Chapter thirty-seven

Since they had just finished recapturing Mali from Saliou's men in the early afternoon, Mountakha and his men decided to wait until the early morning to attack the detachment led by Saliou himself. While everyone was gathered around the large fire lit at the same distance from the tents for dinner, discussing everything and anything, one of those they had left on sentry duty at the Senegalese-Malian border came hobbling in and collapsed to their level. They rushed to his bedside and took him to the witch doctor who was among them. After consulting him and giving him first aid, he then called Mountakha who was just outside the tent, pacing around. As soon as Mountakha entered, he began to ask questions.

_ Christopher, how is he? Are his injuries serious? Will he be all right? he asked.

_ Calm down and let me tell you why you're here, he replied.

_ I am listening.