Chapter 16: Clever Men
If he had not been so well informed, Azel would not have given the man standing in his doorway a second thought. At first glance, he looked like any other average Kisanganian male, but then Azel recognized him.
During Azel's brief time in Kisangani, he had made it one of his personal projects to find out who all of the major players were in the city. The Hyena's name had been mentioned frequently, and Azel had even observed him, at a distance, on several occasions. After all, a man like that could have his uses.
"You recognize me, Deputy Minister", Kingugwa said and it was not a question as much as a statement because he knew that the Minister had developed an interest in him.
"I have seen you before," Azel replied cautiously. "Although, I was under the impression that you did not make unsolicited house calls."
"Just as you know of me, Minister, so it is that I know of you," he replied and his cool smile was on full display. "And I believe that I may have something of interest to one such as yourself."
Azel regarded him silently for a moment. Clearly, the man's response was a request for an invitation to enter, but would it really be a discussion that could benefit Azel? He decided to find out. He opened the door and gestured for Kingugwa to enter his home. Azel requested for his maid to bring them tea, and then dismissed her for the night. A meeting with someone like Kingugwa was best done without the presence of prying ears and prying eyes.
As they sipped their tea in the comfortable living room, Azel waited for Kingugwa to make the first move, and he didn't have to wait long.
"Minister," Kingugwa began, "you have acquired quite an impressive reputation."
Azel raised his eyebrows slightly in response, but he decided to remain silent.
"The General," continued Kingugwa, "is grateful for your skills in managing the press and controlling the people's comfort with the developing events. I also have reason to believe that it was your suggestion that influenced to the General's decision to march the troops West of Kisangani instead of through it."
Azel was careful again not to display his emotions, however he found that he was terribly curious. He hadn't expected the smuggler to be so well-informed about the army's movements or about his assistance. It was clear that Kingugwa had important connections, so what did he want from him.
"And this is of interest to you how?" Azel asked calmly.
"Such decisions mean that you are a very clever man," answered Kingugwa simply. "And a very clever man is a man who can understand me and my needs."
"And what needs would those be?"
Kingugwa didn't say anything at first, instead he leaned in towards Azel and tried to arrange his demeanor and face in way that would make him seem reconciliatory.
"In the past," Kingugwa began reproachfully, "I have been something of a sinner. Those sinful ways led me to serve both Mai Mai and government alike. However, the government's massive forces and insurmountable plan against the rebels, have shown me the error of my ways." He paused and then said firmly, "Now, I want to serve the government only." Now that he had concluded his offer, he sat back, and looked at Azel to make the next move.
"And now you want someone who can convince the government and its personnel that you have become a loyalist," Azel said perceptively.
Kingugwa's smile widened; satisfied by Azel's response.
Azel had only been curious about the smuggler before, but now he was impressed. Kingugwa had somehow discovered the government's plan against the rebels, and he was intuitive enough to understand that it was probably time for him to ally himself solely with the future power structure.
"And what will convince me that you have become a loyalist?" Azel asked in a slow, deliberate tone.
"I have information."
Azel considered that for a second and then asked, "Why not go to the General with this information?"
"Because the General is a military man, and he is interested only in military things. He is not so clever. But you," Kingugwa continued, "you can see the big picture. And you have used your considerable skills to endear yourself to civilian and military powers alike. This means that you are a man with the imagination to realize your ambitions, and…" Kingugwa paused for a second and leaned in again towards Azel before continuing, "the ambitions of those in your favor."
Now it was Azel's turn to smile. "And what information do you have that will stimulate my imagination?"
"There is an American doctor who is willing to spend large sums of cash for convoy trucks."
Azel and Kingugwa were silent as each man attempted to measure the ambition of the other.
"Is the doctor's name John Carter?" Azel asked.
The smuggler nodded.
"I have heard," Azel replied slowly, "that he wanted to move refugees."
"So, he says. But who says that his version has to be the official version," Kingugwa stated simply.
Both men began to smile. The meaning was clear. A little imagination was all that it would take for both men to benefit greatly from the American's efforts.
Azel extended his hand to Kingugwa to cement their deal.
"I'm glad to see that you have come to your senses and returned to the embrace of the government," Azel said warmly.
Kingugwa shook Azel's hand firmly, then they discussed the timeframe and steps that would permit them to use Carter's project to lay the groundwork for their mutual dreams of power.
Monday - Day 18 of the Rebel Advance
It's funny how some days start out good and only get better, Azel mused to himself. It was early evening, and he was reviewing the events of the last two days as he enjoyed a sip of the scotch that he had purchased during his last visit to the U.K.
As expected, John Carter had met with Kingugwa yesterday and the doctor had delivered the promised sum. Azel wasn't quite certain of the amount that was being paid, Kingugwa had claimed that he was getting $5000, but Azel had a feeling that the sum was a bit larger than that.
In any case, he wasn't too concerned about being cheated out of that portion, because Azel knew that Carter would be bringing $50,000 with him to tomorrow's rendezvous to collect the vehicles, and Azel had already planned to claim the lion's share of that amount for himself.
He poured himself another fifth of whiskey as he reviewed the details of his trap. Yesterday, he had spent hours weighing the pros and cons of who would be best to assist them in this endeavor, and in the end he was certain that he had made the right choice.
He knew that he couldn't tell anyone in a powerful position in the Ministry or the Military offices, because he couldn't take the chance that they would betray him and claim the credit for themselves. So the next obvious choice was to find someone with authority who was not too bright and who could be easily manipulated.
Monday morning he had had his secretary, Helene, reschedule his afternoon appointments, and at 3:00pm he had left his office and went to a location that he was certain would help him put his plan into place.
When he entered the office of the Chief of Police of Kisangani, the Chief had given him a hearty handshake, and then spent the next five minutes bragging about his unimpressive educational background and other equally unimpressive past accomplishments.
From that moment on, Azel was certain that he had found the right man. The Chief was always making clumsy attempts to impress and ingratiate himself with the most powerful members of the Ministry staff, and Azel knew that this was an indication that although the man had ambition, he lacked the skills necessary to change that ambition into attainable goals. Such naïveté and self-importance would go a long way in assisting Azel's plan without costing him or Kingugwa too much of their profit.
All Azel had to do was to orchestrate the situation and bend the facts a little.
"So," the Chief began, "what brings a Deputy Minister to my humble office?"
"Sad to say Chief," Azel said as he shook his head wearily, "but this is not a purely social visit."
"Oh?"
"No doubt," explained Azel, "you have heard that the government has been having some trouble with the rebels in the South."
"Yes," the Chief answered nonchalantly. He had heard the rumors and he had even heard some of the refugees' tales. However, refugee tales were always grim so he hadn't attached much significance to their stories.
"But the newspapers," objected the Chief.
"The government is assured of victory," Azel added confidently. He knew very well what his own propaganda machine had been printing on the government's behalf, and he didn't what to jeopardize that sense of triumph in the Chief's mind.
"However," Azel continued, "it is something of a surprise for the rebels to have become so active so recently. In fact, we at the Ministry are quite concerned about," Azel paused to add a more dramatic effect to his next words, "how they are being funded. After all, could they have become so active lately if they were not receiving funding from somewhere?"
"No…no, I suppose not," the Chief responded a bit nervously. He was beginning to wonder if the Minister had come there to implicate him or some of his men in something.
Azel noticed the Chief's nervousness and addressed it in his next remark. "Now, we at the government know that the region is poor and that there are many, many loyalists here," Azel said reassuringly, and he gazed directly into the Chief's eyes to indicate that he was considered a loyalist. "Therefore, the funding must be coming from outside sources."
"Foreigners?" the Chief asked and he could not keep the sound of relief out of his voice. Ugandan? Ruwandan?"
"Maybe not so near as that," Azel responded. He leaned forward to the Chief and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial level. "I have information that an American doctor is planning to spend $50,000 for five convoy trucks that could be used to transport troops."
Azel leaned back in his seat, and the Chief smiled because he now understood the reason for Azel's visit. The Deputy Minister needed his help.
"I had heard," the Chief said slowly, "that the doctor wants to transport the people in the refugee camp to a different location."
"Perhaps," Azel responded casually. "But $50,000?" he emphasized. "$50,000 dollars is a lot of money even for an American. As we all know, the CIA does not have much use for our government, and it has the cash to change things."
"And what proof do you have that the doctor is working for the CIA?"
"I do not have any proof at the moment," answered Azel. "However, with your help, I will have all the proof that is needed."
"And what help could I possibly provide?" the Chief asked.
Azel's smile grew wider. "The doctor will make the exchange tomorrow. You and a few of your men could be waiting for him, and could capture the transaction on tape." Azel produced a small digital video recorder from the inside pocket of his jacket. He placed it on the Chief's desk, and pushed it across to him. "Of course, I will be there to oversee the proceedings. And once the transaction has been filmed, you can arrest the doctor for engaging in illegal activities."
"And what incentive do I have to involve myself and my men in these proceedings?" asked the Chief expectantly.
Azel weighed his options. He knew that he could bribe the man with some of the $50,000, but he had planned to keep a large portion of that sum for himself. Instead, he hoped that a different type of bribe, a bribe that addressed the Chief's appetite for respect, would suffice.
"The man who captures a traitor and exposes a CIA plot," Azel began, "is a man who will be much rewarded by top government forces in the capital. And those who assist such a man will receive similar awards and honors."
The Chief rocked back in forth in his chair for a moment as he considered the possibilities. A promotion to a Ministry position, maybe even a move to Kinshasa to enjoy its many luxuries and relative peace, all of these were things that entered the Chief's mind. However, just as he was starting to agree with Azel's plan , a concern entered his mind.
"People know that the doctor is looking to transport the refugees. These people could become witnesses against you. They could be a problem," the Chief countered.
"Impoverished people," Azel responded reasonably. "Refugees. People who can be easily controlled by the right forces. People who can be made to disappear in suitably, unquestionable ways."
"And what if the CIA denies any knowledge of the doctor?" the Chief asked.
"The CIA may very well disavow him. However, once we have the doctor on tape, he will be ours, and his story will be ours to control. The exchange of $50,000 for transport trucks large enough to move dozens of troops is not something that can be easily explained away; especially considering the doctor's attachments."
The Chief looked dully at Azel and Azel knew that he would have to explain it in detail in order for the man to understand.
"The doctor is rumored to have a fiancée," Azel continued. "A Congolese woman whose father was killed a few years ago. The circumstances of his death have always been a bit unclear, and he could have been killed by either Government or Mai Mai forces.
Azel sighed, "It is possible that this woman blames the government for her father's death and is cooperating with the rebels. Perhaps, the good doctor is simply using his money to help his lover. One has heard of such things. However, whether he is doing it for the CIA or for his woman will be irrelevant because we will have him on tape, and his activities will appear very, very suspicious."
The Chief nodded appreciatively. The Minister's plan seemed sound, but he would need insurance to protect him and his men against potentially dangerous repercussions.
"I'll assist you in arresting and interrogating the doctor," the Chief stated, "but only on the condition that we capture him making the exchange on tape. Arresting an American, whether he is a CIA operative or not, is a risky thing. Far too risky, unless there is substantial proof involved," the Chief added sternly.
"Agreed, "replied Azel and he started to rise from his chair. "Come with your men tomorrow morning at 9:30am to my office, and I will take us to the location where the American will make the exchange," Azel said and then he left the Chief's office, pleased by the outcome of his visit.
The Chief didn't know it yet, but once the doctor was in their custody, Azel was planning to call Kem with news of the American's situation. He was certain that he could ply her with terms that would convince her that she could help her lover if she came to him. Once there, he knew that her presence and the threat of violence to her would assist the American with the answers that he should provide during his taped interrogation. Besides, his threats of violence towards Kem didn't have to be mere threats, and she could be easily disposed of after they were done.
The chimes on Azel's mahogany and brass grandfather clock began to ring in the hour and their sound jolted Azel's mind back to the present. It was 7:00pm.
He took another sip of his whiskey and smiled. By this time tomorrow night, Kem would be doing all that she could to secure the doctor's release, not knowing that her actions would have no affect on the outcome, and Azel would be taking great pleasure in making sure that the doctor was a broken man begging for death.