Chapter 2: Chapter Two
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The mournful hoots of an owl brought me out of my thoughts. I looked around and noticed that the others were still fast asleep. The startling snake had since gone, and the sky was still very dark as it wasn't dawn yet. My mind became alert. I thought it was time to talk with George.
"George!" I called in a whisper. He woke up instantly and tiptoed to my side. I was pleased with that, surprised that the years hadn't eroded his discipline. I waited for a while, just to make sure that no one else had woken up.
"That was good," I began in a whisper.
"I wasn't really sleeping. I just couldn't, Mike," he returned with a worried frown on his brow. "And I think I'm about to lose my mind." He stated.
"Will you please tell me what this is all about," I went on, ignoring his complaint.
"I'm sorry, Mike; I shouldn't have brought you into this," he said contritely.
"That doesn't help now, does it?" I returned gravely. "Just tell me what's happening."
"If I were the only one in this mess, I would have gotten away long ago, but my whole family is," he began in a grief-stricken voice.
"Your family?" I asked, rather surprised.
"Yes, I got married two years after I got here, and I have two boys and a girl. They are right now in the hands of that fat goat. My wife was killed, and they almost got rid of my eyes."
"You mean they did that you?" I broke in sitting up.
"Yes."
"And the leg?"
"No, I was involved in an accident."
"I'm sorry about your wife."
"It's all right; I've gotten over that now. All I'm worried about is my kids."
"How do I come into all this, and what's this excitement about diamonds?" I asked, somewhat glad and relieved that his response so far was coherent enough to prove that he was certainly in his right mind, and couldn't have been doped or under some sort of inexplicable hypnotic influence as I had wondered all along.
"I need help, Mike, and badly too if I'm to get my kids back," he returned nervously after a brief silence.
"Just how did you get yourself mixed up with this bunch of bastards anyway?" I queried.
"Really, I don't know where to start; it's a long and sordid story," he answered solemnly.
"You had better start from the beginning and be snappy about it before the others wake up," I said grimly.
"I didn't even know how I got here nearly seventeen years ago," he began, really flustered. "All I knew was being in a very bad shape. A guy by the name Sammy Oswald took care of my leg. He knew I had been in a battle, so he imagined I could be of use to him, and before long, I was helping him with one thing or the other. In November last year, there was an assignment for him to deliver something to his boss, whom I'd never met. I later found out that the parcel was a box of diamonds belonging to an old lady who lived on a small island called Diamond Island, close to Zululand. When the lady was away somewhere in Europe, he decided to take action."
I stared at him as he paused, though I couldn't see his face clearly. The rueful grin on his lips as the receding moon shone on his face when he had said he was helping Sammy to do one thing or the other left me in no doubt that he was involved in criminal activities. However, I didn't want to interrupt him, so I allowed him to go on with his story.
"I had vehemently refused to take part in the operation at first," he continued, "having heard about the security on the island and the danger involved. But, he was my life wire; apart from the fact that he took care of me when I got here, he also provided me with the jobs I did and ensured that I had my papers right. So I had to give in to his persuasion," he stated bitterly and went on after a brief pause.
"We were led by one of the lady's servants, so we had no difficulty finding our way around the enormous mansion. But unfortunately, on that same day, Legion's men were after the diamonds too. I was told he had previously made two unsuccessful attempts, and they had been led by one of her guards. Though they got there before us, they didn't use their brains to silently force an entry; they had knocked off all the guards on duty and that, I learned, was Legion's instructions. The house was very big and the diamonds were kept in any one of the numerous foolproof safes in the building. I reckon she did that to frustrate anyone who imagined he could easily pick up the box, and she had more guards than the treasury house ever did." He paused again, but soon went on.
"However, we had a better guide; the servant works inside and had been paid well to watch her move the box. He was damn right on the spot, and we got hold of it before anyone else could." He paused again for a while, and then continued. "On our way out, Legion's men appeared from the other side of the building where they had been searching. It was a fierce battle. We ought to have been more careful since we knew they were on the island too, but Sammy was a drunk. I have spoken to him repeatedly about it, especially when we had a crucial job to do, but I ought to have saved my breath, so with a load on him and the diamonds in his hands, he thought nothing else mattered."
"Anyway," he went on after another brief pause, "all the men with me were wiped out. I shot three guys dead and made away with the diamonds and bullet wounds on my arm. I went to Sammy's place, searched through his things, and found his boss's home address. Two weeks later, after my wounds had healed, I took the diamonds to him."
"You shouldn't have done that," I put in lightly.
"I know," he returned, sounding hard hit. "It's just that at the time, my mind was in a terrible state. His death had been a big blow, and I presumed it would have been his wish, because until his death, he had remained exceptionally loyal to him and fairly nice to my family," he stated, rather defensively. "Well," he continued after a brief silence, "the worst was yet to come. I narrated our ordeal at the island to him and asked him for a reward and protection for my family, but he coldly told me that he had no business with me, and that in my own interest, I should keep away from him. I left, thinking that was all for the day—until I got home and found my wife killed and kids snatched." The thought provoked a spasm of anger in him, and I had to remind him to keep his voice down. He grunted noisily, then got hold of himself and went on.
"Legion left me a note that I should come to Vryheid and get my kids. When I got there, he accused me of killing his favorite nephew at the island. They tortured me for days, and I nearly lost the use of one of my eyes." He paused and grunted noisily again.
"He let me out three weeks ago, after holding me prisoner for about eight months, and told me that the ransom for my kids is the box of diamonds."
"So that's what the excitement is all about?" I asked after a brief silence.
"Yes, it is," he answered, "and I can't pull it off alone. Mike, as you can see, I'm in a very bad shape, so I decided to ask for your help."
"That's all right," I returned, "but you shouldn't have let them know I was coming," I added firmly.
"I'm surprised you've been treated this way," he returned. "That fat goat couldn't keep his word; he said he was going to allow us to get the diamonds by whatever means and any way we deemed fit."
"You should have known better than to trust a snake like him," I put in hurriedly.
"Well, it wasn't just that," he returned defensively. "I hadn't any money so I borrowed some off him. He was damn smart enough to have locked me up for so long, and by the time I was out, I had lost all my contacts."
"That was still a mistake. If you had told me you were in trouble, I would have come out here on my own, and you know that."
"Yes, I know, but I still needed the money to get in touch with you. It wasn't easy at all, and I had a job persuading him you could help. If I had kept your coming secret, it wouldn't have made much difference since you've never been here before now and how would you know someone to trust? Moreover, Legion had said his men would stick to me the way glue sticks on wood."
"I see," I said thoughtfully. "Why haven't you gone to the police then?" I queried.
"The police?" he asked as if he hadn't heard the word before. "You can't be serious, and where would I start from? They don't care a fig here and truly speaking, they were the original pain in the ass." He hissed and went on. "I've had more problems with the police than with Legion and Sammy put together."
"What do you mean?" I asked sharply.
"They don't want me in this country, and they had no compunction in showing it. Moreover, if I had done that, they would have knocked off my kids and dumped them in the bush. It would be labeled as one of those 'unfortunate incidents,' and the case would be shut even before it was opened. No, certainly not the police," he stated emphatically.
"Yes, maybe not, but I can't say I blame them. Sammy had been a very bad influence on you," I said. "What about your kids? When did you see them last?"
"I saw them yesterday, but I'm worried about the girl."
"Why?"
"She's refused to eat; one of the boys is not feeling well; and she's worried sick over him."
"How old is she?"
"Fourteen."
"And the boys?"
"They're twins; twelve."
"Well, you have just got to stop worrying. There's nothing you can do about it now," I said soothingly. "You've got to concentrate on the task ahead, because that's the only way you can help them as it is." I stated.
"This guy," I continued after a while, "I mean, Sammy's boss . . ."
"Mushini," he interrupted.
"That's his name?" I asked, chuckling.
"That's what the cheating bastard is called," he answered bitterly.
"How are you sure we're going to find him? You said it's been over eight months," I asked, wondering if Legion would be so stupid as to make us embark on a wild goose chase.
"I wouldn't know for sure, but we might just be lucky," he answered solemnly.
"You bet we might," I returned sarcastically. "But why did Legion have to wait this long? Couldn't his men have retrieved the diamonds if he wanted them that bad?" I said, with a frown knitting my brow.
"Well, you see, Zulu is nearly sixty-three miles away from Vryheid. They can't use the roads for too long, and Legion's men are not good in the bush."
"Seeing the way they sleep," I said as I peered through the darkness to look at the men and the woman, "I guess you could be right, but I—"
"That way! That way!!"
George and I stiffened as the loud voice of a man and subsequent noise made by approaching men cut through the otherwise still and quiet night.
"Quick—the others," I said, and in no time, we were all hiding behind bushes and thick shrubs, fully alert. They marched past, stamping their boots heavily on the ground and upsetting the undergrowth with their rifles. There weren't so many of them, but they seemed serious and determined.
"That was close," I said to George after they had gone. "Who in hell are they?" I asked him in a low, hoarse whisper.
"Bush-combers."
"Bush what?"
"That's what they're called here," he returned.
"What the hell are they looking for this early?" I asked tersely and still in a whisper, slightly shaken by the incident. However, the occasion seemed to have cheered him up, and as he answered, the coy excitement in his voice told me that perhaps for a moment his spirit had been somewhat lifted too.
"You search me," he answered and spat disgustedly. "That's daily routine in this part of the country; they just prowl the streets and bushes for no apparent reasons."
"And do they have to make so much noise?" I asked scornfully.
"I bet they hated the idea of running into bandits," he returned, "so they had to warn anyone on their tracks of their approach. It beats me why no one had thought it wise to stop them. They do nothing else but all that, and the authorities don't seem to care about—"
"Shut your trap," the woman snapped, interrupting him. "Why didn't you wake us earlier?" she asked cantankerously, and I volunteered, as George said nothing.
"It was still dark, and I thought you needed all the rest you could have after all the run and walk yesterday."
"You don't think anything around here," she returned, almost shouting and pointing her finger in my face. "Next time you act and not think, all right?" she added fiercely.
"Look here, woman!" I called out angrily as she meant to leave. "If we must work as a team, then I suggest you keep your temper under control or else—"
"Or else what!" she exclaimed as she stood up to me. "We are not a team," she went on coldly through clenched teeth. "You are a prisoner, and you don't say anything until you are asked to do so."
I was outraged and about to hit her, even with Legion's men around, when George pulled me away from her and pleaded that we should cut it out. I looked at her drawn and twisted face as the almost receded moon cast its last ray of light on it, and it set off an intense agitation in me that I had to turn away from her before I lost my patience completely. I looked up and saw a tree, felled by the wind, lying just across the nearby path. I left and walked away toward it, seething with frustration. Shortly after the tension had passed, George and the men settled down to make some tea to beat the early-morning cold.
I wasn't surprised that they neither did anything nor said a word while the woman and I were in confrontation. I bet they were also fed up with her ordering them around as if they had no mind of their own. When I finished the tea George gave to me, I stood up and walked further away toward a big, tree stump with a wide, smooth notch. I sat comfortably in it with my back to the group, brought out my pack of cigarettes, lit one, and began to turn the whole situation around in my mind. George had invited me down here to help him because his kids were held hostage. That's all right, I thought, but why couldn't Legion's men go after the diamonds?
I wasn't quite satisfied with his explanation, and the woman had said the diamonds were delivered into the hands of an enemy, so there could be a lot more to it than what he had reasoned or perhaps knew. Could he be holding something from me? I doubt it. Why would he want to do that, I reasoned. He should be wise enough to know that the more information I get from him on this dreary mission, the better chance we would have to outsmart them. However, considering his state of mind, I couldn't easily rule out the fact that he might be inclined to trust even a viper if it found the right words to convince him. And this woman, I shook my head bitterly—I would have to do something about her before long.
"Come on, it's time to move," I heard the woman order, but I wasn't bothered. I sat just where I was.
"Look, Mike," George said, standing right behind me, "you are here to help me," he went on solemnly. "She is always like that and nothing can change her. She scared my pants off when I first met her, but I'm used to her now. Just keep your peace and no one will be hurt."
"I hope in her interest no one will," I returned grimly and went on. "How dare she presume to order me around? Really, I'm already fed up with her getting on my nerves all the time and if she doesn't watch it, I'm sure to do something about it before long."
"Leave her alone," George pleaded. "The diamonds should be our major concern now."
"You bet!" I said with a mirthless grin on my lips, and the jeering smile that followed as I stood up. It must have sent him a sudden wave of apprehension as he turned sharply to stare at me with his face contorted, but he didn't begin to ask questions.
"Hey, you two!" she exclaimed. "Didn't you hear? Move it, will you?" she shouted.
"Let's go, Mike," George urged, rather helplessly.
I took my gun where I had left it and we both reluctantly brought up the rear as the woman led the way.
"She seems to know where she's going. Do you know where we are?" I asked George after we had covered a reasonable distance. He looked up curiously at me, but I glared furiously at him, urging him to answer. With the gun in my hand, I felt confident enough to talk as freely as I wanted and certainly not in a whisper either; I didn't care who heard. If they thought to start some rough stuff, I was sure to bring them all down before I get killed.
"This is Mahlabatini," he answered, "one of the major districts in Zululand, but our destination is Hlabisa, about thirty-one miles away from here."
"Good Lord!" I exclaimed. "Don't tell me we are still going to spend another day in this dreadful wilderness."
"Well, I'm sure we wouldn't have to if we walked at a good pace," he replied reassuringly.
"Honestly, I'm beginning to get tired with the whole setup," I said, genuinely disturbed and distressed. "It all looks like a wild goose chase," I went on, "and roving around in the bush like a wild animal is certainly not what I had bargained for in my comfort and safety back home."
George made no comment, but his face remained miserable, and he was probably as anxious as I was to see the end of the hopeless roaming. I felt sorry for him, but I didn't think it was out of place that I felt uncomfortable with the situation I found myself, since I knew how easily any of those fools could pull a trigger for no apparent reason, and the fact that anything could happen in that bush. One could not rule out the possibility of been stalked by wild cats like lions, leopards, or even cheetahs or charged by angry elephants or buffalos, and I was certain it wouldn't be a pleasant experience.
The way through the wilderness was tortuous. Nonetheless, we finally reached a sharp path, which suddenly got wider as we took an abrupt turn on the right and just then I heard the sound of a waterfall. A two-minute walk from there brought us to a headland; beneath it was a stream, and on the right was the waterfall. The stream stretched far on the left until it disappeared amidst the thicket, mangroves and oak trees lining the bush. We could see the vast area of the other side of the stream, but the overgrowth and trees restricted our view of its edges on the side where we were. It was such a magnificent and incredible sight, that I wondered if there were local inhabitants in the area that made use of the stream.
The woman led us down an unusual narrow, steep path, which suddenly ended at the edge of the stream, and we had to walk up a few yards to get to a sandy clearing. We were startled to find five women bathing in a recess directly under the headland where we first saw the stream. Two of the women were much older and wore pieces of clothes around their waists that had been drenched and rucked up their hips, leaving little or nothing to the imagination.
The younger women were as naked as the back of my hand, and they made no effort to conceal their nakedness. The glance they stole at us didn't even linger for long as they went on with their washing. They seemed unmoved for all the impression our presence might have had on them. I wasn't surprised; it must have happened countless times, I thought. The bush-combers could have strayed to come down there from time to time.
One of the younger women caught my attention, though. She could be any age between eighteen and twenty, or perhaps twenty-two as Sandra. I had forgotten her so soon under the circumstances. She was my current girlfriend, and she had been with me for nearly nine weeks, which was a record. After my divorce nine years ago, I have become a "love-them-leave-them Joe." Although, occasionally, a girl might stay for a while, none of them had what it takes to last longer than two weeks.
However, Sandra had been different; she was the pride of the herd. She had made a remarkable impression on me the very first time I met her, and she was absolutely good to take around, so I had been reluctant to let go, and she had been more than willing to stay too. I had always thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, even though she sometimes wore too much makeup. Looking at the girl in the stream au naturel and her serene appearance, I couldn't help but concede that Sandra's beauty had been such a chocolate box.
This one was a paragon of beauty. Her bright, cool, beautiful black eyes were a beauty pageant contestant's dream. She had silky black hair that was thinly plaited into a remarkable puff at the back of her head. Her breasts were sheer temptation; their rounded fullness stood incredibly firm as the nipples pointed out provokingly, and her glowing tender brown skin was too good to be hers that I kept staring at her with tenacious carnal appreciation in spite of the odds surrounding our situation.
The woman announced that we would stay a while to have a wash, and as we settled for it, the women were startled. They hadn't expected us to stay, just as I had imagined their numerous visitors didn't. The older women began to scramble for their clothing when they realized we were in no hurry to leave. The younger ones soon followed suit as they got out of the water, and, in no time, they were all fully dressed. One of the older women passed harsh comments in the local language, to which none of us responded, as they left with their washed clothes and pots of water. I felt a twinge of disappointment to see them go, and I wasn't the only one.
"That was splendid, wasn't it?" George whispered.
"Yes, it was," I returned with wide eyes. Though I wouldn't have expected that young, naked women could make any impression on him under the circumstances, the natural environment had, no doubt, added a tang to the scene. "It was like a scene out of paradise," I added in a drawling voice, "and how I wish the young girl with the darker hair had been left behind for a while."
"I bet you do," George mocked, and he had hardly finished saying the words when our so-called leader stripped off the last of her clothing and made for the stream in her black bra and panties.
"Good Lord!" I exclaimed, "Not again." Although, she was the same vicious and dangerous-looking woman we all knew, nonetheless, absolutely admirable, in her close to nudity, as the three young women who had been naked in the stream. George just stared and gaped at her as she ran into the water while her luscious hips jerked up and down provokingly. And the rest of the gang was no less surprised as George and I.
"Come on, boys," she shouted after swimming for a while, "don't just stand there staring like tired ponies. Throw off your clothes and jump in. The water is great. And you two," she pointed to George and I, "keep watch."
I wasn't even listening to what she was saying. I just kept staring at her in disbelief as she swam further into the stream, and I wasn't the only one. George and the others couldn't believe their eyes either. The three men stared at her in sheer bewilderment with tight frowns on their worried faces as they took off their clothes with reluctance; not quite sure the invitation was right. They walked timidly into the water shortly afterward, leaving George and I gaping after them.
"Did you see that?" I exclaimed. "And how the hell had she managed to keep all that together?" I said, still staring at her.
"Search me," George returned incredulously. "Wow!" he further exclaimed as I said nothing. "That was something, Commander," he went on, "and I didn't even know she was also this bitchy."
"Yes, it was something," I agreed, "but I wouldn't say she was bitchy. Perhaps she just needed the right nudge," I added. I knew that there could be some life and excitement beneath that sinister appearance, but I just couldn't figure out why she had chosen to be seen as vicious.
"Well, if you say so, Chief," George returned lamely after a while. It was like the old times. George was used to calling me commander or chief in the commandoes whenever we were caught up in any such compelling situation.
A parrot squawked up on one of the trees and instantly flew away. That gave George and I a startling jolt, and for a brief moment, we realized that we had been so silly to have allowed ourselves to be carried away by the woman and her lousy escapades. So we took our attention off the four in the stream and decided to take a look around the nearby bushes. After combing around for a while, we found the area was safe enough. Just then, an idea drop into my mind, and I decided to see how George would respond to it.
"Suppose we get rid of this lot and turn back to pay Legion a surprise visit?" I asked abruptly, though not convincingly as we stood watching the four in the stream. He turned sharply to stare at me.
"There is that, and I thought you wouldn't ask," he answered slyly with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "but you ought to know better," he added after a brief pause.
"Why is that?" I asked, looking at him doubtfully.
"The girl and the men may be playing, but they aren't fools, and Legion won't take chances either. He knew you were a veteran and a tough marine too and—"
"You shouldn't have told him all that, you know," I scolded indignantly, interrupting him.
"I told you I had a job persuading him, didn't I?" he returned defensively.
"So?"
"Well," he went on calmly again, as he sat on the grass, "he also knew that the girl and the three men couldn't possibly be a match for you, so he had a sort of radio or something for the woman, and she signals once in a while, I believe, to let him know the group is okay and on the mission," he stated.
"Good Lord!" I exclaimed as the dramatic implication of such an arrangement dawned on me, like the hit of a cyclone. "Why haven't you told me this before now?" I snarled. "If I hadn't wanted to see the end of it all," I went on, "I would have lost hold of myself just once to deal with this bunch."
"I thought you noticed, Mike. If I hadn't been watching her closely myself, I wouldn't have seen her use it. I guess Legion's idea was for her to make sure we knew nothing about it, because she never spoke into it, but signals to him by secretly pressing some buttons on the gadget."
"You thought!" I exclaimed coldly. "Oh, I forgot, you've a genius mind," I said with more than a hint of sarcasm in my voice. "Sometimes, George, I think and truly feel you should have had your head examined. Don't you know what this means?" I asked, really upset with him, and he stared at me briefly, looking a bit confused, before responding.
"I guess it looks a bit tight, but maybe nothing can go wrong."
"Of course, something can go wrong," I returned hotly. "You're not being bright about this, and it could be worse than you had imagined. If anything does go wrong and the woman can't reach Legion, then, of course, your guess will be as good as mine, except you still haven't seen this as a corked-up business the way I do."
"I know that, but what can we do?" he replied lamely. "The girl is a hard nut to crack, and if we attempt to jump her on it, we might mess up the whole thing altogether."
"We can always try," I said. "Just leave it to me," I added thoughtfully and went on after a few seconds as I saw his face was somewhat contorted in confusion. "I hope you do realize that our task is not only to find the diamonds but also to ensure that the woman, and perhaps this bunch, remained safe?" I asked, with a severe expression on my face.
"Well, I guess you could be right," he returned mildly.
"Of course, I'm right," I nodded with vigor, "and the leadership would have to change right now."
"I don't get you, Mike." He looked up at me with a lurking doubt.
"Yes, you will," I returned, "get their guns; we have wasted enough time already."
"Look, Mike, my kids and—"
"You called me out here to help you," I interrupted, and went on hurriedly, "I can't help you if I continue to play second fiddle on this mission. I'm sure your kids won't be in any better situation if anything does go wrong out here, whether she is in charge or otherwise. So, I have to take charge from now on. There should be a deeper sense of purpose, commitment, and determination if the diamonds are to be retrieved, and you have got to trust me." He stood up reluctantly but went for the guns all the same.
"Off-load them," I instructed.
Shortly after George had off-loaded the guns, I went down to the bank of the stream and yelled at them to come out of the water, but my words seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. To assert my seriousness, I released some shots into the water. Though it was a stupid thing to do, it had its instant effect, as the men ran out of the water immediately. I concentrated fully on the woman and decided not to bother with them, as they scrambled for their clothes and guns, since I knew they were empty of ammunition, and George had them properly covered.
"Come out, you!" I yelled at her as she kept on swimming, completely at ease for all the effect my rebellious act had on her.
"You have but this last call to come out of the water," I threatened with all my attention on her. I knew she was capable of having something hidden somewhere on her, so I wasn't taking any chances. However, from the corners of my eyes, I could see that the three men were overwhelmed at the maneuver as George held them at gunpoint, but not without words of encouragement, that it was for a good cause and would soon be over. Just then, the woman began to swim toward the riverbank, and I turned my attention fully on her once more.
She didn't even look my way. It was as if she was done with swimming, and not the call that made her get out of the water. She later dried her body with a hand towel she took from her small camouflage backpack, and while she was picking up her clothes from where she left them, I started.
"What's your name, woman?" I asked bluntly with my gun centered on her chest, but she kept dead silent and stared at me with her hard eyes glittering with anger and hate. I was a little startled to see how vicious she could look, but I decided I wasn't going to allow her to budge me with her dangerous acts, so I fired on the ground between her legs. That was stupid too, but I was bent on having her succumb.
"Your name, woman," I repeated as the echo of the gunshot subsided. I could've asked for the names of the monkeys in the bush for all it mattered, but I was, nevertheless, going to have my way. She remained unnerved and silent as she began to put on her clothes without an iota of haste, but her face was a stony lump with a murderous light in her eyes, just as I had seen in Legion's the day before. I wouldn't be moved by her dangerous looks; that was hers for keeps, I had thought and was about to fire more shots when George suddenly screamed her name, realizing the situation was fast getting out of hand. There was a brief but an uneasy silence after that before she spoke for the first time since she got out of the stream.
"Put the gun down," she said quietly as she stared stonily at me. "I warned you, didn't I?" she hissed. "You are a prisoner," she stated gravely after a brief pause. That was it! I thought, and but for George's timely intervention, I would have struck her so hard that she wouldn't forget it in a hurry.
"Stop it, you two," he shouted. "We have wasted so much time already, and the locals will be out here breathing down our necks if we don't leave soon." Then he turned to the woman. "Lydia, please listen to him," he ventured. "It's for the good of all and—"
"I don't listen to prisoners," she interrupted him, still staring at me with the murderous light in her eyes becoming more sinister.
"Lydia, you can't start all that now," George went on pleadingly as she remained mute but kept staring at me. "You have got to hear him out first. There's a great task ahead, and we haven't made much progress yet."
After a long silence, I took the initiative to explain my actions.
"Legion wants the diamonds as a ransom for George's kids," I began, "and since I'm providing the diamonds, I think it's only reasonable that I should take charge of this group," I informed her with an expressive wave of my hand, and I didn't wait for her or any other person to make any comment before I instructed George to get the radio from her backpack, which was still lying on the ground, and put a call through to Legion. She stiffened in apprehension, but I didn't let that stop me.
"You can't do that," she protested, starting forward.
"You try and stop me," I said with a jeering grin on my lips. "Call Legion," I snapped at George, who was still hesitating, but a moment later, he had the line loud and clear.
Shortly afterward, Legion's guttural voice came through the line with anxious alertness as I took the radio from George; he must have been informed that something had gone wrong.
"You don't start anything tricky with—" he began furiously.
"Snap out of it," I interrupted sharply. "Now listen," I went on instantly before he could start an argument, "if you want this mission to succeed, then there's got to be some changes out here. The responsibilities are certainly too much for the woman and—"
"Let me be the judge of that," he interrupted, but I wouldn't let him go on.
"No, you won't!" I returned woodenly and continued instantly. "Since you had to keep tabs on our progress and presumably expect me not only to provide the diamonds but also to ensure the safety of the group, then I believe it's only reasonable that I should be in a better position than a prisoner, and, to be precise, in control of the mission; so you had better make that clear to your wildcat over here because, as it is, I have already taken charge," I added.
"Why should I trust you to take charge?" he asked suspiciously after a long silence.
"Well, to put it simple enough to you, that is a risk you will have to take," I replied, "just as we are out here risking our necks for you. Moreover, I told you the task ahead is an uphill one for the woman, so we need someone who is more determined and committed."
"And you think you could do better?"
"I don't see anyone else here who could," I returned curtly, "and really, breathing the same air as you people do," I added, "is not good for my system. I need to have this done as soon as possible so I can go back home."
"Indeed," he replied sarcastically.
He said nothing again for a long while, and I knew I had the fat lump where I wanted him.
"All right, let me speak with Lydia," he demanded, and I instantly gave the radio to her. She took it reluctantly, and then after a couple of minutes, she handed it back.
"Okay!" Legion's voice came back on the line, "you take charge but—"
"One more thing," I interrupted, not wanting to hear anymore of his stupid threats, "you have had everything your way," I said and went on. "I want—"
"I warned you!" he spat interrupting me, "Don't push your luck too far. If you imagine you could—"
"George wants to talk with his son," I interrupted too, but George flinched when he heard that, and I glared at him as I went on almost shouting at Legion with my voice suddenly furious as he meant to start more arguments. "I know you probably have nothing to lose, perhaps not even this bunch, if anything does go wrong out here," I said determinedly. "And I haven't yet figured out if this diamond thing isn't a wild goose chase. Nevertheless, I value my time and life considerably, and I must know that I'm not out here for nothing."
"So what do you want?" he asked curtly. I had wanted to ask him if he was deaf, but decided that it wouldn't be wise to upset him any more than was necessary.
"Just let the boy speak with George for a minute or two," I returned. "That's not too much to ask for, and you know it."
After some tense silence, he accepted and I gave the radio to George. I told the men to pick up their guns and have them reloaded. George led the way, with the mouthpiece of the radio held to his cheek, while we followed behind. The men were somewhat pleased, in a funny sort of way, with the way things had turned out. I was then certain that they were fed up with the woman ordering them about, and I had thought it was a good start for me. Lydia didn't get over Legion's decision for quite a while, and since George had warned me to let her alone, I decided not to bother with her. She stood where she was for a long time before she finally brought up the rear.
"How are the kids?" I asked George several minutes later as I got closer to him.
"The boy is pulling through, and my girl's voice is a lot stronger. I think they're getting on well," he answered with a faltering voice. I shrugged my shoulders. There was practically nothing either of us could do about it, I thought. We just had to concentrate on the task ahead and get it over with as soon as we could.
"Legion said to hand over the radio to her." George went on, breaking in on my thoughts. I didn't see anything wrong with that at first, so I asked him to go ahead and hand it over to her. Since I was in charge, I had thought, I could use it whenever I wanted to speak with Legion or if I wanted to find out whether George's kids were faring well or not.
While we slowed down so she could catch up with us, I gave it a second thought and realized we could be making a mistake if we handover the radio to her. In her state of mind, she might refuse to answer Legion's call, and there was no way we could have known that Legion was on the line. So I decided to take the handset from him, but he insisted on giving it to her.
"You wouldn't want my kids hurt, would you?" he persisted.
"Your kids would be more than hurt if you don't give it to me," I returned reproachfully.
"But he said to give it to her," he insisted.
"Forget what he said," I returned. "She could take us for a sucker, if she's holding it."
"What do you mean?"
"Use your damn brain and figure it out for yourself," I answered impatiently. "Now let me have the damn thing."
He thought for a while, and then handed it to me.
"I hope it's all right," he said, frowning.
"Of course, it's all right, and you don't have to worry about her since she doesn't know she was supposed to have it," I said grinning at him.
"And Legion?"
"Don't worry about him either. If there is a call, I'll let her have it and instruct her to give it back when she's done but I doubt if Legion would want to speak with her any time soon." I explained calmly, and the bright smile that suddenly replaced the tight frown on his face told me he had just realized that there couldn't be any other better way to outsmart her on the issue. Looking at his excited face as we moved on, I couldn't believe he was the same George I used to know. Obviously, raising a family with the dreary jobs he did with Sammy had, no doubt, taken a heavy toll on his otherwise sharp mind. I couldn't say I blame him very much, though; anyone with his troubles would certainly be in the same state of mind—or even worse.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone