“Nothing like that could happen until Cabot and the others leave,” Bertram said with alarm.

“Obviously,” Siegfried said. “Besides, I mentioned the soccer field only figuratively. I’d tell the minister they’d have to be taken out of the Zone to be shot.”

“Any idea when Cabot and the others will be taking the patient back to the States?”

“No one has said anything,” Siegfried said. “I guess it’s up to Cabot. I hope it will be tomorrow, or at the very latest, the following day.”

CHAPTER 21

March 9, 1997

4:30 A.M.

Bata, Equatorial Guinea

Jack awakened at four-thirty and was unable to get back to sleep. Ironically, the racket made by tree frogs and crickets in the courtyard banana trees was too much even for someone fully adjusted to the noisy sirens and general din of New York City.

Taking his towel and his soap, Jack stepped out on the veranda and started for the shower. Midway, he bumped into Laurie on her way back.

“What are you doing up?” Jack asked. It was still pitch dark outside.

“We went to bed around eight,” Laurie said. “Eight hours: that’s a reasonable night’s sleep for me.”

“You’re right,” Jack said. He’d forgotten how early it was when they’d all collapsed.

“I’ll go down into the kitchen area and see if I can find any coffee,” Laurie said.

“I’ll be right down,” Jack said.

By the time Jack got downstairs to the dining room, he was surprised to find the rest of his group already having breakfast. Jack got a cup of coffee and some bread and sat down between Warren and Esteban.

“Arturo mentioned to me that he thought you were crazy to go to Cogo without an invitation,” Esteban said.

With his mouth full, all Jack could do was nod.

“He told me you won’t get in,” Esteban said.

“We’ll see,” Jack said after swallowing. “I’ve come this far, so I’m not going to turn back without making an effort.”

“At least the road is good, thanks to GenSys,” Esteban said.

“Worst case, we’ve had an interesting drive,” Jack said.

An hour later, everyone met again in the dining room. Jack reminded the others that going to Cogo wasn’t a command performance, and that those people who preferred to stay in Bata should do so. He said that he’d been told it might take four hours each way.

“You think you can make out on your own?” Esteban asked.

“Absolutely,” Jack said. “It’s not as if we’ll be getting lost. The map indicates only one main road heading south. Even I can handle that.”

“Then I think I’ll stay,” Esteban said. “I have more family I’d like to see.”

By the time they were on the road with Warren in the front passenger seat and the two women in the middle seat, the eastern sky was just beginning to show a faint glow of dawn. As they drove south they were shocked at how many people were walking along the road on their way into the city. There were mostly women and children and most of the women were carrying large bundles on their heads.