Mission of Honor

Chapter Forty

Father Bradbury had spent nearly twenty-four hours in a small hut in the center of the tiny island. The only items in the room were an aluminum-frame cot, a hanging lantern, and a straw mat. The priest's left ankle was cuffed to the frame of the cot. He had been fed stew three times during that period. They left him with a canteen of warm water to keep him from dehydrating. The priest had been taken to the outhouse twice. The shutters were still closed, and the room was ferociously hot, though it was not as stifling as his first prison had been. He had been left with one thing to occupy himself. It was a slender pamphlet containing the reflections of Dhamballa.

Bradbury lay on his side on the canvas cot. He had sweated so much that the fabric was clammy. His outer clothes were so rank with swamp water and sweat that he had removed them. They were lying on the dirt floor, where he hoped they would dry. The ground was slightly cooler than the air.

Occasionally, people would pass the hut. It was difficult to hear anything that was said outside. Bradbury wondered if he were the only one being held on this small island. He wondered what was happening in the outside world. How the Church and his deacons had reacted to his abduction. He hoped his friend Tswana Ndebele was all right. Now that Father Bradbury had time to reflect on what had happened, he realized how many people would be worried about him.

He also had time to reflect on the suffering of Jesus and other Christian saints and martyrs: Saint John the Evangelist beaten, poisoned, and placed in a cauldron of boiling oil; the young convert Felicitas, taken to an arena and trampled by a wild cow; Saint Blaise, raked with iron combs and beheaded; so many others. In John 16:33, Jesus warned that there would be tribulation in this world. Father Bradbury would not cornplain about his.

The priest also took time to read the Vodun booklet several times. He was happy to have it. Perhaps it would give him a means of communicating with the Vodun leader. When they met, nothing he said had any impact. If the Bible taught him anything about zealots, it was that reason seldom worked on them. Perhaps there was some other way they could communicate. Perhaps if he knew more about the man's faith, he could find something they had in common.

They came for him again. There were two men, dressed in camouflage fatigues and carrying rifles. Only this time, there was an urgency Father Bradbury had not seen before. While one man unlocked his leg, the other held his arm tightly. Father Bradbury did not resist.

"Please let me get my clothes," the priest said. He pointed to them as the second man took his other arm.

The men allowed Father Bradbury to dress. Then they pulled him toward the door.

"The booklet-" he said. He gestured to the pamphlet, which had fallen on the ground. The men ignored him.

The priest did not bother to ask where they were going. It was still light enough in the leaf-filtered twilight for him to see their faces. They seemed anxious. As they headed toward the center of the island, the priest became aware of other activity. Men were gathering things up inside huts. On the far side of the island, moss, leaves, branches, and canvas were being removed from motorboats. The vessels had been kept there under heavy camouflage. A small airplane was being stocked beyond them.

Obviously, the camp was being abandoned. Quickly. The priest had seen films of occupied towns and concentration camps being evacuated. Papers, extra supplies, and evidence of crimes were destroyed. Witnesses and prisoners were executed. Father Bradbury had a sudden, strong sense that the men were taking him out to shoot him. He began"?o murmur through the Eucharistic prayer. He never imagined this was how it would be, administering the last sacraments to himself. So much of his life had been stable and predictable.

The men led Father Bradbury to Dhamballa's hut. It was dark, lit with just a few candles. It seemed funereal. They brought him in and released his arms. The Vodun priest was standing in the center of the room. His posture was as ramrod straight as before. Another man was with him. A bald man, short and hefty, stood beside him. He was slouching slightly. Both men wore unhappy expressions. The smaller man, a white man, was sweating heavily. The priest could not tell if that was a result of the heat or anxiety. Probably both.

The soldiers released Father Bradbury's arms. They left the hut and shut the door. Physically and psychologically, Father Bradbury felt stronger than he had the last two times he was here.

All right, the priest thought with some relief. The soldiers are not going to kill me.

At least, not yet. Father Bradbury wondered what Dhamballa would want him to do this time. The priest had already recalled his missionaries. He lacked the authority to do anything else.

Dhamballa stepped closer to the priest. Their faces were only inches apart. There was fierce intensity in the Vodunist's eyes. He pointed toward the telephone on his table.

"I want you to call your diocese," Dhamballa told him.

"The archdiocese in Cape Town," Father Bradbury said.

"Yes," Dhamballa replied.

Something must have happened. The Vodun leader's voice was tense, angry. He pointed a long finger toward the phone on his table. Then he pointed toward Father Bradbury.

"What do you want me to say to them?" Bradbury asked.

"That you are alive," Dhamballa said.

"Why would they think I am not?" the priest asked.

The other man jostled the priest. "This is not a negotiation," he complained. "Make the damned call!"

The man had what sounded like a French accent.

Father Bradbury looked at him. They had starved and struck him so much that his body seemed to be in pieces. And when there was no body, only one thing remained: spirit. That could not be hurt from the outside.

"Why?" the priest asked.

"I will tell you," Dhamballa said. "Your replacement was executed when he landed at the Maun airport."

"The bishop?" Father Bradbury asked.

"Yes," Dhamballa replied.

"Because of my call to the deacon?" he asked.

"No," Dhamballa said. "We had nothing to do with this."

The priest felt weak. Martyrs were a part of history. That was fact. But there was nothing inspiring about it. Not when you were living it.

He pushed Dhamballa away and stepped back. He did not want to hear any more.

"I want people to know that you are well," Dhamballa said. "And I want you to tell them that we did not do this."

"Of course you did it," Father Bradbury replied. His statement bordered on accusation.

"You idiot!" said the other man. He struck the priest.

"Stop that!" Dhamballa yelled.

"He makes accusations, but he knows nothing!" the man charged.

"I know that you started a process of discrimination," the priest went on. "You forced it upon people who love the Church. Perhaps you've given courage to others who do not share the views of the Church-"

"All I know, priest, is that we killed no one," Dhamballa insisted. His tone was more moderate, yet there was menace in it. "But if we are forced, we will do whatever is necessary to preserve our heritage."

There was often a very thin line between someone being confident and someone on the verge of being overwhelmed. The priest heard it in the confessional booth time after time. He could tell when an individual was contrite and afraid of damnation. He could also tell when a person was simply feigning atonement. Dhamballa and the other man wer^ desperate. Father Bradbury did not know what their scheme was to extend the influence of Vodunism. In his lucid moments, he hoped it would be done by peaceful means, by what Dhamballa described in his writings as "white magic." But that was no longer the only thing at risk. Their lives might be in jeopardy. Father Bradbury could not ignore that. Nor did he have any reason not to make the phone call and tell the truth. He was alive.

"If I make the call, they are going to ask me questions," Father Bradbury said. "They will want to know how I am and how I have been treated."

"You may tell them anything except where we are," Dhamballa replied. "They must understand that while we have our differences, we are men of peace."

"They will say that men of peace don't take other men by force," the priest pointed out.

"Men of your sect inflicted the Inquisition on men of peace," Dhamballa said. "What is it that you say? Let he who is without sin judge me."

The Vodun leader had anticipated the question. This was not the time to debate the point.

The priest looked over at the cordless phone. He looked at Dhamballa. "I read your pamphlet. There is room for everyone."

"That is true," Dhamballa said. "But not in Botswana."

"We don't have time for this," the other man snarled. "Make the damned phone call."

The priest went over to the small table. As he crossed the cool, damp soil, he looked at the telephone. It was covered with droplets that glistened in the dull daylight. Perspiration, no doubt. This was where the bad news had been received. As Father Bradbury walked toward the phone, he said a short, silent prayer for the murdered bishop.

"You will have no more than three minutes to deliver the message," Dhamballa cautioned. "I will not give the authorities time to triangulate the call. We will also be listening," he added.

Dhamballa punched the speakerphone button. A loud, strong dial tone filled the room. Father Bradbury had not noticed before, but the dial tone sounded extremely clear. The camp must have had their own uplink.

Father Bradbury's ordeal had cost him his focus. It took the priest several moments to remember the phone number of the archdiocese. He began to punch it into the keypad. Perspiration blurred his vision. He entered the number slowly. It hurt to move his fingers. He just now noticed how severely swollen they were. No doubt that was a result of the heat and humidity. Perhaps the salt in the stew had caused it.

So many things have changed out here, the priest thought. Yet Father Bradbury did have one wondrous realization. His mind, his body, and his emotions had all undergone degrees of metamorphosis. Through the ordeal, however, his faith had remained unaltered.

"Hurry!" snapped the man who might be from France.

Father Bradbury glanced over at the European. The man's expression was agitated. He looked at his watch.

The activity all over the island, the priest thought. The European's urgency. Father Bradbury realized that these people were suddenly on an extremely tight timetable.

Despite the stiffness in his joints, Father Bradbury entered the numbers more quickly. He finished entering the number. Then he turned and rested against the table. Dhamballa stood directly beside him. The priest's own sweat fell on the black receiver. As he waited for someone to answer, Father Bradbury wondered what the European was doing here. His language and demeanor did not suggest that he was a holy man. His reasons for being in Botswana had to be political or economical. Power and wealth were the only other reasons faithless men embraced religion. Even in his own Church.

A lay secretary answered the phone. Father Bradbury introduced himself and asked to be put through to the archbishop as quickly as possible.

"Of course, Father!" the young man practically shouted into the receiver.

In less than half a minute, the archbishop was on the phone with his heavy, distinctive Afrikaner accent.

"Powys, is it truly you?" Archbishop Patrick asked.

"Yes," Father Bradbury replied.

"Praise to God," the archbishop sighed. "Are you well?"

"I am-"

"Have you been released?" the archbishop pressed.

"Not yet, Your Eminence," Father Bradbury said. "My captors are with me, in fact," he added. The priest wanted the archbishop to know that they were not free to speak.

"I see," the archbishop replied. "Gentlemen, if you can hear me, please talk to me. What must we do to secure the release of our beloved brother?"

Dhamballa did not respond. He stood still, glaring impatiently at Father Bradbury.

"Your Eminence, my freedom is not why I've called," said the priest. "I have been asked to tell you something."

"All right," the archbishop said. "I'm listening."

"My hosts insist that they were not responsible for the death of the American archbishop," Father Bradbury said.

"Do you believe them?" the archbishop asked.

"I have no reason to doubt what they have told me," Father Bradbury replied.

"Do you have reason to believe them?" the archbishop pressed.

The priest regarded the dark-eyed Vodun leader. "They have fed me and given me shelter and water," Father Bradbury said. "They do not seem to want blood upon their faith."

"I see," said Archbishop Patrick. "If they are good men, as you say, then when may we expect your safe return?"

The priest was still looking into Dhamballa's eyes. There was no hope, no answer to be found in them.

"Soon, I pray," the clergyman replied.

Dhamballa took the handset from Father Bradbury. He hung it up.

"Thank you," Dhamballa said. But the hardness in the Vodun leader's eyes was unchanged.

"Good," the European said. "Since that is done, I'm going out to see about the preparations."

The French-sounding man left. Father Bradbury turned away from Dhamballa. The priest leaned on the table, his shoulders slumping. He shook his head sadly. After a moment, he slipped his hands into his pockets and turned back. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but firm.

"Please," Father Bradbury said. "I do not know what you're planning. I do not want to know. But I recognize fear, Dhamballa."

The Vodun leader said nothing.

"You're afraid, and so is your friend," the priest said as he cocked his head toward the departing European. "Talk to me. Not as a prisoner but as a friend," he implored.

"As a confessor?" Dhamballa asked.

"If you like."

"I do not like," Dhamballa replied.

"Dhamballa, I don't care what your plans are for me," the priest said. "But I am worried about your followers. They are my countrymen, too, and I care very much about them."

"If you care about Botswana, then make no trouble for me," Dhamballa replied.

"I've tried to be cooperative, have I not?" the priest asked.

"As the termite who looks out from your wall and says, 'But I did not eat your table,' " the Vodun leader replied. "Sabot, Alfred!"

"Don't you understand?" Father Bradbury said. "More can be accomplished through talk than through fighting. Don't force a confrontation you cannot win."

The soldiers came back into the room. They awaited instructions. Dhamballa looked at Father Bradbury.

"We are the ones being forced," Dhamballa told the priest. "We've been forced from our roots and now we've been forced from a measured, peaceful plan. At the moment, Father, we have nothing to lose."

Dhamballa told the soldiers to take the priest back to his shack. Then he left the hut.

Father Bradbury sighed as the men took hold of his arms. He did not struggle as they led him out. The sun had gone down. The men moved the priest quickly across through the thickly shadowed twilight. Activity around the island, seemed more intense than it had a few minutes before. Perhaps that r was because everything was now being done by lantern light. Battery-powered lanterns were suspended from tree limbs and hooks on the hut walls. Each soldier had a brilliant glow around his station. Their open jackets fluttered lightly in the gentle air that rolled in from the swamp.

The angels of Vodun at work, Father Bradbury thought.

The priest was returned to the shack. Once again, his left ankle was chained to the cot. Father Bradbury remained standing as the men left. They locked the door behind them. The priest listened. When he was sure they had gone, he reached into his pocket.

Father Bradbury had counted the footsteps from Dhamballa's hut to his own. By his measure, it was about two hundred steps. That was about fifty yards. It might be too far.

The priest reached into his deep pocket. He would know in just a few seconds. He had to act quickly if he was going to prevent a disaster from befalling these people. The darkness in the hut had shielded his actions. But it would not be very long before Dhamballa noticed what Father Bradbury had done.

Leaning close to the light of his own lantern, Father Bradbury looked down at the telephone receiver. The priest had placed his hand on the cordless unit when he turned his back to Dhamballa. It had been easy to step close then and conceal the fact that he was slipping it into his pocket.

Now he put it to his ear. He was not too far from the receiver. There was a dial tone.

His heart pumped blood to his brain and made his senses hyperalert. Even his fingers seemed more alive than before as he hit Redial and pressed the phone to his ear.

The irony of what he was doing did not escape him. The soldiers had seemed like angels to him. Now he was a tactician, a de facto warrior. Father Bradbury did not even recognize his own somber voice as he spoke to the archdiocese secretary and asked to be put through to Archbishop Patrick.

A moment later, the priest's feet were set on a path from which there was no turning back. He prayed it was the right one.