By the time Noah returned to Dr. Byrne's house, Luke lay in an upstairs bedroom in a drug-induced slumber. His skin was still shiny with sweat but the painful shivering had mercifully stopped and he seemed peaceful in the ornate Ottoman style bed.
He looked beautiful.
A tiny part of Noah relaxed and he inhaled deeply.
"You bathed him?" Noah asked, taking a seat on the soft mattress and running his fingers through Luke's clean and freshly dried hair. Its consistency was silky and soft to the touch and Noah smiled slightly at the thought of how that would please him.
Dr. Byrne stood by the open bedroom door, "My helper Prudence cleaned him up, yes. I'm training her as a nurse. She has promise that one."
"You should know… I don't think he's eaten in at least two days."
"He had a little chicken broth before he nodded off, don't you fret."
"He wouldn't take any food from me." Noah replied.
"That Prudence can be fabulously persuasive when she sets her mind to something."
Noah nodded unable to tear his gaze from Luke.
"You know I can't help but wonder what the two of you thought you were doing all the way out here?" the doctor continued, "Uganda really isn't the place for your kind if you understand what I'm trying to say."
Noah glanced at the doctor but saw no hate or malice. It was merely a question. "Luke was sent here on assignment. He's a reporter."
"Well, I'd be suing my employer for reckless endangerment when I got back home." Byrne responded. "Boy should be counting his lucky stars a beating's all he got. Some of the things I've seen…"
"Why doesn't anybody do anything?" Noah asked, a little angrier than he intended, "Why's this being allowed to continue?"
Dr. Byrne shrugged, "It's Africa. Western countries have tried to interfere in the politics of African countries before and it's always ended up in bloodshed. I'm suspecting they see no advantage in it."
"Well, advantage or not, we're going to lobby for action when we get back to L.A." Noah told him. "One of our friends is still in that camp where Luke was hurt. He's been listed as missing for weeks and all this time the Ugandan authorities knew where he was!"
"It's a familiar story." Byrne nodded sadly.
"It's archaic!" Noah rubbed his forehead. His headache was returning.
"It's Africa."
Noah sighed.
"You can stay here with him tonight if you wish but I wager you'll be wanting a hot shower and a warm meal first. I had Prudence run to the store and you'll find a change of clothes in the bathroom, as well as a fresh towel you can use. It's just next door. When you're ready you should come downstairs so we can fatten you up."
"Thank you, Doctor. That's very kind."
The small man grinned, "Let's see if you still think that tomorrow when you see my bill."
With a flick of his wrist and a wink Byrne left the room.
Noah's attentions fell back to Luke and his hand met Luke's fingers in a gentle caress. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Luke's warm cheek.
He worried.
He worried about getting them out of Uganda. He worried about Lutalo's strange behaviour.
"Noah?" The brown eyes were staring up at him, the gap between them crinkled in a frown.
Noah smoothed the creases out with the tip of his thumb. "It's okay. Go back to sleep."
He watched the hazel disappear as the eyes fluttered closed and he waited for the telling rise and fall of Luke's chest before bending down to place a feather-light kiss on his brow.
"I love you." He whispered. "You eejit."
He gave Luke's hand one last squeeze and left to shower, hope in his heart that Luke would be well enough to travel in the morning.
...
As badly as Noah knew he needed rest, he found himself wide awake at the crack of dawn watching Luke sleep. Sometimes he'd gently run his fingers through Luke's hair, enjoying the tickle of it between his fingers. At other times he'd smooth his fingers over Luke's hand, grazing circles there.
He couldn't relax. Not really. Not until he knew for certain that Luke's fever had broken and he'd be okay.
It would be easy to feel safe and secure within the comfortable bed of a real house, but Noah was an army child. He wasn't fooled. The danger outside was almost tangible, he felt it thick in the air like a dark red mist; Luke's injuries stark testament to the desperate situation they were in.
He closed his eyes as thoughts of that sent him reeling back to that moment by the compound; the shrill lash of the whip and Luke's cries. He didn't think he'd ever forget it.
He drew Luke instinctively closer to him, wrapping their legs together.
Noah knew for certain that capture this time would lead to death. The thought of that; of anything else happening to Luke; of the powerlessness he felt when he couldn't help him; of never getting back home; petrified him.
He watched as Luke's eyeballs darted suddenly under their lids and felt Luke's breath quicken against his neck; his heart drumming.
"NOAH!" Those eyes Noah loved whipped open as he screamed Noah's name, blank and terrified.
"Hi baby." Noah smiled, keeping calm; quickly masking his fears and cupping Luke's face.
Luke grunted as he breathed in deep gulps of air, his hand finding Noah's cheek and their eyes locking as was their way; the love between them warming and calming like a blanket.
"I was dreaming."
Noah nodded and Eskimo kissed him.
"Where are we?"
"Dr. Byrne's house."
They spoke in whispers and lay peacefully like that for a while, wrapped up in clean white linen, enjoying this moment after all the chaos of the past few hours.
"What happens now?" Luke asked, looking at Noah as though he somehow held all the answers.
Noah wished he did. "Well, you look heaps better. Do you think you'd be okay if we left today?"
Luke nodded.
"Good because I don't think Lutalo's very-" Noah was cut off by a soft knock at the door and he sat up against the headboard, "Come in."
"Good morning! Glad to see you're both awake." Dr Byrne hobbled into the room, smiling broadly at them. "Now young Luke, how are we this morning then?"
Luke rolled to his side to face the doctor, "I'm hoping you're going to tell me I'm much better Dr. Byrne. So we can get out of here."
"Your friends are already waiting for you downstairs. They seem just as anxious as you to be making tracks. Can't say I blame any of you!"
"I'll shower while the doctor checks you out," Noah kissed the back of Luke's head before rolling out the other side of the bed and grabbing the towel he'd left hanging on the back of the door.
...
Laarman gripped his messenger bag to his chest to prevent it from blowing in the strong winds generated by the Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter; one of two ex-Vietnam war choppers the Ugandan government had purchased cheaply from America. Most likely by using donated money that was supposed to be set aside for aide work.
A bright stream of golden red light haloed the horizon as the morning sun made its first appearance; glinting against the green metal of the flying beast before him.
Waiting until he received the all clear signal from the pilot, Laarman bent low and ran under the swishing blades, followed by five military policemen deployed to help him locate the fugitives.
The co-pilot took his hand and helped him up; strapping him in securely.
Laarman hated the choppers. They were old, loud and windy and for all he knew the pilot had learnt how to fly from a book. Flying put him on edge in general, but flying by helicopter scared the shit out of him.
He closed his eyes and concentrated on his breathing; asking God to forgive the profanity of his thoughts and for protection on the journey.
In the end it would be worth it. They would reach the rendezvous point and then all this would be a bad memory.
...
Luke sat on the side of the bed in a pair of oversized cargo trousers and a blue-grey vest top, while Noah squatted and helped to put on his sneakers.
"You okay?" Luke asked, running a hand through Noah's hair as he noticed Noah sway slightly.
It was the blood-stain on the back of Luke's shoe that temporarily threw Noah. It happened whenever he was reminded of that day.
Taking a deep breath he looked up into the brown eyes and smiled encouragingly; ignoring the stain and pushing the back of the sneaker over Luke's heel, "Sure. I'm just grand don't you know?"
Luke laughed as Noah mimicked the Irish accent of their host.
"I'd be even better if you ate a little more before we left." Noah asked hopefully.
Noah saw the conflict in Luke's eyes. He knew Luke wanted to do this for him, but he also knew that Luke was struggling to eat and this thought worried him.
"I'll try." Luke promised.
Noah smiled again and lifted up on his knees to kiss him on the lips. Luke wrapped his arms around Noah's neck and pulled him into a hug, snuggling into the gap between Noah's ear and his shoulder.
"Come," Noah whispered standing and pulling Luke up with him, "Let's head downstairs."
He walked behind Luke as they made their way down the staircase; arms outstretched and read to steady him if he needed it. They could hear the heated Swahili conversation of their friends coming from the parlour and they headed that way.
Lutalo was standing with Magomu by the fireplace, speaking loudly and animatedly as Magomu tried to placate him. A seated Kigongo looked on with concern.
They didn't need to understand Lutalo's words to work out that he was agitated. He cut short the moment Luke and Noah stepped into the room; his dark eyes immediately flicking Luke up and down; taking stock of his condition.
"Okay." He said with military abruptness and zero greeting, "You look well. Let us go."
He picked up a shoulder bag from the floor and headed toward the door.
Noah stopped him with a hand to his chest, "Lutalo, wait!"
There was a deep anxiety clouding his friend's face; the same look Noah had noticed before.
Since the moment he'd met the strong leader of the group, Noah had leaned on his solid calmness. However this seemed to have vanished somehow and Noah wondered whether having to stop for the night had unnerved him.
"I just want Luke to eat something first, okay?"
Lutalo looked from him to Luke and back again.
"No." He said, "We have wasted enough time!"
"Okay this is just stupid." Noah was exasperated, "What is it?"
Lutalo stood stoically.
"Ever since the café you've been acting like you're angry with me."
"This is not true."
"Yes it is!" Noah replied louder than he meant to. "If you have a problem then you should just say it! What's the point of us developing tension amongst ourselves? Don't we have enough of that aimed at us already?"
Kigongo jumped up from the couch and rushed past him just in time to catch Luke as he stumbled against the doorframe.
"I'm okay." Luke insisted.
Noah frowned with concern and watched as Kigongo lowered Luke into a chair before turning back to Lutalo, "Look at him. Does he really seem okay to you? If he's weak from not eating he'll just slow us down even more. Please. I understand your position and I'm grateful for your help; for what all of you have done and risked for us. I don't want to fight with you, but I have to do what's best for him."
He looked back at Luke who was understandably confused by the sudden tension between Noah and Lutalo. Noah faced his friend once more and could see the sadness there, "Can you understand that? Lutalo? Please?"
Lutalo's eyes fell to Luke again.
"One hour!" he responded.
It was said through gritted teeth.
...
The journey south was undertaken within a cramped atmosphere of tension and Luke kept glancing questioningly at Noah.
It was clear to Noah that Magomu and Kigongo were just as confused and perturbed by Lutalo's sudden change in attitude. Sure it had been a stressful few days, but to flip so completely…?
Still, nobody confronted Lutalo who sat in silence in the front of the car, except when he needed to direct Magomu. He seemed deep in thought.
Noah resolved to find a moment alone on the boat to confront him. It was their first priority to get onboard. Everything else would have to wait.
They reached the small fishing village of Amani sometime in the late afternoon. Luke was exhausted. He had fallen asleep on Noah's shoulder, but it had not been an easy ride and Lutalo was set on driving non-stop.
For lunch they ate packed sandwiches and fruit provided by Prudence, while Noah tried to coax Luke into drinking more of the cold chicken soup. But all this was done on route and it had taken its toll on Luke by the time they reached the shores of Lake Victoria.
Noah made Luke as comfortable as possible against the trunk of a tree as they waited for Lutalo to organise their passage over the water.
Gentle waves lapped against the shore not far from where they were seated. They were so close to Kenya they could just about see the strip of country in the distance. The wide waters of Lake Victoria resembled the ocean and under any other circumstances Noah would have said it was beautiful.
As Noah unscrewed the lid of the soup thermos Luke was already shaking his head.
"Come on, Luke!"
"I can't."
Noah bit his bottom lip and searched Luke's face, "What is it? Why won't you eat?"
Luke tried to look away but Noah brought his face back around with both hands, growing nervous at how hot and clammy his skin felt. He studied the pallor Luke carefully for a minute; saw a hidden secret there.
"Something's wrong, isn't it?"
A tear escaped and travelled swiftly down Luke's cheek, "Noah… I…"
"Noah?" Still squatting by Luke's side Noah turned toward the other voice. It was Magomu. "Lutalo is calling for you. We need to pay the man."
Noah nodded, "Give me a minute."
He turned back to Luke but Luke was already pushing him away, "Go. Getting out of here is what matters right now."
"You're going to okay, right?"
Noah didn't like the uncertainty in Luke's voice as he answered, "Yes. Of course I will be."
"I love you, Luke."
"I know. Same here."
Noah wanted to kiss him but knew he couldn't. He squeezed his hand and left Luke in Kigongo's care to follow Magomu to the start of the pier, where Lutalo was deep in negotiations with an elderly sailor. Passage was agreed and Noah handed over the first half of the fare, the rest was to be settled once they reached Kenyan shores.
They returned together just into time to witness Luke coughing and Kigongo squatting to help him drink water from a bottle.
"Thank you." Luke grunted.
"You are almost safe." Kigongo replied with a smile and a friendly pat to Luke's shoulder. "Soon you will be back with your children and you can tell them of us. You can tell everybody."
"I'll miss you Kigongo."
Kigongo nodded, "I will never forget you or what you did."
Luke reached for him and they shared a soft hug that made Noah smile.
"You must leave."
The voice was soft but certain from behind him. Noah turned to find Lutalo frozen in one place, eyes glued to the touching scene of Luke and Kigongo parting ways.
"What?" Noah asked.
"You must leave this place! Now!" He was frantic as he broke from his stupor, "There is not much time!"
Lutalo's heartbroken eyes locked with Noah's and when the sound of a helicopter reached his ears, Noah didn't need to look up to understand what had happened, what it meant.
"No." He shook his head; unable to believe that this man would break their trust.
A loud and angry scream erupted from behind him and Noah jumped as Kigongo came barrelling past him, throwing himself at Lutalo until they both lay flat out on the floor. Manic, Kigongo rose above Lutalo, hands squeezing round the other man's neck. Lutalo flailed for air, gripping Kigongo's wrist as he tried to breathe.
Kigongo screamed words in Swahili, tears of betrayal streaming down his face.
For a moment Noah stood stunned; completely numbed by what was happening. Eventually it was Luke that snapped him out of it.
"Noah! Stop him!"
Shaking out of his daze Noah flung forward and forcefully attempted to pull the raging Kigongo off of the weakening man on the floor.
Surprised, he found that he couldn't. Kigongo was incredibly strong; running on pure adrenaline. It wasn't until Magomu joined him that they managed to free Lutalo.
The man scampered back across the sandy shore, holding his hand up to his reddening throat; choking and spattering.
Magomu held the seething Kigongo firmly back.
During all of this, the army helicopter reached them, its shadow swooped over them like an ominous bird of prey and Noah looked up just in time to see it coming down in a field not far away. There was no time to fight. They had to get out of there.
He lowered his distort gaze back to Lutalo, "Why? We trusted you!"
Lutalo was crying, his eyes begging for understanding, "They have my mother and my sister."
Noah closed his eyes, immediately softening toward the man and then growing confused, "But you warned us? Why?"
"I was wrong to call them. It must end." Lutalo's voice was raspy, "It will never end if we let them win this way. I have to believe if you get back to America it will help. It will help my country."
"But your mother and your sister?"
"Maybe this is our sacrifice."
Noah felt sick, but they didn't have time to dwell, "We have to leave! Magomu, get the car!"
"No." Luke's weak voice reached deep inside Noah's soul even though it was barely a whisper.
Noah turned to lock eyes with his husband.
"I have a plan." Those sweet russet eyes told him.
But he feared the sacrifices Luke might be willing to make, especially with the lives of Lutalo's family on the line.
Without breaking their gaze Luke shifted up to his feet with great effort, using the tree's trunk as leverage.
"Let them come."
...
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