by Jack Ford
‘You don’t look it… What are you thinking?’
With a slight hesitation and a deep breath she said, ‘Okay, I may be way off here but this berry comes from the Macrocarpa tree. It’s found mainly in the east of the country, up towards Kivu where a lot of my family came from. The berry is used to treat a lot of things like tuberculosis, tooth problems, abdominal pain and…’
Maddie paused.
‘Go on,’ said Cooper.
‘No, it’s nothing.’
‘Maddie?’
‘I said it’s nothing.’
‘What’s wrong with you?’
‘For God’s sake, Tom, there’s nothing wrong. So stop, okay.’
Cooper tilted his head. ‘I know there’s something wrong.’
‘Enough already.’
‘Then say what you were going to say.’
‘Fine, if it’ll shut you up… The berries are also sometimes used in rituals and ceremonies. Just part of everyday life, and it certainly isn’t a bad thing… well, not usually. These ceremonies are often held for the most routine stuff. Like if you wanted your kid to get good grades at school, or want a family member to do well, you might ask someone to take a service for you, whether it be just a spiritual one, kind of like a normal prayer service, or perhaps it might be an exchange.’
‘Exchange?’ asked Rosedale.
Feeling uncomfortable and knowing it showed, Maddie said, ‘It’s an exchange because by giving the spirits or ancestors something, you’ll get something back too. So you kill your chicken and Tommy gets good grades.’
‘And if he doesn’t?’
‘Then that’s to do with the spirits too. All causation is spiritual, which means…’
Rosedale interrupted. ‘Means no-one’s ever to blame, sugar pie. So if after the exchange, Tommy’s grades are still low, then it’s not down to him or the exchange going wrong, it’s about another spirit, a stronger spirit influencing it.’
Maddie nodded. Said nothing. Felt something she didn’t want to.
Contemplating what Maddie had said. Spirits. Exchanges. Cooper lit up his first cigarette of the day. He looked at Rosedale. Although he hadn’t travelled extensively through Africa, the man had spent a lot of his clandestine career immersed in other cultures and accepted the world was made up by differences. Stifling a yawn, Cooper asked, ‘So how do the berries come into this?’
Putting her head down and not holding Cooper’s gaze, Maddie quietly said, ‘It’s not just the berries, it’s the charcoal as well… listen, I’m not the best person to speak to about this. Why don’t we go back to the hotel and Skype my daddy, if we can get through? He’ll be able to tell you better than I can.’
Rosedale said, ‘Skype Marvin? That sounds great.’
And with a very tight smile, Cooper nodded, ‘Yeah great. Real great.’
27
After a lot of trouble and a moving of the bed, along with the moving of the heavy wooden chest of drawers which they discovered covered a large hole in the hotel room floor, the trio managed to get a signal by standing at the window where the bed had been.
‘Hey Daddy! How are you? How’s Cora?’ Maddie grinned at the blurred image of Marvin on the laptop screen.
‘I’m fine. We all are honey. She’s gone to the mall with your mom. They’ve gone to get some stuff to make a house for that caterpillar of hers, though I’d say a coffin would be more fitting.’
Maddie grinned. ‘Daddy, I’ve got a couple of questions for you. Oh, but say hey first to Rosedale.’
Rosedale looked at the monitor. Tipped his hat said, ‘Hey Mr. Menga.’
‘Call me, Marvin, Rosedale… I hope you’re looking after my daughter.’
‘I think it’s actually her who’s looking after us, Marvin.’
‘And say hello to Tom, Daddy.’ Marvin sat motionless in his chair. ‘Damn, I think it’s frozen… Daddy?’
‘Oh no baby, there’s nothing wrong with the picture, well not this one anyway… Why don’t you ask me what you wanted to?’
‘Okay, well did you get my email with the photograph?’
Marvin’s face turned serious. Real serious. ‘I did, but Maddie I think you should be careful. Are you sure this is wise? I think you should be careful baby and you know what I mean.’
Conscious of Cooper staring at her, Maddie felt herself blush. ‘That hasn’t got anything to do with this, and it certainly isn’t the time to talk about it… Please.’
‘Okay, but I’m not happy.’
‘I know… So that photograph I sent you was of the charcoal and the berries we found outside the house which they tried to burn down. I was hoping you’d know exactly what it meant, or what you think it might mean.’
Marvin took a moment to find his words. ‘You see how the charcoal was built up in a high pyramid? Well I think that’s supposed to depict a person. Sometimes it can be leaves or grass, a piece of stone, but it’s never some random object. Everything has a meaning. And if I’m right, the charcoal means someone thinks the person in this house was bad. Or, if you like, had bad spirits within them. In a way it’s more about the color. Charcoal and the circle of berries around it are a representation. And when used together it becomes more powerful. So the color black, along with charcoal and the berries, symbolizes that someone thinks the person was possessed by Kindoki… Are you okay, Maddison?’
‘I’m fine. Just carry on, Daddy.’
‘Well, as you know, Kindoki is like witchcraft, and the berry and charcoal are a sign the person has a black liver.’
‘Liver?’
‘Yes, that’s where it’s believed the evil lives. The whole world is filled with signs and symbols, this is just another kind of one. Signs are relative to the people, the culture, and there’s an understanding and an acceptance to them. When was the last time you questioned the symbol of a red heart with a pierced arrow through it on a Valentine’s card?’
Maddie pulled a face. ‘You mean the ones which were never sent me…? Never, I guess.’
Cooper ignored Maddie’s slight, and Rosedale’s grin – focused instead on the conversation. Not that it hadn’t irritated the hell out of him.
‘Exactly,’ continued Marvin. ‘You just accepted it when really the physiology of a heart in actuality has nothing to do with love, but like some Congolese believe evil lives in the liver, here in the States they believe love lives in the heart.’
‘So what exactly do the berries mean, Daddy?’
‘The berries were in a circle around the charcoal, which I’m sure represents a person who’s been so overtaken and possessed by the sorcery or witchcraft they’ve now become a danger to the community. Capable of killing someone. Therefore, it’s down to the neighborhood or village to get rid of them before he or she gets their bad spirit to do harm.’
‘How?’
‘It could be as extreme as killing them. Nobody wants to live next to a witch who’s going to do harm. And that’s how the charcoal and berries come about. There’re placed outside the house to warn others as well as acting as a frightener, you know, to scare the people who’ve been accused of witchcraft away. Then its job is done. The people pack up and go off on their own accord, and no-one has to get hurt.’
‘So you think it’s what happened here? They thought those two old people were possessed?’
‘Perhaps… Honey, I don’t know all the answers. But I do know the belief system of Kindoki is real, as you know only too well, whether you agree with it or not, or whether you think it’s right or wrong. That is part of the culture there, for better or worse, which means nobody wants outsiders coming in to judge or mess with it. So my advice to all of you is to come home, and come home now.’
28
‘You sure we’re in the right place, Rosedale?’ Cooper looked uncertain as they walked along the narrow mud paths on the outskirts of Kinshasa where a group of young boys wearing faded soccer shorts and worn down flip-flops played in the sludge by an open sewer.
Rosedale s
tood in front of Maddie and Cooper, glancing around the alleyways.
‘It’d help if this place had street signs. It seems like we’ve already been along here. A person could lose their way.’
Cooper laughed. ‘That’s not very reassuring, Rosedale, coming from a guy who’s spent a big part of his life working in the CIA.’
Rosedale leaned on the white crumbling wall and lit the cigar he’d had in his mouth for the past hour. He smirked. And it got right under Cooper’s skin.
‘The same could be said about you, Thomas, a highly decorated ex-military man such as yourself, who needs to keep his wits about him at all times – especially as you feel it was your wits which let you down when it mattered the most. And as such you barely sleep in case you miss another moment. You pop your pills as if they were candy, hoping no-one will notice. But you can’t give them up because they’re the only way you can sleep, and they’re the only way you can keep awake. But you don’t care, do you, Thomas? Because the only thing that matters to you is you don’t miss another chance to get it right.’
Cooper visibly stiffened at the unexpected but accurate analysis.
‘So it surprises me, Thomas, you failed to notice I used the words, seems and could. It seems like we’ve already been here. A person could lose their way. Which is not the same as saying, we are lost. Quite the contrary, Thomas, if you look to your right, the run-down building at the end of the path is, in fact, the place we’re looking for.’
Maddie hissed at Rosedale, not wanting Cooper to hear.
‘Don’t you ever get tired of playing these games no-one’s interested in?’
‘You feeling left out, Maddison? Well let’s see now, shall we? You joined the military because you needed to prove to yourself and to show Daddy, who never loved you enough, that you weren’t a victim. But when you joined it wasn’t for you and you felt more like a victim than ever. You’ve got average pilot skills but that doesn’t matter, because Onyx needed to employ a woman. It’s an unspoken secret you got pregnant to get Thomas to marry you. He may be a lot of things but he’s a gentleman, so you knew it’d work. If you had a choice you’d leave, but you can’t, because that’d mean you couldn’t look after Thomas, and even though you’re no longer together, you’re hoping someday he’ll give up his ghost and you’ll be a family again.’
The slap to Rosedale’s face created an angry sound, along with an angry mark. He rubbed his face. Tilted his head. Broke into a smile. ‘Well I’ll be damned, there’s me thinking we were only playing games.’
Maddie stepped back, hands on her hips. ‘Oh we are, and you were wrong. I’m damn good at my job and my Daddy couldn’t give me any more love if he tried. But hey, now it’s my turn… Let’s see, shall we? You joined the Navy because you had nowhere else to go. Nobody to care and the nearest you got to love was when your daddy dropped you off at a children’s home and said goodbye. You couldn’t cut it in the SEALs because you didn’t know how to relate to other people so you joined the Clandestine Service in the CIA so you could spend your life pretending you were someone else, because the real you is a neglected little boy from Texas. You would cry but you don’t know how to, just like you don’t know how to love… How did I do? Did I win?’
Rosedale stared at Maddie and as he turned to walk away he quietly said, ‘Yeah, Miss Maddison, you did. You won.’
29
With Maddie feeling awful at what she’d said, she walked along in silence with Cooper who was feeling just as bad, but for entirely different reasons, as he tried to distract his thoughts from Ellie.
‘You know if you want to go back home, we can go to the airport anytime. Don’t think you have to stay.’
‘You’d like that wouldn’t you, Tom?’
Before Cooper had time to answer, Rosedale butted in as he caught up with them.
‘What and have Miss Maddison miss out on all the fun and games? We can’t have that, can we? She’s already one-zero up.’
Looking at him softly, she smiled gratefully. ‘No, we can’t, and I’d say we were even… Come on.’
Leading the way down the dark alleyway towards the house, Cooper thought about how easy it’d been to get the details of where the elderly couple were staying from the nurse in the medical center, who’d looked as tired and weary as her patients. It had just been a question of asking, and she’d freely told him, along with additional information about the smoke inhalation the couple had suffered. And as much as it’d been a clear breach of confidentiality – a hell of a big one – it’d done them a favor. So who was he to knock it?
They arrived at the door of the house. ‘I’ve no idea how much they’ll tell us, if anything,’ said Cooper. ‘Main thing we need to rule out is the address. We want to find out if Emmanuel lives or has ever lived here. If they knew anything about him. But we need to go easy. No heavy handed stuff, alright?’
‘I think that’s directed at you, Maddison.’
Maddie rolled her eyes at Rosedale. ‘What about the fire though, Tom? Shall we mention anything about the Kindoki?’
‘Well, if Emmanuel has nothing to do with these people, then I don’t think we should get involved. Just move right on.’
She looked surprised. ‘You? Seriously? Not get involved? You’re kidding me.’
Cooper pulled a play face. ‘Yeah, well, perhaps I’ve learnt my lesson or at least I’m trying to. Like Granger said, several times, and I mean several times, all I have to do is bring back the plane.’ He paused, clearing his throat before imitating Granger. ‘You got that Coop? Just bring back the goddamn plane, unless of course you want me to kick your ass. We don’t need another hero, Hollywood’s got enough of those.’
Maddie laughed. Cooper thought it was good to see. It’d been a long time since they’d both goofed around together. He hoped it’d stay like this. For him. For her. And of course, for Cora.
Maddie joined in, giving a good impression of their boss. ‘I can see it’s that time of month again Maddie, maybe you should get yourself home and come back in a week when your women’s problems are over.’
Rosedale’s slow drawl broke into the good humor. ‘When y’all have finished your Saturday Night Live routine, I’d like to get on.’
And without another word, Rosedale banged on the door. Hard. Hammering and beating and knocking and pounding unremittingly until, eventually, a diminutive woman in her forties with tight braids answered.
Oozing charm, Rosedale took off his cowboy hat. Rested it on his chest. ‘Howdy Ma’am, my friends and I are wondering if we could have a word with you.’
The woman stayed silent. Her eyes darting around nervously. Cooper could see the deep root of fear within them as Rosedale continued to talk. ‘It was my friends here who saved the old couple from the fire. We just want to see how they’re doing.’
A young man in his early twenties came from within the house and stood silently next to the woman, whose words were hurried as she wrapped a scarf tightly around her shoulders.
‘Non… No, I’m sorry, you can’t come in. Please, it would be better if you left.’
The frightened woman quickly tried to shut the door but her attempt was blocked by Rosedale’s large, white pointed boot. His tone dropped. A hint of menace.
‘Now that’s not very polite and I’ve never been keen on bad manners, says a lot about a person don’t you think? And seeing as we saved their lives n’all, it wouldn’t be right not to let us in.’
Rosedale pushed the woman out of the way, and knowing she was powerless to stop him she didn’t object, letting Maddie follow through, but as Cooper began to walk in, the woman stood in front of him, obstructing his way.
It looked to Cooper like a train load of anxiety had passed over her. Making her tremble. Making small beads of sweat prickle her forehead and push through her skin, looking like dew drops on grass. She leaned back against the door, her hands shaking as she tried to push him away.
Rosedale looked annoyed at what was going on. ‘I thought
I said it was bad manners not to let us in. That means all of us in. So I reckon you need to let my friend here pass.’
The woman searched Rosedale’s face. Puzzled. Turning fearfully to stare at Maddie, her voice muted. Terrified. Desperate.
‘No… no. Son yeux. Le signe du diable. Laisse maintenant…Maintenant!’
Maddie looked back at the woman. She nodded, and spoke with a gentle lull of reassurance. ‘Ne vous inquiétez pas. Je suis désolé. Désolé.’
Rosedale looked puzzled. ‘What’s going on Maddie? I get what she just said but what the hell is she talking about his eyes for? Let’s just get inside so we can sort this mess out and find out where the plane is. I just want go home.’
Maddie shook her head. ‘She’s got a problem with them.’
Rosedale snarled. ‘What?’
‘Tom’s eyes.’
‘What the hell’s wrong with them?’
‘The color.’
Rosedale looked at Cooper blankly.
‘Haven’t you noticed his left eye’s blue and his right one’s brown?’
‘Miss Maddison, you do me a disservice. Of course I’ve noticed, I just don’t know what the problem is. It just makes ol’ blue eyes here, not so blue.’
‘Well that’s the point. Heterochromia is viewed very differently here. A lot of people think, as she does, it’s the sign of the devil. Sorcery. People with different colored eyes are thought to be witches. And I’m guessing she thinks if he goes into her house he’ll be bringing those bad spirits with him… Listen, Tom, you go and have a wander around and Rosedale and I will see what we can find out. We’ll meet you here in half an hour.’
30
The alleyway Cooper found himself walking along was a reeking sludge of red mud and raw sewage, whilst the shadows of people huddled in corners seeking shelter from the rain journeyed across his path.
Trying to avoid the worst of the mud, Cooper walked to the side. Scraped his worn Khaki jacket against the walls of the buildings. The night sky seemed darker than usual and as the rain began to fall harder he found himself trying to find relief from the torrential downpour.