“Don't be greedy, now,” someone said and snickered. A captor with a cruel sense of humor. “Eat this! Slowly. Don't make yourself choke.”

I was fed three crackers, one right after the other. I didn't choke, but 1 was afraid 1 was going to throw them up as fast as I'd eaten them.

“Water?” I asked. “More water, please?” My throat was tightening up again.

There was a long pause, but then the bottle was returned to my lips. Once more, I drank greedily.

“Too fast,” someone said. “You'll cramp up. Don't want you to be uncomfortable.”

Then I was pushed into position again.

Wall-standing.

Chapter 150

SOMETIME AFTER THAT, I began to seriously hallucinate and I wondered if there was something in the water, or maybe even the crackers I'd eaten.

I was convinced that I was back in Africa and that I was lost somewhere in a vast desert. I knew I was going to die soon, and that didn't seem like such a bad thing. I actually welcomed death and wondered if I would meet Nana, Jannie, and Ali on the other side. Would Maria be there too? And others I had lost?

I was struck hard in the back-and I fell to my knees again.

“You were dreaming-asleep on your feet. That's not allowed, hotshot.”

“Sorry.”

“Of course you are. Now, would you like this to stop? Would you like to sleep? I'll bet that you would.”

More than anything I've ever wanted in my life.

“Where-?” I began to say.

“Right-Where is your fucking family? You're nothing if not consistent, or is it stubborn? Or stupid? Now, listen to me closely. 1 will let you sleep. 1 will give you closure about your family...Are you with me so far?… Are you following what I'm saying?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what? Tell me what you are agreeing to.”

“You'll tell me about my family. Let me sleep.”

“Provided that what?”

I don't attack and kill you, you sonofabitch. Where there's a will…

“Provided I answer your questions.”

“Very good. Would you like more water, hotshot?”

“Yes.”

The cloth hood was lifted halfway and the water bottle was returned to my lips. I drank as much as I wanted to, but then there was silence. It frightened the hell out of me. Had he gone away? The one who knew what had happened to my family? The one who had actually talked to me for a minute or so.

“I saw terrible things in Africa, especially in Sudan,” I said. "I don't think any of that interests you. A family-the Tansis-were murdered. In Lagos. Maybe because they were talking to me. Or because of what Adanne wrote in the newspaper. You can get her articles.

"Are you there? You wanted me to talk, right? Are you listening now?