste of blood filled his mouth.
Paul endured a flood of instant pain as the next blow crashed into his body. He staggered backward, which bought him a couple of seconds. He dropped his pack, and as Ryan attacked, Paul surprised him with a lean away defensive side kick. Ryan hit the ground hard, his head bouncing on rock.
He rolled over, dazed.
“Next time it’ll be worse,” Paul said. He winced from the pain in his mouth, then walked away through the rift in the tsingy spitting blood. When he came back a minute later, Ryan was just getting up.
“I was just trying to help you,” Paul said.
Jawara stepped forward. “You're gonna get us killed. Don't forget who's following us.”
Paul nodded. He picked up his pack and put it on, spitting out more blood.
Ryan was stooping over somewhat, breathing heavily and glaring at Paul. “I didn't think you could get any lower,” Ryan said. “Why did you bring her here?”
“I was trying to keep her from getting herself killed.”
Ryan sneered contemptuously. “You picked a strange place for that, didn't you?”
“We were trying to find out if you were dead or alive.”
“I asked him to help me,” Kelly said.
Ryan flashed his dark eyes at Paul. “Oh, and I'll bet he loved that. You robbed me and then tried to kill me. Now you’re chasing rumors of my death to get your hands on my sapphire mine and my woman.”
“You’re wrong,” Kelly said.
“I can't believe I once called you my friend,” Ryan said.
“It was all an accident,” Paul said, “a misunderstanding.”
“Bull! You gunned me down and stole my share.”
“No!” Paul said. “That's a lie. I hadn’t slept in days—neither had you. Abu Bakr's men had been hitting claims at night. I thought—”
