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Chapter Nine: Leverage

The crickets in Nigeria are loud. I heard them singing at dusk, quite happy even though a violent coup had taken place in their country. I guess it didn't affect them.

Lake was still asleep. Every now and then I would check his pulse, just to make sure. He was improving, though, I thought. Hopefully infection wouldn't set in.

My stomach grumbled. I think I had part of an MRE yesterday that Red gave me, but that was it. Was it only yesterday we were with the American soldiers? Anyway, I was hungry.

Just then, the door opened with a piercing metallic shriek. A soldier took one step in, and set a bucket and a tray on the floor. Then he left.

I could tell the tray had food, but before I could get to it, the door opened again. This time, there were six soldiers, and Colonel Sadick. I shrank back until I was leaning against Lake's cot.

Sadick came right up to us.

"You're American?" he asked, more demanding than anything. His dark eyes stared me down. Behind him, I saw one soldier holding a camera. It was a cheap camcorder, meant for family videos. I got a bad feeling about it all right then.

"Yes," I said cautiously.

He moved right by Lake, and slapped him hard.

"Hey!" I lunged for Sadick without thinking. I tried to push at him, but a soldier grabbed me and then I felt a gun to my head. My breath caught in my throat. I tried not to let my fear show. Sadick gave Lake another hard slap, and this time Lake flinched. His eyes cracked open.

"Your name," Sadick prompted. Lake frowned. He wasn't quite with it. Sadick hit him again.

"No!" I couldn't help myself. The soldier near me quickly hit the gun against my face. It wasn't a full hit, but blunt metal against skin still hurt.

"Your name!" Sadick's tone was impatient. Lake was squirming, his arms curled at his stomach where I knew he had to be in such extreme pain. But Lake didn't answer. Sadick poked Lake in the stomach. I gasped, and Lake groaned loudly between clenched teeth.

"Don't . . ." I whispered. My heart hammered. Was Sadick going to torture Lake now? Kill him? Please, please, no. I wasn't pleading with Sadick—that was useless. I was just pleading for some hope. Anything.

Sadick leaned over Lake. His voice was low, but I heard him clearly. "Tell me your name." Lake's eyes flickered to the camera. As soon as he saw it, he clenched his jaw tighter and just shook his head.

What is he doing?

Sadick's face was expressionless. He simply turned towards me, and snapped his fingers. Instantly, I was forced next to Lake. The soldier guarding me cocked the gun that was at my head.

"Your name," Sadick said. He didn't have to say anything else. I held my breath, and saw Lake look at me. His light green eyes locked with mine. He looked so regretful, worried, pained . . . for a moment, my heart skipped a beat. Then he looked away, not at Sadick, or the camera, or anyone. He avoided us all.

"Kelly Lake," he said. Sadick smirked. He turned to the camera, suddenly going from interrogator to announcer.

"This American soldier has interfered in our country," Sadick said. "We know he was part of a larger military team, sent to derail General Yakubu's efforts to bring stability to the country." General Yakubu? Who was that? The man's English was confident—delusional but confident. "I have reason enough to punish him under our laws."

He paused. Laws my a—

"Instead, I have treated his wounds. Kelly Lake"—he sounded out each syllable—"is alive. So is his accomplice." He gestured to me. The gun was still at my head, but Sadick didn't seem to think that was undermining what he was trying to convey. Personally, I thought it was hypocritical. Maybe I was just reacting to the gun at my head.

"I am willing to let them live," Sadick said. I didn't breathe any easier. I sensed a 'but' coming on. "I will even release them. But I expect something in return. Arthur Azuka."

A hard pit formed in my stomach. Lake was right; Sadick was evil.

"It is my duty to my country and General Yakubu to bring this fugitive to justice. Hand over Azuka, and I will release these two Americans," Sadick instructed to the camera. "If not, I will be forced to punish them for their crimes. You have three days. If Arthur Azuka does not return to face his crimes by then, the next tape you receive will show these Americans' fate." Crimes? Arthur didn't do anything but run for his life.

Sadick nodded at the soldier handling the camera. It was turned off, and then the soldiers gathered around Sadick and followed him. I was shoved to the ground, and didn't move until I heard the bang of the heavy door signaling their departure. I drew a deep breath, and limped over to Lake.

"You okay?" he asked. Though it probably hurt, he reached up with his left arm and reached for my face. I guess there was a mark there from the soldier's gun.

"I'm fine," I said. My voice was shaky. Dang it. "Are you okay?"

His jaw was clenched tightly, and every few seconds his eyes shut partially like he was fighting some internal battle.

"Did they do what I think they did?" he asked softly.

"What, operate on you while you were awake and without anesthesia, or tape a ransom video?" I'm surprised I was so flippant about it.

"That answers it," he said. He lifted his head slowly, like it took more effort than moving a boulder, and peered at his stomach. His head fell back against the cot with a little too much force. He swallowed dryly, and I noticed he seemed a little green.

"Lake? Do you feel sick?"

He gave a short laugh, glancing down at his sorry condition. Duh. I felt pretty stupid pretty quick. But then he grimaced again, biting his lip hard so I could see his teeth.

"Lake?" He gasped. His eyes were closed tightly. "Is it the pain?"

"Talk to me," he said between gasps. "Anything, just . . ." He needs a distraction. Of course, even realizing that, my mind went blank. It took me a second to think of something.

"Who is General Yakubu?" I asked. "Should I not ask questions? Does it hurt to talk? I can just—"

"It's fine," Lake said, and I saw a brief amused grin between grimaces. "Yakubu is the new leader. Sadick is his 2nd in command." Great, there was a worse bad guy here.

He rolled slightly, I think to ease the pain from his surgery. What I wouldn't do for some codeine right then, I thought.

"Who will they send the tape to?" I asked next. Lake gritted his teeth.

"US Embassy."

"There's one here? We must be close to it then," I said. Lake nodded. "Will your team see it?"

Lake shut his eyes. "I hope not."

I wasn't sure what he meant. Wouldn't he want them to know we were okay, sort of? I cleared my throat.

"When you talked to them before, on the radio, who was it?" I asked. "Who made it?" I held my breath. I'm not sure who I was hoping to hear made it, but I knew not all of them did.

"LT and Red," he answered quietly. "I talked to them. I think others made it too."

I felt some relief. I thought of how stern both were, although Red had a more personable side. I wondered if Red was going to be ticked at me.

"Last time I saw them, Red was yelling at me to keep running," I said. "I think he might be mad that I didn't head for Cameroon."

"Can't blame him," Lake said. I smiled.

"I'm glad they're alive," I said. "I think they will be glad we are too, if they see the tape." Lake didn't respond. He looked away. I frowned. What bothered him about that?

I remembered the food tray then. I got to my feet and limped over to it. I noticed the bucket and figured out quickly what it was for—portable bathroom. Trying not to be grossed out by that, I picked up the tray and hobbled back to Lake's side.

There was this white mush, and then a tin cup of water. Some sort of fruit was on the tray as well, but I have no idea what it was. Cut in half, I saw it had weird, white seeds and pale flesh inside. I think I saw a worm wiggling around in it. The outside was yellow.

"Do you want something to eat or drink?" I glanced down at the options. "It's not much. I can't even tell you what this is, but . . ."

Lake hesitated. He glanced at the tin cup. I picked it up and brought it to his lips. He sipped a little. My eyes strayed to his chest, but I forced myself to concentrate.

I took a sip next, and set down the cup. I frowned at the yellow fruit.

"What is this?" I held it up for him to see. Lake smiled.

"Guava."

"Really?" That surprised me. "I always thought guava was . . . I don't know. Isn't it pink inside?"

"Sometimes."

I eyed the slight movement of the worm inside the fruit.

"There's a worm in this," I announced tensely.

"It won't kill you," Lake said. I heard a touch of humor in his voice. I glared semi-playfully at him, and then took a bite. It was bitter, and the white seeds were kind of slimy. I tried not to think of the worm as I swallowed.

I put the guava in front of his mouth. "Your turn."

He shook his head. "Not sure I should eat."

"Want the mush instead?" I scooped up a spoonful of it for him to see. He actually laughed. Of course that made him cringe in pain. I dropped the spoon.

"Sorry." I fiddled with my hands, wishing I could do something useful. He writhed a bit more. Talk! Distract him.

"So what are our chances of getting out of here?" Maybe I could get him thinking about something instead of pain. "I mean, I doubt they'll give up Arthur, right?"

Lake shook his head. "We're on our own." His statement was succinct enough that it killed any hope I had.

"They won't rescue us?"

Lake shook his head. "Not when Sadick and Yakubu have us. They might not be able to find us anyway."

"How is this different than you guys coming before? At the village, or to save Lena?" Wasn't that their whole mission before?

There was a sorrow in his eyes. "If they came now, it would be violating any chances at diplomacy."

"Diplomacy? With the guy who assassinated a government?" Did they want to be diplomatic with Yakubu or Sadick?

"If he's in power, the country has to keep its options open."

Stupid US policy. I think I muttered that out loud, because Lake chuckled. My mind kept going though. Would LT or Red really just stand down when we were in danger? I saw the bond between the whole team. They were coming for us back at the field. Why not now? With the enemy in the picture or not, wasn't there some code about not abandoning your man? I'd seen the team in action. If anyone could rescue me and Lake, it was them.

Granted, if they were hurt, they wouldn't come themselves. But there were more soldiers, right?

"What are you thinking?" Lake asked. I looked to him instead of off to the side where my thoughts had taken me.

"Do you really think they'll just leave you?" I asked. "They're your friends. And it's your team."

"We're SEALs first," he said. I blinked. SEALs? "Sometimes there are acceptable losses."

He was reciting some company line—the soldier in him was loyal.

"You guys are SEALs?" I asked. I knew they were good, but something about the title . . . .

"You didn't know?"

I shrugged. "I knew not to mess with you guys, but that's it."

He smiled again. "Just so you know, it'd be better if Sadick didn't know what I am." I frowned. "I shouldn't have said anything at all, but . . ." He trailed off. There was a distinct look of regret on his face. Guilt even.

"It bothers you, telling them your name," I said. "Why? He would have hurt you more. And probably me." I shuddered, thinking of the gun at my head. That was happening too often lately.

"There are certain things I'm trained to do, and not to do," he said. "You never give in to the enemy."

I almost laughed. "That wasn't giving in."

Lake looked sharply at me. "They have it on tape. They'll think I've been broken."

Broken? Like in an interrogation? Suddenly it made sense. Lake was afraid he'd broken the rules, that he'd betrayed his team or country. Or he was afraid that anyone who saw the tape would think that.

He was afraid he would be seen as a coward. It was so ridiculous for him to even fear that, at least to me.

"Wow," I said. "The social pressures in the military are sure different than everywhere else."

Lake frowned.

"Lake, you had to. No one will think less of you for protecting ourselves. For protecting me." I actually thought more of him because of it. That was hard—I already admired Lake a lot. "Come on. You just went through surgery with no anesthesia."

He started to smile.

"Trust me, you're tough," I said. "I've seen it over and over again."

The smile faded.

"Thank you," he said.

I smiled at him. It warmed me to think maybe I was comforting him a little. Despite the way we'd met, he was who I trusted. He was all I had. And I guess I was all he had too. I think I got the better end of the deal, but then again, he was the Navy SEAL.

"So how are we going to get out of here?" I asked. Lake chuckled, even with the pain. His eyes started to shut. He was probably worn out.

"What?" I asked.

"It's funny," he said. "You hated yourself because you thought you were coward." At the village. I wanted to argue with him, but I bit my lip and waited. "But you don't give up. That makes you one of the bravest people I know."

My eyes went wide. He opened his for a second to see my expression, and then smiled to himself as he closed them again.

"We'll figure something out," he said. His voice sounded quieter, tired too. "Give me a few minutes . . ."

He dozed off.

I found myself staring at him. Did he really just say all that? Did he really believe I was brave?

Was I brave?

No. I shook my head to emphasize that. Lake was the brave one. I just had to survive. That's all I did.

As Lake slept, I tried to think of how to survive this now.