'The bones told me that someone close will betray me, so I must ask again,' Dhamballa said. 'Either by action or by design, were you responsible for the death of the American bishop?'
'Neither I nor my soldiers had anything to do with the assassination,' Seronga said. 'We have not always agreed on policy, houngan. I would tell you if it were otherwise.'
The Vodun leader regarded him for several seconds longer. 'I believe you,' he said.
'Thank you,' Seronga said. He was glad, since he had no intention of adding to his answer. 'Perhaps the betrayal came from the outside. From the men who were helping you to power.'
'If so, I will find that out,' Dhamballa said.
Maria, Aideen, and Battat walked up behind Seronga. Pavant and Njo Finn joined them.
'Mr. Seronga, we need to make some decisions,' Aideen said.
'Yes,' he agreed. He gestured behind him. 'Houngan, during the past few hours, these people have helped us with information and planning. Maria was at the airport with me. She saw the killing and has evidence that will help authorities find the assassin.'
'Arrons told me about these people and what they've done,' Dhamballa said. 'Thank you all.'
'Sir, you can thank us by breaking up this party and moving out as soon as possible,' Battat said.
'And what would we do?' Dhamballa asked.
They heard footsteps in the dark. Arrons was approaching from behind the car. He was bringing Father Bradbury.
'We believe there is a way to save the movement,' Seronga said. 'But to do so, we must have time. There are two ways to get that time. First, we must turn the priest over to these
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people. We must let the government know that we have released him. Second, you must go.'
'Go where?' Dhamballa asked. He seemed genuinely surprised by the suggestion.
'Away from this area,' Seronga said. 'And quickly, sir. We are soon to have company.'
'We have a rally scheduled,' Dhamballa replied. 'We cannot disappoint our people, show them cowardice. Now that we are together, I think we should turn around and trust in the gods to protect us.'
'You will never get to the rally,' Maria insisted. 'The gods may protect your spirit, but I wouldn't bet on them against a
2.75-inch rocket.'
'Seronga and his men will be with me,' Dhamballa remarked. 'They have arms. And I believe the government will not want a massacre. If those are not deterrent enough, we still have the priest.'
'Holding Father Bradbury may not help you,' Maria warned. 'Not any longer. The outside world will perceive the incident at the airport as the onset of chaos. And your movement will be blamed.'
'We are not responsible,' Dhamballa said.
'Unfortunately, you won't have the opportunity to make that case,' Battat told him. 'Gaborone needs this situation to go away.'
'Situation?' Dhamballa said. 'Is that how the oldest religion on earth is perceived?'
'Not the faith,' Battat told him. 'The actions of the practitioners. Whether or not you killed the bishop doesn't really matter now. You kidnapped Father Bradbury. You precipitated this crisis. I know something about how blame works, and trust me. You will be blamed.'
'We're wasting time,' Maria cut in. 'If that helicopter has seen you, it will signal the others. They will be here within an hour. You will all be arrested or cut down. There will be no rally.'
Dhamballa turned to Seronga. 'What do you say?'
'I believe these risks are very real, houngan,' he replied.
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'If we are all dead, no one will be in a position to dispute what the government says. We must not give them the opportunity to take us down.'
Arrons and the priest arrived.
'You're asking me to run,' Dhamballa said to Seronga.
'Not run. Walk with dignity. Leave with these people,' the Brush Viper said. 'You and Father Bradbury. Maria knows we did not kill the bishop. Just by emerging from the salt pan, Father Bradbury will attest to the fact that while his stay may not have been pleasant, he is alive and well.'
Father Bradbury had been looking at the others. His eyes stopped on Seronga.
'Those clothes,' the priest said suddenly. 'Where did you get them?'
Seronga did not answer.
'Where did you get them?' the priest demanded. 'No, you don't have to tell me. I know. You got them from my deacons. You had to. If they had left Botswana, they would have taken their clothes with them. What did you do to them? Are they all right?'
