The Quest

“Do not speak unless spoken to.” Getachu looked at Gann again, smiled, and said, “That is what I learned in the English missionary school.” He also informed Colonel Gann, “The prince has confessed that you and he have engaged in war crimes.”

Gann had no response.

Getachu saw that this was not productive, so he looked at Purcell and asked, “Who gave you permission to leave the medical tent and walk through my camp?”

“We had no indication that we were under confinement.”

“This is a secure military facility.”

“As you know, we were looking for our colleagues.”

“Yes? And is Colonel Gann your colleague?”

“According to you he is.”

“Then you are all guilty by association.”

“According to you.”

Getachu was sipping water from a canteen cup and Purcell said, “We need something to eat and drink.”

“Why should I waste food and water on people who are to be executed? But I promise you a cigarette before you are shot.” Getachu thought that was funny and he translated for the soldier, who laughed.

Getachu tapped Vivian’s camera, then held up three notepads and said, “There is enough evidence here to condemn you, Mr. Purcell, and you, Miss Smith, and you, Mr. Mercado, to death by firing squad.”

Purcell didn’t think so, but he also knew that Getachu didn’t need any evidence, except maybe to justify an execution to his superiors in Addis.

Purcell said, “I must ask you, General, to return our personal property, including our credentials and passports, and to provide us transportation to the capital.” He reminded Getachu, “We came here expecting to be treated as journalists, not as criminals.”

Getachu pointed out, “I think we have had this conversation.”

“I think we need to have it again.”

General Getachu looked at Colonel Gann, then said to his other guests, “Before we discuss your status, do you agree that this man deserves what he is to suffer?”

Purcell replied, “No, we do not. Colonel Gann was captured in uniform and he is to be treated as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention, which Ethiopia has signed.”

“That was the previous government.”

Gann said to Purcell, “Save your breath.”

“Excellent advice,” agreed Getachu.

Mercado cleared his throat and said, “General… if you agree to release us, we will write and sign statements of any wrongdoing that we may have engaged in. We will also write a press story praising your victory and your qualities as a leader. We also agree to have our passports held by your foreign office and to stay in Addis writing articles for the duration of this war.”

Getachu looked at Mercado. “Well, you are offering less than Mr. Purcell and Miss Smith have already offered.” He informed Mercado, “They offered to stay here with me for the duration of the war. I was looking forward to their company.”

Vivian took a deep breath, hesitated, then said, “General, if this is supposed to be an inquiry or a trial, it’s actually a farce.” She concluded, “You are keeping us here unlawfully and against our will, and our press offices and our embassies know where we are, and they will be making inquiries, if they haven’t already. Please provide us with transportation to the capital and please return our belongings.”

Getachu stared at her for a long time, then said, “But you look very good in the shamma.”

Vivian did not reply, but she held Getachu’s stare.

Finally, he said, “The Revolutionary Army came into possession of some interesting equipment which the Americans provided to the Royal Army. One such item was a device called a starlight scope. You know of this? A telescopic sight that allows one to see in the dark, which my sentries use in the watchtower to look for the enemy, outside and inside the camp.”

No one responded, and Getachu continued, “So it appeared-to my sentry at least-that you, Miss Smith, and you, Mr. Purcell, engaged in a behavior that did not please Mr. Mercado.” He asked, “Or did my sentry misunderstand what he saw?”

Again no one replied, and if anyone thought that Getachu had brought this up solely to amuse himself, Purcell knew otherwise.

Getachu said to Mercado, “So perhaps you will write in your confession that you discovered that Mr. Purcell and Miss Smith were spying for the Royalists.” He assured Mercado, “You need not write that about yourself. That would condemn you to death.”

Purcell glanced at Mercado, expecting that Mercado understood that he needed to reply with a firm fuck you, but Mercado did not reply.

“Mr. Mercado?”

“I… don’t know what you’re talking about, General.”

“You do. And you should consider my offer.”

Again, Mercado made no reply.

Getachu glanced at his watch as though this was all taking more time than he’d allowed for it. He said, “To my mind, you are all guilty, but as I said to Mr. Purcell and Miss Smith last night, it is possible to make your punishment less severe.” He looked at Gann. “Even you, Colonel, could be spared from death.”

“As you spared Prince Joshua?”

“I’m glad to see that Mr. Purcell has told you everything, and I’m glad to see that you speak.”

“Go to hell.”