Chapter 9: South Africa, October 2023.

I was sitting in my hotel room, situated on a hill overlooking the magnificent Kruger National Park in South Africa. I had always wanted to see the majestic wildlife of the African savannah. Now when I was finally free from CIA's secret medical facility, it was time to tick this thing of my bucket list.

I closed my eyes, and Ellen Himes was flashing in front of my eyes. How crazy was that? The woman I had a short tryst with almost five years earlier had affected my decision to go to South Africa. But Ellen, was in Cape Town, so what was I doing here? I realised that my decision to visit the Kruger National Park was my justification for stalking my rendezvous from five years ago. I shook off the thought. I was here because I loved the majestic African wildlife. The possibility to reconnect with the beautiful Ellen was just a bonus.

I had met up with Elaine in Jakarta before coming here. She had used her uncles' paranoia to her advantage and manipulated them into killing each other. In the end, Elaine had been the only heir to the company, and she had achieved this without killing anyone herself. I had questioned whether it made any difference morally. To me, it was the same thing whether she had killed them herself or manipulated them into killing each other. Elaine had become furious and told me that her greedy and evil uncles had deserved to die, unlike the innocent children I had caused to die. I had left Indonesia the following day. I realised that Elaine had a point and that I shouldn't have said anything.

Thinking of Elaine, I closed my eyes. But the curse that she spoke of had affected me as well. Instead of seeing Elaine, I saw the charred remains of dead children. With a trauma like this between us, things could never be okay again.

I poured a large glass of scotch from the mini bar, closed my eyes, and thought of Ellen. When the darkness closed in on me, my mind needed a sanctuary. Ellen was that sanctuary. I finished my drink, lay down in my bed, and experienced another night of nightmares and terror.

***

"Mr Orchard. You are my only customer today." The tour guide, Chim Mwanza, said.

"Okay, but I didn't book a private tour. I want some company." I objected.

"I am sorry, sir. But the tourists have stopped coming." Chim replied.

I sighed. I had been rushing to get away from my disappointing reunion with Elaine, and I hadn't done my due research. South Africa was on the verge of civil war and the last place that any sane person would go to. Somehow, I had found myself in trouble again.

"Take this!" Chim said and handed me a hunting rifle.

"I am here to watch the wildlife, not kill it," I replied irritably.

"This is a dangerous area. We need weapons to be safe. From animals and other dangers."

"I understand. Thank you." I said as I took the rifle from Chim.

I swore to myself as we got into Chim's jeep that would take us around the park.

As Chim drove around the park, I noticed the complete lack of wildlife. Well, except for small common critters that you could see anywhere else. Eventually, I had enough and brought it up.

"What is going on? Where are all the animals that I am here to see?" I whinged.

"They are closer to the centre of the park. If there is any left. But that's a dangerous area." Chim replied.

"How is that? The animals won't get to us in the car. I didn't come here to watch deer, rabbits and common birds." I replied.

"That area is full of poachers and criminals. It's not safe for us to visit." Chim replied.

"What about the park rangers, hired to stop the poachers?" I asked.

Chim gave me a curious look and replied. "You are not very up to date about South Africa, Mr Orchard."

"I don't give a shit about your domestic policies, to be honest. I came to see big game." I replied irritably.

"Evidently. Anyways to update you on the situation. The World Bank wanted the South African government to give up all their mines as collateral for their debts. The government refused, and a few days later, the media reported about several alleged human rights violations. This caused UN sanctions and stopped tourism, destroying our economy. Many of the park rangers quit while others joined the poachers. There is no-one left to protect the animals in the park, and thus, they are all killed off." Chim revealed.

I ground my teeth in frustration. All this needless killing of majestic animals for what purpose? Because some rich prick thought that rhino horn could give him a boner? Because some other rich prick felt high and mighty with ivory decorations and lion fur drapery? I couldn't deal with these rich fuckwits now, but I could kill some poachers to vent my anger and to teach the others a lesson.

"Hey Chim, do you love the animals of Kruger National Park?" I shouted.

My loud and aggressive stance scared Chim, who stopped the car and got out.

"I can't hear you. Answer my question." I roared

"Yes," Chim replied.

"Speak louder" I yelled.

"Yes, I love the wild animals, and I hate the poachers who have betrayed what they once stood for," Chim exclaimed.

"Good!" I replied.

"So, what now?" Chim asked.

"We'll leave the park to get equipment. And tonight, we will return to kill these scums and show the world that people are willing to stand up for what is right." I said.

"You are insane, but you are right. Let's do it your way." Chim said.

"You'll love it. Let's head back!" I said and Chim drove back to our hotel.

***

"Why would I care if poachers are killing the animals. Humans are stronger than these animals. It's the natural order that you kill them and eat them." Rangda said.

I had anticipated this answer. That's why I waited to contact Rangda until I was in a strategic position, close to the cadaver of a rhino.

"Empress Rangda. These filthy humans are killing these animals and leaving the meat to spoil. It makes me furious. Please give me the strength to kill some of them and spread the video so that others will fear me." I said.

Rangda pondered my statement for a while. Eventually, she replied. "Yes, Martin. You are correct. Let us kill these blasphemous and greedy pigs. Let the hunters be the hunted. Let's embrace the bloodlust that you carry deep within yourself."

"Thank you, Empress. I will contact you when I am outside their camp and need your assistance." I said.

I walked over to Chim, who stared at me in terror. "Who were you talking to, White Devil? You are possessed, aren't you?" Chim asked

"Yes. by the goddess of vengeance. Let's avenge your wildlife and the greedy pigs who have betrayed your values." I stated.

Chim seemed in doubt, but eventually, he spoke. "I'll help you, Martin. I am a dead man anyway, as I cannot afford to pay my HIV medication when no tourists are coming anymore. I might as well die for a noble cause."

"Excellent. Get through this alive, and I'll pay for your medication. Now let's go." I said.

***

We approached the poacher's camp under cover of darkness. I had attached night-vision cameras to my outfit. There was no point in killing these men if their deaths weren't made public. My identity, however, better remained hidden, so I covered my face with a mask and a voice distorter. "Attack from the far end of the camp," I whispered to Chim.

I turned on 'combat mode: stealthy approach' on my monocle, and I snuck up on the closest sentry. I slit his throat with the knife in my right arm, while I covered his mouth with my left hand. After a short struggle, he lay dead on the ground, and I dragged the corpse to the cover of darkness.

Suddenly, I heard loud shouting and gunfire. I realised that Chim had stuffed up and that I needed to change my approach. I adjusted my monocle to 'combat mode, maximum casualties.' I pulled up my two pistols, and I ran towards the campfire in the middle of the camp. I shot the two men near the fire in the back as they were facing Chim's direction. After that, I shot a few holes, in the camps fuel tank, and picked up a burning ember from the campfire and chucked it at the tank. This caused a massive explosion.

I grimaced in pain, what a stupid idea it was to pick up embers with my bare hand. On the bright side, the explosion had set the camp on fire, and several of my adversaries were set ablaze. I picked up an AK47 from a fallen poacher and sprayed the tents with bullets. Then I rushed off towards the cover of darkness. When I ran into the bushland, I tripped over Chim, who was on the ground severely wounded.

"Martin, please help me. I don't want to die." Chim whimpered.

"I am sorry, Chim," I said and shot him in the head with my pistol.

I studied the scene via my monocle. There were seven dead and fifteen wounded poachers. I could kill them one by one, but I had a better plan for poetic justice.

I took up a small portable speaker and played a looped sound of a male lion's attack roar. That would give the poachers poetic justice. I got back into my jeep. From there, I watched, aided by my night vision goggles, how the lions were amassing for a well-deserved meal. After that, I started the vehicle and drove out of the park.

***

The recording! Fucking hell!

I had taken the overnight train to Cape Town, and I was in a predicament. That damn recording was evidence against me. In Chim's recording, he had mentioned my name and I had mentioned his. It wouldn't be hard for the authorities to figure out who I was from the records at Chim tour guide office.

I wrapped the bandage and the soothing lotion around my burned hand. What had I been thinking? Of course, Chim would stuff up the covert attack. He was a regular dude dying from HIV. He wasn't a seasoned killer, aided by alien technology. Why did I even care? I ate meat, and I wasn't a fanatical advocate for animal rights.

I realised that I had projected my own pain and aggression against the poachers. I had murdered to fill the void within myself. I had acted the way I did because I could behave that way. I had already been dead, so I did not experience the fear of dying. This freed up my mind for better or worse.

I pondered my options. I realised that I should get out of South Africa as soon as possible. Logically my best option was to hide in a country which was on bad terms with the South African government that wouldn't extradite me.

But logic didn't matter to me at this stage. I had come here with a mission. I needed to see Ellen again. I needed to see Ellen Hines, the mysterious and beautiful woman who was the only ray of light in my dark mind.

I disconnected my monocle and inserted a blue-tinted lens to cover my purple predator eye. I had caused enough damage. When the police came for me, it was better if I wasn't aided by alien technology.

I walked out of the train station, and I ordered a cab to Ellen's house in the affluent Baileys Muckleneuk suburb.

***

I was sitting in the coffee shop across the road from Ellen's luxurious house. My obsession with her had driven me here, but now that I was here, I felt like an idiot. What good would it do, to knock on Ellen's door and introduce myself? Did she even remember me, and if she did, what did I hope to achieve?

I realised that if I loved Ellen, or whatever I called my obsession, I should step away and allow her to live a happy life. While I was wealthy, I was also mentally damaged. I was responsible for hundreds of deaths, and possessed by an evil extra-terrestrial deity, that was humanity's only hope. Not exactly the perfect circumstances to become a good partner.

I kept looking at the house and I saw a man playing with a young blonde girl. Was that Ellen's daughter? If so, that was another good reason for me to stay away.

I was about to leave the coffee shop when a maid from Ellen's house approached the establishment. The maid spoke to the cashier. "I am here to collect the cake for the Hines household."

"Of course, It's right here. That will be 300 Rand," the cashier said.

The maid paid, and as the cashier brought the cake, I glanced at it. The icing read: '20th October 2023. Happy fourth birthday, Sabina.'

This stunned me. Sabina was born on the 20th October 2019, and I had a tryst with Ellen in Egypt on the 2nd of February 2019. The blonde girl I had seen in Ellen's garden could very much be my daughter. The realisation stunned me, and I didn't know how to react.

Chanting and gunfire from the streets, brought me back to my senses.

"The SVAPO movement has arrived. They hate white people. You cannot stay here any longer." The cashier said.

Hearing this, I ran to the backdoor of the establishment. I inserted my monocle, set it to 'avoid confrontation', and I escaped the scene unharmed.

***

I watched the monitors at Cape Town International Airport. All the regular flights were cancelled, and people were screaming and crying. I looked at another screen showing the local news and the terrible images made me freeze. SVAPO rebels had butchered several affluent white families. One of the pictures was of a young blonde girl. Could that be Sabina? In any case, I needed to get the hell out of here.

Suddenly, I saw a familiar face enter the terminal. It was Ben Yehuda.

I ran towards him and spoke. "Ben Yehuda. What are you doing here?"

"The Israeli government are here to rescue our Jewish brethren from this chaos. Is this your doing?" Ben Yehuda said and smirked at me.

"Of course not. I am just looking to get out of here." I replied.

Ben twirled his moustache and looked sceptically at me. "Are you sure, Mr Orchard. Apparently, SVAPO killed those people as an act of revenge. A white man murdered the SVAPO leader Amadi Aren in Kruger National Park. SVAPO claims that the murderer's name is Martin Orchard." Ben revealed and smirked.

I froze, and I didn't say anything. My head was spinning, and I had to take it all in. Had my decision to kill the poachers indirectly caused the death of my daughter?

Ben spoke again. "SVAPO is a terrorist organisation, and their claims have no credibility. As soon as you're out of South Africa, you'll be safe. How unfortunate that all those flights are cancelled."

"Ben. Please help me!" I pleaded.

"So now you want my help? You didn't seem very keen during our last meeting." Ben said mockingly

"Circumstances change!" I replied

"They do. You're in luck. Despite your shortcomings, I still believe you would be a suitable candidate to lead the Knights Templar." Ben replied.

"Thank you, Ben. I owe you." I replied

"More than you can dream of. You'll need a new name to join the Templars. I already made up a name for you. From now on, you'll go under the name Martin Al-Sham."

"Thank you, Ben," I replied.

Ben didn't have the time to reply as a massive explosion struck the building, and the shockwave knocked us to the ground. Ben pulled me up and shouted. "Get up, Al-Sham. Time to go."

We rushed to the plane and from the air we saw the chaos that the fighting between SVAPO and the South African government had caused.

Oh boy, I should have left those poachers alone!