The Quest

The prince turned and breathed a sigh of impatience. “Yes, madam?”

“There is also a monastery in the area. We thought, perhaps, we could reach that. A monastery of black stone, I think.”

“There is no such place. You will be joined by Sir Edmund shortly and you can ask him your questions. Excuse me.” He turned and left.

Purcell wiped the sweat from his neck. “You are a pushy bitch, Vivian. But good questions.”

Mercado sat down on a cushion and said to Vivian, “The man is contemplating a Galla massacre or an army firing squad and you have to annoy him. Really, you are insensitive.”

Vivian sat also and poured another scotch. “We aren’t exactly at the Hilton in Addis, you know, Henry. His fate could very well be ours.”

“Yes. You’re right, of course. But we have a chance.”

Purcell sat on the low table and helped himself to the scotch. He said, “Well, at least we know that the garrison in the jungle is real.”

They could hear excited noises outside the tent and the unmistakable sounds of military deterioration. Arguments broke out, and at least one disagreement was settled with a gun. Tents around them were being plundered by the fleeing soldiers, but the flag of the Lion of Judah kept their tent inviolate for the time being, though they felt their perimeter of safety shrinking as they sat sipping scotch in the hot, fetid enclosure.

Purcell said to Mercado, “You were right, Henry. This is where the story is. And I think we’re about to be part of it.”

Mercado did not reply.

Vivian said, “I’d like to get some photographs.”

Purcell motioned toward a row of ceremonial shields and spears leaning against the tent wall. “Henry, dress up a bit.”

Again, Mercado did not reply, but he said to Vivian, “You will not leave this tent.”

Purcell suggested they look around to see if there were any other weapons in the tent aside from the spears.

Mercado said firmly, “We cannot be found carrying a firearm. We are journalists.”

“Everyone else has one.”

“That’s the point, Frank. We can’t shoot our way out of here.” He added, “This is not an American cowboys and Indians movie.”

Purcell stayed silent for a moment, then said, “I was thinking more along the lines of avoiding a fate worse than death.”

No one replied, then Mercado said, “You’re being a bit fatalistic, Frank.” He asked, “What would you like to do?”

Purcell thought a moment, then replied, “There’s only one option left.”

“What is that?”

“Another round.” He emptied the remaining scotch into the three bronze goblets and said, “I hope those lances can drip more scotch into our cups.”

“Don’t be blasphemous.”

Purcell took one of the spears and stuck it in the ground next to the table. They all sat on the tabletop, facing the closed tent flap.

Purcell had no idea who would come through that flap-mutinous soldiers, Colonel Gann, the prince, or Gallas. With luck, the cavalry in the form of the government soldiers would arrive and Henry would wave his press credentials and safe-conduct pass and remember how to say in Amharic, “Thank you for rescuing us from the prince.”

Meanwhile, the sounds of desertion and disintegration outside the tent were growing quieter. In fact, ominously quiet.

Vivian said, “I think we’re alone.”

The tent flap opened and Purcell said, “Not anymore.” He reached for the spear.

Chapter 7

A tall, thin man wearing a sweat-stained khaki uniform stooped and entered. He glanced at the spear in Purcell’s hands, then said in a British accent, “Hello. I think we’ve lost the war.”

Purcell noted that Colonel Sir Edmund Gann wore a reddish mustache and carried a riding crop. He was hatless, but there was a tan line on his forehead, so he’d lost his hat somewhere, though not his service revolver, which he wore on his hip. He also had a pair of field glasses hanging around his neck. Purcell stuck the spear back in the ground and stood.

Mercado introduced himself, and Colonel Gann said, “Yes, I’ve read your stuff.”

“Thank you.” Mercado introduced his companions, and Vivian said to Colonel Gann, “If you’ve read Henry’s stuff, I like you already.”

Colonel Gann forced a smile and told them, “We have to move quickly.” He informed everyone, “There are several hundred nasty-looking Gallas less than a thousand yards from here.”

No one replied, but Purcell saw that Mercado had gone pale.

Colonel Gann added, “But they are dismounted and moving slowly.” He explained, “Stripping corpses, finishing off the wounded, and looking for booty.”

And, Purcell knew, mutilating the dead and wounded, and that takes awhile.

Purcell exited the tent and looked around. The entire camp was deserted, and he noticed that the prince’s flag was gone. More importantly, their Jeep was also gone.

Mercado, Gann, and Vivian came out into the bright sunlight, and Purcell asked Gann, “Do you have horses to go with that riding crop?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Vivian asked, “Where’s our Jeep?”

Gann replied, “Last I saw it, there were a dozen Royalist soldiers in it, headed south toward the jungle valley.”

Vivian said, “Everything we own was in that Jeep.”