Adebowale pulled himself through the small opening and continued swimming upwards. He raced toward the surface like a torpedo, breaking into the cool air high above in under a minute. He quickly removed his wetsuit, then placed the backpack carrying the C4 over his shoulders once again.
He shined his flashlight around, until he found a tunnel heading due north. He took it hoping that it would reach the elevator shaft, well above where the elevator was stuck.
He moved quickly. The height of the tunnel was too low to run, but in a bent-over stance, he moved fast. It didn’t take long to reach the main elevator shaft. He shined the flashlight below. The focused beams com came to rest on the water not far below. He looked up, and saw the wooden ladder leading straight up.
Adebowale started to climb immediately. Twenty feet up the first set of ladders, and a sudden pressure gripped the joint of his right elbow. The pain was sharp and intense, but intermittent. From what little he knew about SCUBA diving, he understood there was something about the compressed nitrogen not being able to escape his blood stream fast enough if he ascended too quickly. He should have slowed his ascent, but what could he do? His men needed action, not hesitation.
Adebowale shrugged off the pain and continued climbing. He gritted his teeth, and forced himself to grin. He was getting close to the fulfilment of the prophecy and the greatest achievement of his lifetime. He’d seen the future and it wasn’t the bends that was going to kill him.
Chapter One Hundred and Nine
Sam slipped through the feathered turbo-fan blade and ascended carefully. There was no sign of Adebowale’s light above, but there was no doubt in his mind that this was the way he’d traveled. The question was why did Adebowale try to lose them?
He didn’t wait to commence their ascent. They had a long way to go if they were to reach the top levels of the mine, and they would need to travel fast if they were to catch up with Adebowale.
Sam asked, “What could he possibly be trying to achieve?”
Tom said, “I don’t know how he fooled us, but he’s not on our team.”
“If that’s the case, why bother dragging us here, at all?”
Sam thought about that and shook his head. “I have no idea. It doesn’t make sense. Maybe he has some entirely different purpose for being here. Something he obviously didn’t want us to know. That doesn’t mean he’s against us.”
“Sure. But he’s definitely not with us.”
Sam slowed his rate of ascent as they approached the second ventilation fan. He carefully slipped through the single opening where a fan blade had been broken off. The sharp fracture in the rusted metal appeared recent. He slipped through very carefully, and continued to ascend.
Sam said, “We might still be able to complete the mission without him.”
Tom shook his head. “No we can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because he took the bag with the C4.”
“Christ! I thought you were carrying that?”
“I was, but just before we left the helicopter he offered to carry it. He said I already had enough to carry with all the additional diving equipment.”
Sam approached thirty feet of depth and slowed his ascent to a stop. He carefully waited five minutes and then ascended to fifteen feet, before waiting another five minutes to decompress. He climbed out through the surface of the water and removed his wet suit, and discarded it next to Adebowale's abandoned suit.
A trail of water heading down the northern tunnel showed where Adebowale had gone. Sam switched his Heckler & Koch MP5 from safety to fully automatic, while Tom surfaced and skinned out of his wet suit. There was no telling how long Adebowale had taken to decompress, so they would have to be quick to catch him.
They ran to the end of the tunnel and then started to climb the rickety ladder in the main elevator shaft. It was a grueling climb, but they reached the top, where the vertical shaft joined the main tunnel on level five. From there, Sam hoped they would be able to open the locked grates for the prisoners, and still reach the main tunnel that led underneath Lake Tumba in time to block it somehow.
He and Tom made it less than five hundred feet down the tunnel, before his hopes were shattered – because the echo of a tremendous explosion echoed through the tunnel.
Sam swallowed, hard. “Oh, shit!”
Chapter One Hundred and Ten
Adebowale had no idea how much C4 would be required to bring the ceiling down onto the tunnel, so he used all of it. Better to be too much than not enough. There was no risk of bringing down too much rock. After all, his intention was to create a stone barrier between the end of the tunnel, where General Ngige had ordered dynamite to be laid and ready to open the tunnel to the bottom of the lake, and the entrance to the main tunnels of the mine.
In his nightmares he’d seen the moments directly after the explosion repeatedly since he was a small boy. But he’d never seen how he actually reached that point. So, without any concern he might not be doing it right, he’d stuck all the C4 from the back-pack onto the rock ceiling. He’d then run the ignition wires a couple hundred feet down the tunnel and pressed the detonation button.
Within the narrow confines of the tunnel, the shockwave raced toward him with an incredible force. It knocked him to the floor, and he struck his head hard. His world shook and for a moment he thought he’d already been killed. He felt the strange wet feeling on his face, and carefully touched it with his right hand. It took him a moment to realize it was his own blood. In his head, he heard the constant ringing, as his burst eardrums tried to make sense of what had happened.
There was too much dust and debris ahead to see if the cave-in had worked. Somehow, intrinsically, he knew that it hadn’t. It couldn’t have, could it? After all, water would soon come flowing from the other side of the cave-in and kill him.
He forced himself back on to his feet and started to run back the way he had come. A moment later the aftershock of a second explosion dropped him to the ground again. General Ngige’s men, hearing the first explosion and having expected an attempt to escape, must have detonated the dynamite.
Adebowale knew he couldn’t outrun it, but still he tried.
A third explosion occurred up ahead, somewhere between him and the main tunnels of the mine. In an instant he realized what always went wrong – something he’d never even considered.
Someone must have been drilling holes in the ceiling further up the tunnel, so that any large seismic activity would cause it to collapse and form a natural barrier of rock. Now he was trapped, unable to go backwards or forwards. Behind him, he felt the gust of air being blown through the tunnel, followed by the sound or raging water.
He’d been here before – a thousand times in fact.
But still he turned and ran.
Adebowale didn’t have far to run, not far at all. He reached the cave-in ahead. It had formed perfectly. There was no way he could escape now. He turned to face the torrent of water that would kill him.
Despite the knowledge that he would be dead within moments, he grinned broadly – because the prophecy was complete.
Chapter One Hundred and Eleven
Sam stopped at the entrance to mine shaft A, where the prisoners were all housed. A steel grate locked them inside at night. It had a simple locking mechanism on the side of the wall, for the morning guards to use to release it, when the prisoners were to go to work. Sam pulled the lever and hundreds of men climbed out, passing them without anything more than a nod of gratitude.
When the expected torrent of water from above never came, Sam figured that somehow Adebowale had succeeded. Over the course of an hour, he watched as thousands of men, some having been prisoners for years and so withered that their skin was taut over their bones, ran to join the fight. By the time he and Tom reached the surface, the fight was over.
A man he recognized from the photos as the agent named Mikhail approached. “Sam Reilly, isn’t it?”
Sam nodded and offered his hand
. “This is Tom.”
Mikhail shook their hands firmly, and said, “Thanks for the prison break. I guess you got the message and our government decided to send in the troops?”
“Not quite,” Sam said.
Mikhail asked, “No? Well, then, really, how did you get here?”
Tom smiled. “It’s a long story, but ultimately, we had some pretty convincing reasons to come here.”
Mikhail frowned, disappointment across his face. “But not enough for Washington to commit?”
Sam said, “No. Putting American boots on the ground would have been an impossible sell to Congress and the American people.”
Mikhail’s eyes narrowed. “So then, how did you end up here?”
“A man named Adebowale ended up giving us the suggestion of accessing the mine from an old flooded section, and then from there using explosives to cause a cave-in forming a natural barricade from the tunnel below the lake where General Ngige had planned to drain the lake to drown his prisoners.” Sam looked at Mikhail’s confused face. “You’ve heard of Adebowale, I assume?”
Mikhail nodded. “I have, but I’m surprised he helped you.”
“What do you mean?” Sam asked. “He’s the head of the USK, isn't he?”
Mikhail’s eyes darted between Sam and Tom’s hardened faces. “You don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?” Sam and Tom replied in unison.
A large man approached. For a second Sam thought he was Adebowale. He was a similar height, but his muscles appeared smaller and leaner. He had a warm smile and same piercing gray eyes, but below them, deep wrinkles etched a history of a difficult life, filled with pain.
Mikhail looked at the man, and then glanced back at Sam. “This is Dikembe, the leader of the USK. I think it’s best he explains who Adebowale is … or was.”
Dikembe greeted Sam and Tom with heartfelt gratitude. He shook both their hands kindly, and said, “I understand you were instrumental in our rescue. My people will be forever grateful.”
Sam asked, “You’re Adebowale’s brother?”
Dikembe nodded. “Yes. Although, my brother and I haven’t seen each other for many years. I had hoped I would have the opportunity to see him one last time before he entered the tunnel, where he died.”
“You’re certain Adebowale perished inside the tunnel?” Sam asked.
Dikembe nodded.
Sam asked, “How?”
Mikhail stepped in to answer. “Because we weakened the entrance to the tunnel that ran underneath Lake Tumba. The hope was that any seismic rattle, caused by Ngige detonating his dynamite, would cause the roof at the entrance to collapse, and create a natural barrier of stone that would protect us from the flood.”
Sam asked, “And that’s why you referred to Dikembe as the leader of the USK?”
“No.” Dikembe smiled at him. “It appears you misunderstand everything. Adebowale and I haven’t seen each other for many years. Until tonight, he followed another leader. Someone he’d known all his life.”
“Adebowale and General Ngige knew each other?” Sam said.
“I am told they were good friends until recently.”
“Things must have changed. Ngige tried to kill him a week ago.”
Dikembe shrugged, as though it didn’t matter. “Wars change people, constantly. Alliances are formed and friendships broken. And I'm afraid it’s not unknown for General Ngige to dispose of those in whom he has lost confidence.”
Sam said, “But Adebowale had the codes to your underground communication system?”
Dikembe said, “So did a lot of people. It appears he infiltrated it well, but in the end he used it for its intended purpose, and rallied my troops to fight.”
Tom said, “I don’t understand. Why would Adebowale lie? If he was working with Ngige, why did he come through for us when we needed his men to take out the guards? What changed?”
Dikembe said, “He of all of us truly believed in the United Sovereign of Kongo. He didn’t care whether I gave it to him or Ngige. He believed in the prophecy. He believed that Nostradamus had seen it all nearly four hundred years ago, when he came to the Sahara. When Nostradamus introduced a boy named Jacob Prediox to my great ancestor, he knew that we were going to go through some tough years, but one day our bloodline would return and unite the Kingdom of Kongo. I believe my brother may have just paved the way for me to do so, and that if he were alive, he would be happy.”
Sam asked, “When we were preparing for this mission, your brother showed us precisely where to lay the C4 in each of the tunnels that run beneath Lake Tumba. There were three tunnels. He was very specific which tunnel he was to take. And in the end he set off the one that collapsed only one tunnel…”
“Yes?”
“His was the only tunnel that collapsed nearly a quarter of a mile back from where he laid the C4. He would have been trapped and drowned in the process.”
“Yes. I know what you want to ask. So ask it.”
“Did he know he was going to die?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he go through with it?”
“Because he’s always known he was going to die. My brother shared the gift and curse of visions, the same as Nostradamus. Unlike the great master of prophecies, my brother only saw one vision. His death. But in it, he knew the outcome for his people.”
“Why didn’t he just set the damned C4 to go off after and get back behind the cave-in?” Sam raised his voice, betraying a temper he seldom released. “He killed himself for nothing! Did he want to be a martyr, is that it?”
“No. He didn’t die for nothing. He died to unite his kingdom.”
“That’s a lie. He could have skipped the dying part and the two of you could have united the kingdom together.”
Dikembe shook his head. “No. We would have fought as we always have. And in the end, our kingdom would have continued to have unrest amongst its own people.”
Sam shook his head, unable to believe what he was listening to. Two brothers. Twins who loved each other. Suggesting that it was better that one of them die to protect a kingdom that hadn’t existed since the Portuguese decided to colonize their kingdom.
Tom said, “One more question…”
Dikembe turned to face him. “Ask and I will answer as best I can.”
Tom explained how they’d planned the entire mission, starting with entering the mine from the flooded sink-hole, through to using C4 to demolish part of the tunnel that ran underneath the lake. He finished by explaining how Adebowale had intentionally lost them both inside the flooded tunnels of the B mine.
Tom asked, “Why did Adebowale lose us in the tunnels? Wouldn’t it have been better to keep to the original plan and detonate all three tunnels, just to be certain?”
Dikembe smiled, mysteriously. “Because he’d seen the future, and neither you or Sam were part of that vision. It was the one thing that must have been worrying him. If you were there, it meant the future had somehow changed.” He then turned to Sam and Tom and said, “Once again, my people and I thank you for everything you have done for us, but now I have a rebellion to win, and a kingdom to rebuild.”
Mikhail turned to follow Dikembe out who was about to get into an armored car.
Sam grabbed him by the shoulder. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve decided to offer my assistance to Dikembe. In whatever capacity I can. I don’t think you really appreciate what he’s about to do for the region.”
“No you’re not.”
Mikhail asked, “Why not?”
Sam said, “You’re coming with us. The future’s now, and you’re going to be a father.”
Mikhail stared at him. “Zara’s pregnant?”
Chapter One Hundred and Twelve
Sam, Tom and Mikhail boarded the Jet Ranger. Sam hadn’t finished closing the side door before Genevieve took off again, over Lake Tumba. She was eager to get off the ground and far out of the reach of stray bullets. The distant sound of gunfire, re
minding everyone that they were now in the middle of a dangerous warzone, and that the rebellion had started, even if it was only still in its infancy. Sam watched with pleasure as Zara’s face lit up with joy as she saw Mikhail climb in.
Genevieve flew back to the Bangui International Airport. Inside the helicopter, a silence formed, as all of them quietly took in the events of the previous six hours. A lot had changed. They had all aided a rebel force to take the lead, and no-one, including Nostradamus could be certain that it had been the right choice. Sam, like any good leader, knew that many lives had been changed today as a result of his actions. Thousands would die. While he hoped he’d been instrumental in saving many more, he knew that only time would prove the wisdom of his decision.
The Jet Ranger touched the ground and Genevieve switched the engines off. At approximately the same time, the pilot on board the Legacy 450 luxury jet completed his final pre-flight checks. The small party switched aircraft, and the Legacy was once again back in the air.
The time was 0455.
Sam sat down across from Zara, who was sitting silently, holding Mikhail’s hand. Sam said, “You knew about Adebowale, didn’t you?”
Zara smiled. “I had my suspicions.”
“But you said nothing?”
“No. I didn’t know for certain until we got into the Nostradamus Equation. It was the 84th quatrain that convinced me.”
She recited the quatrain from memory.
*
An ocean above and a maze below
Where the two meet over a baled woe,
The Sam Reilly Collection Volume 2 Page 86