Chapter 12: A Way Out

"Kem," John called out as he opened the apartment door, but there was no answer as he entered the room. He looked around and he quickly reached the conclusion that she was gone. He was a bit puzzled but not worried. After all, she did say that she had some things to do while he was at the clinic. Besides, it was only 2:00pm.

He took off his shoes and promptly collapsed on top of their bed. He only meant to close his eyes for a few seconds and clear his thoughts, but his body's weariness won out and he dozed off into a solid sleep.

A clattering sound jolted him back to wakefulness, and he turned his head to see Kem adjusting the lid of a pot on the stove. The apartment was already starting to fill with the pleasant smells of spices and cooking food.

John got up, walked to the kitchen, and he placed his hands possessively around her slight waist. He kissed the spot above her right ear, and then whispered in a husky voice, "Where were you?"

"Hmmm", she moaned. "I had to see about a few things. Did you have a nice nap?"

"Yeah, I only closed my eyes for…two hours?" he exclaimed in disbelief as he looked at the clock and saw that it was a little past 4:15pm.

Kem shook her head at his shocked response and smiled. "Why don't you set the table", she said, "while I finish up here, and then I'll tell you what's on my mind."

At first, they shared their dinner in comfortable if not expectant silence. However, John didn't want to rush her because he wanted her to feel comfortable enough to tell him whatever she needed to when the time was right for her.

"I know you want a family…more children," she said suddenly.

"Yeah," he replied quietly. Children were one of his many dreams, but he hadn't discussed her thoughts on the subject for months and he didn't know how she felt about childbirth and pregnancy since her experience with Joshua.

"I do too," she said. "Not right now though," she added quickly as she saw John's hopeful expression. "It's…it's too soon for me now. But in the near future, I think that I can and will want to go through it again," and she forced herself to not start crying at the memory of the birth of their stillborn son.

John took her hand and she squeezed it firmly in return.

"Anyway," she continued, "I was thinking that maybe Kisangani isn't the safest place to raise children when we decide to have them."

"Are you thinking about moving to Kinshasa?" John asked casually. "Your father's family is there and they could help out."

"Ummm….yeah Kinshasa isn't bad, but I was thinking that maybe…," and she let out a deep sigh before proceeding, "Chicago would be better."

John tried to hold back his delight, but he failed and his smile touched both his mouth and his eyes.

"Really?" he asked.

"I mean we do have a house there already," she said reasonably.

"Yeah", he said and nodded his head in agreement. "It's probably more full of dust bunnies than living area by now, but I'm sure that can be easily remedied."

"And you have a job there as a tenured professor. And even though my father's family is here," she continued, "it's my mum whom I want to have around most. And I know that she would definitely feel more at home in Chicago than she ever did in Kinshasa"

John snickered at the last part of her statement and at the thought of the very pale and chic Fabienne trying to make it through the hellish Congolese summer.

"What about your work?" he asked seriously.

"Well, the initial phase of the study is coming to an end, and I've been in contact with several international agencies about future sponsorship. All of them are looking for the same criteria. They want to sponsor a program with our efficacy levels, however they want that program to prove that it can be managed remotely while still producing effective results. That way they can launch the program in several different locations around the world simultaneously, but keep their top personnel at their headquarters in order to reduce administration costs. So, I was thinking that moving to Chicago would actually fit in well with my work because it would be a good way to test the second phase of the study and demonstrate that the program is effective even when one is not directly on site."

John nodded appreciatively. "It seems like a sound idea", he said.

"And as far as friends go," she continued and she shrugged her shoulders indifferently, "well I'm sure that I can get used to life there." And she gave him small, sad smile.

"There are plenty of people back there who miss you," he said firmly but now it was her turn to snicker.

"No, really," he insisted. "People like Jerry, and Frank, and Luka. And I know that Inez misses you, and Haleh, and Malik. They really enjoyed meeting you. "

"Really?" she asked gingerly.

He nodded his head in affirmation.

"Well, I liked them too."

His smile widened, and he said in a sincere voice, "Thank you." Then he clasped her hand even tighter and asked, "So when were you thinking about making this move?"

She cleared her throat. "Well…I have another favor to ask of you."

"Anything in the world…and I'll do it," he said chivalrously.

"Hah," she laughed. "Although, maybe I should take you up on that offer some day", and they both began to chuckle.

After a few seconds, her face became serious again. "Do you remember when you walked in on Azel and me yesterday?"

John's jaw tightened slightly at the memory. "Yes," he said tersely and there was no trace of the mirth from just seconds before in his voice.

"Well, he told me something that isn't known by the general population. He told me that the Mai Mai forces have advanced to within three hundreds miles of the city and that they are continuing to advance at a pace of ten to fifteen miles a day."

John stared at her silently for a moment before responding. "Does the government think that the Mai Mai will be able to take over the city?" he asked.

"No, the government doesn't appear to be at all concerned that the rebels can topple the city," she said confidently. "And I seriously doubt that they could do it as well. It's unheard of for a motley band of fighters to deliver such a resounding defeat. Besides, the government is apparently planning to launch an offensive to try to crush the rebels and end the rebellion permanently when the rebels advance to within a hundred miles of us."

John sighed and it was evident that he was not overly enthused by the government's plans. After all, it would mean more bloodshed and more violent deaths. However, if it occurs one hundred miles from here, John thought, then at least the city and its citizens may be spared.

Another thought then entered his mind and he narrowed his eyes as he stated it aloud. "And Azel told you all this because..."

"Oh, I think that he was trying to impress me."

John snorted out a laugh and gave Kem one of his patented wry looks to express how unimpressed he was with Azel's fascination with her. However, Kem choose to ignore his minor displeasure because she knew that there were more pressing issues.

"The problem is that even if the government stops the rebels they will have to use a road that could endanger thousands of innocent lives. See, there's only one navigable road for troops and vehicles between here and the rebels' position in the South; and the refugee camp lies directly on that road," she explained.

John looked at her curiously. Even though he knew the camp well because of dear Seline and her young daughter Michelle, he was still not able to understand where Kem was going with all this.

"If the army goes through that camp," Kem continued, "or if they should fail to stop the rebels then they may decide to advance towards the city and …"

"I thought that you said that the rebels wouldn't attack the city," he interjected.

"True. However, if the army fails to stop them, they could decide advance to within a few miles of the city just to prove their bravado. In any case, the camp and its inhabitants could be in serious danger".

Her face had become flushed and she bit lightly on her lip as she hoped that she'd been able to make John understand her concerns.

John didn't have to ask what type of danger. He had heard tales at the clinic about rebels, and even government soldiers who had terrorized refugees by stealing from them, beating them, and brutally raping them even if they were just young children.

"What is it…" he began but his voice trails off as he thinks about the potential danger. He decided to change his question. "Is the government planning on evacuating them?" he asked.

"No, not according to Azel and I'm inclined to believe him. Apparently and typically, the government is too busy killing in the name of the people that they are otherwise too busy to protect," she said bitterly.

"Ah...ha," he said softly and he finally understood what favor she was asking for.

"So what is it that you propose to do?" he asked.

She smiled brightly – happy because he understood exactly what she wanted.

"I think that I…we can evacuate the camp."

"6000 people," he said skeptically.

"There maybe a few less than that," she said as she tried to lessen the blow.

"But not much less," he scoffed.

"And I have a spot already picked out," she said as she ignored his lack of enthusiasm. "That's where I was this morning. The Eastern section beyond Kisangani is fairly immune to fighting because there's not much there in terms of resources or infrastructure, which means that neither side feels like killing the other for that space."

She hopped up from her chair, went to her bag, and pulled out the map. As she spread the map on the floor, John joined her.

"See," and she drew her index finger down a dashed line to a solid black dot that she had marked on the map, "there's a spot about sixty miles East of town that would be perfect for a camp that size. There's a small river nearby and it even has the added bonus of not being too far from the main road. So the camp's inhabitants would have the benefit of a nearby water supply, and they would also have the ability to easily return to the city for goods and services."

Although he was impressed by her logic and her efforts, John raised his eyebrows slightly and pursed his lips together.

"Don't you think that you might be acting a bit prematurely?" he asked quietly.

She looked up slowly at him.

However, John continued his objection undeterred by surprised look on her face. "Look, we don't even know if the rebels are going to continue their advance or even if Azel was telling you the truth."

"You don't believe me," she said softly almost inaudibly.

"No, it's not that. I just think that we should get a second opinion. Charles and Angelique have been here a long time and Abe was raised here. They might be able have a good understanding of what's going on and how best to proceed."

"A second opinion," she mumbled numbly, and she looked down at the floor.

Then she looked up again. "That's one of the things that I love and hate about you – you're always being a doctor," she said rather acerbically, but she paired her statement with a small smile to take the edge off of it.

But you do want to help them, don't you?" she asked gently.

"Yes," he responded firmly. "I just want to make sure that we go about helping them in the best way possible."

She nodded in agreement.

He sighed and said, "I'll go to the clinic tomorrow and tell the group the news."

"Oh…but it can't be made general knowledge. If it gets out that the rebels are advancing so quickly, then…"

"The population might start to panic," he finished for her. "I know," he said sadly. "I'll just tell our group and I'll arrange for us to get together so that you can present your thoughts and ideas."

She smiled brightly and said in a tone similar to the one that he had used when she told him that she was willing to move back to Chicago, "Thank you. And after we accomplish this relocation, then I'll be ready to relocate to our new home…in Chicago."

That night, John held Kem close to him. And although he had drifted off to sleep, she was finding it difficult to join him as she imagined that she could hear the roar of gunfire and the pounding violence of grenades in the distance.