Page 19 of Risk It All
Chapter Seven
Madeleine
“There's a few more things I should tell you,” Henri says as he pulls the car away from the curb. I turn my head back to make sure Max is settled into the backseat. I'd offered to let him sit upfront, but he declined, indicating it will be easier for me to talk to Henri if I’m in front. Max looks cramped in the tiny backseat, but he smiles letting me know he's okay.
“What things?” I say turning my attention back to Henri.
“Szacu cannot host you. He is too injured and his wife is nervous.”
“Because of what happened to him or because we're coming?”
“Both. She is not alone. The village is nervous too.”
Unease rolls through my belly. “Do Max and I have a place to stay?”
“Yes, yes. Dr. Knowles says you can stay in the volunteers' room at the hospital.”
“I guess that will work. We're only here for a night or two.” I don't like it. The trip is dangerous enough, but if the villagers are on alert, that could mean the area is being watched.
“Yes. And Mr. Delecoeur can see the children.” Henri looks at Max through the rearview mirror. “That's why you came, right?”
Max nods. “Yes.”
It reminds me that even if we can't get to the mine, Max can see the children and the effect the mines have one them.
“If the village is worried, we'll need to keep a low profile. Lower than anticipated,” I say.
“Yes. But Dr. Knowles and Bastu have worked things out. They will tell you when we get there.”
I turn again to Max. “Are you ready for an adventure?”
I expect banter or something cheeky from him in response, but he simply nods. I frown, worried that maybe he's having second thoughts. “You alright?”
“Yes. You?”
“Yes.” I wait to see if he'll say anything more. When he doesn't, I say, “It's a few more hours, if you want to rest.”
“I'm fine, Madeleine.”
I shrug and turn forward. As the car leaves the city heading to rural Nigeria, I hope I'm not leading Max on a fool's journey.
Max
Prior to our trip,I used online maps to get a feel of the area we'd be traveling in, but they hadn't captured the reality of what I'm seeing now. The area is beautifully lush and green, but the poverty keeps me from admiring it. Many towns we drive through have armed men, who I suspect are military, walking the streets, their automatic rifles strapped to them as mothers and children do their shopping.
The smell and noise add an additional layer to what's passing by my window. Although immersion has always been the optimal way for me to learn, I suspect that no one could fully comprehend the complexity of what I'm seeing without being here.
We've been driving for several hours, the roads getting smaller and bumpier as we go on. Finally, we pull into a village lined with nondescript buildings in various colors of drab.
“We are here.” Henri pulls behind a two-story building marked with a large “Emergency” sign over the entrance.
“I definitely need to stretch my legs.” Madeleine turns to me. “How about you? Do you think you'll be able to unfold yourself from back there?”
“I'll crawl out if I have to.”
Henri parks and we exit the car. It's hot and humid, reminding me of the few trips I've taken to the east coast during the summer. I don't hold my breath that there's air conditioning.
Henri pops the trunk and Madeleine and I grab our backpacks loaded with the few clothes she said I should bring. Most of the contents of the packs are precautionary items, such as water purifying tablets and meal bars in case we have to survive in the jungle. I have first-aid materials to treat open wounds, intestinal problems, and snake bites. I wonder which of the interventions I'll end up using before I get home. I hope it's not the snake bite kit.
