'The Botswana government thinks that Dhamballa's people killed our bishop,' Hood said. 'They have to move against
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him. The Air Force is going to clean the lot of them out.'
'But not before the Spanish get in and save Bradbury,' Rodgers said.
'Maybe no,' Hood said. 'If they think the Vodunists killed once, they can always be blamed for killing twice. Who will be able to prove that they did not kill Father Bradbury?'
'No one,' Herbert said.
'We have to give Gaborone the photo Maria took,' Rodgers said.
'That may not stop them,' Herbert replied. 'The photo will tell them they have a larger problem. Other enemies on the inside. They will still want to clean up this one first, as quickly as possible.'
'I still don't think the Vatican will offer Father Bradbury up as an altar sacrifice,' Rodgers insisted. 'I do not want to believe that. Not while they have an option.'
'Maybe not,' Hood agreed. 'What options do they have?'
'The Unidad Especial del Despliegue,' Rodgers said. 'They can get one of the air force choppers to airlift the Spaniards close to Okavanga Swamp. The soldiers go in and get Father Bradbury out.'
'Eliminating the need for them to rendezvous with our people,' Herbert pointed out.
'That's not the bad part,' Rodgers said. 'Our guys will still be heading for the swamp with Seronga. I've got a map of Botswana in front of me. If my calculations are even roughly correct, they should get there just about the time the Botswana Air Force arrives.'
Rodgers grabbed the phone on Hood's desk. He called the embassy in Gaborone and asked to be patched through to Aideen Marley.
At once.
FIFTY-FOUR
Maun, Botswana Friday, 10:31 P.M.
Aideen Marley and David Battat had decided to remain hidden for now. They would let Maria handle the approach. She was the most experienced of the three. She was the one on the inside.
Battat and Aideen had left the Jeep when they saw the approaching headlights. They were lying belly down on a threeor four-yard-high dirt rise several dozen yards beyond it. They could not rule out the possibility that Seronga would strafe the vehicle with gunfire before approaching. Of course, the two knew they would probably not be much safer lost in the wilderness, at night, without transportation. They had no idea what predators might be about. Still, not knowing Seronga's state of mind, this seemed like a reasonable precaution.
Aideen and Battat lay side by side as Maria and two men left the cab of the truck. Cautiously, the three approached the Jeep. They were silhouetted by the headlights, so Aideen could not see many details, but it looked as though one of the men had a gun. He appeared to be pointing it at Maria, who was walking several yards ahead. Aideen tried to read Maria's body language. The woman was striding as she had in Spain. As though nothing intimidated her. If she were in immediate danger, she did not show it.
'Hello!' Maria said at last. 'Are you there?'
Aideen could not see David. The two had worked out a series of taps to communicate. She felt him rub the back of her hand. That meant he thought they should stay where they were. She agreed and rubbed him back. ^
The trio came closer.
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'I am here with Leon Seronga and Mr. Finn,' Maria said in a strong, steady voice. 'There is another man in the back of the truck. No one will harm you. We all need to talk.'
Aideen knew Maria's voice. The tone in the woman's voice put Aideen at ease. She believed the woman was telling the truth. Aideen tapped the back of Battat's hand. That meant she wanted to speak. Battat hesitated. Then he tapped the back of her hand in agreement. Slowly, Aideen rose.
'I'm here,' Aideen said. She extended her hands to the side as she walked forward. 'I'm not armed.'
'Do you have any news for us?' Maria asked.
'Yes,' Aideen said. 'There are Spanish soldiers at least an hour behind you, possibly more. We need to split into two groups. One group will lead them away from Dhamballa's camp. The other will head toward it.'
'Why?' a man shouted from the distance.
Aideen assumed this was Leon Seronga.
'We believe that the only way to prevent a shooting war is for the Vodunists to release Father Bradbury,' Aideen said. She rounded the Jeep. The three were less than fifty yards from her.
'Who are 'we'?' Seronga asked.
'I've already explained to Mr. Seronga that we are not going to discuss our identities,' Maria said.
Aideen had no intention of doing so. But she was glad Maria took the initiative. That gave her a little room to play good cop.
