Chapter 1.9

Chapter 10

The vehicle had left Goma behind and was heading north, away from the border with Rwanda, towards the town of Rutshuru, some sixty kilometers from Goma. Once they arrived at that site, instead of continuing north, they took another road that headed southeast, approaching the border with Uganda, arriving at Bunagana, already close to that edge.

Upon reaching the border, they spotted the classic Congolese military outpost where machine gun soldiers looked at them suspiciously. Yusuf got out of the truck while the other three remained in it. The guide and negotiator entered the booth accompanying the officer in charge of the post and returned after a while a non”commissioned officer gave the order to the soldiers to raise the barrier and cross the road.

"How much did it cost me?" Mercier asked resignedly.

“Not much. Let's see how it goes on the Ugandan side.

Indeed the scene was repeated with the exception that they had to show their documents and their entry to Uganda was duly registered.

A few kilometers separated the border of the town of Kisoro and from there the clearly delineated path led to a path in a vaguely north direction that passed through Mutolere and then approached the eastern shore of Lake Mutanda. In that place they decided to camp, since the first shadows of that afternoon near the equinox were approaching.

Once the tents were set up and the fire lit, Yusuf and Jerome approached Romain.

“Jerome's recommendation is to take certain special precautions in this place. As you know, he is a former military man with a lot of experience in ambushes and attacks in the jungle.

“What do you mean? What are you afraid of? ”Replied the Canadian.

…

“This is a lonely place and away from any populated center or routes with traffic. If they attack us here we cannot expect help from anyone.

“In Uganda there are gangs of looters who will not hesitate to assassinate us to steal our van and our tools. Jerome added.” Besides, there is something in this area that gives me a bad feeling.

“What do you mean?

“I can't define it ... but if I had to plan an attack, I would do it in this place, covered from the outside by the curtain of trees.

“Okay, take the precautions you think appropriate.

“Some of them will cause discomfort.

“ If necessary, go ahead.

After the frugal dinner, they added dry firewood to the fire to keep away any possible wild beasts that might be wandering through the night forest and organized two”shift surveillance. The first would be covered by Romain with Moliki and the second by Yusuf and Jerome.

"Here." The guide said to Mercier, handing him a carbine. "If you notice something shoot first and ask later. You won't have a second chance.

“I didn't know we had this weapon on board the vehicle. I only knew about yours.

“There are some things you may not know. Leave it to Jerome and me who have experience fighting in this region. That's what you pay us for.

He then handed Moliki a pistol. Mercie asked.

“Will you know how to use it?

“Moliki lives in this area, she has had to defend herself many times before.

"What about Jerome?" What is he doing? “ The stranger pointed to the burly driver, who was working on the frond near the camp.

“Taking some precautions.

“Are you also armed?

“There's no doubt.

The beginning of the African night was peaceful and the only noises came from the vegetation surrounding the camp. The new moon added a dimension of darkness to the environment and Romain had to make efforts to stay awake, while Moliki walked slowly around the perimeter of the place. After four interminable hours Yusuf came to replace the Canadian, who desperately needed to sleep and when he saw him get up he warned him.

“Do not put your sleeping bag inside the store. Put her between those fallen logs there. Take the mosquito net.

“But why can't I use the store? Why did we bring them back then ’

“I ask you to do as I tell you.

Mercier accepted the advice and hung the large mosquito net from low branches. He immediately fell asleep.

The explosion shook the forest clearing where the camp was located. Startled, Romain jumped into his sleeping bag, tangling with the mosquito net. Immediately he heard the detonations and gusts overcoming the groans of pain from wounded men. In the reigning darkness he saw the flashes of firearms in the compact blackness of the vegetation. He immediately took the carbine and began to return fire trying to be guided by the flashes of the gunshots. He saw Yusuf throw previously prepared earth on the campfire extinguishing the only visible lights. A machine gun blast struck the trees from which a cry of pain arose. The shots from the frond were furious until a new explosion suddenly shook the clearing and covered Mercier with dirt and broken branches.

The shooting suddenly stopped in the same way that it had started. The geologist shook the dirt off him and grabbed his carbine, not knowing what to do. In the now prevailing silence he heard Jerome's voice.

“It's over. They left.