deacon would almost certainly be undermined. But he had to try to catch the gunman. Not simply for justice. It was more personal. Someone had prevented the Brush Viper from completing the mission he had been sent to do. Seronga had to know why. He also had to try to find out who wanted the American bishop dead.
Seronga pushed the panicked passengers aside as he rushed past. He reached the tarmac as the guard made his way to the oncoming Cessna. There was a man in the wildlife observation tower. He did not have a clear shot at the plane or the guard. The larger aircraft was in the way. Seronga noted the identification number on the rear end of the fuselage. Not that he really thought it would help him. The plane would fly low to avoid radar. It would land in a field, and someone would probably hide it. Repaint it. Seronga would never see a plane with this number again.
The guard glanced over his shoulder. He could not have heard Seronga's footsteps over the howl of the airplane engine. It was probably just a precautionary glance. The guard
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did not stop when he saw the oncoming Brush Viper. He simply pointed his pistol over his left shoulder and fired several quick, wild shots behind him.
Seronga dropped to the tarmac. He lifted his body slightly and thrust his hand down the front of his loose-fitting shirt. Reluctantly, he drew his weapon. Seronga could not afford to die here. The authorities would find out who he really was. They might tie the Brush Vipers to Dhamballa. That would hurt the Vodun cause. If the Spaniards asked, Seronga would tell them that he carried the weapon to protect himself from wild animals. Perhaps they would believe him. Not that it mattered. He would not be going back to the church.
The guard turned back toward the plane. Seronga got up. As he rose, he heard a muted pop-pop from the cabin of the Cessna. The guard slowed, and then his right leg folded. A moment later, he dropped to his knees. The back of his white shirt began to show a red stain.
No! Seronga screamed inside.
Of course a nonprofessional was hired to kill the bishop. Whoever was behind this never intended for him to leave.
Seronga began to run to the plane. An instant later, there was another pop. The guard twisted to the right and fell to his side. There was a red blotch in the center of his forehead. The pilot was a professional. He had not been satisfied with a single bullet.
Puffs of dirty white gunsmoke drifted from inside the cabin of the Cessna. They were quickly dispersed by the propeller. The pilot tossed his revolver onto the empty passenger's seat and leaned toward the door. He pulled it shut. Seronga did not get a good look at the man. Earlier, he had only seen the man from behind, which was obviously what the pilot had intended.
The airplane swung toward the airstrip. The Cessna was picking up speed. Once it had lifted off, he did not want to fire. It was a tough shot. But if he happened to disable the pilot or the plane, the Cessna could easily tumble toward the tower.
Seronga reached the body of the guard. He dropped beside it and felt for a pulse. He was not surprised to fin4 none. The man had been shot in the heart and the head. The dead man's
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eyes were open. Seronga passed his hand over the guard's face to close them.
Pavant ran up behind Seronga. He helped his fellow Brush Viper up.
'Are you all right?' Pavant asked.
Seronga nodded. He quickly put his gun back in its holster.
'We've got to get away from here,' Pavant told him. 'There will be questions we cannot answer.'
'I know,' Seronga replied. His left hand was covered with blood from the guard's face. He tore open his shirt and wiped the blood on his arm.
'What are you doing?' Pavant asked.
'We'll tell people I was hurt and that you have to get me to the doctor in Maun,' Seronga said.
'That's a good idea,' Pavant said.
Pavant put his arm around the 'wounded man' for support. They turned and started hobbling toward the terminal. Sergeant Vicente Diamante and Captain Antonio Abreo were running toward them. Both of the soldiers were holding their M-82s. The weapons were clutched close to their chests, concealed from the people in the terminal.
'What happened?' Diamante asked as they neared.
'The guard shot at me,' Seronga said. 'He grazed my arm.'
Diamante stopped in front of Seronga and Pavant. Captain Abrero continued on toward the body of the guard.
'Let me see the wound,' Diamante insisted. He reached for Seronga's bare and bloodied arm.
The Brush Viper twisted his body slightly. 'It is not serious,' Seronga assured him.
'It is badly grazed, that is all,' Pavant added. 'We will take a taxi to the hospital. I will bandage it on the way.'
