While She Was Still Warm

By Bonface Wasonga

Dangerous is the first thing that comes to mind when you see this man. His assumed name is JIM. For several years he was a soldier. A soldier who thought he was next the General. He burnt villages. He burnt towns. He burnt people. He burnt animals. He burnt everything in his path. You can say he is someone with so much blood in his hands.
What kind of a person does that?
Then one night the dead began to speak back at him. Wanting some peace, he fled to Kenya. He ran away from the General who created him. Some stupid people have proclaimed the General as their saviour, and a throne is being built in his honour. But behind the scenes, all the General’s enemies are mysteriously disappearing.
And the General believes Jim is the betrayer. Then again who isn’t afraid to silence his critics? Which country doesn't have opposition...?
But there are others who know he is in Kenya. The evil men he had once called friends...He is very afraid they won’t understand. He just wants his life back. He wants a future.
Rwanda is now stronger, having many friends in high capitals. That is very rare. Not even the Palestinians have managed to do that. Not even the Chechens. So why Rwanda...why now?
Indeed, why now? There has to be some sort of a mistake.
The hardest part of this game is when he comes face to face with the Red berets. Those ruthless assassins sent to destroy him. The Russians knows that if this mission succeeds, their gateway into the Congo will be secured. The Israelis have no problem providing quiet support for the operation to find him and kill him there in the tiny touristic town of Malindi. The Kenyans, too weak to take any side, can only stand and watch. Otherwise, they might have another scandal on their hands.
Well, the Americans do not wish to make any comment s at this moment in time. The Germans are saying that the details are still too sketchy to mean anything specific...
So what is the truth here?
What do they expect to happen?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bonface Wasonga
• Release date: Apr 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310724565

Book preview

WHILE SHE WAS STILL WARM

Copyright © 2016 by Bonface Wasonga All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 9781310724565

For suddenly the destroyer

Will come upon these desolate waters

Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness…

But them that call out shall be saved...

Chapter 1

Why did you bring me here? This is wrong. Take off these chains...

The plan is simple.

You let him come to you.

The ocean breeze felt amazing, and the view through the ruins...incredible.

I think it is a trap. We do not know where everything is.

Relax. We are here for the money.

We cannot go back now.

The sound of the waves lapping on the beach...Crashing against the warm sand.

Are the others in place?

As you commanded...

She had been planning for this.

A ship moving along the horizon...

Let them come...

This should be good. No hidden eyes, the girl thought, as she led the boy towards an abandoned makuti-thatched house.

Let’s do something exciting.

This would be the moment. She was going to do it.

You said you wanted to play.

Just take in the view...

Who owned the house?

What are you saying?

The girl had thought they would be completely isolated here. She had thought this would be the moment to reveal everything, to let him see how it looked. And allow him to feel the heat of her breasts.

Look at what I have for you.

Then she had inched a little closer, opened her legs and waited for the boy to look up her skirt. But the boy had kept silent. Rigid as stone, as he stared out at the ocean, at the waves breaking on the rocks...

Do I take it off?

He could see what she was trying to do. He knew what she was asking him.

Please be careful.

He had not planned for it to happen this way.

You aren’t scared, are you?

He could feel her breath near his ear.

You think I want it like this? Not like this...

It’s fun to play with...

She’s toying with him.

Go on, look at it.

Don’t get shy now...

He turned his face away.

What is he trying to hide?

He should not see her like this. So he had not been sure how to make that first move. He had made no attempt to touch.

I have kept it smooth...

I look at your underwear, then what?

Don’t you know? Then you find away in.

That isn’t something you jump into...

He was uncertain? He wanted her to think he was hard? She did not know.

Look at me. You don’t want me to remove the rest?

I really don’t want to do this.

What would you like to see?

What had happened to change his mind? What could be pushing him away?

You think I want it like this? Not like this...

It’s fun to play with...

Go on, look at it.

Are you serious?

What was he trying to hide?

I have kept it smooth...

I look at your underwear, then what?

Don’t you know? Then you find away in.

That isn’t something you jump into...

Look at me. You don’t want me to remove the rest?

I really don’t want to do this.

What would you like to see?

What is wrong?

What is it you have forgotten?

I am trying to be careful. I am trying...we will be discovered...

Maybe he was being good. He did not want to hurry this on.

Can this harm you?

What should she do then? Try and put her hands around his throat? Take his thing out of his shorts and stroke him? Trap his head against her chest, pin him down to stop him from running away.

I thought you wanted to play!

You think we are being watched?

How many times had she fantasized about this? How had he been unprepared for this?

Then what is the problem?

You want to be a woman? You are going to tell me what to do?

She could not let go. He was not going anywhere.

Would you like to try it? Please...

I know you want to. I know it is good.

Are you not afraid of what might happen?

She had been about to roll over onto her back when the screams started.

What...what was that?

What did she hear?

I don’t know...

What had made that awful sound?

Didn’t you hear it?

Where did it come from?

The boy did not say anything. He was not sure.

Who made the noise?

It could have been anything. It could have come from anywhere.

It is coming from inside.

No one knows we are here.

The boy rose above the girl to peer through the keyhole into the spacious warehouse. What he saw shocked him. He stepped back.

What is it? Can you see anything?

His young mind could not grasp it. He could not breathe right.

This is not for us.

Please tell me...

The sight was obscene. That kind of thing shouldn’t happen there.

Why can’t I see? Can we switch?

Be still.

A man was sitting on a chair at the center of the dusty floor.

What is happening inside?

The boy sank back to the ground. Then his eyes closed briefly.

Tell me what is happening.

He had started sweating.

You are shaking. Let me look...

He knew he had made a mistake. He had seen too much.

Who...is...he?

Was this some sort of game? Why were they keeping him here?

Why is he in chains?

Let us go before we get into trouble.

Do you understand?

He sucked in deep breaths, as he struggled for something useful to tell the girl. He didn’t quite know what he should do.

You think he is dead?

How else could he explain what he had seen?

Why would they do that to him?

Do not worry about him. I do not think he has seen us...

The girl was looking back at him now. She had closed her thighs and pulled her skirt down.

Aren’t you going to stop them?

Why should we interrupt? Let us get out of here.

You just want to watch?

Was he weeping? She did not understand.

They are not going to kill him, are they?

Listen to what I am saying. We must leave now.

How long had he sat there?

There must be something we can do. Please?

The boy’s eyes snapped open. She couldn’t be serious.

Do you think I don’t see how wrong this is? Do what I tell you.

What if he was you? You have to help him.

No, we can’t...you need to be quiet!

There was something very wrong here. But the boy did not want to arouse suspicion. He was scared of what might happen next, especially to the girl.

How can this happen here?

Wasn’t she afraid? Should she scream?

What can we do?

I don’t know...

We can’t just leave while...this is happening!

How was she not as affected as him? Did she really think those men would listen?

What are you trying to say?

You think like a fool...

They should be calling the police.

There is no way...

There are too many of them. I do not want any trouble.

The trapped man didn’t look good. Screaming wouldn’t make much sense now. Wouldn’t change the outcome…

No, it is too risky.

What the hell did he know?

He is not one of us.

He brought this on himself.

What pain he must be suffering now.

He has something they want.

They needed to remain out of this. They needed to wait and see what those men would do.

Surely they don’t mean to kill him!

We should get out of here. Before someone find us here...

The traitor had never felt so cold. He had no idea where he was. He had no idea what time it was.

Why am I here? Take off these chains!

We come on behalf of the General. We have questions for you.

His swollen hands were tied to the chair, the ropes digging into his skin. His shirt was dirty and damp. His skin was cut in many places. The pain in his ribs was indescribable.

What is this about? How did you find me?

That is not important!

Why did you bring me here?

Sickening pain jabbing into his skull...

Tell me what I am doing here.

Do you know where you are?

A black cloth covered his swollen face. It was hard for him to breathe.

Stop this...

His legs were chained, toes just barely touching the floor.

I do not deserve this...

You do not deserve to live.

Perhaps there was an explanation for all this.

We want you to think very hard...

What had he done to piss them off so badly? Were they going to kill him?

I have not done anything to you.

He should know his life was already on a countdown.

God, you must help me.

The traitor was not alone. Another figure, in a suit and tie, was moving around him.

Why did you pick me? What else do you want from me?

His tongue felt so thick inside his mouth. Speaking hurt his throat...

We have been sent by the General.

The General is very disappointed in you.

You had a chance to come back to us.

But you have gotten greedy.

You have embarrassed the General in front of the whole world.

Where is his money?

So that is what this is all about? The General is a fool. It’s all lies...

Is that so? Do you think the eyes of the General are blind?

The General does not waste words.

We know you took the money.

Those lies matter little. I did not take the money.

We will find everything. I can promise you that.

Where is the money? the interrogator shouted in his face.

Please, I run a clean business...

Liar!

Removing his wraparound shades, the interrogator looked at his watch. He needed an answer now.

Do you think you can blackmail the General because you are protected by those Chinese?

There were five more men leaning against the wall, wearing black masks, with their guns ready. The poor traitor did not have a chance.

You brought this on yourself...

Maybe in their eyes he was already dead.

You thought you could stop us.

You made us feel like fools in front of the whole world.

Now you trapped...

Don’t you know who I am? My people are coming...

I am a minister, not a thief!

Is that so?

I’ve got friends. Someone will find me...

No one is coming. No one knows you are here.

In my eyes you are nothing.

Your friends are nothing to us.

I do not think they can even hear you in this place.

Look at me. Tell us who helped you. Tell us everything you know.

We know who o you are. We know the work you do.

We know you started the rumours.

Do you want to go to prison? Why protect them?

Who let you into this country? I need to know...

The interrogator waited for him to answer.

We think you are lying. We know what you are capable of.

We think you struck a deal with them.

You let our people die...

He tried to remember how the men had come to him.

There is nothing else I can tell you.

I had nothing to do with the attempt on the General’s life.

I said. Where is it?

The traitor had had enough. He knew he could not take any more of this.

I remember nothing. I was not involved in the General’s businesses.

I do not know the answer. Just do what you need to...

You better start taking us seriously!

They had a deadline to meet.

Release me. Give me more time to pray.

You want to pray? You will give us what you have...

That shouldn’t matter. He would resist these cockroaches with everything he had left.

This is getting us nowhere. He is not saying anything.

What are we keeping him for? We have work to do...

We can just kill him.

How do you think the General is going to feel?

The General will kill us if we fail?

Can he be moved?

Maybe it wasn’t too late.

Please...

I have been loyal and faithful to the General.

The only hope for you now, is to tell us where the money is.

Come on. Why not just talk?

He may show mercy.

Chapter 2

I fear they do not know. It has not yet truly ended. They want to get rid of us...Those who can be captured alive must not be killed...But we have to send them a signal…And distance ourselves from all this……

Cockroaches are all over our land.

They are still alive?

What shall we do with them?

They do not belong here.

What were a few deaths? He wasn’t sure what to think.

I want to try something different...

So why not have a little fun?

Who else is in the church? Why did the lights go out?

They are hardened bandits. Aggressive beasts...

They are like vermin. We cannot remove them all.

Let them come as close as possible...

It had been a superb hunt. Their smell still hadn’t gone away.

Do you have a plan?

Tear it down! Gather everyone together!

And if they refuse!

They are trapped now. If they refuse, they will die!

Those who are against us must be destroyed!

How dare they?

Then what? What did they think was going to happen? They were not supposed to be there.

There are so many. Everywhere you turn?

You are asking me this? You think this is the first time I have done this?

Where is this dog from? Why are they being kept there?

Are you taking this seriously?

Why give up now, when we are so close?

How did they know we were coming?

Why should this little thing cry to us? Who set them loose?

We are going to slaughter them!

These are not people! Let them howl...Let the dogs lap up their blood...

We came all this way for nothing! Why does this keep happening?

There is nothing there but decaying dust...

What dust? Where’s the dust from? So, when would those foreigners get here? If any of the animals saw him...He didn’t know where he would start. The plan was still incomplete.

This is making sense to you? We have been abandoned!

What are you worried about? Go see the General...

What am I going to tell him? You think he was there in the church?

Our coming here was his idea. It was his plan!

How much do they know? Can’t we just let them go?

Is this smart? Who can bear this? Who would stand for this?

What are we going to do if they come again?

Do not tell me you are frightened. The graves aren’t full yet!

You don’t think he’s suffered enough? Set them free?

No. No. No. Whatever it takes...

They have to be stopped, before they make this difficult!

We don’t have the capability now to clear them all...

No, you are wrong. Little by little, we are advancing.

How many times have they come back?

Something was telling him it was going to get even worse. He had been there too long. He should cut this short. He should get out of here. Be gone before anyone noticed.

How can you put yourself at risk like this?

You think we have a traitor?

Do not look at them! Keep moving, no matter what...

Are you sure they are dead? You can’t help them?

Retreat!? No way. It’s important not to appear weak. The weak get destroyed. Then given the vile tag of coward...Traitor...Scum...

We do not know what is happening.

Why are they so cruel? What will become of us?

I do not want to hear that. You stay, you die also!

But where can we run to?

A distant face...Delusional...Bleak...Abysmal...Trapped... Fractured....

We are going back. They are on their way here!

How many of them? What do they want? I will not run.

Pitiful...Scarred...Disfigured...

We are all part of this. We stand with our people...

If I run now I am dead...they will accept us...

If we keep moving, we will be fine!

Disputed waters...Too many eyes...

Are you frightened by these faces? It is just the beginning!

Look at them. They are nothing! Nothing!

They are dirt...There is no place for them here!

Make sure you get everyone! Nobody is untouchable!

His eyes swept across the shore, searching all those faces streaming in and out of range of his vision. Faces from another time. Faces from past missions. Some long. Some rounded. Some dull. Some proud. Some sad. Some old. Some confused and afraid....It felt like his mind was playing tricks on him, instantly comparing each passing face against any one among the images lodged deep within his memory.

Ignore their voices....we can explore other possibilities...

You think it’s easy to forget what they have done?

Who would know?

These are not normal circumstances. Now it is we who are fearful.

Too many mistakes...horrible mistakes...

How could you play with our lives?

Should I have been there? Answer me.

Where were you? What pushed you to flee? You wanted us to beg? They needed you...

I tried to warn you...I tried to stop him...I did everything...everything they asked for...

I don’t want to hear it. It didn’t help...I begged you not to go...You walked away...

Why? What did we do to you?

You know what they would have done to me?

They had forced him into a corner.

So you left us here to die instead...

Please! I never forgot about you…

We all hate you...but I hate you more. I hate you.

What do you want me to say? You want to forget me?

You do not think I have suffered enough?

I went away to get help for us.

You allowed them to do all this.

I can’t see you anymore. I can’t live here anymore!

I can’t protect you if I’m not with you...

His eyes were not playing any tricks on him. Clear faces that seemed to be laughing at him. The faces he should have helped. The people he should have kept so close to him. The ghosts were inside his head. They were calling to him.

What do you make of the situation in Kigali now?

The situation here is not safe. It would be unwise to involve anyone else.

I do not see how we can even talk about unity...

They are not coming. They are not letting us through!

No? Why? Where can we run to?

What about us? Why are they killing us?

Nothing should distract him.

Don’t ask so many questions. You ask for impossible things!

Bring this thing before me. I won’t ask again.

Earlier in the day, the radio, BBC radio, had reported a particular high profile visit by the Congolese Vice-President to the republic of Rwanda and that the talks in Kigali had centered on refugees, Hutu rebels and the deployment of mobile brigades along the border between the not-so-friendly neighbours.

The Congolese and the Rwandans are talking?

Who had invited him?

If they are talking it is serious....

It is the same madness.

Who was it he talked to?

What will this gain us?

What will the repercussions of this be?

Will the Tanzanians and the Ugandans accept this?

The leaders had agreed to strengthen engagement and corporation in the security area. Why did the story seem relevant to the BBC? Was that all they had discussed?

What will happen now? Will they listen?

Will they pause?

Is there anything else?

We are not involved.

There is still plenty of opportunity for the General to stop this.

Did he meet the General?

We are not aware of the nature of the meeting...

We would like to point out that at this time this does not mean anything at all.

We will do the most to oppose this. He shouldn’t have come.

What do they think they know?

Is this what it’s come to...a mobile Brigade? That is what is missing?

Now, they think it will stop? Don’t they know anything?

Those talks matter little. Forget about them.

There is so little they can do against the General.

He only knew one thing. He knew that’s unfulfillable, irrelevant, unimportant, illogical...just lots of words, hollow words, to confuse the people. When would they stop playing with words?

Now who’s lost their mind? Can you hear what they are saying?

Nothing has improved. This is not the time to reverse course...

We won’t let that happen. The talks are useless. We will defend our land!

Illegitimate...unapproachable....Untrainable...Uncontrollable...Unstable...Unrecoverable...Inescapable...Inexcusable...Unshakeable...Untraceable...Unalterable...Irredeemable...

Yes? Unclear...Hubristic...!

You don’t think there’s a problem? What’s going to happen to these children?

Dismal...Groundless...Baseless...Deranged...Pitiable...Despicable...Inseparable….

Even here we are not safe? We blame the international community...

If more rebels come, they will kill us all!

Yes? They’re just words, he mumbled, to no one in particular. It didn’t matter which channel had reported it or how the channel had reported it because he thought he had heard it all before. The man could have gone to sample some of the whores in Kigali, to ogle their barely concealed, but well endowed bodies while sipping the finest whisky. He could have gone to purchase more guns, more machetes, or more hands for all he cared...They were getting everything from Kigali.

We can’t lose them!

They can’t be far away now. Can he listen to us?

Do not be afraid. Calm down…

What did you see? They are shameless...!

The visit was completely irrelevant. It had no importance whatsoever. Little would be accomplished.

I cannot see how things are going to change...

It is a political process...There are grave obstacles.

The solution is not obvious. It is still too early to tell.

I do not care who wins this war as long as it is over quickly.

At this stage, only African Union can help us.

More dark images...unhappy ghosts...

What can anybody do? Who will monitor this?

The situation in Kigali is not good right now...It will be very difficult for them...

It makes me laugh. It is the same situation...I know there will be no results...

There are no solutions...The politics is just too tense...

There isn’t any authority in Kinshasa anymore!

Again and again the faces confronted him, refused to disappear, refused to evaporate from his mind, forced him to see them, and made him wonder if they understood the importance, the significance of such a visit. Just jumbled thoughts running through his brain. Traces of rough sketches in the dark episode that formed his past. A past he would have traded anything not to remember because in those scripts were more faces. Faces that belonged to people he once knew, people he once met, people he once worked with, people he once lived with. People he once loved, people he once belonged with. He felt their eyes all around him. Eyes everywhere. Faces frozen in anguish. Faces terrified of the approaching thunder. Faces with bleeding wounds and cuts. Faces with eyes ripped off their sockets, dangling from severed tissues. Faces trapped in death, staring into the stagnant darkness of death, seeing nothing and finding nothing to see.

The face of his broken son...

His body lying alone...

Blood pouring out of his mouth...black blood...

He had been alive when they burned him. It had taken several minutes for him to die...

Are you really prepared to go down for the General?

You know what we want. Anything you do now has repercussions.

If you do not bring us what we want, he dies!

Can we count on your co-operation?

He was just a boy not a rebel. He was just a good boy.

This is hard, huh?

Hide me...

No, he shouldn’t think about it. Now was not the time.

I never thought they would do this.

Why did they burn him?

He had asked himself that many times.

I have nothing to say to you.

They told me you died.

I am so, so sorry.

I do not want to hear your lies!

He shut his eyes to try to block out the images. How he had forgotten their existence.

You never liked him. You let them touch him.

It is your fault, he is dead.

I got there as soon as I could. He was already gone...

Is that why you went away? You are happy now?

What should he have told them?

Do you have any idea what you put us through?

How long will you go on about this?

Many more faces. Faces that belonged in the past...His past...Their past...Faces hidden by head scarves. Faces of his comrades, professional hunters like him; used, misused, blackmailed, and chased away, thrown to the big pits, to survive like paupers. He longed to see them, talk to them. He wished to know how they’d faired on after the great purge, whether they could still be trusted as comrades. The time and moments they had spent together in the warrens of offices on the lower floors at the intelligence headquarters and in the terrible, muddy jungles around the region tracking and destroying enemies of the government could not just be forgotten, could not just be wished away like that. He made a mental note to try and call them in the evening from his boss’s home phone.

Peace between us is of the utmost importance. We see the need to maintain certain relations...

Fighting has no meaning anymore...We want unity...

We must join hands...we need to stay together...

We cannot throw away this opportunity to get close to the rebels...

There’re a lot of good words being said...It’s moving slowly, but it’s moving...

We regard this as a first success. But really, this is not enough...that is why we must do everything to make sure that all efforts put into this are increased...

Of course we are ready to cooperate, but we expect more. Everything will be useful...

We are still working on all the details...But, there is a mutual understanding as to what has to be done…

In our opinion, this proposal is the best option...we hope this move will promote peace...

It is our duty to ensure that no more blood is split...

Nothing would change...insufficient...unpardonable...intolerable...

These are not our people...It is up to the Rwanda government to answer or give an explanation about this...

We have no program of arming groups...We are only trying to protect our people...We have always done what was required from us...

We are trying to settle the situation. We believe it is very important for there to be political stability...

We support it. We want a clean situation...a process that will work for the people...

There is an ongoing process of talks. This is a long process that cannot be finished quickly...the upcoming period is very important...

Well, the differences between our people are extremely small...

We have a team...we are constantly checking the situation on the ground...

We observe their movements...we know where they are...

We understand the situation...We will monitor this...We will isolate them...

We will not allow looting...

What they were doing was madness. It was not going to be possible.

We are under pressure from all sides...And the details are very hard to verify...

Who wants them back? They will just treat us like animals!

We are not going to be bound by these declarations...We will not let anyone come...

Were the rumours right? They expected him to believe them, without any proof?

People are saying the Americans are coming. There are clear signals that they have started taking interest...

What leads you to believe, if the Americans come, that the killings will stop?

The Americans are very much for these talks...they will persuade him to cooperate...

This is not their problem. And they cannot face the truth...

We will not change our position. These are huge stakes...and we still do not know their intentions...

We cannot see any chance for success in this mission. It’s simply uncontrollable...

This mission is just very dangerous. It is going to get a whole lot worse...

They don’t expect us to be their friends. They can’t control things here...They just want to see what is happening...

We need support. They might offer something important we can use...

We are having a serious discussion about what we can do. There’s a lot of special work to be done...

We are going to come up with something better than this...

We expect the Peacekeepers to do their jobs...We don’t need other forces...

Why would the Americans want to get into this row? What did they need them for?

I confirm to you all the conditions have been met...all options are open...

They have no reason to hurt us. They can get us out of this situation...

We’re hoping the Americans will come up with sensible solutions...

It means we will have more options...It means will have other capabilities...

This is our only chance to save people’s lives.

There’s no way the Americans would listen. They had little interest on peace.

We truly believe the Americans aim to destroy us.

They just give us the things they do not want...

I am saying this makes no sense to us. The Americans are just toying with us!

How do we keep the Americans quiet?

He was jolted back to the moment, when a sound, soft and shaky in the background of shifting currents of wind and the rumbles of waves rushing against the shore, penetrated his mind.

Are you sure you do not want us to intervene now?

I do not see any positive outcomes from these talks.

These talks are hopeless.

Doesn’t make sense...

An echo of a name...

How did you make it this far, Jim?

The sound was for him, a cheerful voice calling his name. Someone had spotted him. A woman...

You are in the open here.

You have no idea what you are walking into...

Hear that? Just walk away...

Echoes from another time...Fragmented... Hollow...

They are testing me...

There is nothing you can do here.

They will come here. Do you understand?

How big is this? Nothing more than fragments...

Why did you leave? You could not help them?

The world was not hearing us... Nobody was ready to hear us ...I was sick of living like a dog...I think you understand this...

He shouldn’t feel it...

Pretend not to hear? They know I have come back?

He was not moving now...

Come on, don’t stand there. Go around...

Then what? Do not say a word...

Do not draw attention to yourself.

For a moment he wanted to turn back, but the sound signified a person was there, a woman who knew him and the woman was watching him. He stopped. His eyes left the passing faces and he turned his head slightly, looking in the direction from which the sound had come.

What happened, what happened?

You have run out of hiding places?

Then he saw her. She was raising her arms.

Why can’t you see?

Walk to where I am?

Walk to where they were...?

You think you are better than us?

He turned and approached where they sat on the sand. When he got close, it became obvious to him that the beautiful quartet were enjoying themselves very much. The proof was there in the pure radiance splashed all over their faces, familiar innocent eyes. In front of them, on a mat, were all manner of delicacies.

What can I do for you, ladies?

He stooped low, picked up a packet of Delmonte pineapple juice, fixed it with a straw and began drinking the juice. He felt the ice-cold juice enter his mouth, run smoothly down his throat and into his stomach.

Want to join us, Jim?

Would you like something to eat?

He had never seen them like this.

Where have you been, Jim?

So refreshing...

What are you thinking, Jim? You’re very quiet.

What should he tell them?

What-What did you say?

You have been so distant...

You’re very quiet, Jim? Why don’t you sit down? Rehema asked, pointing a spot on the