The Quest: A Novel

serve the revolution.” He added, “You could be more useful alive.”
    Vivian asked, “And Mr. Mercado?”
    “He was once a friend of the oppressed people, but he has strayed. He needs to be reeducated.”
    Purcell asked, “And Colonel Gann?”
    “A difficult case. But I respect him as a soldier. And I have a certain fondness for the British.” He explained, “I attended a British missionary school.”
    And apparently missed the class on good sportsmanship and fair play, Purcell thought.
    Getachu added, “The headmaster was fond of the switch, but perhaps I deserved it.”
    No doubt.
    Getachu said, “Perhaps Colonel Gann can be persuaded to share his military knowledge with my colonels.”
    Purcell said, “I will speak to him.”
    Getachu ignored this and said, “Shooting a man—or a woman—is easy. I would rather see men broken.”
    Purcell had no doubt that Getachu was sincere.
    Getachu said, “You may go.”
    Vivian said, “We want to see Mr. Mercado. And Colonel Gann.”
    “You will find them in the hospital tent.”
    Purcell took Vivian’s arm and turned to leave, but Getachu said, “Before you go, something that may interest you.”
    They looked at him and saw he was retrieving something from the shadow beside his chair. Getachu held up a gold crown, encrusted with jewels. Purcell and Vivian recognized it as the crown of Prince Joshua.
    Getachu said, “I allowed the Gallas free rein to hunt down the Royalists. All I asked in return was that they bring me the prince, dead or alive, along with his crown. And here is his crown.”
    Again, Purcell and Vivian said nothing.
    Getachu examined the crown under the hanging lantern as though he were considering buying it. He set it down on his desk, then said, “Let me show you something else.” He moved to the far side of the tent, and a soldier in the shadows lit a Coleman lamp.
    Lying facedown on the dirt floor of the tent were three men, each naked. Getachu motioned for Purcell and Vivian to come nearand they took a few steps toward the circle of light. They could see that the men’s backs and buttocks were streaked with blood as though they’d been whipped.
    Getachu barked something in Amharic and the men rose to their knees.
    Each man had a collar around his neck—like a dog collar—with a chain attached to it. In the lamplight, Purcell could make out three battered faces, one of which was that of Prince Joshua. His long aristocratic nose was broken, and his eyes were swollen almost shut, but the prince was looking at him and Vivian.
    Getachu said, “You see, I did not shoot them or hang them as I thought I would. But if you look closely, you will see that the Gallas have castrated them.”
    Purcell kept looking at the prince’s face, but Vivian turned away.
    Getachu reached into the pocket of his fatigues and extracted a piece of bread, which he held to the prince’s swollen lips, and said, in English, “Eat.”
    The prince bit into the bread. Getachu did the same with the other two men, who Purcell thought must be what was left of the prince’s staff.
    Getachu dropped the bread to the ground and said, “The Revolutionary government has executed nearly all of the royal family and many rasses, so they are becoming more rare. It is my idea to put them to some use.” He further explained, “These men are now my servants, and they attend to my personal needs. When I am sick of looking at them—which will be soon—they will become the eunuchs assigned to the tent of the women who are their loyal subjects.” He added, “These men will also give pleasure to my soldiers who enjoy something different.”
    Vivian had turned her back to the scene, but Purcell continued to look at Prince Joshua, whose head was now bowed.
    Getachu said to the prince, “Is this not better than death?”
    The prince nodded his head.
    Getachu again barked something in Amharic and the three men dropped to their hands and knees. Getachu produced a riding crop from the deep cargo pocket of his pants and moved behind the men.He said, “Colonel Gann’s riding crop.” He swung the leather crop across the prince’s buttocks and the man yelled out in pain. The soldier holding the lamp laughed.
    Getachu delivered a blow to each of the other two men, who also cried out, causing the soldier to laugh louder.
    Getachu put the crop away and said, “Much better than hanging or shooting. Better for me.” He came around to the front of the men and made an exaggerated