The Quest: A Novel

Henry would hold up, and that Vivian would not have to nurse her ex-lover again. But if it happened, that was all right.
    They discussed security and possible run-ins with dangerous people.
    Gann said, “The Gallas don’t much fancy the jungle, and we’ve seen no hoofprints or horse droppings. The Gallas’ home is the desert, and they only drop by places such as this after a battle.” He let them know, “The Royalist partisans are operating to the west, and the counterrevolutionaries are mostly in the Simien Mountains around Gondar, so there is no reason for Getachu’s soldiers to be here either. He has his hands full elsewhere.” He assured them, “We have the jungle all to ourselves.”
    Purcell reminded him, “We’ve seen three army Hueys fly over.”
    “I actually counted four. But these are normal north-south flights from Gondar to Addis, and vice versa.” He assured them, “The army has neither the fuel nor the helicopters for reconnaissance.”
    Purcell reminded him, “They have one less helicopter than they used to have.”
    “Quite right.”
    He also reminded Gann, “Yesterday, a helicopter was going east-west.”
    “Well, as long as they keep going, and don’t hover about, then they’re not looking for anything.”
    “I think they’re looking for us, Colonel.”
    “I doubt that. They think you’ve flown off to Somaliland.” He asked, “Why in the world would you stay here after you’ve shot down an army helicopter?”
    “I’ve been asking myself that very question.”
    Gann smiled and said, “Well, let’s press on.”
    On day five, Mercado said, “We need to head to Shoan.” He reminded everyone, “We are running out of food.”
    And Henry was running out of gas, Purcell knew. And they were all dehydrated and covered with insect bites and heat sores.
    Mercado reminded Gann, “Regroup, refit, and strike out again.”
    Gann nodded, but not very enthusiastically. He said, “I feel we should push on just a bit more… perhaps to the south, to a line parallel with Shoan. We might have more luck that way.” He added, “Then we can head east toward the road, and Shoan.”
    Mercado had no reply.
    Purcell said, “We could be south of Shoan already.”
    “That’s possible.”
    Mercado pointed out, “If we just head due east, we will intersect with the road.”
    Gann reminded him, “We can’t go due
any
direction, old boy.” He pointed out, “This is not the desert or the tundra.” He reminded Mercado, “We’re in the bush, you know.”
    Mercado insisted, “We have passed the point of no return in regards to food.”
    “Not quite yet. But we’re close.”
    “This is how people die.”
    “Well,” Gann agreed, “that is one way. There are others.” He belatedly asked Mercado, “How are you feeling, old boy?”
    Mercado hesitated, then said, “I can make it back to Shoan.”
    “Good.” Gann also said, “We must be careful not to get injured or ill.”
    Purcell agreed, “Let’s try not to do that.” He asked Vivian, “How are you feeling?”
    “I’m all right.”
    Purcell looked into the dark, triple-canopy jungle. “Let’s get off the trail and walk between the trees.” He took a compass heading to the south.
    They left the trail, and headed south through the rain forest. The terrain had looked deceptively open between the trees, but as they traveled it, it became clear that they had to cut brush and vines, and the carpet of undergrowth, that had looked low, was actually knee-high in most places.
    After about an hour, they realized they weren’t making good progress, and they also realized that by leaving the trail, they’d effectively lost it, and also lost any trail in the trackless expanse. It was like walking through a great columned building, Purcell thought, with a green-vaulted ceiling and a carpet of wait-a-minute vines. Rays of sunlight penetrated the triple canopy in places, and they found themselves unconsciously walking toward the spots of sun-dappled ground cover.
    The darkness was getting deeper, and the sun was no longer penetrating into the forest. It was jungle dusk, and they began looking for a place to stop for the night.
    Vivian said, “Look. A cluster of palms.”
    They looked to where she was pointing to the west and they saw the distinctive trunks of palms, with their fronds buried in the surrounding growth.
    They made their way to the palms, where the ground was more clear, and they sat with their backs to the palm