The Quest

“Shut up.” He leaned forward and stared at her, then said, “On the far side of this camp is a tent. In this tent are ten, perhaps twelve women-those with Royalist sympathies, including a princess-and they are there for the entertainment of my soldiers.” He pushed Vivian’s camera across the desk. “Would you like to photograph what goes on inside that tent?”

Purcell stood. “General, your conduct-”

Getachu pulled his pistol and aimed it at Purcell. “Sit down.”

Purcell sat.

Getachu holstered his pistol and said, as if nothing had happened, “And you, Miss Smith, can also photograph the Royalists that you saw hanging. And also photograph Colonel Gann’s execution. And your friend Mr. Mercado’s execution as well. Would you like that?”

Vivian did not reply.

Getachu stared at her, then turned his attention to Purcell and said, “Or perhaps, as Mr. Purcell suggested, he can write very good articles about the people’s struggle against their historic oppressors. And then, perhaps, there will be no court-martial and no executions.”

Neither Purcell nor Vivian replied.

Getachu continued, “The enemies of the people must either be liquidated or made to serve the revolution.” He added, “You could be more useful alive.”

Vivian asked, “And Mr. Mercado?”

“He was once a friend of the oppressed people, but he has strayed. He needs to be reeducated.”

Purcell asked, “And Colonel Gann?”

“A difficult case. But I respect him as a soldier. And I have a certain fondness for the British.” He explained, “I attended a British missionary school.”

And apparently missed the class on good sportsmanship and fair play, Purcell thought.

Getachu added, “The headmaster was fond of the switch, but perhaps I deserved it.”

No doubt.

Getachu said, “Perhaps Colonel Gann can be persuaded to share his military knowledge with my colonels.”

Purcell said, “I will speak to him.”

Getachu ignored this and said, “Shooting a man-or a woman-is easy. I would rather see men broken.”

Purcell had no doubt that Getachu was sincere.

Getachu said, “You may go.”

Vivian said, “We want to see Mr. Mercado. And Colonel Gann.”

“You will find them in the hospital tent.”

Purcell took Vivian’s arm and turned to leave, but Getachu said, “Before you go, something that may interest you.”

They looked at him and saw he was retrieving something from the shadow beside his chair. Getachu held up a gold crown, encrusted with jewels. Purcell and Vivian recognized it as the crown of Prince Joshua.

Getachu said, “I allowed the Gallas free rein to hunt down the Royalists. All I asked in return was that they bring me the prince, dead or alive, along with his crown. And here is his crown.”

Again, Purcell and Vivian said nothing.

Getachu examined the crown under the hanging lantern as though he were considering buying it. He set it down on his desk, then said, “Let me show you something else.” He moved to the far side of the tent, and a soldier in the shadows lit a Coleman lamp.

Lying facedown on the dirt floor of the tent were three men, each naked. Getachu motioned for Purcell and Vivian to come near and they took a few steps toward the circle of light. They could see that the men’s backs and buttocks were streaked with blood as though they’d been whipped.

Getachu barked something in Amharic and the men rose to their knees.

Each man had a collar around his neck-like a dog collar-with a chain attached to it. In the lamplight, Purcell could make out three battered faces, one of which was that of Prince Joshua. His long aristocratic nose was broken, and his eyes were swollen almost shut, but the prince was looking at him and Vivian.

Getachu said, “You see, I did not shoot them or hang them as I thought I would. But if you look closely, you will see that the Gallas have castrated them.”

Purcell kept looking at the prince’s face, but Vivian turned away.

Getachu reached into the pocket of his fatigues and extracted a piece of bread, which he held to the prince’s swollen lips, and said, in English, “Eat.”

The prince bit into the bread. Getachu did the same with the other two men, who Purcell thought must be what was left of the prince’s staff.

Getachu dropped the bread to the ground and said, “The Revolutionary government has executed nearly all of the royal family and many rasses, so they are becoming more rare. It is my idea to put them to some use.” He further explained, “These men are now my servants, and they attend to my personal needs. When I am sick of looking at them-which will be soon-they will become the eunuchs assigned to the tent of the women who are their loyal subjects.” He added, “These men will also give pleasure to my soldiers who enjoy something different.”

Vivian had turned her back to the scene, but Purcell continued to look at Prince Joshua, whose head was now bowed.

Getachu said to the prince, “Is this not better than death?”

The prince nodded his head.