POCKET CHANGE 2: A GAME OF CARDS
by Sharon R.

Chapter Two

Somehow after all the years of living in Chicago, Carter thought he would have been used to the discomfort of public transportation. And Luka had certainly had his share of it on more than one continent. But that day as they shared a tight space on the bus with Sean, the aroma of fumes and unavoidable body odor of their fellow commuters made them appreciate the slower paced lives they had led in the past: Luka's Viper, Carter's Jeep and Sean's bicycle as it traipsed through the tight alleyways and green pastures of Ireland. With money being tight all over and mass transit certainly not a priority, it wasn't surprising to hear the bus gears grind, the windows and door squeak with frustration and the suspension lacking altogether.

There was not a seat left on the bus as they joined the others in the aisle holding onto the luggage racks above to keep from falling over each other. Sean was the most unfortunate of the three as his relative vertical deficiency landed his nose in any of three or four armpits circling around his head like buzzards.

The heat was absolutely oppressive, the breeze making its way through the windows that had been wrestled open not giving much relief at all. As the bus was jarred in every possible direction Luka reached his free, long arm upwards to gain additional stability only to have the antiquated metal rooftop scorch his palm.

Finally, their stop was announced and like horses out of the gate, the passengers disembarked with the bravado of thoroughbreds on race day. An excited Sean led the way as Carter and Luka followed him down the cluttered, noisy street bursting with mom and pop shops and professional offices that were almost indistinguishable with their homemade signs and caged storefront windows.

"Need a new icebox?" Sean chuckled as they passed by what appeared to be a very popular appliance shop, though none of the refrigerators or stoves were clearly new, the sidewalk serving as storage. "Kampala Street is THE place to shop. Everything you need is here," Sean explained. Finally, they made it to a small office building where the Alliance de Medecines Internationale had set up shop after conditions had deteriorated in the Congo.

"I know it has been a long trip for you, but we still have one more leg to go. And, I have a very special surprise for you." Sean unlocked the interior office and the trio stepped inside. Luka turned on the old desktop fan only to find it non-functional. "I've spent the last month getting the new camp ready in Pakwach with volunteers. President Museveni has even given us a limited number of soldiers to use at our discretion. He says it is a courtesy, but it's just as much to protect his world image."

"Is there reason for him to be worried about his image?" Carter wondered aloud.

"Well," Sean cleared his throat, handing each doctor a lukewarm bottle of Coke, "the only way to get to the other side of the country by land is on the Karuma/Pakwach Road. It's a 400 kilometer drive, long in and of itself, but also dangerous. As much as Uganda is trying to make the world think it has advanced itself into modern times, the north still has to contend with the LRA - The Lords Resistance Army."

"Rebels?" Luka asked.

"Aye, sorry, more rebels. Although the LRA is fighting a losing battle, they still dominate media attention in those parts, and sometimes that's what counts to them. When they haven't been in the news for a while, they like to brush up on their pillaging and killing skills." Sean paused as he noticed the two doctors found no humor in this offbeat, yet all too true remark. "At least, Dr. Carter, you will be relieved to know that the official language is English."

"So this is the capital of Uganda?" Carter peered out of the window gazing at the bustle of shoppers making their way to the assorted shops and kiosks.

"Mmm. Well, this is just part of it. Uganda is a beautiful country and," Sean stepped up beside Carter and pointed at several white minivans and black SUV's as they abruptly stopped in front of the building, "I believe that you will appreciate it better once you get a bird's eye view."

Almost simultaneously, the doors to most of the vehicles opened as soldiers and businessmen poured out making their way to Sean's front door.

"Is this our surprise?" Luka questioned him.

Sean chuckled, obviously not surprised by the arrival of their guests. "No, not yet. Not mine, at least. I believe this would be the President's entourage."

Most of the group stayed outside on the street as several official looking politicians came through the door.

"Welcome to Uganda," the apparent leader of the pack announced with a very obvious African accent as he put his hand out to shake the foreigners' hands, "my name is Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and I am the Vice President of Uganda."

After introductions, the Vice President hurriedly gave instructions to his aids to load the luggage the three men had with them into a van, then rushed them into one of the vehicles, always with a broad smile on his face. "We are excited that you have come to our country to help us with the burden of the displaced Congolese. You see we have our hands full with refugees from all around us and our own problem people give us the most trouble with the Sudanese. So your attention in Pakwach is much appreciated."

Before the three could get a word out, the procession of vehicles took off at great speed and purpose.

"Excuse me, Professor, but where are you taking us?" Luka felt uncomfortable as he found himself in a situation he did not relish: taken by armed strangers on a ride in a relatively foreign country where rebels tend to kidnap foreign tourists.

"It's okay, Luka," Sean assured him, "this is a gift from the president. You will be flown to Pakwach on board President Museveni's private military helicopter and shown some of the natural wonders of the country."

"The president wishes to extend his thanks to you and hopes that you will take back word of the sites to your people." The vice president, sitting in the front of the vehicle was turned around, still smiling from ear to ear. "Unfortunately he is tied up and won't be able to join us."

As Carter mumbled to himself with a half smile, Luka inched closer, his head down to hear him.

"Hmm?"

"Tied up."

As the two shared their inside joke the caravan came to a halt inside a military base outside of Kampala. There in front of them were three very large, very expensive and very sophisticated military helicopters. Guided to the door of the largest of the three - on a red carpet, no less - they were greeted by several soldiers standing guard, all business and stoic save one whose broad smile matched that of the Vice President's.

Their journey took them first west where the choppers dipped out of the clouds almost frighteningly close to the tree line of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. As the Professor pointed at a large herd of elephants congregating in the sun, the tourists' intrusion from the air encouraged the mammals extraordinaire to move on, the few babies among them gingerly cared for by the trunks of the cows for fear of straying. "After our civil war, the president made it a priority to reestablish our country's commitment to our national parks," the vice president told them over the intercom system of the helicopter. "The elephant population had dwindled to almost extinction. Now we are again seeing them multiply and flourish." Further on over a set of trees, a small lake harbored a family of hippos, a massive flock of flamingos and a lone lion sunning on a rock.

The ascent back into the clouds lasted only as long as it took for them to pass over the great Rwenzori Mountains, the white peaks melting into the mist that encapsulated them. Luka and Carter only half heard their official tour guide talking about the permanent glaciers at the top and lush forestation at the bottom providing magnificent hiking for enthusiasts. The doctors were obviously enjoying their tour as they stared out the windows in awe.

As they headed north they were treated to the Kibale National Park, a rainforest chocked full of wildlife including 12 species of primate. "You let me know when you can get some time away and I will arrange a guided forest walk for you," the vice president told them. "They will take you deep into the rainforest where you will find yourself right among the chimpanzees and red colobus monkeys."

The two doctors looked at each other in astonishment as they were sure that they shared the same thought: this is not the Africa they fled from a couple of months ago!

As they flew the entire length of Lake Albert north to their final destination, they had one last surprise: Murchison Falls National Park. The choppers hovered over the pinnacle of the Falls where the Nile River plunges 40 meters over the rocks through a narrow crevice. It was awe inspiring to witness this wonder as only flying creatures are able to.

Their presidential tour over, they finally descended into what slowly became recognizable to them: the former airfield now turned refugee camp. Only last time they were there it was simply a rest point between hops off the continent after their month of captivity. Luka remembered it well, but for Carter the view upon landing was nothing more than an inkling of familiarity.

Handshakes all around, luggage and passengers disembarked, and the choppers were once again headed southeast to Kampala. As the "birds" rose into the skies, Sean, Luka and Carter turned their backs on them, crouching just a bit to take on the force of the whirling air behind them. Within moments, they were alone with only each other and the nature that was to become their home. The quiet of the expansive field surrounded by trees in the distance was a stark contrast to the roar of the helicopters and busy city of Kampala. The three of them stood shoulder to shoulder looking at what lay before them, the occasional howling wind pushing at their backs. With their limited luggage thrust over their shoulders, they headed towards the old hanger.

"Wait," Luka stopped abruptly, as his foot lodged under a large duffel bag. "Who forgot a bag?"

With none of the three claiming the baggage on the ground before them, they looked around and saw just one more face. Carter dropped his bags as the smiling soldier stirred memories of his last visit there and suddenly thrust the vague inkling into overdrive. The smell, the ambiance of where he was, the smiling face, was suddenly all too familiar.