Part 8 (1/2)
”No. I'm staying with you.” She knelt beside him and put her hand on his forehead. ”You're burning...”
Purcell looked at Gann and they both knew that Mercado was close to heatstroke.
Gann said to Purcell, ”You'd better start off now.”
Mercado pulled a plastic wrapped paper from his pocket and gave it to Vivian, saying, ”The safe-conduct pa.s.s... go with Frank.”
She took the pa.s.s and handed it to Purcell, but remained kneeling beside Mercado. Purcell put the pa.s.s in his pocket and said to Gann, ”I won't be seeing you later. Thanks for your help.”
They shook and Gann said, ”Well, good luck.” He added, ”The commander of the Provisional government forces is a chap named Getachu. Nasty fellow. Red through and through. Likes to shoot Royalists. Doesn't think much of Westerners either. Your pa.s.s from the Provisional government should be all right, but be careful with him.”
Purcell replied, ”I know who he is.” He said to Vivian and Mercado, ”See you later.”
Purcell moved toward the descending ridge, then turned and asked Gann, ”Have you ever heard of a black monastery in this area?”
Colonel Gann didn't reply immediately, then said, ”Yes. But not worth the side trip.” He added, ”Maybe after the war is over.”
Purcell nodded, then started to pick his way down the rocky ridge.
Chapter 8.
Below, the gra.s.sy plateau looked inviting, and Purcell thought there could be water there. Or Gallas.
Across the plateau was the base of the rocky hills, and in those hills was the victorious army of the Provisional government. But even if he made it to an army outpost, he wasn't sure what kind of reception he'd get. Theoretically, his American pa.s.sport and press credentials and the safe-conduct pa.s.s from the Provisional Revolutionary government would ensure a good reception-which was why he and his traveling companions were trying to reach the army forces to begin with. But theory, when it b.u.t.ts up against reality, sometimes produces unexpected results. Especially if he had to deal with General Getachu, who was notoriously cruel, and probably insane; the perfect subject for a press interview-if he didn't kill the reporter.
Purcell heard something behind him, and he froze, then squeezed himself into a rock cleft. He listened and heard it again. Someone was coming down the ridge.
He waited, then saw her sliding on her b.u.t.t down a long flat rock, holding on to her camera that was hanging from her neck. She jumped off the rock and he let her get a little ahead of him, then fell in behind her as she was scrambling over another large rock.
”Change your mind?”
She made a startled sound, then turned toward him. ”G.o.d... Frank... you scared the h.e.l.l-”
”Me too. Where you going?”
”To find you...” She took a deep breath, then said, ”Henry gave you... he didn't give you the pa.s.s.”
”Really?” Purcell took the plastic-wrapped sheet from his pocket and opened it. He smiled and said, ”Looks like his bar bill from the Hilton.”
She didn't reply to that but said, ”I have the pa.s.s.”
”Good. I'll take it.”
She gave it to him.
He looked at it, put it in his pocket, and said, ”Thanks. See you later.”
She glanced up at the ridge.
He said, ”Right. The climb up will kill you. Stay here.”
”I'm coming with you.”
He didn't respond to that and asked, ”How's Henry?”
”A little better.”
”Good. And how are you?”
”Dizzy.”
He put his hand on her blistered forehead and asked her, ”Tongue swollen?”
”A little...”
He took off his bush jacket and draped it over her head. ”Okay. Let's go.”
She followed him as he moved down the ridge.
She said to him, ”Colonel Gann saw three Gallas on horseback riding through the tall gra.s.s ahead.”
”News I can use.”
They continued on and she said, ”I wouldn't have left him... but he tricked me. Tricked you.”
Purcell didn't reply.
She said, ”He and Colonel Gann thought you'd have a better chance if I were along.”
”You have not increased my chances.”
”In case you got hurt. Or... whatever. Better to send two people on a rescue mission.”
”True.” Unless one of them was an attractive woman.
The ridge flattened and they stopped a hundred feet from the high gra.s.s of the plateau. Purcell said to her, ”You stay here. If all goes well, I'll be back with a medic and some soldiers to collect you and get Henry. If I'm not back in, say, two hours-”
”I am not staying here.”
”You will do what I tell you-”
”Frank, if something happens to you, I'm as good as dead here. And so is Henry.”
”Vivian-”
”I can't get back up that hill, and I will not sit here waiting for the Gallas-or dying of f.u.c.king thirst.” She moved toward him and gave him a push on the chest. ”Let's go.”