Two years later.

Bam!

A gunshot burst through the wall of silence.

Samuel grabbed Lebo as she attempted to run from their hut.

“Joshua, where’s Joshua?” Lebo was frantic, tearing at Samuel’s arms with her sharp fingernails.

Her red and brown dress crinkled and flexed as she writhed in her attempt to escape. Her face was a mask of terror.

Angry shouts began to echo throughout the village.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Another flurry of gunshots crashed through the night.

Somewhere in the distance, a shrill scream pierced the air like a hot needle.

Samuel’s powerful arms held the trembling form of his wife.

“You can’t go out there! They’ll catch you and then…then…” Samuel rubbed Lebo’s well-rounded belly.” Then our child…what will they do to our child?”

Lebo’s tears poured down her plump cheeks. “I promised my father that I would protect Joshua…I promised…”

“I know…I know.” Samuel lowered his voice to hide his own fear. “But Joshua is old enough to take care of himself now. He’s a wise young man. Perhaps he escaped before the rebels entered the village.”

“I don’t know. I’m afraid. Afraid of what will happen if they catch him.” Lebo gripped her husband for support.

Samuel’s mind raced through possible options. They couldn’t stay here. The rebels only wanted children that could be kidnapped and enslaved.

All adults would die.

The bitter smell of burning grass began to tickle his nose.

Their round grass hut was the smallest in the village.

Perhaps the rebels would overlook them…perhaps…The chain saw chatter of machine-gun fire chewed through any remaining illusion of hope.

Boom! A muffled explosion sent a shock wave through the ground.

Samuel’s flattened himself and then crawled across the dirt floor. Granules of earth rubbed like sandpaper against his bare belly.

He stared at the opening yawning before him. He breathed out deliberately as fear gnawed at his courage.

It was the only way to escape.

He had to do it.

He had to look out there.

He forced his head through the open doorway.

The sight horrified him.

Samuel rose from the earth and then ran back to his wife.

“We must go…quickly! They’re burning the village!”

“Joshua…what about Joshua?”

“He’s old enough. He will find us.” Samuel reached for the hand of his wife. “Come, we must escape while we can.”

A look of determination crossed Lebo’s face as she gathered the bottom of her dress and pulled it up. She needed to free her legs if she were to flee. A quick movement of her hands secured the dress in this position.

“Are you ready?”

Lebo could only nod, her face full of terror.

Samuel peeked outside again, then, satisfied that the coast was clear for the moment, he pulled his wife forward.

Overhead, the moon was white and watchful. To the south lay the flickering orange cones of a village in flames. To the north, a scattering of black silhouettes showed the multitude of grass huts that had yet to be destroyed.

The sound of gunfire was constant in the south.

A group of ragged-looking soldiers charged into view prompting the young couple to flee for the shelter found behind a nearby hut.

The wang and whiz of machine-gun bullets followed the couple to their hiding place.

Somewhere nearby a harsh voice shouted out a blizzard of orders.

“Keep going!” Samuel whispered.

Sand beat against their bare feet as they charged north.

A familiar voice was shouting at them.

“Joshua!” Lebo stopped and turned south. She began to cough as her nostrils filled with the bitter smoke of destruction.

A young boy was running toward them.

Samuel felt a brief twinge of hope as he watched. Joshua had more energy than the entire village put together, if anyone could escape the rebels, he could.

For a brief moment, the boy was silhouetted against the orange rage of war. Then his head exploded like a glass bottle as a bullet smashed into it. The now headless silhouette crumpled to the earth, still attempting to flee even as it collapsed.

Boom!

A grenade flashed as it exploded just to the left of them.

As the grass walls of a nearby home caught fire, smoke began dancing around the survivors like ghosts haunting the living.

The last thing Lebo saw of her brother before Samuel pulled her away was that of a uniformed child running toward the fallen body. The rifle held by the child soldier twisted, aiming down at its fallen enemy.

“Joshua!”

Three rifle shots cracked in rapid succession as Samuel dragged his wife away from the evil sight.

“There’s a mission station four miles from here. Can you make it?”

“I can try.” Lebo wheezed, struggling for air.

“Then let’s go,” Samuel whispered.

They ran from the village faster than they had ever had before, still, it seemed that the angry shouts of soldiers grew ever closer.

There was only one thing they could do. Run for their lives!

A dreamlike memory of Joshua running with the other children flooded Lebo’s mind even as she struggled to keep up with her husband.

***

“What a war they’ve got over there. I guess that’ll mean more refugees for us.” Rob popped another handful of popcorn into his mouth. “You know, instead of running over here and taking our jobs, why don’t all these people just stay where they are and fight?”

An awkward moment passed.

“I don’t know about that.” Jolene’s beautiful face was lined with puzzlement. “I mean, who would want their family to live in a warzone?”

“It’s their country, isn’t it? They should fight for it just like we had to fight for ours.” Rob‘s goatee-covered jaw pulsed as he chewed another mouthful of salty corn.

“Well, I don’t know about that. I do know that I’m sick of watching all this.” Jolene lifted the remote and pressed a button. The violence and terror that filled the news faded to black.

“We have plenty of our own problems, we don’t need refugees bringing more trouble over here.”

There was a moment of silence as the couple eyed each other.

Rob was dressed in black sweat pants and a plain white sweatshirt. It was a comfortable thinking suit. Another handful of cheese-flavored goodness filled his mouth.

Jolene ran her hand through a head of black curls. “Speaking of problems. What about our future? Since we’re going to be parents we’re going to have to change some things.”

The gentle tick of a grandfather clock filled the kitchen.

A faint scent of wood swirled through the air. The log walls looked beautiful, but they had a distinctive scent. The faint perfume tantalized Rob’s nostrils.

He sneezed and then reached for another handful of popcorn.

Jolene was still as beautiful as the day he had met her. Heck! She was even wearing the same colors she had been on that first awkward day by the water cooler. A pair of faded blue jeans and a neon pink sweater.

Jolene leaned over the wooden table and grabbed the bowl of popcorn that sat before Rob. She dragged it across the table and out of his reach.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“I’m trying to get your attention, that’s what!”

Her eyes bored into his. “It’s almost been nine months…we need to start getting serious about this situation.”

Rob stared at his very pregnant girlfriend. Why had he been so stupid? He couldn’t afford to be a father. Not to mention what his own father would say.

William was a preacher of the old school, he wouldn’t approve of this at all.

“Hello, is there anybody in there?” Jolene said in a sarcastic tone as she rapped her fingers against Rob’s head.

Rob stared at the blinking blue numbers on the microwave oven behind Jolene’s pleading expression. That clock really needed to be set.

“Earth to planet Rob, come in please.”

“I’m sorry Jolene, I…I guess I just don’t feel ready for all this.”

“Really? Well, I’m not really ready to start thinking about being a mother either, but at this stage, I don’t have that many options, do I?”

Silence fell over the yellow-painted kitchen. The ceiling fan churned in slow motion. Yet, the summer night needed more than a few fan blades to ease its tension.

“There were other options you know, we didn’t have to let things get this far.”

“Well, if you haven’t figured it out already I’m not the kind of person to run off on my responsibilities. My mother always told me, ‘Jolene, if you’re gonna make the effort to bake the cake then you darn well better make the effort to take care of it.’ And since you helped bake this cake I think that…” Jolene gasped as she was pierced by a stab of pain.

“What’s wrong?”

Jolene stood as an air of urgency came over her. “We’ve got to get to the hospital!”

“Now?”

Jolene padded across the white tiles lining the floor. “Now! You’re driving.” She rummaged through the purse sitting by the doorway for a moment and then tossed a pair of keys in Rob’s direction.

Rob struggled to pull himself from the warm embrace of the couch. “But why?”

“Because you’re about to become a father, that’s why! Now let’s get going before you have to become a midwife as well.”

***

Samuel staggered as his foot plunged into a hole. As he straightened, a sharp pain shot through his bare chest.

Lebo stopped running and turned her attention to her husband.

“I’m sorry,” Samuel said, gasping for breath. “I must’ve hit a hole or something. But we can’t stop now…we must be almost there.”

The morning sun blazed down on the two refugees as they struggled to get into motion.

The barren path seemed to stretch onward into forever. Only a few gnarled trees marred the brown emptiness under a clear blue sky.

“Are you going to be alright?” Lebo slowed as she noticed Samuel stumbling.

“Perhaps if I had some water.” Samuel’s voice rasped. Oh, how his tongue longed for the cooling caress of water. If only, there was a river…a long river flowing with refreshment.

“I’m sure the mission will have some. “Lebo’s finger trembled as it pointed north. “There…look! Is that it?”

Samuel squinted as he gazed into the distance. “Yes, yes, that’s the radio tower.”

“Thank God. We’re almost there.”

“Help me. Please. We’re so close.” Samuel was in obvious pain as he forced himself to limp forward. Lebo moved beside him to steady him on his way.

They had only managed to travel about a hundred feet further before a faint buzzing sound caught their attention.

They turned south to see clouds of dust rising like smoke in the distance.

“Rebels. They’re sure moving fast.” Samuel rasped in the voice of one about to surrender to his fate. He gritted his teeth as he summoned up his last reserve of strength. “But, we must do what we can. Perhaps God will yet be merciful to us.”

Driven by this hope the couple kept hobbling toward the radio tower, the symbol of their salvation. As they walked, Samuel felt his parched lips forming the words he had long dreaded to say.

“Lebo…I must confess that I have hidden a secret from you…”

“Not now Samuel…we must save our strength…”

“No, I must tell you now. I have waited too long…far too long and only God knows how much life is left to us.”

A zebra stood beside the path, watching their progress, testifying to the fact that there was still life in the barren plain.

“Samuel, don’t speak such things, we must have faith.”

“Lebo, you are the only woman I have ever loved…but…I…I…” Samuel hung his head as shame threatened to overwhelm him. The time for confession had arrived.

He must speak.

***

“So, our secret is out, a little boy.” Rob’s face was drenched in sweat, but the pride of being a father glowed from it.

“A very big boy.” Jolene smiled a weary smile as she lay on the white hospital bed. “What should we name him?”

“Why not Bill…after my Dad?”

“You know what will happen then…people will call him Billy.”

“I don’t know. There are worse names.”

“Yes…there is…Bill.”

Rob toyed with his square-rimmed glasses. Searching for a reply to the most stubborn he had ever known.

Meanwhile, in the hallway outside their room, a metallic voice chattered over an intercom.

Jolene’s laugh was musical when it came. “Don’t look like that! I was just teasing you. I think Bill is an excellent name.”

“So do I.” The deep voice of Reverend William P Revell thundered into the room through the door to the north. His well-fed body followed soon after.

Rob’s face blanched as he turned to face the very person he wished he didn’t have to see today, his father.

“I’m sorry Rob, I had to call him. To be truthful, I asked a nurse to call. “Jolene’s voice was apologetic. “We have to be honest about this. It’s never going to get easier.”

An older man stood staring at them. His hair was a distinguished-looking grey. His body was covered in an expensive black suit, and his face, although wrinkled, was made for television. He had groomed his image to be as close to Billy Graham as possible.

“Well, well, well, I must say, this is a surprise.” William stepped closer to Rob. The fluorescent light beamed harsh white light over his head of black hair. “I know we haven’t spoken in a while, but that’s no excuse. When were you planning to tell us about all these new developments in your life?”

Rob turned to stare at the small window on the south end of the room. A small glimpse of a city of skyscrapers filled his eyes. The exit door was to the north, blocked. Escape was impossible.

His Father’s broad hand rested on his shoulder. “Turn to face me please son.”

Rob felt his chin fall to his chest as he pivoted. “I was going to tell you but I…I…” His wavering voice sputtered to a halt.

William smiled as his eyes twinkled. “Don’t worry son, I know we’ve had our differences over the years but I didn’t come here today to talk about them.” William’s deep voice was bathed in compassion. “You and I have both done our share of sinning but the Bible says that forgiveness is a virtue.” William’s pale grey eyes stared at Rob as if he were a television camera.

“I…I know I’ve made some mistakes. I haven’t always treated you or mom like I should. I…I…” Rob lowered his head, trying to escape the piercing gaze. “I know I should’ve told you about all this sooner but I was scared. I…”

“Scared of me? I’m your father, what do you think I would do to you? Send you to Siberia? Or even worse, to Arkansas?”

“It’s silly I know. But we haven’t always seen eye to eye and…”

“And, you know the house rules, no matter what happens, we’re still family. We may not agree on everything but we’re still there for each other when it counts.”

Rob raised his head and took a breath. “Thank you.”

Reverend William patted his son on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you son. Today will be a new start. You’ll see. Having a family to feed changes a man.” William coughed into his hand. “You’ll be getting married of course?”

Rob opened his mouth and then closed it.

“If you keep moving your mouth like that you look like a fish!” Jolene‘s expression was teasing. “Come on. Just spit it out. It can’t be that hard to say.”

Rob smiled and looked his father straight in the eye. “Of course, as soon as we get out of the hospital we’ll have a wedding.”

“Good.” William extended the hand of friendship toward his wayward offspring. “Let me be the first to offer my congratulations.”

Jolene leaned back on her bed and breathed a prayer of thanks toward the ceiling. Her blue hospital gown didn’t suit her, every muscle in her body seemed to ache but still, she had never felt happier.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Perhaps you could share the story of your struggle and redemption on one of my upcoming television shows.” William pulled a notepad from one of his front pockets. “Come to think of it. I should book you in while I’m still thinking about it. How about next week…”

Rob opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by his father.

“Anyway, we can talk about all those things later. Your mother is waiting just down the hall. She’d be in here right now if she could but the nurses said there were only two visitors allowed in at a time.” William chuckled. “They were quite firm about it too and you know how your mother would take that! Speaking of which, I better get out of here so she can get in here. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side right now, believe me.”

A tangy scent of expensive perfume filled the spot where William had been.

Jolene smirked. “Is your Father always like that?”

William’s loud voice echoed in from the hallway.

“Yes, he means well, but he always seems to act as if he’s on camera. He’s been preaching for so long he probably doesn’t even think about it anymore. You’ll know what I mean by the time the day is done.”

“Alright. I guess I’ll just go with the flow. By the way, thanks.”

Rob started. “For what?”

“For sticking with me through all this.”

Humbled, Rob could just nod his head as Jolene closed her eyes, thankful for a brief moment of rest.

Rob meditated on the red and wrinkled form of his tiny son.

Maybe being a father wouldn’t be so bad after all.

What would little Billy become? It might be fun to stick around and find out.

***

“The good news is, your leg just has a sprain. That means it will heal in due course. However, I must also tell you that you have the beginning signs of tuberculosis. I strongly suspect that you also have HIV. We’ll need to see the results of the blood test to be sure but given your symptoms and what you’ve told me I think I know what the answer will be. Does your wife know what you‘ve just told me?”

Crack! Crack! Boom! There was a series of gunshots, then an explosion crashed in the distance. The rebels were on the advance again.

“Yes. I told her on the way over here.”

The missionary Doctor stared at him as compassion filled his tired blue eyes. As he spoke his British accent became ever more pronounced. “It would be helpful to know who you might have got it from. I know this is difficult…but…”

“I don’t know her name. I was just a young foolish boy…and I…I…” Samuel shook his head. “I guess I should’ve paid attention to all those signs.”

The doctor nodded. “Yes, you should’ve. However, we can’t change the past. We can only plan for the future. Can you at least tell me the village she’s from?”

“That won’t help you, the rebels took over her village a few months ago. They killed everyone and burned everything that was left.”

Samuel sunk into the embrace of the hard wooden chair.

“They burned our village last night too. I doubt that any survived…” His voice began to break under the strain of emotion. “Women liked to see me filling water for them…they wanted to reward me…I resisted…but one day…I…”

The death rattle of a machine gun echoed somewhere to the south.

“Samuel, I know you’ve had a pretty rough time, why don’t we continue this discussion tomorrow?” The young Doctor’s voice turned soft. His hair was blonde and rumpled. His khaki shorts showed through the white lab coat that he wore. “We have quarters for you to stay in. I can show you the way if you like.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll find my way.” Samuel kept his eyes on his dirty bare feet as he summoned up the courage to ask the next question. “Um. If I have HIV how long can I expect to live?”

Somewhere outside the wooden room, a small girl was crying. A constant, consistent, wail for help.

The doctor sighed as if the heaviness of the world weighed upon him. “Honestly, I don’t know. You may live for a few months, a few years, but it’s impossible to say. There are medicines that could help you…but…well…as you might suspect, they’re pretty hard to come by around here. We aren‘t exactly the world‘s top priority.” The Doctor’s unshaven face was grim. “The rebels don’t help the situation either.”

Samuel’s mind trembled as he rose to his feet. The room was small and full of the stench of sickness. Flies buzzed around his head. He just wanted to leave this room.

The Doctor stepped back from his position before Samuel as he continued to speak. “We’ll have to test your wife for HIV and your newborn child as well, just to be sure.”

“Yes, thank you, Doctor.” Samuel shuffled across the wooden floor.

The room had no windows. No air. It was almost impossible to breathe in here. Oh to escape…to sit beside a long cool river and absorb the warm gaze of the sun.

“Don’t give up hope yet. There’s a small chance that I’m wrong about the HIV AIDS…but…” The Doctor tapped on his clipboard. “Anyway, just send your family in as soon as you can. I know there’s a long lineup out there but I’ll try to get them tested today.”

“Thank you.”

Samuel stepped out of the foul-smelling little room.

A line of patients stretched back to the wall around the compound. A young woman in white who seemed to be a nurse stepped forward.

Her pale finger beckoned.

A large woman wrapped in all the proud colors of their country stepped out of the line and walked toward the room Samuel had just left.

Samuel limped toward the acacia tree growing in the middle of the compound.

The compound was a small one. On the west side, there was a long wooden building that served as the hospital. On the east side was a square building that served as living quarters for the staff. The whole setup was surrounded by a wall, built with stone imported from Britain. A sturdy steel gate guarded the entrances on the north and south ends of the compound.

Government soldiers were everywhere, standing firm, watching for any signs of trouble.

Lebo was in the middle of it all, shaded by the branches of the acacia tree. She cradled a newborn baby in her arms.

Samuel knelt in the sand beside her.

“I was right.” He mumbled.

Tears filled Lebo’s eyes as she gazed at him, searching for words.

Samuel crossed his legs as he settled into the dirt. “The Doctor said you must be tested…and our child. I’m so sorry…I was so foolish…”

Lebo placed her index finger over the mouth of her husband. “Shhh…If God himself will forgive a man when he asks for forgiveness, why shouldn’t I do the same?” Her voice became businesslike. “Now we must think of the future. God has graciously granted our boy a chance at life. What shall we name him?”

Samuel thought for a moment. After a while, his face broke into a smile tempered by inner tension.

“Meshach. God delivered Meshach from the furnace of fire…perhaps God will yet do the same for this little one.”

Lebo‘s shoulders heaved as she coughed. “I will pray that he does.”

Samuel was silent as he diverted his gaze to the wrinkled form of Meshach cradled in the arms of his wife.

A flurry of machine-gun fire exploded in the distance.

Soon the steady boom of bursting artillery rounds joined the symphony of war. It was a great day for civilization, the government forces had found the rebels at last.

Meshach’s powerful wail joined the weak cries of the baby girl somewhere in the line of waiting patients.

Samuel watched his son as numbness penetrated his body. Was his a cry of hope, or of sickness?

Samuel’s large hand reached out to caress his child.

“May God bless you, my son…” He whispered under his breath.

What would the future hold?

Would Meshach be delivered from his furnace?

Samuel hoped that he would live long enough to find out.

Line Up at the Clinic