The Quest: A Novel

soldiers, and a Huey held seven in the cabin. So if that’s how Getachu and Miriam had gotten here, there were no more soldiers—unless there were.
    Getachu had a holster strapped to his waist, but his pistol wasn’t drawn.
    Purcell glanced at the Uzi on the ground, about five feet away, between him and Gann. Was it on safety? Probably. Could he get to it before he was cut down by five AK-47s? Probably not.
    Purcell glanced at Mercado, who he saw had tears in his eyes. Vivian had her head buried in Purcell’s chest now, her back to the soldiers. Gann was looking at Miriam, who had remained on the ground at Getachu’s feet, lying facedown in the dirt. He saw that she wore a white
shamma
that was ripped and stained with blood.
    Getachu said, “Colonel Gann does not seem happy to see his princess.” He stared at Gann. “I was not happy to hear that they released you in Addis. Now you will wish they had shot you there.”
    Getachu knew not to expect a reply from the insolent Englishman, so he continued, “I paid a brief visit to Shoan, to pay my respects to my princess before the UN people came to take her away.”
    Getachu looked at Gann, then Purcell. “And what do I find there? I find an aircraft that has been burned. Your aircraft, Mr. Purcell. The very aircraft that my helicopter pilot radioed had fired a rocket at him. And now the helicopter is missing, and presumed lost, with all the men on board.” He let Purcell know, “I have concluded my court-martial, and you will be shot.” He added, “Within the next five minutes.”
    Purcell felt the weight of the revolver in his cargo pocket. Hewas sure the opportunity would come to pull the revolver and shoot Getachu before the five soldiers cut everyone down with their automatic rifles. At least they’d all die knowing that Getachu was dead.
    Getachu lit a cigarette and continued what appeared to be a rehearsed speech. “I promised you a cigarette, Mr. Purcell, before I was going to shoot you in my camp. But I am sorry to break this promise. I will promise you, however, a quick bullet in the brain.”
    Purcell made the same promise to Getachu, but kept that to himself.
    Getachu continued, “So the people of Shoan sheltered a murderer. And they also admitted to me that Mr. Mercado and Miss Smith came from that aircraft, and that the princess gave them all shelter. Therefore, Mr. Mercado will share Mr. Purcell’s fate, and Miss Smith…” He smiled at her, “Miss Smith—Vivian—will belong to me for a time. Then she will belong to my soldiers.” He said something to his men in Amharic and they smiled and looked at Vivian.
    Vivian was shaking now and Purcell held her tightly.
    Gann was looking at Miriam, but spoke to Getachu. “What did you do in Shoan?”
    “Ah! You speak.” He said to Gann, “What do you think I did?”
    “You will hang for that.”
    “For what? Because the Gallas attacked the village and killed everyone, and burned it all? What has that to do with me?”
    “You bastard.”
    “Yes, yes, Colonel Gann. Getachu is a bastard. And you are a knight. A knight for hire. A man who sells himself to kill.” He said to Gann, “The prostitutes in Saint George Square charge less, and are better at their profession than you.”
    Gann looked at Getachu. “You are the most incompetent commander I have ever faced.”
    “Do not provoke me into putting a bullet into your head. I have something special for you to see before you die.” He looked at Miriam lying at his feet and kicked her in the side.
    Miriam let out a moan, but remained facedown on the ground.
    Gann took a step toward her, but the soldiers leveled their rifles at him and he stopped.
    Getachu said, “When I was a young man, and when this princess became a woman—about fourteen, I think—I thought of her in that way. Mikael Getachu, the son of a weaver who worked in the shop of their royal highnesses. I told my father of my desire for the princess, and he beat me, of course. But if he were now living, I would say to him—you see? I have got my princess.” Getachu put the toe of his boot under Miriam’s
shamma
and pushed it up over her bare buttocks.
    He said something to his soldiers in Amharic, and they laughed. He said to Gann, “So we have this lady in common at least.”
    Gann took a deep breath, and Purcell knew he was thinking of diving for the Uzi, and Purcell said to him, “No.”
    Gann took another breath, then stood straight, as though he were in parade