They did.
Once everyone was on board, Gardner asked for a casualty report. They had one turned ankle that wasn’t all that bad, and nothing else. They flew a more direct course this time back to their camp north of Sierra City, and landed well before dawn.
As they walked to their tents, Lam saw three shadowy forms in front of Mojombo’s tent. He warned the others. They advanced slowly. One of the forms sat up.
“Mojombo?”
“Yes.”
“Good, you’re back. I’m Captain Kintay from Colonel Amosa’s regiment. There have been some changes and we need to talk with you right now.”
28
Kintay and his two fellow officers, along with Mojombo, Murdock, and Gardner, all went inside the leader’s tent, where Mojombo lit three candles.
“My men don’t get to use electric lights here, so neither do I,” Mojombo said. “Now, what is so important that it needs a nighttime meeting?”
Captain Kintay looked up. “Time is indeed important. Matters are changing rapidly in Sierra City and with the government of President Kolda. Three of his cabinet members have resigned. Colonel Amosa has confirmation that Colonel Massad, who commands the First Regiment of eleven hundred men, has agreed to defect with Colonel Amosa’s regiment. Instead of coming up country tomorrow, they will seize the Central Army Base and put the whole thing under our control. That means by tomorrow night we should have under our command two thirds of the armed forces. We will send delegations to the other regiment and the various smaller units demanding that they come to our side or they will be annihilated. It is our opinion that by day after tomorrow, we will control over ninety percent of the Sierra Bijimi Army.”
“This indeed is good news,” Mojombo said. “Will there be any move to take President Kolda out of office?”
“We wanted your advice on that matter. We have no plans to stage a coup and set up a military government. We wish your suggestions.”
Mojombo looked suddenly serious, as if he had the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. He blinked twice, cleared his throat, and then looked up. “Captain Kintay, it is my suggestion that after you have the military power, you send tanks and a massive number of armed men to the front of the Government Building and demand the resignation of the President and the Vice President. Give them four hours. If they do not resign and leave the capital, you should move in and carry them out by force.
“With these resignations, an interim government would be run by the Speaker of the House. The Speaker should then call for new elections to be supervised by the United Nations and the United States. Nominations would be made within a month, and elections would be held, closely supervised by the United Nations and the United States, within three months.”
The two other federal officers had been writing quickly on pads of paper they had produced.
Captain Kintay smiled. “Good. Good. It is as we had hoped and wished and prayed for. Can you and your top lieutenant ride motorcycles?”
“Yes, Lieutenant Gabu and I both can ride, and we have motorcycles here. Did you come on motorcycles?”
“We did. Colonel Amosa suggests that we ride out tonight to the ten-mile bridge, where we will find truck transport to take us to the Army camp before daylight. It will be safer that way.”
Mojombo looked at Murdock. He had tears in his eyes. “It seems that we have won, that the honest, loyal citizens and the soldiers of Sierra Bijimi will at last have a chance for a freely elected government.”
“Then it looks like our job here is about done,” Murdock said.
“Please stay for two more days until we see what happens in the city. I’ll send a messenger up here every day to let you know how it’s going. Give us two days to be sure we can oust the President.”
Murdock nodded. “Two or three days, we can do that. Yes, we’ll be on standby here in case there’s something we can help you with.”
Murdock and Gardner went back to their tent.
“So, it looks like this is about wrapped up,” Gardner said.
“Maybe. You never can tell about a dictator like Kolda. He might have some contingency plans. He must have known that Amosa was about ready to defect. He could be in Ghana or Nigeria by now. He might even be on his way to his Swiss bank account.”
“True, but he also might be tucked into some fortress with a hundred guards, and they’ll have to dig him out with bombs and bullets. I hope that’s the case.”
“Let’s talk to Stroh. We’ll wake him up and let him know what’s happening.” Murdock grinned. “Yeah, about time we get to wake him up in the middle of the night for a change. Where’s his tent?”
Stroh came out of a deep sleep snorting and yawning. When they turned on the light he blinked, and at last saw who was there.
“You guys crazy? It’s still dark out.”
“Thought you might like to know the latest developments.”
“Better be important. I was in this dream with this woman who was…” He blinked. “What’s going on?”
They told him.
Stroh grabbed his SATCOM and fired it up. Before he made his connection in Washington, D.C., the two SEALs vanished out of his tent and dove into their cots. It had been a long day.
Stroh let the SEALs sleep in until noon. Then he roused Murdock from his slumbers.
“Hey, buddy, you awake yet?”
Murdock kicked his feet onto the canvas floor of the tent and groaned. “It better be important, Government Agent, or I’m gonna tear your arms off and beat you silly.”
“Yes, important. The President, is that important enough for you?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have been so friendly with that guy. He can really get a person into a lot of trouble.”
“Like now, rookie. The President has ordered you to go into Sierra City with two men and a SATCOM and give State a blow-by-blow description of what’s going on. They want to know if the coup takes place, if there will be democratic elections, when the embassy can be reopened. Shit like that.”
“And if we’re in the wrong place and we get shot up into pieces by either side…”
“You’ll get a medal and a nice letter from the President to your survivors.”
“Thanks a bunch. When are we supposed to get into town?”
“No rush. You should have been there by now. You’re to take the motorcycles and move in this morning, or afternoon as it is now.”
Murdock growled, pulled on his boots, and took one last look at Stroh. “Hey hotshot, you want to come along? Maybe I can get you killed on this one.”
“Thanks, but no, thanks. One bullet hole in my hide is enough. I’ll leave the tough stuff to you young bucks.”
Murdock found Lam and Jaybird and told them their new assignment.
“At least we’ll see the end of it,” Jaybird said. “What weapons?”
There were two motorcycles left in camp. Murdock rode one and Jaybird and Lam the other one. They were surprised to get all the way to the ten-mile dock before they ran into any military. They moved up cautiously, and Murdock called from cover to a lone sentry near the dock.
“Hello, sentry. Are you with Colonel Amosa’s regiment?”
The soldier pointed his rifle at the sound. “Who’s asking? Show yourself.”
“Are you in the Second Regiment under Colonel Amosa?”
“Yes. Who are you?”
“U.S. Navy SEALs. We’ve been helping the colonel and Mojombo. We’re supposed to report to him down in the city.”
“We control all of this area now. My captain didn’t say anything about any SEALs coming.”
“He didn’t know. We need to get through and find the colonel’s headquarters. Don’t shoot, we’re coming out.”
They rolled the two motorcycles out. The soldier was surprised.
“Wow, motorcycles. Can I take a ride?”