Matylda

By Hamish Robertson

Matylda is a reporter/have-a-go hero. She gets into difficult situations and rides the wave of Lady Luck for way too long. She setup a team to accost a warlord in Africa and helped to save a boy kidnapped in the Middle East before setting out to help prevent some animal cruelty to Asiatic bears (known as bile bears) in the former North Vietnam, cruelty that is practiced in China as well as Indonesia.

She is gutsy and relies on some very capable people she meets on the way, though she knew Herbert, her cameraman, since her university days. During all of this, she falls in love and starts a family with a dashing NCO that she met in Iraq. With their mission in Vietnam complete, they found themselves on a rather arduous journey homea journey that could so easily have been the end of her, but they battled through the rough water, and finally, they found home. They realized that their turn on the wave of Lady Luck was over. Now they had to be good parents, and they were ready for it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524664282

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© 2016 Hamish Robertson. 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 10/04/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-6429-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-6430-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-6428-2 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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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

Foreword

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Foreword

Wanting to better herself and to help others a reporter, Matylda Couragesworth, decided to take sabbatical leave from her post on the regional news team. She was to head over to a country that had been reported as being in serious drought and political turmoil. This place was called the Dafur and was just South of the Northern coast countries of Africa. For many years now, since Band Aid shouted ‘let them be counted, and let us be accountable’ in 1984, the plight of these people still remained as desperate as before.

Such countries rely heavily on the monsoon season, where up to 30 inches of rain can fall in only a few days, where rivers are filled and once dry mud plains are covered by a watery paradise, allowing much of life to start living after periods of dormancy. Some animals such as a species of frog and the lotus can be dormant for up to seventeen years (their dormancy correlates to prime numbers so that it can miss most of the predators haphazardly). But for those unable to wait the cost is real and shows itself in the number of dead.

Recent reports and studies have suggested that global warming is a contributing factor to the failure of the monsoon. It relies on the cooler winds from the South pushing up and bringing the rain. Global warming and a new phenomenon called global dimming are actually growing together, where global dimming is masking the effects of global warming. This combination acts to slow down the effect of global warming. Global dimming is caused by countries with a large carbon footprint, like ours, where the carbon particles produced act as a shield preventing the sun light from reaching Earth’s surface, causing a cooling effect. While global warming is caused by increased amounts of carbon dioxide and more dangerous methane gas, which acts like a blanket preventing heat from leaving.

What Matylda had deeply resented was that this footprint was being excused in many ways. In fact even encouraged. She lost faith in her heart because those who could change things, things like taxing aviation fuel and global animal rights, appeared to be impotent and ineffective. Apparently the running of a modern civilisation can skirt around issues such as the fur trade and the inhumane way in which animals are skinned. This being only the tip of the iceberg. It seems that so long as everyone has their pie they will eat and disregard the morality of specific living like bear and dog fighting. Corporate aviation giants were getting off scot free, by what to her seemed like tax evasion. Such was the power of the liquid black gold that people fight over.

She had seen enough in the news and knew what she wanted to do and where she could make a difference, that was Africa. And so with some sponsorship from her employer at the news team, she had her chance to make a difference. She set off with her cameraman Herbert, whom she had known since her university days. She was to report and try to expose the shortcomings that were crying out for help and Herbert was there to film for her, to protect her and to help expose a world in need.

It was the year 2000 and Matylda along with her cameraman and long term friend Herbert Hamer, bordered a plane that would take them all the way to The Sudan.

Many cattle had died and the only remaining were gaunt and had long since been able to produce milk. Without livestock and without water people were dying at a terrible rate. And the disease rising from the animal carcases meant that much of what they had to drink was not safe, and the spread of typhoid, cholera and dysentery was increasing.

Not only were these people afflicted with such fundamental shortages, but there were a series of war lords that pillaged and dehumanised the existence of thousands. This region between the Sudan and the Chad border was blighted by groups of Sudanese men who were ‘clearing and ethnic cleansing.’ People were therefore reluctant to stay in their villages and the camps set up by Western aid charities were over full and inadequate.

But while she had only been there for a short time, she found herself collar to collar with a regional war lord Aostola and began fighting for her life. Three locals Achelle and his two sons Tajec and Debar were to be their local knowledge as they found themselves locking horns with this tyrant. Along with them she had her buddy Herbie. Chance was that they got help from someone, who knew the ropes that tie war together, Bobbie Roolin ex SAS. He was to be a support for them on and off the stage for all of their future expeditions one way or another.

Once they had come back from Africa new issues started to gain their attention. Iraq and a kidnap hostage situation threw Mattie together with Mark an NCO and a true gentleman. He helped them find a young lad kidnapped from Kuwait and held in Iran. Joining up with this dashing NCO they helped fight hand to hand to rescue this scared young lad and they quickly fell in love.

After that and what was to be their finale they ventured to what used to be North Vietnam where they set about saving the so called bile bears. This sickly practice involves inserting a long needle into the bears side and retracting liver bile. It is tolerated and even glorified at one restaurant. They would set up a peaceful coup and try to effect the abolishment of such practice. They managed with the help of a trusted member of parliament Ceing Gong Wye to increase animal rights on a global level. He was a man with a history having served in the Marines when he was nineteen. He was ousted from China as this contact proved unsettling. Fleeing to the North Vietnam had been his saviour and he was regarded as something of intrigue and was respected. He was to prove a strong arm and with his involvement things were sure to go well.

They got Herbert involved and he set the whole thing live all around the world with the help of Jeff a true genius and wizard computer analyst. The crew did what they could before being sent on a rather wild trip home. They had met up with a lovely couple Adam and Leyla, both echo warriors, each with considerable guts and beliefs. Between the five of them, including Herbie and Jeff, they managed to pull off the biggest journalistic heist ever and as a part of a violent free protest, things were amended. Not only in Vietnam but global interest in animal welfare were put to question and major amendments were made in countries all over the world.

Chapter 1

After a comfortable journey they arrived at the nearest airport to the Dafur region. They had been advised to catch a lift from one of the trucks that were headed that way to the camp. Timing being as it is sometimes, they couldn’t have arrived at a more convenient time as there was a convoy of three trucks just ready to set off. The ride was bumpy but these big old trucks were best suited for the job. Being easy to mend when they broke down, which was fairly frequently, meant that the simpler the engine the better. Most of the trucks were the same and so parts were readily available and parts prone to breaking were often carried on board.

The journey was long and dusty and although the seats were springy over the long haul, they were considerably uncomfortable as they showed to be a bit too springy. What Matylda noticed was the abandonment of the villages. There was hardly a living soul to be seen. There were some young men who refused to be intimidated, but no one else as far as they could see had chosen to stay. Mattie and the crew stopped at one village about two hours into their journey to speak to three men, who were wandering in an otherwise empty village.

They had stayed behind to look after the remaining cattle and goats, which were very gaunt. The rest of the village terrified for their lives had headed off to the camp that Matylda was aiming for.

Who are you? Matylda asked not knowing if she could be understood.

The older of the three answered and said that he could speak English his name was Achelle and that the two younger men were his sons Tajec and Debar. He said that they had pledged to look after the village live stock hoping that the danger and starvation would pass. They were farming grain, watering from a well but the well was low and they desperately needed rain. They needed peace for the rest of his family and villagers to return, but they urgently needed water.

Mattie wished them luck, and said that she hoped for rain. Rain that she knew would probably not come any time soon. These men knew what they had to do and they were staying. The well would last them at least for a while. They and their cattle could drink every day, but apart from their livestock they had very little food. And so Matylda and Herbert lowered down a sack of grain and wished them luck.

It took them another four hours of the same hauntingly empty and barren land before they reached the camp. Their tent, compared with other forms of shelter was fairly tidy and relatively spacious, but it was hot and there were a lot of flies. Their mosquito nets would offer them some comfort at night and though the latrine was not good it served its purpose. There were officials there, government officials, but the title presumed more power than they actually had. They were in charge of any paper work; at least there was some paper work. The law stated that everyone had the right to be relocated to safe land where they would be safe from their persecutors. In reality this offered them little or no hope as the process was laborious and indirect, especially as most of them were not registered to the government in any modern way.

Matylda was in charge of the reporting and Herbert the filming. Death was all around them. From the youngest to the oldest, starvation was slowly killing and there were daily burials for those who did not make it through the night.

One morning there was excitement in the camp the children had spotted dust in the distance and lots of it, which meant only one thing; food.

As the convoy came near it became clear that this was a food delivery and Matylda immediately recognised the two vehicles. They were the same 1960’s trail back trucks that had given them a lift from the airport.

As they pulled up into the camp Matylda and Herbert looked at each other with confusion because both of the trucks were only about a half loaded with twenty five kilo bags.

The driver of the second vehicle was holding his shoulder and there was blood oozing from his makeshift bandage.

Please, please come down and rest, said Herbert.

There was a stampede of young and old grabbing for the grain - some with woven baskets and some with the strength to take away a whole sack. Normally the supplies came once a month and with this shortage there were families that would starve and children that would die.

What happened…where did…who were they? Herb asked. Then he recognised Achelle, Tajec and Debar in the back. With them were two young men who were in a bad way.

Hi guys what happened to you? asked Mattie.

Achelle said; These two men came running toward our village and so we went out to meet them and they were covered in blood and were professing tales of barbarity and that we must leave for the safety of the camp. It is a warlord called Aostola he is rampaging through our area. The state of these guys! Achelle pointed to the two young men who were badly beaten. ..so we left and we had not been walking for more than half an hour and these trucks came past, it was clear that we had both seen the same people and so they picked us up and now we are here. Praise to God

That was the only account of local fighting. It was rumoured that the warlord Aostola was not this far North. There had been reports of droves of people coming from the South, but that was miles down South nearer another camp.

The two men were taken into the medical tent and patched up. One of them had a deep wound to his left forearm, which they thought would heal so long as it did not get infected. And the other had some minor facial wounds but quite major concussion.

He must rest for a day or two. The medic recommended.

It was clear that the lorries had also had an encounter. Firstly they were only a half full of grain, secondly there was the driver of truck two who had sustained a gun shot wound to his left shoulder and thirdly there should be three trucks as they liked to go in convoy for protection. Although most of the grain was gone they had escaped with their lives. All except one of the drivers Alberto who was not to their knowledge dead but taken hostage. But in the circumstances the drivers had shown bravery to get away when they did.

What actually happened was a classic road blockade with people asking for paper work. Salby was at the front and whilst looking for a receipt to show legitimacy of his journey he became aware that there were people half inching grain. Bobbie was in the third truck and immediately sensed the danger. All of a sudden there were a lot of people with the Kalashnikov AK47. What they needed now was to calm everyone down. Some shots were fired into the air and they grabbed Alberto and Salby down from their cabs and duly beat them weak. Bobbie was steaming. He did not carry a gun but he did have a big iron bar. He came from his cab coshed one of them and then started to fire his acquired gun into the sky. He saw that Alberto had been separated from them but he was no where to be seen. Bobbie knew well that the last thing that Alberto needed was for him to start kill members of the gang. So though he wanted to kill, instead he shouted; We will come back for you. What they needed now was a sharp exit. He had never left a man behind in all his SAS career,’ but he hoped that his promising to return was on the level and his only option. He should survive for a few days as a hostage and since he is from the West he is worth more and should be kept alive for the ransom money.

So they got away with two trucks, both still half filled with grain. One truck, it’s driver and it’s grain had been lost. This was a big haul for them. They were supposed not to want the trucks as they are too obviously aid trucks but these guys were fearless and a real threat.

It is for money. Achelle stated. There can be money and there can be barter and power. The warlord is making himself indispensable. He runs his captive people with an iron fist and is capable of the most wicked and evil acts. Fear is his weapon, in effect he steals from us and then sells back what he has stolen and expects thanks for the service. Only this time one of his men got one of your drivers.

Is he hurt?

Yes, but not fatally I hope. That though was four hours ago and apart from Achelle and co we’ve not seen anyone else since.

Let me see your shoulder, Matylda asked whilst beckoning the driver of the second truck over. What is your name? she asked.

It’s Salby and it’s really not bad, he said.

It won’t be once I take the bullet out. Matylda said knowing full well the medical inadequacies at the camp. The truth was that infection could kill him in days.

There was a degree of first aid and he got the best treatment available which they hoped would save his life. The bullet had been removed and Matylda dabbed it with iodine solution to prevent infection. She wrapped it the best way she could, let him rest and said that is what he should do for at least a couple of days.

Matylda had decided that one way or another she would confront this Aostola, but was not quite sure how. It would take considerable courage and bravery, but she felt that this was something that God had laid down before her. A path to give her a safe journey and that he himself would look out for her.

Herbie, she said. Herbert. She corrected herself to grab his attention.

He recognised the tone of voice that she was accustomed to use on matters of a serious nature. He knew the implication was that this would be something big, but to take on Aostola would surely be suicidal?