Aideen could not see David. The two had worked out a series of taps to communicate. She felt him rub the back of her hand. That meant he thought they should stay where they were. She agreed and rubbed him back. ^
The trio came closer.
"I am here with Leon Seronga and Mr. Finn," Maria said in a strong, steady voice. "There is another man in the back of the truck. No one will harm you. We all need to talk."
Aideen knew Maria's voice. The tone in the woman's voice put Aideen at ease. She believed the woman was telling the truth. Aideen tapped the back of Battat's hand. That meant she wanted to speak. Battat hesitated. Then he tapped the back of her hand in agreement. Slowly, Aideen rose.
"I'm here," Aideen said. She extended her hands to the side as she walked forward. "I'm not armed."
"Do you have any news for us?" Maria asked.
"Yes," Aideen said. "There are Spanish soldiers at least an hour behind you, possibly more. We need to split into two groups. One group will lead them away from Dhamballa's camp. The other will head toward it."
"Why?" a man shouted from the distance.
Aideen assumed this was Leon Seronga.
"We believe that the only way to prevent a shooting war is for the Vodunists to release Father Bradbury," Aideen said. She rounded the Jeep. The three were less than fifty yards from her.
"Who are 'we'?" Seronga asked.
"I've already explained to Mr. Seronga that we are not going to discuss our identities," Maria said.
Aideen had no intention of doing so. But she was glad Maria took the initiative. That gave her a little room to play good cop.
"There is no reason to discuss who we are, only what we want to do," Aideen said. "And that is to save lives."
"I believe you," Seronga said. "But I can't afford to trust you. You won't even tell me who you are."
"If something were to happen to you, we would not want that information to get out," Aideen said.
"You mean, if I were caught and tortured," Seronga said.
"Yes," Aideen said.
"What do you think this is, some primitive, degenerate society?" he asked.
"No. But these are dangerous times," she replied bluntly. "People do excessive things."
"They even kidnap people," Battat said as he came up behind her. "I will say this, though. The chances of something happening are greater the longer we stand here talking."
Seronga's group stopped a few yards from the Jeep. The leader of the Brush Vipers regarded Aideen and Battat.
Suddenly, there was a faint beeping.
"What's that?" Seronga asked.
"My cell phone," Aideen replied. She was surprised. Only the embassy could reach her out here. "I'm going to answer it," she said. She removed it from the pouch on her belt.
"Give it to me," Seronga said. He held out his left hand.
"I have to answer it first," she replied. "If I don't give them the code, they'll hang up." That was a lie, but Aideen did not want to hand over the phone. Not until she found out who was calling and why. She flipped it open. "This is Barley," she said. She chose a word that sounded enough like Marley so that the caller would simply think it was a glitch in the connection.
"Aideen?" said the caller.
"Yes."
"This is Mike Rodgers," said the caller. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes."
"Are you free to speak?" he asked.
"Not really," she replied.
Seronga strode over. He motioned for the phone as he approached.
"I am giving you over to Leon Seronga," Aideen said.
"No!" Rodgers said. "Are Maria and David with you?"
"Yes," Aideen said. She backed away and motioned Seronga back.
The Brush Viper pointed the gun at her. She did not stop moving. The woman was driven by purpose, not personal security.
Battat came between them. "Let the lady talk." he said. "We're here to help you."
Seronga did not lower the gun. But he did not fire nor did he advance.
Aideen continued her conversation. "Do you need them for something?" she asked.
"No," Rodgers told her. "What I need is for the three of you to abort this mission now."
"Why?" Aideen asked.
Seronga must have caught the concern in her tone. He stepped forward.
"We believe the Botswana Air Force is en route to the Vodun camp in the Okavanga Swamp," Rodgers told her. "You are to stay away from there. Do you copy?"
"Yes," Aideen replied.
"What is going on?" Seronga demanded.
Aideen did not answer.
"The Botswana military is probably monitoring the airwaves, so I'm signing off before this call can be traced," Rodgers said. "I don't want this order questioned or second-guessed. Get out. Now."
Seronga pushed Battat aside and walked toward her. "I asked you a question!" he snapped.
Battat grabbed the Brush Viper's arm as he moved past. A shot kicked up dirt and pebbles near Battat's feet. It came from the truck.
"If there is a next shot it will be through your heart!" a voice warned from that direction.
Battat released Seronga and stepped back. Seronga grabbed the phone from Aideen. He put it to his ear.
"Hello," Seronga said. "Hello!" After a moment he glared at Aideen. "No one is there."
"No," Aideen said. "My superior did not want the Botswana Air Force tracing the call."
"The air force? Why would they?" Seronga asked.
"Apparently, they found your camp in the Okavanga Swamp and are on their way," she said.
Seronga stood very still for a moment. Then he turned and yelled to the man in the truck. "Get the radio from the dash-
board and call the camp," Seronga said. "Find out what the situation is."
The man in the truck acknowledged the order. Seronga turned back to the others.
"What else do you know?" Seronga demanded.
"Just that," Aideen replied.
Seronga waved his pistol at Aideen, Battat, and Maria. "Get in your Jeep, all of you."
"Why?" Battat asked.
"We are going to the camp," Seronga said.
"To do what?" Battat asked.
"If there is some kind of attack, we must make certain it is stopped," Seronga replied.
"How?" Battat asked.
"You two are Americans, I think," Seronga said. "We will contact the Botswana military and let them know you are there. They will be less inclined to attack if you are at risk."
"We cannot tell anyone we are here," Battat said.
"Why?" Seronga asked.
"Because officially, we are not here," Battat said.
"But you are here, and lives are at risk," Seronga said. "Your legal status is a ridiculous point."
"Not when it comes to Gaborone stopping Dhamballa," Battat said.
"But this woman knows we did not kill the bishop-" Seronga said.
"That will be irrelevant, unless you release the priest," Battat warned him. "I have a feeling that if the army attacks, they'll find him dead in the rubble of your camp."
Just hearing that gave Aideen chills. It was conceivable. It truly was.
"I have raised the camp!" the man in the truck shouted. "They see no sign of an aircraft!"
"Where are they now?" Seronga asked.
"They are out of the swamp and moving toward the diamond mine," the man in the truck answered. His voice sounded flat and mute by the echoless expanse of plain.
'Tell them they must change their course and come toward us," Seronga said. "I will give them the coordinates in a minute."
"What if they won't listen?" the man in the truck asked.
"Then they will die!" Seronga said. "This is no longer about a rally but about survival. Tell them that!"
"I will!" the man shouted.
Seronga turned back to Aideen. As he did, his eyes caught a gleam of the truck headlights. They glinted bright, narrow, ferocious.
"You don't know when the attack is. due?" Seronga pressed.
"I do not," she answered.
"Do you swear this?" Seronga demanded.