The theatrically over decorated general gripped his podium tighter and tighter. His orchestrated news conference was turning sour. It had supposed to have been his moment on the world stage to impress to show everyone what a great and generous leader he was; but now this. All the cameras continued to focus on his glistening black forehead.
“I’ll repeat my question,”came the annoying voice of the young reporter. He narrowed his gaze at the attractive white woman and gave a forced smile.
“Please do.”
Rachel enunciated the words clearly and concisely for the media filled hall.
“You say there is no evidence of your army using chemical weapons against northern separatists groups, however why did you house and pay for the 3 top ex soviet research scientist who specialise in chemical warfare to stay in your country last year? And can you explain the site of mass killings I visited yesterday north of the Butta river?”
Once again he paused before replying then gave a bitter yet revealing answer.
“Miss Goodbody, you have taken my hospitality and use it against me. As a guest of my daughter you have unfairly used the relationship presented to you.”
The audience of news hacks cursed under their breath at her luck at the same time noticing that this was hardly a denial from the bloated General, long serving president of his country. The media scrum erupted in questions, none the general would answer and as he stormed from the podium he glared back at Rachel as she fended off questions of her own.
Outside the government building Rachel and her news team congratulated themselves on their scoop.
“I got the lot,” laughed Jack her camera man, the sound man nodding in agreement.
“Good,” smiled Rachel wiping her brow in the intense African heat. “The guys back home are pretty pleased; we can syndicate this story all around the world. The UN has demanded that we all see the alleged site tomorrow. We’ve got centre stage!”
As they talk a long black limo screeched to a halt along side them. Dust billowing up on the shabby streets. It flew the presidential crest.
“How could you?” Yelled an educated African voice of a young woman.
Stepping from the limo in a flowing gold dress was Koko the general’s daughter.
Rachel gave a gulp of embarrassment her face going red. She’d been in this third world country to see her old college friend and do an exclusive on her father. General Mobana the long time ruler of this small east African state was vain and arrogant. He had welcomed the chance to parade in front of a camera. Over the last few week Rachel had being given exclusive access to the general’s inner circle. Koko had never realised she had a bigger plan; to unmask his war crimes in the civil war that had been raging for nearly a decade.
“Koko I’m sorry but your father he has to be stopped.”
Slap!
Rachel went flying Koko’s own bodyguards pulling her back to stop more of a beating
“Get out of my country bitch,” she hissed getting back in the car, “before I have you thrown out.”
The car sped off her team seeming a little uneasy.
“I’m sorry Koko,” Rachel shouted in remorse as the car sped away. Then looking to her worried team she smiled. “Relax guys, now its out in the open we’re perfectly safe. Ok, let’s get ready for the flight tomorrow, remember I want to get back to those killing fields we exposed before CNN do.”
The next morning the team sat in the rickety Cessna plane double checking their equipment. Jack looked out of the grime window at the 45 degree heat haze. Across the runway a figure was approaching. In her mid twenties Rachel Goodbody was making a name for herself as her channels feistiest reporter. It helped that she was blessed not only with the tenacity of an alligator but she had the looks any TV station would drool over. She walked briskly in her heeled sandals long legs hidden just above the knee with a khaki skirt. Her slim waist and schoolgirl like frame were covered in a white baggy linen shirt, but as Jack remembered at ambassador receptions across the world her waif figure bewitched many a dignitary.
As she reached the plane Rachel adjusted her tied back long blonde mane feeling the sweat already trickling down between her cleavages. Her full lips were dry in the oppressive heat her blue eyes hidden behind designer shades.
“Everyone here? Great, then let’s go boys.”
The view from the plane was spectacular. Deep lush green forest for as far as the eye could see. They were heading north following the Butta River towards the prearranged media site. Today the worlds press would see for them elves what the general was capable of; mass graves of villagers poisoned with mustard gas.
The local pilot began ranting in excitement then explained in broken English. He had radio traffic hailing him. He pointed to the west and the news crew peered out at an approaching black speck. The aircraft approached rapidly and passed directly in front of the tiny plane.
Rachel could see it was one of the countries squadron of Mig 21 fighters. The Mig was an ancient soviet plane however still fast and deadly.
The air force jet made another slower pass.
“It’s requesting we follow it!” The pilot said in a concerned voice
“Damn general!” Jack hissed, “he doesn’t want us to be there toady.” He looked at the pilot, “ignore him.” The pilot’s eyes widened in fear.
“Jack you can’t escape a jet.” Rachel said frustrated with how the day was going. “It’s just the generals little game, we’ve already done the damage why is this going to make any difference? Let’s not provoke it.”
The Cessna turned east for 30 minutes under the supervision of the air force before a landing strip became visible cut into the dense jungle.
“We must land here,” the pilot shouted as he began to descend.
The crew gripped anything they could as the tiny plane bounced along the makeshift dirt runway. Overhead the Mig continued to circle, watching.
There was a flurry of panic in the plane as a group of armed soldiers appeared from shanty huts running towards the parked aircraft.
“Shit!” Jack cried.
“Keep calm!” Rachel said gripping both men’s arms. “They’re just trying to spook us.”
The door opened and a smiling officer peered in.
“Ah Miss Goodbody please forgive me but my general requests he meet you at his personal residence.”
“Rachel scoffed back.”We have nothing to discuss with the general, now can we please get under way.”
The officer continued to smile as a rifle was pointed over his shoulder at the shapely reporter.
“Miss Goodbody I’m afraid he insists.”
Rachel climbed from the plane demanding answers, her team following her. The officer held them back inside the plane
“No need, you must return to your media event. The general only invites Miss Goodbody. Please we have only delayed you a short time you can be back at the site within another hour.”
The young reporter turned and looked at her two team members. “I guess I’ll be along in a bit.” She said a little nervous. Jack was about to explain his concerned when she just held up a hand and nodded.
“Yeah I know I’m on my own but at least you’ll be able to let our channel know where I am.”
Jack nodded. ”Damn right.”
Rachel took her bag and strode across the runway towards a waiting limo. She turned to see the Cessna lift into the sky bank and begin to head north again. As the plane became a dark spec she felt the situation quickly change
The officer gripped Rachel’s arm firmly. “This way miss in the truck.” Rachel looked at him then at the army truck and limo ahead of her.
“It’s about 90 in the shade and you want me to ride in a truck! Forget it! And by the way don’t man-handle me again.”
The officer began to pull her towards the vehicle. Rachel gave a yelp then dug her heels in making the duct billow up. But she slid towards the vehicle. He shouted orders to his platoon of men and they began to climb in. She reached the rear of the covered truck hair all over the place sweat already covering her face and saw a cage in the foot well about 4 foot square.
“Get in there Miss!” He demanded, burly soldiers grabbing her arms pulling her up as she kicked her legs.
Rachel gave a shriek as her blouse tore the men pushing her into the cage before bolting it closed.
“How dare you, this is outrageous!” She shrieked trying to kick at the steel bars.
The officer closed up the trailer gate obviously taking the air conditioned limo for his ride and then the truck began to head off. Rachel rolled onto her side in a foetal position feeling claustrophobic surrounded by twenty seated jet black skinned soldiers. She called out to them but they all just smiled and grinned chatting amongst themselves in their own tribe language. She recognised them to be from the generals own tribe, his loyalist troops and as she had remembered calling them in front of camera his most despicable.
The journey seemed to last for ever she was dehydrating the sweat covering her skin her clothes sodden with it. One of the soldiers eventually noticed bending down to feed her a water bottle through the bars.
“Drink,” he said gruffly.
She coughed and spluttered then looked up at him. Rachel had wide expressive eyes the light blue of them and small pupils giving her a sensuous piercing stare.