"Yes, of course! As long as I arrive in Marseille ten minutes later just hanging from a helicopter with one hand, it should do the trick! Tsk! Tsk!" I replied with heavy irony.
"Of course! This is you we are talking about. You can do it."
Why did I have the feeling I should just walk out the door and go away? And, why I was staring such at his jugular? Suddenly, it attracted me with its irregular beat. Why did I not simply say no immediately to this discussion? Admittedly, he would have looked everywhere and used everything in his power to find me. I had said one day I wanted to retire from this work. How I should go about it I did not know. The problems had just begun!
"And why me, please?"
"Because, you're the only one who can do it!"
"Do what?"
"That was your question? Well, I thought— Colonel Harcourt said some inappropriate things and when he was called to order by the general's messenger, he embarrassed himself further."
"Are you kidding?" I exploded without realizing it. This was more than I could accept! "You want me to go play the shrink! What happened then?"
"I told him you were going to laugh in my face and leave slamming the door. He did not believe me. He said you were the only person in the whole army that he could ask for help. He said he was counting on you. He got angry and started stammering about his disillusionment with today political issues and the army officials who accept this situation without reacting."
I was absolutely certain that all this was a trap. Colonel Harcourt had chosen the wrong time to reorganize the army.
"Why send me to Campo dell 'Orro? I prefer to fly direct rather than making a detour."
"A plane is waiting for you there. I have not been able to secure a place for you tonight, I'm sorry. There were no direct flights from Charles de Gaulle until tomorrow. It's too late tonight!"
"Why out there and not here?" What I was reading on his face I did not like.
"Not secure enough. I'll leave you now," added the Colonel as he put the cigar in the ashtray. "The pilot is waiting for you at the time I indicated. Do not be late! I am counting on you. I'll see you, Colonel, and send my greetings to Colonel Harcourt." He strode towards the door.
I leapt to the phone and dialed a number. I heard it ring on the other end and I opened the right drawer of the desk. When the answering machine picked up, I hung up and left, angrily slamming the door.
I barely managed to get on the plane. Its engines were already running - the Jetway was about to be removed. I jumped in and found myself in the cabin under the nose of a young man bewildered by the suddenness of my arrival. I collapsed in a seat, with a very bad temper, and I refused the magazine offered by the stewardess on board. It had not even been an hour. I had expected to be at the university now, waiting for Alma to get out of class. Instead, I had to understand what was expected of me. I was willing to bet that Colonel Hubert was sure I would do what he wanted if he spoke of Colonel Harcourt. Why should I have to go back to Guyana? What Colonel Hubert told me of Colonel Harcourt's behavior seemed false. It was not his habit to react that way. Colonel Harcourt was old school - someone that respected the leaders and preferred to shut up and take things upon himself rather than overreact. The pilot was supposed to give me a message. I let my mind wonder what Alma would be doing right now, and that made the time pass more quickly. Soon I felt the plane begin its descent to the airport.
Campo dell 'Orro, Summer 2020 France
An AS-332, it's engines stopped, was waiting for me in a secluded spot on the beach, like a great bird asleep in the night. The pilot waited patiently, lying on the sand admiring the starry sky with his arms folded under his head. I approached without attracting his attention.
"Once you're ready."
He shuddered and jumped to his feet. "Colonel, Sir! At your service! I was expecting you!"
"I'm not late, at least?" I smiled looking at him likely to lose his balance as his position change had been brutal.
"No, Sir! At your service!"
"You are alone, Sergeant?"
"Yes, Sir. I must lead you to Porto, Sir!" he said in a welcoming cry.
"Good! Let's go!" I muttered as I walked towards where the helicopter had landed. "And stop shouting."
"At your service, Sir." he articulated in a lower voice, which was still too strong for me.
"Move!"
He rushed to take his place at the helicopter controls without a word. Ten minutes later, we landed almost in the center of the camp, on the landing pad. He sprang to the command ship. When he returned, an officer who was slowly dragging his feet accompanied him with his hands in his pockets and jacket open.
We greeted each other and he looked at me with animosity.
"Colonel."
"Lieutenant."
"You are not at all what I expected for this mission, I have to tell you."
"Bring me up to date!" I ordered.
"The bird is caught in a cage. In my opinion it would have to wait; let it fly with the others after having fed the vultures. But, apparently, the kidnappers do not know who this bird is, not yet anyway, and they told me that they must continue to ignore it!" he said, and he handed me a picture.
"In your opinion. You are not the one who exterminated his team and the hostages during the Palmyr mission?" I asked, grinning and looking at him without the slightest embarrassment.
He opened his mouth and began to yell with nonsense words. "May the devil take you! I did what he said! Someone told me not to go near the camp and wait for contact! Give him the money and do nothing! Fuck you! How could I know, myself, that it was a trap? How? How could I know that they were coming to shoot everybody?"
"And you? How did you manage to stay alive? And leave with a helicopter?"
"I didn't move. He told me not to move!"
"You always do what you are told, apparently."
"I'm in the army to do what they say! To obey orders!"
"You're out of the business. And you received a grade too. That's all!"
"That's all I care about."
"Leave it!" I said, disgusted. "Spit out what you have to say!"
"Some friendly advice?"
"You're not my friend." I said coldly, and he began to tremble as if suddenly it was cold.
"If you want to stay alive, do not concern yourself with others. Follow the orders."
"I asked you the mission details, not your advice! I never follow advice! The mission, please."
"This mission is to recover this rare bird. No one else! The hostages are to remain. Stick to the plan. You go through the normal way and at the end of the mission someone will pick you up at 05° 19' 59'' N and 04° 01' 23'' O15. You have twenty hours! No more! Starting now!" He walked away dragging his feet without saluting me, whistling, and entered the building.