[Chapter 429: Hunter or Prey?]
The private jet arrived over Damakin, circling the city as it awaited clearance from the control tower for landing.
The Environntal Planning Agency, Food Program, and the African Union were scheduled to hold a conference here. The Ethiopian side had made several preparations, including modest airport expansions and a four-level runway capable of handling dium to large-sized aircraft. However, with only one runway available, the incoming flights had to line up, waiting their turn to land or take off.
Now well into the dry season, Hawke looked through the window, observing the city below. It was mostly low-rise buildings. Possibly due to the wind today, a yellowish haze hung over the western and northern parts of the city.
After circling once over Damakin, the plane landed smoothly.
Hawke t up with Jason Barnard and Flick Hunt, then boarded a convoy of vehicles bearing the United Nations insignia, heading toward the city's tallest central building.
This skyscraper combined accommodations and conference facilities.
In the surrounding blocks, Ethiopia's rapid response forces were stationed.
According to Bosque, these green berets were considered one of the stronger military units among African forces.
Outside the central building, journalists from around the world had gathered.
Leonardo, upon arrival, imdiately beca the center of attention, sward by reporters.
Hawke, with Erica and Pierce, entered the building together.
The Osnt Foundation was the classic "good guy" charity, quietly donating money and supplies to help suffering African people without seeking fa or reward.
Ministers from multiple African Union countries, along with nurous United Nations personnel and dozens of dia reporters, essentially didn't have to worry much about security.
The conference was split over two days: the first day involved etings and signing agreents inside the venue; the second day consisted of on-site observations. At the suggestion of so African ministers, participants even engaged in tree-planting activities under secured conditions.
This event, initiated by the UN and African Union, included both opportunists like Hawke and genuinely committed individuals.
Though the United Nations had its share of controversy, it was still governed by the five major powers -- nations that clearly defined who could and could not have influence.
The world had no shortage of idealists, and within the UN and African Union were honest people trying to make a difference.
The Aricans attending were seated together.
...
After handling the dia frenzy, Leonardo found his seat beside Hawke and greeted him, "Hello, Hawke, we et again."
Hawke shook his hand and observed, "You look quite different."
A few months prior, Leonardo had hosted a secret eting for Hawke and Hillary on a yacht, joking, "I don't know what's going on; lately, I've been gaining weight just by drinking water."
Getting the old yacht moving with his tongue was a struggle; that lingering sll of old motor oil seeping into his mouth made him lose his appetite for days.
[T/N: This is about performing oral sex on Hillary.]
Recently, Leonardo had been indulging in pizza, burgers, and chocolate to gain weight, yet with filming and participating in environntal advocacy, the weight gain was still sluggish.
Hawke patted Leonardo's arm but didn't say much more.
Leonardo sighed deeply, feeling more and more trapped. Given his status, he couldn't refuse Hillary.
He was sowhat dejected, realizing that if nothing changed, he'd be Hillary's plaything for the next decade or more.
He instinctively glanced at Hawke -- another Hollywood superstar, Tom Cruise was pulled out of similar troubles by Hawke.
But Pat Kingsley, if even raises a few levels higher, might not compete with Hillary.
Also, Hawke Osnt seed to cooperate with Hillary...
The more Leonardo thought, the more hesitant he beca to speak.
One wrong step could ruin not only his career but his entire life.
...
The conference proceeded smoothly, broadcasted live by dia including Al Jazeera.
Leonardo even delivered a passionate environntal speech.
At the closing, representatives from all parties signed an agreent to green Africa.
The representative signing for the Osnt Foundation was naturally Pierce Madden.
---
In Sudan, the civil war between north and south had been resolved last year, with a ceasefire line drawn roughly corresponding to the future borders of South Sudan's independence.
Starting in March, the United Nations deployed peacekeeping forces to Sudan to prevent humanitarian crises and ensure adherence to the ceasefire by both sides.
Near the Ethiopian border stood an infantry company of Pakistan peacekeepers.
As is generally known, peacekeeping troops mostly played symbolic roles; if fighting broke out, they usually remained silent, unwilling to risk their lives.
After all, foreign soldiers had no reason to give up their lives.
At nightfall near the Pakistan peacekeepers' camp, floodlights lit up the area.
Though located on the African savannah rich with wildlife, the area imdiately around the camp was unusually quiet.
The Pakistani had been there over six months, and local animals seed to avoid the area, as if fearing a terrible predator.
Not even the hyenas known for scavenging dared co near.
The engine of two Toyota pickups rumbled as they arrived at the camp gate. After a brief conversation with the sentry, a phone call was made, and they were allowed in.
Due to their UN peacekeeping mission, the head Pakistani officer was accompanied by a major.
The vehicles stopped before a military tent, where the major was already standing.
The two n got out and shook hands with the major before entering the camp.
The major handed them bottled water.
To the bald leader, he said, "Gurg, what's the urgent matter that you actually ca here in person?"
"The matter we discussed last ti," Gurg placed the water aside.
He didn't dare drink the bottled water delivered; those unused to it sotis wouldn't survive.
In a place like Africa, it could be deadly.
Last ti, bringing along an assistant in scorching heat, the assistant drank a bottle then grabbed another to go, soon transforming into a vomiting wreck, bedridden for days before being sent to Egypt for treatnt.
The major shook his head, "Impossible. That would ruin my military career and Pakistan's international reputation. Our goals are clear."
Gurg knew that well. Regular armies had styles easy to identify by specialists.
Gurg pushed the bottled water aside, "You don't have to act. Just close your eyes and plug your ears. You won't see or hear a thing in the coming days."
Relations were complicated, filled with cooperation and betrayals.
But overall, Pakistan had been taken advantage of more.
The major kept silent.
Gurg understood the critical point and gestured to his assistant.
The burly assistant placed a black briefcase on the table and opened it, releasing a distinct ink-like scent.
Under the light, stacks of U.S. dollar bills were revealed.
The major picked up one stack, slapped it in his hands, then flipped through them, then moved on to another stack.
He judged them genuine.
Gurg said nothing more, knowing nothing spoke louder than the contents of the case.
Of course, he wouldn't tell the major these were super bills.
The major snapped the latch shut, "Five days. You only have five days. That's a long ti, but I'll try."
Gurg smiled, "Five days are enough."
Because this area was guarded by Pakistani peacekeepers, there were no ard groups from South Sudan or Ethiopian border patrols.
Gurg left the major a satellite phone for communication, then, with his assistant, exited the tent and got in a vehicle.
...
As they drove through the camp, a light suddenly flickered sowhere. Gurg noticed several African baboons in an iron cage struggling, their mouths crooked and noses misaligned, barely able to make sounds, seemingly suffering terrible tornt.
The assistant almost spoke, but Gurg warned, "Don't say anything. Getting detained would be worse than those creatures."
The assistant dared not breathe.
The pickups left the camp, crushing dry grass beneath their tires, heading southwest.
Gurg's destination was a fiercely combative tribe near the South Sudan-Ethiopia border, inhabited by a group of hostile African people.
The north-south Sudan civil war wasn't just between two sides, but among nurous tribes.
Only 10% of South Sudan's population practiced Islam; the rest followed traditional tribal religions, totaling about 64 tribes.
Even in the 21st century, many tribes saw outsiders as less than human.
But Gurg avoided the most extre tribes, fearing he'd be attacked before even eting their chieftain.
After over two hours, the pickups entered a tribal settlent.
...
This was a relatively advanced African tribe, already equipped with firearms over ten years ago, possessing several armored pickups and many old troop transport trucks.
Among them were two ard Humrs.
A group of Africans blocked Gurg's path. Their leader, Mousad, was almost invisible in the dark.
He flipped his thick lips to show white teeth and asked, "Gurg?"
Gurg got out, "Guys, you really scared ."
He took out a brand-new Beretta handgun with its holster and handed it to Mousad.
Mousad smiled widely, teeth nearly showing, "Follow ."
Gurg gestured to his n to get out.
The assistant lugged another briefcase.
The hum of a generator ca from nearby.
Most houses were dark, but the largest house in the center was brightly lit.
A middle-aged, sturdy black man wearing a red beret and ard belt stood in front.
From afar, Gurg opened his arms, "Amin, my old friend."
Amin embraced him and asked directly, "My friend Gurg, what brings you here this ti?"
Gurg smiled, "I want to hire your best hunters to track down so troubleso prey."
*****
spatreon/Sayonara816.
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