Chapter 1.5

Chapter 6

Entering the hut he occupied with his comrades, he stumbled upon a package of unknown origin that was not visible in the darkness within; He staggered and his shoulder collided painfully against the wall, causing him to swear in Russian. From outside he had heard the screams and laughter of women as well as the gasping breath of people having sex, so he already knew what was happening inside.

Upon entering the dilapidated house, he spent a few moments letting his eyes adjust to the prevailing gloom to avoid another stumble. Then she took a few steps until suddenly, from one of the rooms, an almost totally undressed African woman appeared running towards the latrine that served as a bathroom; immediately behind her one of the members of the group with the naked torso, in which she recognized Bogdan. As he passed another of the rooms, he heard the unmistakable sounds of a rickety bed creaking and when peering inside he saw the back of Danilo, another of his men, kneeling on the bed having sex with another

…

woman leaning on her four limbs. The smell of sweat and alcohol decomposed him and he decided to leave the cabin to breathe fresh air again. Half dizzy, he sat down on a dejected log to compose himself and meditate on his situation.

At the age of thirty”one, and two years after leaving the Russian army with the rank of Sergeant Vadim Petrovich Sokolov, he still could not draw definitive conclusions about his decision: Had he wisely acted by leaving the formal militia of his country and joining the Serbian adventurer group led by Branko Popovic?

If he had to judge only by the income obtained in that period, the answer could only be affirmative. The euros that he had already accumulated in his bank account could never have been obtained in his former profession, which allowed him to cherish the idea of retiring for several more years and living in Russia or anywhere else. Seen from the point of view of the tasks that had to be carried out, the panorama was instead bleaker. In the countless armed encounters with groups of Africans who obeyed other warlords struggling to appropriate the Congo's mineral wealth, much blood had flowed. Popovic's fierce contingent, made up of the four Europeans and about twenty former Hutu members of the Rwandan army and accustomed to planting their bodies with corpses, had cleared the area for the exclusive exploitation of one of the native "colonels", a certain Honoré Kazembe, whose capture was requested by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and by international organizations accused of genocide. In the combats in which Vadim had participated he had killed or wounded twenty men, but his mind was calm that all of them had been killed in acts of war in which he himself had exposed his life.

What was unbearable to him was the group he had joined. A large contingent of fierce Hutus who killed for killing commanded by a group of unruly Serbs and Uprisons who spent much of their time between drunken combat and bedridden with several blacks at once. All this turbulent lot was in turn guided by Popovic, a character emerged from the massacres in the wars at the end of the former Yugoslavia, particularly in Bosnia where he had been one of the lieutenants of Slobodan Milosevic, the "butcher of the Balkans".

The background of the group and its boss produced a moral rejection in Vadim as well as disgust for his particularly sexual customs and alcohol addiction. The Russian could drink vodka in quantity on rare occasions when there was something to celebrate and he had a woman he had picked up on his wanderings in the Middle East. It was Majidah, a Yemeni girl he had picked up in a camp razed by the Saudi”backed forces that Vadim was working for at the time, and with whom he was deeply in love.

Once he had recovered his senses, he left the hut and approached a small building made of material where Popovic lived. Since no one answered his calls, Vadim decided to try the door and, as expected, found it open; Noises unmistakably of sexual origin emanated from the only room and the Russian could not help but take a look inside; what his eyes showed him once he got used to the darkness made his skin stand on end. Popovic's huge white torso flapped rhythmically as he penetrated his occasional lover. It was when he spotted himself that the feeling of disgust invaded the Russian. It was a boy of no more than ten or twelve years, with blackened skin whose mouth emitted cries of pain almost inaudible from the abuse received.

Vadim couldn't take it anymore and left the building, sitting on a creaking bench under the eaves of the building. He did not know how long he was like this until something warned him that he was not alone. He raised his eyes and saw the imposing figure of Branko Popovic beside him. Seeing him come out of his stupor the leader told him.

“All right, now you know my little secret?

The Russian recovered and without getting up from the bench he replied.

“It's not much news. I've seen you walk with another little black guy before and I had assumed something. This only confirms my assumptions. Does he look like me or is this another boy?

Branko hesitated for a moment, slightly puzzled.

“Yes ... the other disappeared one night. What's happening to you?

…

“I've been through the men's hut. They are totally drunk and sleeping with a number of blacks in the middle of a real revelry.

“Everyone was on patrol yesterday and they need distraction. Are you a moralist or what?

“Branko, it's not about that. You have hired me to maintain a combat”capable group. If something were to happen now these men are not in a position to defend themselves. Furthermore, you know that AIDS is endemic in this area of Africa and promiscuity is not recommended. I also think that some of the women are pregnant.

“Each one must take care of their health.

“And what will you do if mestizo children of your men begin to be born?

"Have no doubt that they will not remain here. It won't be your problem.

Despite his answers Branko recognized the reason behind the Russian's comments, and buttoning his fly he headed towards the hut occupied by his men. In a short time and amidst a thunderous shouting, a dozen women ran away losing themselves in the nearby grove. Soon after, the three Serbs came out half dressed while Popovic kicked them off, forcing them to head into a cement pit filled with a dubious looking water.

Then the chief returned to his own building; As he passed Vadim he commented referring to his men.

“ They are worse than gypsies.

As he was about to enter his house, Branko spotted one of the Hutu militiamen who had been stationed as a sentinel running towards him.

"What is it?" He asked imperiously.

“A contingent of militiamen is approaching. They come with two Chinese.

“Where are they?

At the man's response Branko said addressing Vadim.

“We have time to prepare an ambush. Go prepare the men.

Once again Popovic had to be grateful to have the Russian on his side, his warning never more timely.