The priest and the Vodunists had moved out to join Dhamballa and the rest of his party. It would be up to the Americans to communicate that information to their superiors without providing his specific location. And their superiors would have to notify the Botswana military that Father Bradbury was still a hostage. Gaborone would have to negotiate rather than attack.
Seronga told Finn to catch up to the Jeep. They pulled alongside, and Seronga motioned for them to stop. He opened the door and told Aideen to get in. It would be easier to talk to her than to the others. All the while, Pavant kept his rifle trained on the occupants. As soon as she was inside, Seronga told the Jeep to drive on. Finn continued following them.
'You don't look happy,' Aideen said.
'There has been a firefight,' Seronga told her.
'Between who?'
'My Brush Vipers encountered members of the elite Spanish force,' Seronga told her.
'Where?' she asked.
'Does it matter?' he replied with resignation.
The woman glared at Seronga for a moment. Then she swore. 'You did it, didn't you?'
Again, Seronga did not have to respond.
'You warned your camp that the soldiers were out there,' she yelled. 'Why? That was not part of our arrangement.'
'My people had to be prepared,' Seronga replied.
'What your people had to do was move from the target area!' Aideen said. 'They had to get away from the Botswanan helicopters. That was why we gave you the intel.'
'Dhamballa might have encountered the Spaniards en route,' Seronga pointed out. 'The two soldiers who invaded our camp were traveling independent of the others.'
'That's possible,' Aideen agreed. 'At the very least, we should have been consulted about your plans.'
'If the Spaniards had not engaged us, you would never have known about this,' Seronga pointed out.
'If you had not kidnapped Father Bradbury, none of us would be in this situation!' Aideen snapped. **
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'That kind of lashing out is not going to help!' Seronga snapped back.
'You're right,' Aideen admitted. 'Let's deal with this. Were there any injuries?'
'There were four fatalities,' Seronga told her. 'Two of theirs and two of ours,' he said.
Seronga could see Aideen regarding him in the green glow of the dashboard. Her expression was cold.
'Stop the truck,' the woman said to Finn.
'What are you doing?' Seronga asked.
'I want out!' Aideen yelled. The woman turned in the cramped space of the cabin. She reached for the door handle. She reached out the window to open it from the outside.
Seronga reached across and grabbed her wrist.
'Let me go!' Aideen yelled. 'I'm getting myself and my people out of here now.'
'Wait! Listen to me!' Seronga said angrily.
'You treat people like bugs,' she declared. 'They bother you, you swat them. I won't listen to you. We won't be a party to that.'
'It wasn't like that,' he said. 'The Spaniards came into our camp, armed for a fight. They tried to get away with Father Bradbury.'
Aideen turned back to him. 'What?'
'They broke into the shack where he was staying,' Seronga said. 'We cornered them with tear gas and attempted to apprehend them. We wanted to take them alive. If the Spaniards had surrendered, no one would have been hurt. They would have been held until it was feasible to set them free. Instead, they tried to shoot their way out.'
'You're saying the Spaniards went ahead with a rescue attempt, even after we asked them to fall back?' she asked.
Seronga nodded.
'I can't believe that,' she said.
'If you wish, you can speak to Father Bradbury yourself. He will tell you that he was removed and another was put in his place.' Seronga held the radio toward her.
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'I wouldn't know if it were really Father Bradbury or not,' she said.
'I anticipated that,' Seronga said. He took a scrap of paper from his shirt pocket. 'I had my men provide me
