Authors: Felicia Rogers
“Hannah, he's right,” said Rory, gazing downward.
“Okay, I'll climb through the hole and go in.”
Gabe sputtered, coffee flying through the air. “You are the most stubborn, aggravating woman I've ever met.”
“Get used to it. I'm not going anywhere.”
“Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I have to stay.” Gabe stood and walked toward his vehicle.
Rory released a sigh. Gabe was their only hope. “Stop.”
He spun on his heel and stared at them. “Okay, I stopped.”
“Gabe, we need your help,” pleaded Rory.
A grin split his face. “That's what I thought.”
****
Braced as the jeep bounced along the rutted dirt road, Hannah's eyes drifted closed. Livid was the only way to describe how she felt when she woke up. Sometime while she slept, the men had decided to go back to the monastery.
Arguing had done little good. At one point, she'd contemplated jumping from the moving vehicle and running to Tapiwa's camp, but the fear of actual arrival kept her from doing so.
When the two vehicles pulled into the monastery, they were greeted by Father Thomas. “And how was your mission?”
“What mission? These two do nothing but talk!” said Hannah as she stalked away.
Later she stood at a distance and watched Rory and Gabe huddle over a map. She wished she had stayed close by so she knew what they were saying. But it didn't matter. No way would they keep her from helping.
“You know why you can't go in with them,” said Father Thomas.
Hannah gasped and placed her palm to her racing heart.
“Sorry to startle you, dear. You must realize they only wish to protect you.”
“I don't believe you.”
Father Thomas raised his brow and pointed to his white collar.
“So maybe you're telling the truth, and they have my best interest at heart. Butâ”
“My child, your feelings for your friend are admirable, but would you really endanger Rory's life so callously?”
“No,” she whispered, shame coating her tone.
“You wear your feelings on your sleeve.” Set to interrupt, his hands rose to stall her. “There is no need to worry. I believe you know your feelings are reciprocated. Which means you must take care.”
“You think I'm pushing too hard?”
“Yes.”
She opened her mouth to utter words of disagreement, yet a glance over the father's shoulder revealed Rory shifting from side to side, sitting and standing, unable to achieve comfort. Perhaps the father was right.
Hannah edged closer yet hung back from the table. They spoke in technical words that she didn't understand. Finished, she knew they had devised a plan without her input or assistance.
“Do you mean I'm not going in?” she butted in.
Rory drew in a ragged breath. “We've discussed this. They know what you look like. It's too dangerous.”
Arguments came to mind, but a glance at Father Thomas stayed her tongue. With a nod, she left Rory and Gabe to their plans.
Tomorrow they would enact the plan. Hannah prayed Rory knew what he was doing.
Hannah's new attitude left Rory confused. The freedom of planning the mission his way was a pleasant, yet scary, change. The next morning before they were set to mount the rescue, he looked for her, but she wasn't around. Even when he climbed aboard the truck with Gabe, he still searched.
“She ain't coming.”
“I don't knowâ”
“She trusts you. But the only way she can let you go is by staying away.”
Rory nodded.
The trip to Tapiwa's compound flew by. They passed through the reserve without incident. Arriving at the gate, Gabe hand-cranked the window open.
“Hey. I've come to see Tapiwa,” Gabe said in a sure, calm voice.
“Who are you?” asked the guard. The barrel of his gun pointed at the door.
“I'm an old friend. Tell him Gabriel is visiting and has brought him a gift.”
The guard disappeared inside and closed the gate behind him. Rory peered through an opening in the back of the cab. The brother from the monastery held a rosary and muttered under his breath. Looking at the nervous brother, Rory started to worry. Whispering to Gabe, he asked, “Are you sure this will work?”
“Trust me. Tapiwa will see me.”
A few minutes passed. The large wooden doors opened. Gabe slowly pulled through. Inside, the vehicle was immediately surrounded, and Gabe and the brother dragged out. Forced to their knees, a gun was pointed at their heads.
Rory hid in the shadows of the truck bed. The thick canvas shielded him, but not for long. Moving a long wooden plank from the floor, he dropped into a hole, and covered himself.
Noises came from above and Rory held his breath.
“The truck is clean. Nothing but crates of rotting vegetables.”
Gabe narrowed his eyes.
Tapiwa looked at his two captives. “So, Gabe, you came back. Why?”
“I've got a new job. I've changed and went legit. Now I deliver vegetables.”
Rich mocking laughter ensued. “Changed? Deliver vegetables? And who is this with you?”
Gabe shrugged as the tip of the gun thrust into the brother's face. “That is a friend and my traveling conscience.”
Tapiwa grabbed Gabe's collar and twisted until he stood in front of him on his tiptoes. “You mean you have not seen the error of leaving me? Have you not come back to get a part of the action?”
“No. My friend here is a priest, and he has shown me the Light and we've come to show you the error of your ways.”
Rory gazed through a slit in the planks. Gabriel held his hands together, and repeated the words “Forgive them, Lord” over and over. It was make or break time. What would Tapiwa do? Kick them out? Kill them? Who knew?
“Pshaw!” said Tapiwa. Men in the crowd snickered, but Tapiwa's upraised hand silenced them. “I need no help.”
Gabe stood, and amazingly Tapiwa patted him on the back and led him toward his office. “I am impressed you used your new job to get inside the compound. A vegetable truck. That is priceless.”
As they walked together, the brother followed behind. Once they reached the office steps, Tapiwa said, “I don't know what your game is, but I'm willing to hear you out. Even though I may not need your type of help, there are some here who could use you. Last rites and all.”
The brother nodded as they entered the building.
Rory released his pent-up breath. Now he waited.
The wait was unbearable. Hours passed and still there was no word. A mark appeared in the rug where Hannah paced.
“Your worry won't make it happen any faster,” said Mary, knitting needles clacking as she worked.
“What could be taking them so long?”
“You are worrying needlessly. They will return.”
Hannah went outside. The sun beat upon her skin. Had she done the wrong thing? Rory was in no shape to mount a rescue operation. It was obvious she was pushing him beyond his capabilities.
Just when she felt she would break from the tension, there was a haze on the horizon. Shielding her eyes, she saw dust clouds trailing behind a speeding truck. With her back to a building, she waited. The vehicle skidded to a halt. Craning her neck, Hannah searched. All she could see in the front cab was Gabe, Rory, and the brother from the monastery.
Rory climbed from the truck and she asked, “Where's Melanie?”
Gabe's downcast expression spoke volumes.
Exasperated, she asked, “What happened? Couldn't you get in?”
Rory stalked past. Hannah watched him go as Gabe explained. “He had her. We distracted the men while Rory worked. The plan was flawless until the girl refused to leave.”
Hannah's eyes widened. “What?”
“Yeah, can you believe it? If Rory had been caught, it would have been all our necks.”
“Why?” She hadn't heard anything beyond the fact Melanie refused to leave.
“Something about a man named Korzan.”
The brother's head bobbed up and down. “Yes. The woman refused to leave because her husband is also a prisoner there.”
Hannah struggled to suppress her shock. “Korzan? He's really there?”
“That's what she said,” answered Gabe as he shrugged and walked away.
Father Thomas and Sister Mary exchanged worried expressions concerning the failed escapade.
Hannah guessed seeking Rory was her only course of action. Following his earlier route, she found him sitting in a small flower garden residing beside the monastery. Serene and peaceful, the area was often sought by those with prayer concerns.
With his elbows resting on his knees, he stared into space. “I tried, you know.”
She jumped at the sound of his distant voice. Sitting beside him, she rubbed the top of her thighs.
“Go ahead, let me have it. Tell me all the ways I failed. Tell me how I should have slung her over my shoulder and carried her out. I should have had the M16 in one hand and all the children behind my back as I boldly walked out of the camp while Tapiwa's men shot at me.”
Hannah gulped.
“We all know the enemy can't hit the broadside of a barn because good always triumphs over evil. So go ahead. I'm waiting.”
Sometime during his spill he'd turned to face her. Could he see her reaction to his words? Couldn't he tell how much his opinion of her hurt?
“Hannah?”
Swiftly she shifted, their gaze connecting. “You did all you could do.”
A cynical laugh rumbled across his chest. “You don't believe that. Right now you're saying, âIf only I'd gone with him. Melanie would have listened to me.'”
Shaking her head, she said, “You're wrong. Melanie wouldn't have left for me or anyone else. Don't you understand? Korzan is there. Maybe they aren't together physically, but they're close. As long as she remains within the confines of the camp, she knows he is still alive. That's all that matters to her.”
Rory stood. “Did you know this before we went in?”
In a defensive manner she raised her hands. “No, I didn't. She told me Tapiwa took Korzan, but she also said he was dead.” She gnawed her lip while Rory paced. “You don't understand their affection for one another.”
“No, I don't! She is risking death for herself and their wards.”
“True, but when you know this life is not all there is, then death no longer has the same meaning.”
Rory sat. His hands cradled his head. “So what happens now?”
“That's a simple question.”
He looked at her, one eyebrow lifted. “It is?”
“Of course. Now we just have to think of a way to rescue Melanie, the children, and Korzan.”
Hannah grinned at Rory's audible groan.
****
Crimson dripped onto her leg from her bleeding lip.
“Who was he?”
For hours, Melanie had sat in the same chair under a bright lamp, her hands bound, while they'd asked the same questions. Tapiwa had backhanded her over and over, appearing unfazed by the activity.
Spitting, she shook sweat-drenched hair from her face and gazed upward. Between clenched teeth, she said, “I told you already. I don't know.”
“What did he want?” Tapiwa rested his hands on either side of the chair. With his face inches from hers, he yelled, “Answer me!”
Weakly, she said, “I'm not sure.”
The force of his anger sent the chair teetering. It fell backward and her head struck the concrete floor. Spots of light danced before her eyes. Bile rose in her throat, and she turned her head and expelled her stomach's meager contents.
“How is it this woman knows nothing?” screamed Tapiwa to his lounging soldiers. “Maybe if we bring one of the children in, she will be more cooperative.”
Melanie groaned. Torture wore down her resolve. If they used one of the children now, she would cave. Gathering her remaining strength, she said, “Wait.”
Roughly the chair was placed upright. Beaten in spirit, she said, “I'll tell you what I know.”
Tapiwa's face spread into a wide grin. “That's better.”
Hours later, Melanie was returned to her new cell. The cool night air rushed across her broken skin. The children surrounded her. Their small trembling bodies offered shelter from the howling wind as they offered mumbled prayers.
Regrets threatened to overwhelm her. Why had she not left when she'd had the chance? Now everyone in the compound was in danger. Security would tighten like a vice. Korzan and the other miners would lose their freedom of movement, and she might never see him again.
Deborah started to sing. Her clear resonant voice wrapped around Melanie, bringing peace. While she sang, Melik edged closer.
“Mother, what happened? Do not shelter me. I am thirteen and the man of the house. I can share your burden.”
Tears ran down her face. Wiping them away, she told him the story. The details of her own torture were left out. It took only a few minutes to relay her betrayal. She told of the man who came to free her. How a concerned friend sent him. She neglected to speak of Korzan. When questioned as to why she didn't leave when she had a chance, she replied that her savior didn't have room for all of them. Fortunately, they believed her lies.
Finished, loving skinny arms wrapped around her middle. Confession was good for the soul, but peace seemed far away.
Sharing had the effect of making her feel better, but she knew the effect was temporary. Tomorrow would bring new terrors for them all.
****
“Did you hear?” asked Aja.
Already Korzan had been under the water three times. Now he hung on the wet rocks, and his chest heaved from exertion.
In order to retrieve the diamonds, each man was forced to go deep into the murky waters. The depths were dark and the individual couldn't see. Swimming down to the bottom, they grabbed a handful of mud and brought it back to the surface. Once up, a light was shone, and the slave filtered through the mud to search for the illusive gems.
As he rested, the guards carried on a conversation. They barely glanced at the workers, entrusting them to carry out their ordered responsibilities.
“I'm always the last to know. So no, I haven't heard,” said Gamba.
“Very true, you are. Anyway, I heard Tapiwa beat some of the merchandise,” said Aja casually.
“No way!”
“They say he beat her and now she is marred,” said Aja, nodding his head.
“Was it the one with the children?” asked Gamba.
Korzan stiffened. At once, he was on his haunches, preparing to launch. Looking down, a hand restrained him.
“Do not move, my friend,” whispered Afua.
Aja snickered. “Yes, that was the one. They said she wouldn't talk until Tapiwa threatened her children.”
“Tough woman,” commented Gamba.
Aja nodded.
“So what did she say?” asked Gamba.
“Tapiwa wanted to know about the man who came to rescue her. How he got inside, what he planned to do, all that kind of stuff.”
“And?” asked Gamba.
Aja shrugged. “Well, she didn't tell him much. It was some kind of rescue operation. Can you imagine? Right under our noses, too. Anyway, she refused to go. Said the man only came for her, and something about he wanted his own personal slave, but he didn't want to pay for it.”
Gamba released a long whistle. “People are getting too brave. Breaking into Tapiwa's camp to save a few Rand is serious business.”
Aja and Gamba continued to talk about the incident. Korzan breathed deeply, gnawing a hole inside his cheek. Never mind the individual who threatened to break out his wife to have his own personal slave. Tapiwa had hurt Melanie, and he had allowed it to happen. Twisting his hands, he imagined Tapiwa's neck within his grasp.