The Quest

It was not a good thing to be at the mercy of an omnipotent psychopath who was probably also a sexual sadist. He realized he had to do something while he could. But what? Escape was still possible. But could he leave Henry and Colonel Gann? And should he take Vivian?

Mercado said, “My fault, really. Shouldn’t have left Addis.”

“Seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“Shouldn’t have gone to sleep. Gann asked if I could stay awake while he caught a few winks… I said, ‘Get some rest, old man,’ and next thing I know, we’re surrounded by soldiers and a donkey.”

“Mule.”

“Whatever. And now we’re all guilty by association.”

“Henry, we are guilty of nothing except being stupid enough to come here expecting to be treated as accredited journalists.”

“Well… it may have gone better if we hadn’t teamed up with Colonel Gann.”

Purcell thought that Colonel Gann had probably saved them all from the Gallas, but Henry needed to share the blame.

Mercado sensed that Purcell was not sympathetic to his interpretation of their predicament, so he said, “Fate. Fate is what brought us here. There is a reason for this…”

“Let me know when you find out.”

Mercado continued, “When Doctor Mato told me that you and Vivian were here and well, I knew that there was a higher power watching over us.”

“That thought never once crossed my mind, Henry.”

“You need to have faith, Frank. Faith will see us through this.”

Purcell was tempted to point out that he of little faith was not hanging from the pole, but instead he said, “Vivian and I saw Getachu.”

Mercado did not respond.

Purcell continued, “He’s basically held a court-martial in his head and condemned Gann to death.”

Again, Mercado didn’t respond, and Purcell looked at him to see if he was conscious. He was, and he was staring at Purcell waiting for news of his own fate. Purcell said, “You, I, and Vivian are to be court-martialed in the morning.” He added, to ease Mercado’s anxiety, “But maybe not.”

Mercado had no response, so Purcell related his and Vivian’s meeting with Getachu, trying to sound optimistic, but also realistic, though he didn’t mention Getachu’s thinly veiled threat to put Vivian in the camp bordello. Henry had enough on his mind. Purcell concluded, “Getachu may be waiting to hear from his bosses. Or he may have something else in mind for us that he’s not saying.”

Mercado did not respond immediately, then said, “We’re more useful to him alive than dead.”

“Unfortunately, that may be true.”

“Or the Provisional government will just order him to release us. In fact, I’m sure they will.” He added, “General Andom and I have a good relationship.”

“Good. I hope General Andom and General Getachu have as good a relationship.”

Mercado did not reply.

Purcell asked, “Did Vivian tell you that the Gallas captured Prince Joshua and two of his staff and turned them over to Getachu?”

“No… God take pity on them.”

“God is on holiday this week, Henry. In the meantime, I’ll do what I can for all of us as long as I’m not hanging on the next pole.”

“I know you will, Frank. If you can keep talking to Getachu-”

“But I have to tell you, Henry, I may decide to bust out of here. Without Vivian. If I can get to Gondar, I may be able to get a flight to Addis and get to the American, Swiss, or British embassy, and get you all sprung.” He looked at Mercado and asked, “Are you all right with that?”

Mercado seemed to be thinking, then replied, “You’ll never make it, Frank.”

“Worth a try.”

“You have no money, no credentials, no… no shoes for God’s sake.”

“I’ll try to do what Gann was going to do-find some friendly Royalists.”

“They can’t even help themselves. They’re finished. Hunted down like dogs.” He said, “You need to stay here. To help us all here.”

“I’ll leave you here in God’s hands.”

Vivian returned and embraced Mercado, saying to Purcell, “We need to get them some water, Frank.”

“All right. Stay here.”

He headed up the slope of the amphitheater, got his bearings, and walked west toward the hospital tent-the only oasis of humanity in this desert of death. Though to be less cynical, probably any man here would offer water, as the soldiers did at the outpost. These were not bad people, but war, as he’d seen too many times, in too many places, changes people.

Whenever he started to believe in humanity, he thought of the Khmer Rouge who murdered millions of their own people. And now he’d made the acquaintance of the Gallas, who were a barbaric throwback to the dark side of humanity. In fact, he admitted, his chances of making it to Gondar and Addis were nil.

Faith, said Henry Mercado. A higher power is watching over us. There is a reason for all this. Well, he thought, it better be a very good reason. And, he supposed, Henry, and also Vivian, thought the reason had to do with them coming upon Father Armano, which Purcell thought was pure chance, but which Henry and Vivian believed was divinely ordained. In any case, they’d see in the morning who was right.