by Mark Stanley
We drove, as all the African drivers seem to, fast, as we tried to escape the Northern suburbs of Niamey and out into the Sahel region of Niger. Our speed was never less than terrifying as we drove on deep into Al Qaeda held territory before hanging a right and going into organised crime territory, I'm not sure that I felt any safer.
"The area that we've just come through is where they still hold the six Westerners that they kidnapped."
"Are they still alive?"
"Well I think so, certainly I haven't seen them get beheaded."
I shot him a glance. "Very consoling Tom."
On and on we went, through Tahoua and then, turning onto a road that seemed to be a long line of potholes held in place with a little bit of tarmac. It was here that we began to see armed men on the roadside but they took no notice of us. The journey was, at best uncomfortable but eventually we began to slow as we reached the built up areas of Abalak and it was here that we refuelled all of the vehicles because no one wanted to be running out of fuel later tonight. After refuelling we recommenced our journey. We were due at the rendezvous by midday and it was already after 11 o'clock.
"How much further?"
"Forty clicks or so."
"We'll be late."
Tom just nodded. "He'll wait."
The road got worse and now we were all very conscious that we had been told that the roads were much better then we actually found and our progress much slower. Dusk falls just after six and my seven it's pitch black. There're no street lights, very little law enforcement during the day and it's non-existent at night-time. We all knew that the last two or three hours on the return trip would have to be completed during the most dangerous time.
At 1pm we slowed down, as in front of us there was a makeshift road block with armed guards. The machine gunners were very agitated and stopped the convoy. Tom was side on constantly looking forward and then behind. Craig and John were eyeing, left and right, all directions seemed to be covered, but then a commotion started. The leader of the convoy was in heated discussion with the guys at the road block and an impasse started.
"What do they want?"
Tom shrugged and asked the question through the radio that he held. In a few seconds the reply came back.
"Money."
"Cheeky bastards, tell them we’re late for a meeting with Bodem Halska.”
Tom did as I asked and the message was conveyed to the road block guys. More heated words were exchanged before the road block, which was formed by three cars, was driven away.
"What happened?"
"Seems that they don't want paying."
I was beginning to think that Bodem Halska might be a big noise in this area.
At nearly 2o'clock we reached the rendezvous. The cars spread out and formed a circle with the car I was in, in the middle.
"Stay here Lord Mark; Craig will see where we're at."
Craig got out, sub-machine gun slung across his chest and walked to the edge of the circle. He was only gone a few minutes before he reappeared.
" Bodem Halska's waiting in a tent about five minutes from here. It seems okay but it's up to you Lord Mark."
There was no hesitation as I undid my seat belt. "Let's go."
"Lord Mark, please stay alert, we've got a fair few guns but we're bound to be outnumbered so just normal precautions please."
We walked to the clearing and as we did, we became aware of more and more armed men, lying in the grass, behind trees, behind cars all with their eyes and more importantly their guns trained on us watching every step we took. It was very all very intimidating and I guess that's exactly what he wanted to achieve. When we got to the tent a man appeared in a well cut suit and shiny brogues, no mean feat in the African bush. I closed the distance with a smile on my face and an outstretched hand.
"How do you do Mister Halska, Mark Stanley."
Close up the man was medium height maybe five eight or five nine and weighed perhaps a hundred and fifty pounds. He took my hand in a firm grip and smiled. As long as I live I'll never forget his smile, for it transformed his face. He had very non-African features and so when he smiled he looked like a rat.
"Lord Mark Stanley, very good to meet you, I see the BBC are also with you? They may film but not during our discussions. My apologises for your delay that you suffered, it was caused by some of my more errant men and they will be disciplined for their discourtesy."
"Not at all Mister Halska, it gave me the opportunity to study your beautiful country more closely."
"Please take a seat Lord Stanley and let us hope for a conducive meeting, would you like some coffee, I have some freshly ground Arabica beans?"
"That is most generous and most welcome. Would it be possible to also offer some to my colleagues."
"Ah yes of course. You are famous for people not working for you but with you, very egalitarian. So let us begin..."
The discussions were not only difficult, they were tortuous. Bodem Halska, wanted lots and I was authorised to offer, very little and so we kept returning to the same subject his dessous-de-table , quite literally, payment under the table, his bribe.
"Mister Halska, you ask me for a dessous-de-table , knowing full-well that the UN will never offer a bribe. Every year over a trillion US dollars is paid in bribes and yet the UN pays not a single dollar. Our own Secretary General has even made a speech about them, may I quote him?"
"Of course if it allows us to proceed Lord Stanley, anything that allows us to proceed."
"He said and I think it's well worth remembering, 'Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government’s ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign investment and aid.'"
"Fine words, but meant for different people in different circumstances and at a different time..."
The war of words got heated and then cooled but still he wouldn't budge but sadly, neither could I.
"Mister Halska, it has been a very interesting and very informative meeting. I have learnt much here today and I have much to ponder but regrettably the UN will not be able to facilitate your wish and my fervent hope of educating the children of this fine country and they will continue to be impoverished by your own intransigence. I came with an open mind and a clear desire to move forward, but alas that won't be possible, for what you ask is against the principles of the organisation that I represent and against my own beliefs. You are a highly intelligent man and it disappointing that you fail to grasp the UN fundamental ideals." I stood up and made to leave.
"Please sit Lord Stanley. It is late and you can't safely travel back to Niamey this evening, to do so will put you at great risk. Please, accept my hospitality and then, in the morning my men will escort you back to Abalak, after which you will be able to get home in daylight hours."
"Thank you for the offer but I'm due in Mali in the morning and so I regret..."
"A Godless country run by thieves, terrorists and the French!"
I smiled at his outrage.
"If you'll permit me to speak with my colleagues?"
"Of course."
"So what do you think Tom?"
"There's no way that I want to risk these roads at night. We'll be in a fire fight before we even reach Abalak. No, I think we have to stay and get an early start."
The rest of the CPO’s concurred with Tom and so I walked the short distance back to our host to convey the news.
"Mister Halska, we will be delighted to accept your kind offer of hospitality for the night but we must be away before first light in the morning?"
"Of course, of course, let us go."
I was slightly alarmed. "Go where?"
He started laughing. “You don't think I sleep in a tent in a clearing Lord Stanley? It may not be as grand as your houses, but it's comfortable. Come let us go."
The house was another half an hour away and none of us had any idea in what direction we were going. We had
one of Halska's armed guards with us in case we lost the tail lights of the cars we were following. We were all concerned by the time we turned off onto a dust track and further miles before we saw lights ahead. The lights were, primarily around the edge of a compound, with watch towers and a twelve foot razor wire fence. Large gates were opened and we drove through to a lawned area where a Colonial style house sat, almost directly in the centre of the plot. The cars pulled up and we got out but all of the guys were nervous and so was I. It was a strange set-up, here in the middle of nowhere and I feared there would be little sleep tonight.
"Lord Stanley, welcome to my home."
"You’re very generous and we thank you for offering us all sanctuary on this night."
"Come, let us eat and drink and expand our discussions."
I along with the other UN Officials and my CPO’s were led into the house. If it had been in a street in a lot of wealthy African suburbs, it would have been unremarkable but here deep in the bush, it was incongruous. Tribal art decorated the walls and sculptures carved from indigenous hardwood the type you see in lots of African markets, were scattered around. Three females, the first we had seen all day, were busy laying tables and quite obviously a meal was about to be served.
"Lord Stanley what would you like to drink? Whisky, vodka, perhaps a gin and tonic, I have it all!"
"Just some water if I may. I'm abstaining until my wife delivers our first children." I smiled and he forced a smile back.
"Ah yes, the beautiful Lady Stanley you must have had much fun making the babies eh Lord Stanley, is she good?"
I ignored the inappropriate comment and went to look at a picture that was hanging above the fireplace only for Halska to join me shortly afterwards carrying my water and his own drink before passing mine to me before he then he draped an arm around my shoulders, making me feel very uncomfortable.
"Let you and I eat alone in my study."
"Actually Mister Halska I would prefer to eat as a group it's the traditional UN way and allows us to chat over the day."
He stared at me with his slightly hooded eyes and thin smile; he really did look like a rat. Seemingly making a decision he slapped my back and called for the food.
"Sit with me Lord Stanley."
It wasn't a request and so I did as he wished. The girls that had been laying the makeshift additional tables were now waitresses and large pots began appearing. They quickly started to ladle the steaming food into the bowls before placing them in front of each guest.
"First we have the starter a traditional West African dish if ever there were, Palm nut soup!"
We had been served this ever meal for nearly three weeks, but we smiled and thanked the waitresses as we ate our way through it.
"Mister Halska, I've no wish to be rude, but may I enquire, are our guards being fed also?"
"What type of host do you think I am Lord Stanley? Do you think I would be feeding only the white folk? No rest assured they are being well catered for."
"Thank you for the reassurance and I apologise if my enquiry caused you offence."
"No Lord Stanley just disappointment in your poor English manners."
There was none of the normal chatter that usually accompanied our evening meal. We were all on edge and our host was less than friendly. But the transformation had taken everyone by surprise, perhaps it was him feeling judged in his own home although that hadn’t been the intention. The dishes were cleared and we sat in silence awaiting the arrival of the main course which followed immediately as though there were a rush to get it finished.
"This is Shinkafa, a traditional Niger dish, rice served with meat and vegetable, it's good, enjoy!"
It was something similar to what my Mother would have cooked in the winter but not when the temperature was so high that you perspired as you sat. Even so we weren't complaining as it was filling and tasted good after all we hadn't eaten at all today. Everyone, including me had another ladle which appeared to appease our less than genial host and then suitably replete I thanked him and so did everyone else which greatly pleased him.
"Let us retire Lord Stanley so that we can try and find a compromise."
He stood; I followed more in duty than expectation. Tom, Craig, John and Tony were, as ever in close attendance which didn't go unnoticed.
"Your men may stay here Lord Stanley you're in no danger here in my house."
"I'm afraid that's not possible Mister Halska, these gentlemen are employed by the British Government to look after me and I nor anyone else has the authority to tell them what they can and cannot do where my protection is questioned. As a courtesy I will ask them to remain outside of your study to allow us some privacy?"
I spoke with Tom, quietly and he sent Craig and Tony to keep a lookout on the outside. Halska opened the door and stood to one side to let me enter first. The room was traditionally furnished, in Europe I think we would have called it almost rustic, but that's not an insult, more an observation. Halska sat down behind the desk, which was large and the room was relatively small and so it dominated it, which I suspected was the intention.
"Our friendship seems to be struggling Lord Stanley?"
"Do you think so? I can't say I've noticed. You've been a very congenial host and served us a splendid and very welcome evening meal which was enjoyed by all, if that's when our friendship is struggling then I should like to return when it's flourishing." I smiled across the desk.
"Do not mistake me as a poorly educated foolish African gangster Lord Stanley for I am a man who has reached this position by being completely ruthless. I was forced to see my Father killed and my Mother raped before she was also murdered, when I was six years old. Six years old Lord Stanley, I had known more pain at six than British children suffer in a lifetime!"
"It must have been very distressing for you."
"You have no idea what pain is, you live a privileged life in a developed nation, travel by private jet and expensive cars and yet you come here to my country and ask us to make sacrifices, exactly how do you equate that Lord Stanley, you a rich man and us, so poor?"
I didn’t answer as I wasn’t expected to. This had been bugging him for a while and he needed to get it off his chest. He paused and I waited as he ruminated over his next lines which would, I suspected, be expensive.
"You are a rich man Lord Stanley but your wife is much much richer, how does it make you feel Lord Stanley, knowing that your wife is so wealthy?"
"I can't say I suffer from financial insecurities."
"Do you not crave her wealth? Do you not lust after her wealth the same way that you lust after her body?"
"Now Mister Halska, your comments are continuing to be...injudicious and unwelcome. Can we please discuss what we need to discuss and leave Lady Stanley off the agenda?"
He smiled. "So Lord Stanley not wishing to discuss the bedroom secrets, how she performs, is she compliant? Does she satisfy your urges? Does she surprise you and do depraved things?"
I sat looking through the windows at Craig and Tony on the Veranda one looking in to the study, the other looking out, presumably into the darkness as Halska continued.
"You are offended Lord Stanley?"
"Disappointed, would be more accurate I think."
"You are a rich man Lord Stanley and your wife is a rich woman?”
“I think we’ve covered that particular subject, what do you want Mister Halska because it’s quite obvious that bringing me in here away from everyone else, even your own men, is an agenda and perhaps we can cut to the chase?”
He continued to smile as he picked off a cotton thread from his sleeve.
“How much would she pay for your safe return, a million, certainly, ten million, of course, a hundred million?"
It was my turn to ruminate as this particular turn of events was not expected.
"Surely it's immaterial because I haven't been kidnapped, for one to be kidnapped one needs to be with enemies and as we know we are amongst friends."
&n
bsp; "Quite, but what if a friend could give information to another friend, what would that be worth?"
"It would depend on what information, this friend was offering, but in Europe it's not customary to have to offer friends a reward."
"Humour me Lord Stanley because my patience is much reduced. If I could give this friend information that could potentially save his life, what would that be worth."
"I don't know Mister Halska, because one can't put a value on information until one has been told what the information is. What a friend would deem to be life-changing information…well it might be dismissed out of hand as irrelevant by the friend."
He ignored my response as he pushed on with his.
"And what if, once paying for the information that would save this friends life, it also facilitated an unhindered expansion of an education programme?"
I sat and considered the ramifications of his request.
"As the UN doesn't pay bribes Mister Halska nor do I but if you have information about my well-being and you wish to share it as a friend, then that could lead to an...accommodation, a gift to thank the friend for his…sharing, caring ways. This wouldn't and couldn't be classified as a dessous-de-table because as we both know, they are not permitted."