Having concealed the Toyota thoroughly under the numerous large-leafed plants which grew and swelled in abundance, Cooper, Rosedale and Maddie dashed across the track, their guns drawn.
Cooper led the way. Tracking back through the river and up and beyond the bosongu trees to the clearing where Zola was waiting for them.
Just before they got to the three huts, Cooper stopped, not wanting Zola to hear what he had to say.
‘Listen, we need to be real quiet. This woman, Zola, she’s really jumpy. Understandably so. Obviously she’s cut up over her grandson. But I think she knows some stuff which may be helpful to us.’
Maddie was curious. ‘Like what?’
‘Well she knows Emmanuel. And this place we’re about to go to, the place she’s hiding out, apparently was his home.’
Rosedale, who was usually indifferent to such pieces of information unless it came to some kind of fruition, looked suitably impressed. Which surprised Cooper after their showdown earlier.
‘I’ll give it to you Thomas, you pulled this one out of the bag.’
Giving Rosedale a wry smile, Cooper said, ‘I found a pile of charcoal which makes me think it’s the same kind of thing we saw back at Kinshasa and back down at the village. It’s just like Marvin said and what you’ve explained, Maddie. The huts were torched as part of a deliverance to eradicate any witchcraft. I think that’s the reason Emmanuel’s aunt’s house was burnt down. It looks like anyone who was part of his family are seen to be a threat to the community.’
‘It’s all part of the deliverance. Ridding the community of witchcraft.’ Cooper, who was soaking wet and wishing he’d brought a change of clothes from the car, listened to what Maddie had to say whilst seeing the tension come over her.
Rosedale said, ‘What about their friends? Their family. Don’t they have anything to say about it?’
Sadly, Maddie replied, ‘If you believe a person is possessed by bad spirits essentially that person’s no longer the person you once knew. They’ve been taken over by a powerful force which is ultimately going to harm you. So it’s not like you’d be actually hurting or performing a deliverance on your friend, who use to bake you the best pecan pie, you’re getting rid of the witch who’s taken over their body.’
‘Thomas, do you think Zola will open up? Talk to us and tell us what she knows?’
Cooper shrugged at Rosedale. ‘Maybe. I’m hoping so, it’s the best lead we’ve got since we’ve arrived, but of course I don’t want to panic her by putting too much pressure on… She’s got a real belief in the spirt world. It seems to be her guide. She was worried to come with me and I feel terrible about this but when she thought I’d been asked by the spirits to help her, then she was more trusting. She’s definitely scared. And we can’t forget she’s just lost her grandson.’
‘Maybe Maddie should do most of the talking.’
Cooper nodded. ‘Okay, sounds like a good idea. Come on, she’s over here.’