by Jack Ford
‘You have to. I don’t think we’ve got much time. I don’t know if you want to take anything else, but here, I just grabbed these.’
He passed her the clothes he’d picked up from the room, which she took. Dropping them into the bag on the floor. Though uncertainty still remained.
From far in the distance Cooper heard noises. Voices. And with the front of the hut having no windows, he ran to the door, peering out to see a procession of people fronted by one of the men from the revivalist church back in Kinshasa, walking slowly up the hill towards them.
He turned to the woman. Gave a quick smile and said, ‘I’m sorry, you’ve given me no other choice’
And without a moment of hesitation. He picked her up. Threw her gently over his shoulder before running out into the twilight.
57
Two hundred meters clear of the hut, hidden amongst the trees, Cooper put down the woman carefully, who’d surprised him by not objecting or hollering or fighting.
He spun round in time to watch the man from the church throw his burning torches on and into the hut. Turned it into a bonfire of orange and yellow flames.
The woman, scared and in shock seeing her house burning down, with the added knowledge her beloved grandson’s body was inside, opened her mouth to scream. But Cooper, a step ahead, clapped his hand firmly across her mouth. Didn’t even hesitate.
He shook his head, trying to reassure her as she stared with frog-wide eyes. His hand stayed tight across her face. Whispered. ‘They’ll hear you. I don’t think it’s a good idea for them to know you weren’t inside, not for now at least.’
Slowly she nodded and for the first time he could feel the woman starting to accept the situation she found herself in. Gradually he took his hand away. Ready to slam it back if need be. ‘They think I’m possessed.’
‘Yes they do.’
‘It was only my grandson who’d been possessed unless… unless…’
She stopped to let tears fall before continuing to talk with fearful conviction.
‘I too am full of sorcery. Perhaps when I sleep the evil which lives within me leaves my body to harm those around.’
Cooper squeezed her hand and was pleased she didn’t pull away. ‘I don’t think so…’ Everything in him wanted to say her grandson wasn’t possessed either. But he didn’t.
The woman looked at him oddly and Cooper could see something which resembled hope in her eyes. ‘How do you know? Have the spirits come to you?’
He hated having to mislead her. Hated it. But realizing and remembering everything Marvin had told them, and seeing for the time being it might be the only way, he nodded. Tried to convince himself his manipulation of her beliefs of the spirit world would be ultimately for her own good. ‘Oui… yes. Yes, they have. That’s exactly it. They know you’re a good person, and I’ve been told to keep you safe.’
58
As they walked along the road together in the pitch of darkness, the woman told Cooper her name was Zola.
‘Well it’s good to meet you, Zola. It’s a shame it’s under these circumstances… And I’m so, so sorry for your loss.’
Zola said nothing. Her pace, much slower than he’d ideally have liked. He was hoping that any minute he’d see Rosedale and Maddie coming along the track in the Toyota, but so far all he’d heard was the calling of the monitor lizards.
Even though they’d been walking for the past half an hour they’d only managed to walk a short distance from the village due to Zola’s bad legs. There was so much he wanted to ask her. But each time he’d questioned her, she’d moved even more slowly as she answered. So for now it all had to wait.
From behind him, Cooper heard an engine but straight away he knew it wasn’t the Toyota. It was the Commer truck.
From the brow of the hill, he saw the lights of it approaching. Fast. He could also see the part of the dirt track they were on gave little place for them to hide. One side of the bank was steep. Dense. Wet. The other had large boulders and hunks of mud fallen from one of the numerous landslides which were commonplace due to the rains.
Whilst keeping his eye on the approaching truck, Cooper said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m going to pick you up again.’ Not waiting for any kind of reply, he lifted Zola up with ease onto his shoulder. Though this time he could feel her holding tightly. Firmly. Clinging onto the back of his top.
Deciding to take his chance with the mud side of the bank rather than the steep side, Cooper vaulted across the muddy earth. Scrambled across the boulders, being mindful of needing to hold his balance as he carried the old woman. And it was almost as if he could feel the heat of the lights speeding down the road, spotlighting their position. It struck him that he could still be seen by the truck if he continued to stand up. Twisting Zola off his shoulders and into his arms at rapid speed, Cooper flung himself down on the wet ground whilst holding her safe.
He was breathing hard and wild and he cursed to himself as the truck came to an absolute stop in front of them. He was certain they hadn’t been seen. But how long that would last, he didn’t know. But he was damned sure he wasn’t going to wait around to find out.
He whispered to Zola, signalling with his hand. ‘We’ve got to keep going.’
She nodded and Copper carefully got up.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Silently.
Backing away with Zola in his arms.
Hoping Maddie and Rosedale didn’t come along any time soon. He didn’t know who these people were, but they were trouble. Big trouble.
Minding his foot through the thick twisted vegetation of the forest as the rain began to pour down hitting them hard, Cooper glanced down at Zola as he carried her. She looked cold. But she smiled warmly. Croaked out her words. ‘Over the river. There’s a place we can shelter.’
He could see the small river was only few meters ahead. And he picked up his pace, wanting to take Zola as quickly as he could to the shelter. And from there he’d head back down to the village. All being well, meeting up again with Rosedale and Maddie.
*
By the time Cooper had waded through the fast flowing water, carried Zola up the wet and sludgy hill and along the high ground, avoided tripping over the labyrinth of buttress roots running along from the large trees which rose up like giant columns of a citadel, and almost twisted his right ankle, he could feel the tightening wheeze from his chest. The agitated come-down from the pills. The words of Zola, ‘We’re here,’ couldn’t come soon enough.
He gazed round. Seeing a gap in the trees with three burnt-out derelict huts. He put Zola down, who nodded at him gratefully. In return he gave her a wink.
Cooper kicked at the dirt. Nothing but discarded, rusting household equipment. Broken bottles and cans. Picked up some of the things, dropping them as he always did into his collecting bag, knowing most, if not all the things he gathered, would turn out to be trash.
The shrink at the VA medical center had told him he collected items to seek some kind of comfort. That it acted as a coping mechanism for dealing with his anxiety and fear of losing control. Not that he’d taken much notice of what the Doc had had to say. He’d just looked at the clock and waited for his court ordered session to finish.
He’d first started collecting the bits and pieces he’d found when he’d searched for Ellie. To him, rather than it being a question of seeking comfort, it’d been a question of sheer desperation which had prompted it. It hadn’t mattered what it was, he’d collected it. Just looked for anything, anything which would’ve given him a clue.
The thing was, he knew it’d become a habit. Another one to add to his list. Because even when he’d given up looking for Ellie, he’d continued to collect. Or, to use his doctor’s words, continued with his obsession.
He’d drive himself crazy with his collecting and at the end of each trip, he’d throw everything from the bottle tops to the candy wraps, to the tiny shards glass, away. Convincing himself determinedly it’d be the last time, only for the damn thing to s
tart all over again on his next trip. And like the pills, he found it hard to stop. Who was he kidding? Couldn’t. Couldn’t stop.
Cooper scratched his head. It felt heavy. Focused on something else and shone the florescent pink pen torch Maddie had given him. He knelt in the wet earth, seeing and picking up what looked like a piece of a broken glazed porcelain pot.
Turned it over and noted the inner part wasn’t coated. Just an unfinished red matte clay with a pottery mark he couldn’t quite read. There was also what looked like a piece of copper wire embedded into it. Puzzled, he slipped it into his bag.
With a sigh and a crick of his neck, he stood up. Brushing off the wet, Cooper caught sight of something else. It looked like the remains of a pile of charcoal. ‘Are you sure it’ll be safe here?’
Zola nodded, walking into one of the huts which, unlike the other two, still had part of its roof intact. ‘No-one will come here.’
Following her in and clearing a spot for her to rest, Cooper said, ‘Why? How can you be so sure?’
‘They think it was the home of the possessed.’
Wanting to understand her better. ‘Don’t you?’
She shook her head emphatically. ‘No. There’s no evil here. I feel safe. This was the home of my friend, Emmanuel Mutombo… They say he walks amongst the dead trying to harm the living.’
Cooper stopped in his tracks. ‘What did you say?’
A look of fear crossed Zola’s face. She shook her head, reluctant to say anything more.
‘Zola… please. Just repeat the name you said?’
Her eyes darted round nervously and it took a long moment but eventually and slowly she said, ‘Emmanuel Mutombo. He was a good man, and I believe he’s still alive.’
59
Cooper bounded back down the hillside without the weight of Zola. With the rain having subsided, the velvet night turned warm and clear, giving him a good view of the tiny village.
He slowed down by the track. Moved cautiously. Gun drawn. Looking. Listening. Stopped at every noise.
The quickest way back to the village was to hike along the road and although exposed, he didn’t fancy his chances in the undergrowth with its hidden crevices and ditches and banks and the highly venomous black mamba snakes which hid and moved with swift deadly speed.
Pausing for a moment, he checked for lights. Not wanting to bring his presence to the attention of anyone, especially whoever it was driving the Commer truck. As certain as he could be that the coast was clear, he started to head as quickly as vigilance would allow. Back towards the village.
After ten minutes of watching his footing, avoiding the dips and hollows and holes and pits which would twist an ankle in a brutal second, Cooper saw headlights beginning to appear over the horizon. Lighting up the sky like an arc anti-aircraft searchlight.
He crouched down, noticing the headlights were lower and narrower than the Commer’s. A blend of relief and exhaustion hit him as he realized they were the lights of the Toyota. He waved. Slowly at first then more frantically. Looked like the car wasn’t going to slow down.
Hell, there was no way he was going to risk them not seeing him. The satellite phone he had was unreliable at the best of times, on top of which the battery for some reason was unable to keep its charge and was dangerously flat. Close to dying.
Deciding there was only one thing for it, Cooper leapt into the path of the oncoming car. An abrupt screech and squeal of the tires screamed out as the brakes locked and the car crunched into a stop.
He felt the heat from the Toyota’s hood only inches away. And it was only when he opened his eyes did he notice he’d actually had them squeezed shut.
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’
Rosedale stretched out of the drivers’ side window. His face as furious as it was shocked.
‘I could’ve killed you… And whilst that would be no bad thing, perhaps now isn’t the time. Anyway where’ve you been?’
Cooper glanced round, uneasy at us being in the middle of the road and knowing anything Rosedale had to say could wait.
Running round to the passenger side, Cooper jumped in. ‘Come on, let’s find somewhere to park the car, there was a clearing further up. I’ll explain to you both on the way.’
60
Having concealed the Toyota thoroughly under the numerous large-leafed plants which grew and swelled in abundance, Cooper, Rosedale and Maddie dashed across the track, their guns drawn.
Cooper led the way. Tracking back through the river and up and beyond the bosongu trees to the clearing where Zola was waiting for them.
Just before they got to the three huts, Cooper stopped, not wanting Zola to hear what he had to say.
‘Listen, we need to be real quiet. This woman, Zola, she’s really jumpy. Understandably so. Obviously she’s cut up over her grandson. But I think she knows some stuff which may be helpful to us.’
Maddie was curious. ‘Like what?’
‘Well she knows Emmanuel. And this place we’re about to go to, the place she’s hiding out, apparently was his home.’
Rosedale, who was usually indifferent to such pieces of information unless it came to some kind of fruition, looked suitably impressed. Which surprised Cooper after their showdown earlier.
‘I’ll give it to you Thomas, you pulled this one out of the bag.’
Giving Rosedale a wry smile, Cooper said, ‘I found a pile of charcoal which makes me think it’s the same kind of thing we saw back at Kinshasa and back down at the village. It’s just like Marvin said and what you’ve explained, Maddie. The huts were torched as part of a deliverance to eradicate any witchcraft. I think that’s the reason Emmanuel’s aunt’s house was burnt down. It looks like anyone who was part of his family are seen to be a threat to the community.’
‘It’s all part of the deliverance. Ridding the community of witchcraft.’ Cooper, who was soaking wet and wishing he’d brought a change of clothes from the car, listened to what Maddie had to say whilst seeing the tension come over her.
Rosedale said, ‘What about their friends? Their family. Don’t they have anything to say about it?’
Sadly, Maddie replied, ‘If you believe a person is possessed by bad spirits essentially that person’s no longer the person you once knew. They’ve been taken over by a powerful force which is ultimately going to harm you. So it’s not like you’d be actually hurting or performing a deliverance on your friend, who use to bake you the best pecan pie, you’re getting rid of the witch who’s taken over their body.’
‘Thomas, do you think Zola will open up? Talk to us and tell us what she knows?’
Cooper shrugged at Rosedale. ‘Maybe. I’m hoping so, it’s the best lead we’ve got since we’ve arrived, but of course I don’t want to panic her by putting too much pressure on… She’s got a real belief in the spirt world. It seems to be her guide. She was worried to come with me and I feel terrible about this but when she thought I’d been asked by the spirits to help her, then she was more trusting. She’s definitely scared. And we can’t forget she’s just lost her grandson.’
‘Maybe Maddie should do most of the talking.’
Cooper nodded. ‘Okay, sounds like a good idea. Come on, she’s over here.’
61
‘Zola…Zola. It’s me, Tom.’
Not wanting to startle the old woman Cooper called out as he led the others into the derelict hut. He noticed she hadn’t moved from where he’d left her. Not an inch. Not a foot. Not a yard. And from where he was standing, it looked to him as if she hadn’t even moved her head.
He spoke warmly. The kind of warmth he knew he should’ve given Maddie. He pushed that thought away. ‘Hey, Zola. Hey, how ya doing?’
She looked tired and anxious but she nodded.
‘These are my friends. The ones I was telling you about. Remember they were down in the village with me earlier.’
Zola held her hand up, which displayed large purple veins pushing up from beneath her thinning blac
k skin. She gave Maddie and Rosedale a small wave along with a small smile.
Cooper gave a quick glance to Rosedale before sitting down next to Zola. His patience was at an all-time low, almost as low as his supply of medication. So he was glad Maddie was taking the lead.
‘You told Tom you knew Emmanuel. We’re trying to find him. It’s really important we do.’
‘Emmanuel isn’t here.’
‘Where is he? Do you know?’
Zola was hesitant, which made Maddie want to blast another question at her. She didn’t. Just waited. Then waited some more.
‘No, I don’t, but I do know they say he walks amongst the dead. Though I feel he’s still close. He was a good man. They say he was possessed by the Kindoki, but I don’t know.’
‘Who says, Zola?’
‘Papa Bemba.’
Maddie didn’t know if she sounded surprised or pleased but she glanced at Rosedale. ‘You know him?’
‘Of course. Everyone knows him.’
‘And what did he say? What exactly happened with Emmanuel?’
‘There was a deliverance. Here.’ Zola gestured with her hand. ‘But he fought it,’ she added.
‘The witchcraft?’ Maddie said.
‘No, he fought what Papa Bemba was saying for a long time, he refused to believe he was possessed. But eventually they went to find him.’
Cooper had agreed to keep silent, but he was curious. ‘Okay, so you’re saying Emmanuel didn’t want to be delivered, but you’re saying there are some people who actually agree to it? They volunteer themselves?’
Zola looked at him as if stupid. ‘Mais oui…! Of course! No-one wants the spirit of the malevolent to live inside them. They ask for help. They ask to be delivered. And Papa Bemba helps.’
Maddie asked. ‘And is that what Papa Bemba is? A healer?’
‘Yes.’
‘And would you say he was a good man, Zola?’
Zola’s answer was reflective, as if she’d never asked herself the question before.