The Hand of God: The Devil Within

By Malcolm Ward

Malcolm Batley travels back to Cameroon, Africa. Hes still trying to save his sister, after failing the last time. Hes been sort after be the police, the army, the Americans, over twenty mercenaries, Salina, and more bad men than he wanted. Hes reunited with his sister and a new lover. Batleys grown up and matured a little this time. After escaping the first time, only to be caught once more. He uses his witch doctor magic powers to escape, while trying to stay one step in front, but always seems to fail. They are more parties after the gold, although he finds it harder to kill those, who would harm them. Hes having to come to terms with good and evil, after realizing its better to save life, than to kill. Batley must save them all, and after seen his lovers death, as well as his own. Hes used his powers to see into their future, and seen a way to save them all, although he can never see the final outcome.
There sailing on the river after an alliance is formed between them. Batleys forced to take command and they head out for the gold. Another party thats also after the gold gets in their way. Can he save them, his self and give them the gold? He blacks out and is forced to fight his own demons, in a world of madness and brutality, like he could never think possible. Death and double crossing is all around them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524629809

Malcolm Ward

My name is Malcolm Ward. I was born in 1958, in Workington. I was only four when we moved to York. I didn’t learn to wright until I left school. I suffer from dyslexia, which hinders my ability to spell correctly. So I apologize if you fine too many mistakes. I was helping my younger daughter with her homework, on her computer. That’s when I found spellcheck and I’ve been writing ever since, or trying to, did I hear you say? This book. The Hand of God: The Devil Within, is my fourth book. The sequel to Taken. My next book, the sequel to this one, the final chapter. The Hand of God: The Devils Gold. I love and live for my writing.

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AuthorHouse™ UK

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© 2016 Malcolm Ward. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   03/14/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-2979-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-2980-9 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

All in Chains

The Mad Dash

Partners

Soaked Through

The Big Muddy

Fresh Meat

The Devil Within

The Americans

The Screaming Demon

To my Daughter’s for all their help and understanding.

ALL IN CHAINS

Malcolm Batley found himself in chains once more. When he came round this time, he found himself chained down to what appeared, to be an old metal bedframe. He waited until he worked out where he was first, before letting them know he was awake. Then he slowly lifted his head up from the rusty bedsprings. He found, Linda, April and Nicole, who were all chained to their metal beds, but on the opposite wall, to his bed. He looked for John and found him on the bed at the end of the room. They were all chained to a single bed.

They were old metal beds just like his old and rusting bed. He was the only one awake at the time, and he knew why. He could feel the last remnants of the sleeping sedative, which was still going through his body. He closed his eyes while he thought about, Linda. She was still in deep sleep, although he knew she would soon wakeup. She would be okay when she woke, with no side effects. So he opened his eyes once more. He tried to remember how they came here in the first place. His head still hurt after being struck on the back of his, already sore head, so he soon remembered.

He knew he wouldn’t be that stupid the next time he turned his back on, Salina. So he closed his eyes. He looked deep into their surroundings. It wouldn’t take him long to sense where he was this time. His new surroundings came to him as soon as he looked beyond the room he was inside. He looked deeper and deeper this time, while he still could. He looked until he knew exactly where they were. His second sight was more improved. Their new surroundings slowly came to him. He knew they were in an old building, made from corrugated metal that was full of old metal beds. He could see that without shutting his eyes. He saw beyond the window at the end of the room. The window was newly coved with corrugated metal. He could see what was on the other side, while his eyes remained closed, his thoughts focused outside the room, as his second sight improved even more.

He could hear a bird singing, that was somewhere on the roof, above him. So he thought about the bird. The bird stopped singing when it felt Malcolm’s prescience. He heard and felt when the bird stopped singing. Now he could see through the birds’ eyes, as if he were the bird himself. He let the bird fly high into the sky, until the bird couldn’t fly any higher. The bird looked down once he couldn’t fly any higher. Now Malcolm could see the view beneath the bird. He thought there was some mistaken at first. All he could see for miles around was nothing but trees. It didn’t matter where the bird looked, there was nothing to see but trees, and what looked like some army old barracks came into view, below the bird.

The old army barracks looked like they hadn’t been used for a long time, from what Malcolm could make of them. There old and rusting corrugated framework was only just visible through the tree canopy. If it wasn’t for the little clearing in-between the buildings, you could easily over look them. Malcolm soon saw the whole area, while the bird turned around, and while it slowly descended. The barracks were well away from any roads. There was just an old track winding its way through the jungle. You wouldn’t have seen the road from the air, especially if you were flying over the jungle, or the barracks. You could only just see the newly cut little clearing from the air. Some trees had recently been felled, to make way for the clearing. Then something odd, and unexpected caught his eye. One of the buildings’ roof, were recently painted, a bright red.

Malcolm waited until the bird flew back down. The barracks and the road were soon out of sight from the birds’, excellent eyesight. The whole place was overgrown. The winding track stretched for miles, right until it came to the main road, some one-hundred miles away. Malcolm worked the length of the winding road, at around a hundred miles, as the crow flies. The winding road was more than that. He’d seen all there was to see from the air. So he let the bird fly onto the corrugated roof. The same roof where they were being held. When he looked up there were holes all over the roof, and there was the little brightly coloured bird, staring straight back down at him, and singing merrily.

Malcolm wanted to find out exactly who was out there, and how many men were with them. He waited until the bird landed on the roofs edge. He could see what the bird was looking at, when it looked around the little clearing, and while it hoped along the roof top. He had the bird stop half way along the roof top, until he saw something through the bird’s eyes, that caught his attention. The bird quickly took to the air once more. This time the little bird landed in a tree top that overlooked the whole compound. The bird looked down from the tree top, where Malcolm could just make out what looked to be camouflage netting.

The camouflaged netting looked to be spread over one area. The netting stretched from one tree to the next. It looked like there was something hidden underneath the netting. The bird took to the air. It landed on top of the camouflaged netting. The little bird pocked its little heard through the netting and started singing. He could now see what was hidden underneath the netting. It was the Jeep and the truck that he last saw in Diadem, where they caught them. The bird suddenly stopped singing. He heard some talking that was coming from close proximity, to where the bird was sitting. The bird looked around so Malcolm could see who it was, and there was the police captain.

The police captains’ men were all lined up in front of the truck. Malcolm could see there were only six men in the line. They were all standing next to some tents, which were also camouflaged with netting stretched over them. He realised that all this netting was to stop someone seeing them from the air. He thought that they might be somewhere on a military flight path. He wasn’t that far off. He let this sink in first, while he listened to what the captain was saying. But the bird suddenly flew off. The captain frightened the bird off with all his shouting. He let the bird go, he knew where they were being held, and how many men were out there. It was then that he heard some groaning coming from inside the room. He looked up only to find John watching him.

John woke while Malcolm eyes were closed. He could see that Malcolm was only dreaming with the way, his body was moving on the bed. John looking around his new surroundings and then back, as Malcolm opened his eyes. John just managed to stop crying. He could see that Malcolm was trying to get his attention. Then John said. Morning Mal…You okay? They shared a grin.

Yes John…never felt better…You keep your chin up? It’s not over yet.

John only nodded back. He put his head back down and waited. He could only think about April, where was she and was she okay? No sooner had he put his head down, when he was straight back up. He quickly looked over the room. He smiled, his face lit up when he saw his April. She was lying on a bed at the other side of the room. That’s all that mattered to him right now. Tears filled his eyes he was relieved when he saw, she was still with him. Then he wished she was somewhere else. Somewhere where she would be safe. April was seven beds away from his. She was fast asleep with a smile on her face. John noticed that Malcolm was also looking at her. He told John that April had wind and that’s why she was smiling, while she was sleeping. So John agreed with him, although Malcolm already knew, she was dreaming about John.

Inside April’s dream, they were both back in England. John was dressed in an expensive suit, while bushing the pram. April was dressed in a luxurious summer dress. She was holding onto John’s arm as they strolled through the park. They were happy, and were married with a little boy. She was trying to tell him that she was expecting a baby girl. Dream most young ladies shared. Life was going well for her. Malcolm knew that Aprils dream would soon come to an end. Then their nightmare would begin. It wasn’t long before they could hear someone heading towards them. There was some banging on the door. The door opened, a bell rang out, and Salina walked into the room.

Malcolm thought about using his magic on, Salina, and right in front of John. He was too weak right now. The right words were lost to his troubled thoughts. He needed food and rest, before he could make the magic work. His mind clear of all thought, but that in hand. He could feel something strange, and deep inside him that felt like death. The defeated feeling made him feel light headed. The sunlight burnt his eyes as it slowly shone through the holes in the roof. He daren’t close his eyes anymore just uncase death came to take him. He could feel death and destruction that this place brought about the region, when first built. Even the young soldiers, who first built the army hospital and barracks, had paid a heavy toll. He daren’t look any further as the dead bodies piled up. A strange feeling that this place hadn’t seen the last that man could deliver. He knew the holes in the corrugated metal were from bullet holes. He knew there was more than one mass craves here.

He could already smell Salina’s perfume; she was getting closer. Her two bodyguards were with her. Edmond was on her right with Barrie on the left. They were all heavily armed, with side arms and two knives. They wore one knife on their belts. The other one strapped onto their legs. Salina had a knife inside her right boot. They were all dressed the same. They were all wearing army issue jumpsuits with black combat boots, belt and hat. Salinas’s boots were taller, and were just below her kneecaps that made them look like riding boots. Jamal, the police captain waked behind Salina. He walked in with two men, who were not far behind him. They had Tim walking in-between them both. They were all dressed in jumpsuits. Jamal’s jumpsuit was green and brown, while his men’s were two shades of green. They all wore the same black boots and green hat. Jamal’s hat was red. They were also heavily armed, with side arms, knife and bayonet.

Malcolm couldn’t look them other fast enough, as they came pouring into the room. He did notice that Tim was the only one, who wasn’t armed. Even Salina was carrying a handgun inside her belt. It looked like Tim changed sides overnight. He wasn’t trusted to carry a weapon yet. So Malcolm thought as he looked Tim over. He waited until Salina spoke to him first. She waked right past his bed, and she didn’t stop until she reached, Johns bed. Salina asked if John was okay. John looked at Malcolm before he would answer Salina. So she kicked the end of Johns bed.

It was only at that moment, when John said who he was. Then he very politely asked where they were, which made Malcolm snigger a little. Salina spoke in her manly voice. You are now somewhere deep inside the Congo…You are in the middle of nowhere. This is an old army barracks with wild jungle all around you. You would die before you found your way, to any civilization that would not kill you on sight. Salina stopped away from John’s bed. She looked down at Malcolm just to see if he was listening to her. When she noticed that he was watching her. Then she said.

The barracks were used in the war…out there you will find nothing but jungle for over three hundred miles. If you try escaping this time, the jungle will kill you. Salina walked towards the end of Malcolm’s bed. She stopped at the end of his bed, grinned. Then she said. Malcolm…We’re doing things my way from now on. Then she told Malcolm that the door was alarmed, and that the captain’s men were just outside the windows. She told him the bad news and grinned some more.

I believe Johns a doctor…Are you a doctor John?

The doctor looked at Malcolm first, which seem to piss Salina off more than Malcolm’s silence. You could see it on Salina’s screwed up face. There was a worried look on Johns face. Then he said but very nervously. Yes…! I told you. I work in the… A. N. E. Or I used too.

Salina looked down at John for some time before she replied. Then she said.

I know…I want to find out how much you love this girl…? April.

She pointed straight at, April. She smiled so they could all see. An intimidating smile that worried John even more, and Malcolm, only he didn’t show it. April was just beginning to come around, so was Linda. You could just see them starting to move about on their beds, and hear them moaning. Malcolm looked at Nicole, only to find her with both eyes wide open, while watching, Salina’s every move. At the time, Salina walked from John’s bed and stopped next to Malcolm bed, while Jamal and the others watched. She looked back at April. She was smiling the whole time. She would suddenly stop smiling and frown, a tactic that only seemed to work on John. Then she said. Doctor I don’t want this, this English man escaping from me anymore. I need. I want my father’s gold…So this is how it’s going to work my good doctor?

Salina couldn’t stop frowning now, which looked menacing. If Malcolm was given the chance, he would wipe the smile off, Salina’s face. If she were to only look at his face for longer enough. He could win her over and have her turn on Jamal. She looked back down at Malcolm’s feet. He could see Jamal and the rest were grinning behind, Salina back. Something was telling him that this wasn’t going to be good, especially for him. His leg started to itch. He knew straight away what the itch was without looking. He knew he would need to escape before things turned ugly for him. He thought about Linda and Nicole. He soon worked their escape out inside his head. He would wait until one of them came a little too close. Then he would chant a magic spell, making them fight among themselves, while they made their escape, inside, Salinas Jeep. He had it all worked out, however.

Salina told Tim to tape Malcolm’s mouth up. He knew he would have to act fast. There was only enough time for Tim to bring the tape, and then to pull some off, before the tape was put over his mouth. He was shocked and already too late. Tim already had the tape ready. So he wouldn’t get the time he needed, or the chance to look Tim in the eye. But Malcolm already knew, Tim wasn’t in with Salina, so when Tim finished, he winked at Malcolm, before he turned to go. Had he found his collaborator in Tim? What could, Tim do for them, especially if he didn’t want them to see his magic, or to know he was a witch doctor? He changed his mind at the last minute. He didn’t think this was the right time.

Salina looked at Malcolm and then at John. She told the doctor what she wanted from him, and how she would stop Malcolm from escaping. He knew what was going. He wouldn’t let them know about his magic. Could he let her win? He lay while he waited for her amusement. Salina pointed at John. Then she said. Doctor…You will cut all the tendons on that man’s right leg, or I will cut April face up? You wouldn’t even recognize her anymore, okay doc?

When April heard what, Salina said, she jumped straight up. The chains on her arms soon pulled her back down. So she screamed out as she pulled the chain away from her cut wrist, from where the chin had pulled too tight. No. No…He won’t do it you bitch.

Malcolm knew he couldn’t let Salina do that to, April. He wouldn’t let them mutilate him ether. He could not make his mind up. Was he going nutty? Or was he already crazy? He certainly wasn’t thinking straight, that he did know. The more he thought about, Salinas plans. The more it appealed to him, and the way he was thinking. He would have to let the doctor do as she asked. He stared straight at, Salina, with hatred eyes. Salina wouldn’t look him in the eye. She quickly turned away from him. She was smiling even more, while she was telling them why she was doing this. Malcolm could not get her attention; it didn’t matter what he said or did. She wouldn’t look at him and would only keep looking at John.

Malcolm. You will take us to my father’s gold, and you won’t run away this time, not with only one leg to stand on anyway. The doctor will be coming with us… If you escape this time…I will radio back here. Then Nicole will be raped first then Linda…Doctor! If Malcolm doesn’t take us to the gold, April will get the same, and I’ll make sure that you watch the whole thing. Salina looked straight at the doctor. She asked him what it would be. Will it be the gold or the cut doctor?

Salina asked John over and over while she walked up and down the room. She would kick the beds as she past them, making Barrie and Edmond move out of her way. Jamal stood his ground. He clapped his hands every time she walked up to him. The pour doctor could do nothing, but look at, April and Malcolm. It looked like he would have do what she said, and do the cutting. There wasn’t anything Malcolm or John could do out here, not yet. Malcolm didn’t want, Linda, April and not Nicole getting hurt. He decided that it would be better for them all, if he took them to the gold. It would mean having John cut him. He could take that he knew they wouldn’t live longer enough to touch the gold. He would make sure of that even if it meant his own death. If his nightmares and visions were accurate this time, he wouldn’t have to kill them all, not in cold blood anyway.

Well doc? Do I cut? Or do you cut? said Salina.

No! shouted Linda.

No! shouted Nicole.

April started scream even louder than them all put together. She was screaming so loud that Salina slapped her over the face. April then shouted at John. No John. You can’t do it? John, if you do it, then, then it’s the end for us?

John could only shack his head. He was ready to break down. He wiped the tears away before, April or Salina saw them. Malcolm felt useless. He could not talk to John with the tape over his mouth. All he could do was look into his eyes, and then Jamal’s. So he shook his head up and down. The only way he could get Salinas and Jamal’s attention. Jamal was the first one to see Malcolm. He was the only one to walk right up to him.

When Jamal finally looked down at Malcolm and for longer enough, it gave him the time he needed to look deep into his eyes. Jamal would now do what he asked. However, he would only help them for so long and only the one time. So Malcolm would have to pick the right moment. Now wasn’t the time or the right place, and he intended to teach Jamal a lesson, he wouldn’t forget. Jamal persuaded Salina into letting Malcolm talk to her. It took him some time, but he won her over with a little held from Barrie and Edmond.

Salina thought about this for some time before she would commit herself. She told Tim to remove the tape from around Malcolm’s mouth. But before Tim could remove to tape, she told him that he wasn’t to look into his eyes. Salina finished with.

Tim! We think he uses hypnotism to escape so don’t look at him?

Salina looked like she meant it. So he turned away while he pulled the tap off. It didn’t matter, Malcolm already know who Tim was? He spat onto the dusty floor first. Then he said. Okay! You win Salina. I’ll take you to the gold. I have one request. I’ll only take you there…You take us all with you or, I’ll lead everybody to their deaths? You can still cut me if you still want to play rough? If you let the girls go first? Just before we reach the gold will suit me. You know I’ll kill you Salina if you hurt them. When you pick the first bar up? You look at the bright yellow glow. I see it on your face.

Malcolm tried to look into Salina’s eyes, while he was talking to her. She always looked away before he could. He asked the captain to come closer. She said the last word. Jamal don’t look into his eyes? shouted Salina.

Okay, what do you want man?

So he told Jamal to come closer still. He would only step a little closer, that’s all Malcolm needed. He asked if Jamal came from, Gabon? Jamal only nodded his dead. Malcolm already knew he came from Gabon. So he asked if Jamal was religious. Malcolm pretended to clear his throat. He was also chanting the magic spell at the same time. Jamal slowly shook his head. He would never look at Malcolm’s deep blue eyes. It didn’t matter anymore. He had the captain without looking him in the eyes. It wouldn’t last for long. He whispered a chant about a witch doctor that only Jamal would understand. You wouldn’t know a witchdoctor when you saw one? Beware the witchdoctor, especially if you grossed him?

Jamal looked straight at Malcolm now. He looked back at the men who were with. He took one step backwards. Then Salina pulled him away from the bed. He pulled her hand away. Jamal told her never to touch him. He brushed himself down and stood with his men. The girls were all staring Malcolm way now. They must have thought he’d gone crazy. So did Jamal and told him so. Too much sun your crazy fool Everyone inside the room would soon act like they were mad, but not Jamal. He was too busy thinking about Malcolm’s silly little tone. Yes! I would…but no white man would be made a witchdoctor.

The captain told Salina to get on with it as it would be too dark soon. Salina only came closer enough to Malcolm, so she could slap him over the face. Because she wasn’t looking at him, she hit him on the side of the head. Then she said. You’ll try anything to escape? It won’t work Batley…Barrie! Undo the doctor’s chains…Let’s get this over with?

Barrie walked over to Johns, where he started to undo his chains. Barrie didn’t look at Malcolm on the way back. He took no notice of all the shouting that was coming from, Linda, April and Nicole. The doctor waited until he was free. He looked at Malcolm and at April. She quickly turned away from him. John waited until he was told to move from the bed. John was walking as slow as he could, or what Barrie would let him.

Salina was waiting for John with her arms folded over her chest. She wasn’t looking pleased with the time it taken him to walk from the bed. She passed John a little brown tin. Then Barrie put a bag into John’s out stretched hand. He told him that he would need it. April begged him and she wasn’t alone. Please John, don’t do it?

John! He’ll bleed to death if you do that to his leg? screamed Linda.

John it will get infected out here? screamed Nicole.

Linda and Nicole couldn’t watch. They both knew they could do nothing to help Malcolm now. April wouldn’t shut up even when John asked her. He told April that Malcolm would be okay. She started shouting louder at him this time. When the shouting didn’t work, she started swearing at John, until Salina put her knife next to her face. Only then would she stop shouting. April looked away from John and Malcolm. She looked even more frightened then Malcolm and John. You could see it on all their faces. Tears were rolling down their faces. Their right hands were white from pulling onto their chains so tightly.

The doctor slowly looked up at Salina. He told her that he would do, if she had to put the knife down first. Then he asked if Salina had any antiseptic. He was told to cut Malcolm without any. Salina told John that Malcolm was a big boy now, so he could take all the pain. She grabbed hold of John. Then she said in her manly voice.

Doctor, we’ll be heading back to civilization tomorrow, so don’t make the cut too deep, and make sure you stitch him up nice and tightly. We don’t want him to bleed to death do we?

She removed the knife away from Aprils face, although she still kept the knife in her hand, and at the ready. John walked even slower this time, until Salina gave him a helping push. He looked down at Malcolm, then at April. She wouldn’t look at him so he slowly turned away from her. Then he said.

Sorry Mal…this is going to hurt. Should I cut your jeans? Or should I pull them down first? sobbed the doctor.

Malcolm looked up at John’s watery eyes. Then he said. No John! Take them down first? Or pull them up, whatever easy?

The doctor nervously undid Malcolm’s jeans. He removed the tears from his eyes on the back of his hand. He gently pulled them down to his ankles. Once this was done, he looked around the room, only to find Salina standing next to April. She was watching John’s every move. John nervously removed the scalpel from the brown tin, which Barrie handed to him earlier. John took a good look at the scalpel first. He asked if Malcolm could turn over, so he obliged John. He was smiled up at John, until he managed to turn himself over. He was looking at the floor through the rusty bed springs. He was thinking about the police captain with his eyes tightly shut.

April wouldn’t believe that John would actually go through with mutilating Malcolm’s leg. She knew John would do as Salina asked him. She leant forward on the bed. Then she screamed at John. I love you John…please don’t do this terrible thing? begged April. She was too late.

Malcolm felt the pull of the skin behind the kneecap as John made his first cut. Then he felt John’s second cut. Both cuts were at the back of Malcolm’s right knee. However, he didn’t feel any pain. He only screamed a little, although the scream was only to let them know that the doctor actually cut him.

The police captain was standing just inside the door, when they suddenly heard him screaming louder them Malcolm screamed. Jamal came limping back into the room, he stopped once he was standing next to Salina, where he looked down at the doctor. Jamal was just in time to watch as John stitched the back of Malcolm’s right knee. He asked if John would take a look at his knee. Jamal only thought he’d pulled something at the back of his right knee. When he sore Malcolm was looking at, his knee, Jamal slowly limped away. He couldn’t even speak to Malcolm, let alone look his way. There was a frightening look about him. When he reached the door he looked back into the room. Malcolm was smiling right back at him. Salina assumed that Jamal didn’t have the stomach for the sight of blood any more. She laughed while Jamal limped away. She looked back at the doctor. Then she said. You done a good job their doc… Now clean him up. We set off at first light. said Salina on her way to the door.

When Salina reached the door, she told John that he wouldn’t be chained up anymore. Then she said. You see to them now doc? There’s a tap over there so you can clean then. Some food will be brought in for you. You try anything doctor? I’ll cut Aprils rosy cheeks.

The two men that were with Jamal followed him through the door. Then Barrie and Edmond followed Salina through the door. The metal door was slammed shut behind them. The bell that was hung over the door rang out. They heard the door been locked behind them. They were on our own inside the room. John could only stand there and look at the door. He was lost in his own nightmarish world. He felt a shiver run through him. He held his hands over his face. He knew what it was like to lose your mind. He heard Jamal giving his orders to the men who were left guarding them. He slowly pulled himself out from his sinking feeling. His mind was working hard just to pull him through and into his own world. He slowly let his hands fall back down. It didn’t work. He was still living his nightmare.

You could hear a pin drop inside the room. There were a few seconds of unsettling silence. Malcolm knew it wouldn’t last for long. He looked at Linda when, she asked if he was okay. So he told them that he was doing fine. John asked if he needed anything. He would bring it over for him. John thought Malcolm was trying to ask for something. He couldn’t work out what he was saying. He heard some soft chanting as he walked towards Malcolm. He wouldn’t believe that he’d just mutilated his right leg. The doctor fell down onto the bed next to his where he burst into tears. This only made Linda, April, and Nicole start crying.

You could see that John was desperately trying to hold back the tears. It was impossible while the girls were all crying their hearts out. He couldn’t bring himself to look at them. Malcolm told him it was okay and that he was okay. John still wouldn’t look at him. Not until Malcolm asked if John would rather have April, who was cut and mutilated. Then he stopped sobbing but wouldn’t look at his faces.

He looked at Malcolm, his leg then the ground. He was ashamed at what he’d done. April wouldn’t look John’s way. If he were to talk to her she would ask if Malcolm was okay, instead of answering anything that John said to her. Linda asked if Malcolm was in pain, she wouldn’t stop sobbing. She asked if John would look after him, and to make sure the cut didn’t get infected. He knew they were all worried about him, when they weren’t any need. He couldn’t tell them that, like he wouldn’t tell them what was waiting for them.

Nicole looked over to where the men were laid down. She suddenly burst in to tears. She couldn’t help but cry loudly. So John started walking towards her, but before he could say anything to Nicole, April told him to stop. She didn’t want him anywhere near Nicole. April fell silent for some time. There was an awful moment of silence in the room, only broken by the bird’s singing outside. She suddenly asked if John would come and sit by her bedside. She would now forgive him, so would Linda and then Nicole. Then they were friends once more as if nothing happened.

April was asking if Linda she was okay. Then she would be asking if Nicole was okay. The room was filed with their talking. It sounded more like they were just meeting after a day at the races. Within minuses they were all talking like one big happy family. Even John couldn’t get over the shock. Then all their attentions were soon focused on Malcolm. Instead of asking if he was okay. He was told to shut the fucking hell up by them all, and to stop making that infernal noise. Mal, will you stop that fucking noise? …it’s not helping. screamed Linda, quickly followed by April.

So Malcolm stop his chanting although he didn’t need to anymore. His magic spell had already worked; they were all friends. It was John who asked if he was okay, and what were they was going to do now. Then Linda asked if they would kill them once they had the gold. He was clad when they stopped asking each other and him, if they were okay. He knew they would not be alright until they reached the gold.

Linda looked worried at the thought. They all looked worried now they were thinking about the gold. He realized that he needed to tell them something. So he told Linda that he wouldn’t take them to the gold. Not unless they set them free before he took them to the gold. This only made Linda scream back at him.

You should have given then the gold in the first fucking place?

She screamed at him over and over. He didn’t have any intention of give them the gold. He wasn’t going to let Salina or anybody with her survive ether. But he wouldn’t kill anybody else in cold blood anymore. He could have done that already if he really wanted to. Malcolm had this strange feeling that there was more to this gold then Salina knew about. He didn’t think she even realised just how much gold there was. Even he hadn’t seen all the boxes. Malcolm had an interest in the gold himself now. He knew if he didn’t take then to the gold they would start killing them off one by one, until he did, or unless he killed them first. He didn’t want any more blood on his hands.

He even suspected that there would be other people, who were also interested in the gold? Malcolm knew he couldn’t trust Salina. He wouldn’t trust Paul ether. Even Jamal and the men with him had plans for the gold as for as Malcolm was concerned. He was very subspecies about Paul. He knew Paul been after the gold for a long time now. He must have told somebody by now. Then there were Tim? Where did he fit into all their plans? He thought Tim had plans for the gold. He couldn’t work him out, although he knew he could be wrong about Tim. When Malcolm first met Tim, he’d a vision about him in a different life, or it could have been in a different roll.

Malcolm realized that he would have to lead them to the gold eventually. He wouldn’t let them know they wouldn’t be taken any gold away with them. That is, if they lived to see the gold, and he knew that would by one big, if. Malcolm would let them know when the right time came. He was playing a very dangers game. A game that could easily backfire and get them all killed, a vision that he’d once seen. In another he’d seen them all fighting to save themselves, and the gold lost forever. In another he’d seen that there was somebody else after the gold.

He realized he was playing with all their lives. Like he realized he wasn’t thinking straight, if he ever was. A strange feeling that was backed up with half visions that, if he didn’t end it here. They would only be somebody else looking for the gold, and somebody like himself to lead them to the gold. A game he was willing to gamble their lives on if he could get them all together.

All Malcolm needed right now was his own hand onto the back of his knee. Then he could stop the pain and go to sleep. He didn’t nowhere the end would come, or how it would unfold for them all. He didn’t have any idea what he was going to do next, only that he would have to close his eyes, so he could see what tomorrow would bring for them? If Linda, April, Nicole and John would let him sleep.

Nicole would be trying to talk to Malcolm all the time. Then it would be John, who kept asking if he needed anything, and at every opportunity he could. He realized that John was feeling guilty for what he’d done to him. He would always thank John for stopping Salina from cutting April, which always seemed to help John with his conscious.

Linda and April would always have questions for Malcolm, but he didn’t always have the right answer for most of them, while some questions, he refused to give the right answer. This was just to keep them alive. Later on it would be their screams, once the mosquitoes arrived and started biting them.

John was already trying to keep the mosquitoes from biting him and April. He noticed that the mosquitoes didn’t seem to bother Malcolm. Before he could ask him about the mosquitoes, he noticed that Malcolm was listening to all their complaining. While he was listening to Malcolm’s chanting. Only John heard the chanting sound as he was the closest to him. The women were talking, sobbing among them self, with only John to console them.

Linda, April and Nicole were still talking among themselves at the time. Within minutes of Malcolm’s chanting, the mosquitoes soon disappeared, like magic. Thought John.

John stared at Malcolm for some time after the mosquito’s disappeared through the holes in the roof. He couldn’t work out how Malcolm managed to sort the mosquitoes out. He remembered what Malcolm told Jamal. He looked at April and then back at Malcolm. Before John could say anything to Malcolm, he heard one more little chant. Then John said.

Are you okay Mal? I’m clad those mosquitoes have all gone. I think it was their talking, which frightened them off?

Malcolm looked around the room. Then back at John. Then he said.

Yes John…You could be right at that?

It started to get dark and there wasn’t any light on. The door was unlocked the bell made its sound when the door was opened. One of Jamal’s men came in with some food. He didn’t say anything as he walked into the room. The food was wrapped in foil. He put the food next to John and walked back through the door.

The bell sounded and the door was locked before anything was said. Malcolm told John to pull the foil open, so they could see what was in the foil. John was going about it far too slow for Malcolm. He told him to be quicker, or too bring him the foiled parcel.

It’s our food John so bring the fucking thing over here. It’s going to be too dark by the time you unwrap that blood thing. I want to see what I’m eating John.

So John gave it to Malcolm to open. John said he wasn’t hungry so he could eat his. Linda and April said they weren’t hungry. Nicole asked what food was in the foil. If she wanted anything to ate, she was a second too slow. Malcolm had just rammed the last banana sandwich into his mouth. She asked him if there was any left, just as he screwed the foil up into a ball.

She turned away from him and didn’t say anything to him. So Linda said he was a pig and then she turned away from him. So April did the same. She screamed out when one of the beds rusty springs dug into her side. So she turned the other way but not before she asked John to sleep next to her.

It was almost sun up by the time they fell to sleep. There was the long silence when they all though each other was sleeping. Talking would resume if anybody were to cough, turnover, sneeze, the bed spring broke, or ask if John would bring them the piss bucket. Then an awkward silence would last until they heard the bucket been moved.

It was too dark to see anything but the holes in the roof. There was the long grumble when, if anybody could not get comfortable. When it was Malcolm’s turn to moan, you would think he’d just been slapped around the head or something much more terrible. At some point through the night, the whole building seemed to rattle when he couldn’t get to sleep.

The guards were left rattled when Malcolm screamed out. They heard the old corrugated building shacking. They thought it was going to claps on them. They were listing to what was said on Jamal’s order. They were making sure that they weren’t planning to escape, and if they were talking about the gold.

Jamal’s men woke them all up just before sunrise. The soldiers were outside although they were making all the noise, when they changed watch. Jamal was shouting orders at them, so there were running about.

Malcolm wished he could have put them to sleep for the rest of the day. He hadn’t slept well last night. He wasn’t feeling too good this morning. He looked to see if Linda was okay. Then he laid his head back down. He thought hard about, Linda, April and John. He would have liked to have worked some magic on them all, so they would run when he told them to. He needed them with their own minds for now.

Malcolm couldn’t keep his eyes shut for long enough so he could see into their future, although he’d seen them heading back into Cameroon. From there they were heading through the jungle. That’s what he could saw in his dream and in visions if he were to touch them.

He would have liked to see how it turned out for them all. He couldn’t keep his eyes shut or concentrate for long enough. There was always something else on his mind. He heard the Jamal and his men getting ready outside. The captain was shouting his orders to his men. Malcolm could only just hear someone giving, Jamal his orders. It wasn’t Salina.

Malcolm tried listening to what was said, but mostly who was giving Jamal, his orders. The doorbell rang out just before the door was slammed open. The sudden noises made them all jump even Malcolm hadn’t heard the door, when it was unlocked. By the time it took Malcolm to lift his head up, Salina was already inside the room. He was just in time to see Salina and Tim walk into the room.

He waited for Barrie and Edmond to walk in after her. There was no sign of them both. Malcolm thought this odd as they would always be with her. He carefully looked Salina up and then down. She was still wearing the same jumpsuit. It looked like she’d brushed her hair down.

Malcolm closed his eyes as she walked past the end of his bed. He thought about her and Tim. He opened his eyes. He’d just seen what Salina was intending was going to do with him. Salina was going to pump something into his arm.

Now he knew why Tim was here and not her two bodyguards. It looked like Salina and Tim slept together last night, especially with the way they were looking at each other and smiling. That was bad news for Malcolm and he knew it. He was hoping that Tim would help the women to escape. He knew there was still time for that, he hoped.

Malcolm tried sitting up once he’s seen what Salinas intentions were for him. the chains stopped him half way. Then Malcolm said.

What’s that for? I can’t take you to the gold if I’m out cold, can I?

She never turned round so she could face him. She just said.

No! You can tell me where were heading to first…that’s if you want to see your sister once more? said Salina.

Then Salina put the needle into Malcolm’s arm, without looking him in the eye. He could have stopped Salina at any time. He hadn’t made sure the women and John could safely get away first. He just noticed that Tim was hovering about at the end of the bed. Tim looked like he was getting ready to jump on top of Malcolm if he were given the chance.

So Malcolm told Salina that there wasn’t any need to but then to sleep. He gave Salina his word. He was told to shut up and to stop making that stupid noise. When he continued his chanting, Salina squeezed the syringe a little bit more. She stopped before she squeezed the yellow liquid into Malcolm.

Salina never intended to put all the liquid just yet. She’d only put enough into him, so it would make him a little drowse. She waited a little while longer. Then she squeezed a little more into him, right until he started to slide to one side. Then Salina stopped and she withdrew the syringe. She slapped him over the face and then a little harder the next time.

Malcolm was now at Salina’s mercy. He could no-longer chant his magic spell. He was fighting the sleeping medication that she’d just pumped into his arm, a mix of anesthesia and tranquillizers. She told Tim to lift him up first. She asked Malcolm to tell her where the gold was hidden. When he didn’t answer her, she told Tim to hit him in the face. She told Tim not to look into his eyes first, while he hit him.

Salina never stopped looking at Linda and April all the time she was talking to Malcolm and Tim. She would only turn around so she could pump a little more into his arm. She would never look at his face. She was frightened that he might hypnotize her. She carried a puzzle with her, so once she was away from him. She would ask Tim to test her with the puzzle, a test that only she could come up with.

Linda, April and Nicole were all sitting up on their beds by this time. Even John screamed at the same time as they did, when Tim held his right arm up just before he swung the punch at Malcolm’s head. Malcolm was ready for Tim’s blow.

He could have stopped Tim if he thought about it. He was still forming his plans inside his wondering mind. Tim hit Malcolm that heard that it knocked him back down and out of Salinas hands. He would have to wait until the stars cleared in his head, before he could think and remember his plans, if Tim hadn’t knocked them out of his head all together.

Salina repeatedly asked if Malcolm would tell her where the gold was hidden, until he couldn’t take any more. This time, he told Salina that they would need to head back to Cameroon, and then Douala. Tim hit him as hard as he could this time. He was unconsciousness. The women all screamed out at him.

Bitch! shouted Linda.

"Fucking bitch shouted April.

Nicole told Salina that she was nothing but a thief. She asked Salina if she would keep her word, and let them go when she found the gold. Salina just shrugged her shoulders, and then she walked through the door, although she didn’t look happy at what Nicole said to her.

Salina came back with the two guards, who were outside. She asked if they would get Malcolm ready to leave. She walked straight up to Nicole once the two men were inside the room. Then Salina slapped Nicole over the face leaving an impression of her head on Nicole’s face. Then Salina said.

That will teach you to keep your…big mouth shut Nicole. The next time you open your mouth…I’ll cut your fucking tongue out.

Salina then slapped April and Linda over the face. She told them the same. She walked up to John. He took himself back to his bed out of Salina’s way. She told John to keep out of her way. She walked to the door. She looked at Malcolm on her way to the door, where she told the two men to get a move on before she left the room. They didn’t have the right keys to unlock Malcolm’s chains.

They quickly marched through the door, one by one. They didn’t stay away for long. Barrie and Edmond walked with Salina following them. Salina was jingling the right keys that would undo the locks. She waited until they were standing next to the beds. She gave Edmond the right key. He undid Malcolm’s locks then they helped to carry him outside.

Malcolm was then put into the truck where he was chained to the floor, with his mouth taped over, and with a black hood over his head. Linda and April were waiting for their turn to be thrown into the truck. However, Barrie only undid Nicole’s chains then they carried her into the back of the truck. They left Linda and April behind.

Salina told the doctor that he would be accompanying them, or he would never see April again. She told Linda and April that Malcolm would be back when the gold was in her hands. She was bombarded with even more abuse on her way through the door. Once they were out the door, the shouting soon became crying instead. Then Salina shouted back.

We’ll leave Barrie and Edmond behind…they can look after you both. If you aren’t good for them…then you will get hurt. Salina shouted through the door. Goodbye girls.

The rest of Jamal’s men climbed into the back of the truck, with Salina and Jamal, who were sitting up front with the driver. Since Tim drew the short straw, he would be driving them. Tim didn’t like the idea at first, although, once Salina told him that Barrie and Edmond wouldn’t be coming with them, so Tim said he would come with them. He wanted his share of the gold if he helped them.

Salina put both her hands on Tim’s shoulders then slowly kissed him. She then told him yes. She knew they would need him deep down. She was slowly falling in love with him. Salina looked back at the captain then she smiled. She knew she would need to keep Jamal sweet as well Tim.

Jamal waited until Salina finished sweet talking Tim. Jamal didn’t like the way that Salina was kissing Tim. He only thought she was leading Tim on. He gave Tim a cold look. Then he said.

"Well, put your foot down Tim? We don’t want to miss the whole day stock inside here…do