PRIMAL Vengeance

Chapter 32



Kaljak Village, Abyei District



"I want to come with you," Jonjo said as he helped Mirza load equipment into the back of the Wildcat. It was early evening and the night air was already filled with the cries of predators on the hunt. The two men worked in the faint glow of the vehicle's interior lighting, stacking the equipment cases between the truck's bench seats.

"You are needed here," replied Mirza.

"One more fighter here will not make a difference. I want to kill Omar. He killed my chief and my friends."

Mirza finished with the last of the pelican cases and turned to face the young African warrior. "Jonjo, this isn't about revenge. It is about survival. With you here, Garang and the other men have the best chance of surviving."

"What about you and Aden? Who will make sure you survive?"

Mirza laughed. "Keeping Aden alive is my full-time job."

"Then who will look after you?"

Mirza stroked his short beard as he thought. "We look after each other. He just seems to attract more trouble. You need to look after Garang and your men."

` At mention of the SFF leader Jonjo dropped his eyes and kicked at the tire of the Wildcat.

"What's wrong? You don't think Garang needs you to look after him?"

"Garang treats me like a child."

"He looks to you like a younger brother. He is proud of the man you will become but cautious that it happens too fast. He's also carrying a great responsiblity. He needs your help."

Jonjo nodded. In the faint lighting Jonjo studied the Indian. With his beard, Asiatic features and broad smile he looked nothing like Garang. Yet he was more of a warrior than Garang would ever be. He was the man Jonjo aspired to emulate.

While Mirza and Jonjo were talking, Bishop, Jess and Garang sat under the boab tree next to Dragonfly. Bishop was running them over the plan while sipping warm tea from a battered enamel cup.

"You need to maintain the momentum, Garang. If you back off now, the Janjaweed will re-group and come back stronger than ever."

The African shook his head. "I disagree. We are the ones who need to consolidate. We have dealt our enemy a great blow. Now we need to gather more supporters and share the burden of the war. If you are successful in Khartoum, that will be enough pressure to keep the Janjaweed at bay until I have more fighters."

"The men are starting to trickle in. You've already replaced your losses. Mitch will continue to fly in weapons and you have the men to train them. You need to maintain the momentum."

"No, we need to rest," insisted Garang.

"Listen to Aden," Jess said earnestly. "We've achieved so much. It would be stupid to let that go."

"Shut up," snapped Garang. "What makes you think you know anything of strategy?"

"Garang, there's no need—" Bishop started.

"Enough. I have made my decision. We will conduct patrols while you are gone but we will not seek out the Janjaweed until we are stronger. I don't want to hear any more about it." With that he stormed off into the darkness leaving Bishop and Jess sitting alone.

"He's lost his will to fight," she said.

"We've seen a lot of fighting these last few days, Jess. Maybe he just needs a break."

"No, he's losing the fire he had before. That was what drew me to him." The doctor looked as if she was close to tears. Bishop wanted to hold her but she rose from her seat. "Goodnight and good luck, Aden." She gave him a sad look and disappeared towards her own hut.

Bishop downed the rest of his tea and made his way over to where Jonjo and Mirza were talking next to the Wildcat. "Mirza, you good to roll?"

"Everything is ready."

"Alright, Mitch is going to fly out for more weapons. Garang is going to try and rally more troops. Jonjo, Garang's going to need your help to get them trained on the gear that's coming in."

The young soldier nodded and trotted off into the darkness.

"What, no goodbyes?" Bishop asked.

"He wanted to come with us," Mirza said. "He understands his place is here with the other fighters. Doesn't mean he's happy about it."

"Kid's a jet in the bush but I think he might be out of his depth in Khartoum." Bishop opened the passenger door to the Wildcat and climbed in.

"I agree he is of far more value here." Mirza took the driver's seat and switched on the headlights. He gunned the supercharged V8, driving north.

They passed the SFF checkpoint, slowing to wave to the pair of sentries before heading into the darkness. Behind them a pair of hyenas reared up on their hind legs, snapping at the body that hung from a tree. Sagrib's corpse turned slowly until its bulging eyes faced the set of red tail-lights disappearing into the distance.