Forest of the Pygmies(32)
"What do you want that for?" Nadia asked.
"I don't know, but it might be useful," Alexander replied.
Nadia left first, crossing unseen the short distance illuminated by the torch at the door, and ran to hide in the shadows. From there she meant to attract the guards' attention to give Alexander a chance to follow, but she saw that the one guard was still sleeping and the other hadn't returned. It was a piece of cake for Alexander and Borobá to join her.
?
The king's mud-and-straw compound was composed of several huts, and it gave the impression of being only temporary. For a monarch covered in gold from head to foot, with a sizeable harem and with Kosongo's supposed divine powers, the "palace" was suspiciously modest. Alexander and Nadia deduced that the king did not intend to grow old in Ngoubé, and for that reason had not constructed something more elegant and comfortable. Once the supplies of ivory and diamonds were fully depleted, he would go as far away as possible to enjoy his fortune.
The area of his harem was encircled by another pole-and-vine fence, along which, every thirty feet or so, torches had been mounted to keep it well lighted. The torches were sticks wrapped with resin-soaked rags that gave off thick black smoke and a penetrating odor. In front of the fence was a larger building decorated with black geometric designs and featuring an entrance wider and taller than ordinary. That suggested to Alexander and Nadia that this dwelling housed the king, since the opening would allow the throne-carriers to pass through with the platform Kosongo used to travel outside his quarters. Surely the taboo against his feet touching ground did not apply inside his compound. In private, Kosongo must walk on his own two feet, show his face, and speak without need for an intermediary, like any normal person. A short distance away was another long, squat, windowless building; this one was connected to the king's hut by a straw-roofed passageway, and was possibly the barracks for his soldiers.
Two Bantu guards armed with rifles were patrolling the area. Alexander and Nadia observed them for a period of time and came to the conclusion that Kosongo did not fear being attacked, because the guard system was a joke. These soldiers, still feeling the effect of the palm wine, were staggering as they made their rounds, and they stopped to smoke whenever it struck their fancy. Every time they met, they paused to talk. The two young people even watched them drink from a bottle that possibly contained more liquor. They didn't see any soldiers of the Brotherhood of the Leopard, which made them feel a little better since they were much more intimidating than the Bantus. However, just the thought of going into the building, not knowing what they would find inside, was sobering.
"You wait here, Jaguar. I'll go first. I'll hoot like an owl to let you know when it's time to send in Borobá," Nadia said.
Alexander didn't care for the plan, but he couldn't come up with anything better. Nadia knew how to move around without being seen, and no one would notice Borobá; the village was swarming with monkeys. With his heart in his throat, Alexander sent his friend off and watched as she immediately disappeared. He made a conscious effort to see her, and for a few seconds was successful, though she looked like a veil floating through the night. Despite his edginess, Alexander couldn't help but smile when he witnessed how effective her gift of invisibility was.
Nadia chose a time when the guards were smoking to go to one of the windows of the king's residence. It was no trouble at all to climb to the wide sill and from there look inside. It was dark, but some light from the torches and the moon filtered in through the windows, which were simple openings without glass or shutters. When she saw no one was there, she slipped inside.
The guards finished their cigarettes and made another complete circle of the royal compound. Finally the screech of an owl broke Alexander's terrible tension. He set down Borobá, and the little monkey shot off in the direction of the window where he had last seen his mistress. For several minutes that were as long as hours, nothing happened. Then, as if by magic, Nadia appeared by his side.
"What happened?" asked Alex, forcing himself not to put his arms around her.
"Easy as pie. Borobá knows what to do."
"That means you found the amulet."
"Kosongo must be in the other building with one of his wives. A few men were sleeping on the ground, and others were playing cards. The throne, the platform, the mantle, the hat, the scepter, and the two elephant tusks were there. I also saw some coffers; I suppose that's where he keeps his gold ornaments," Nadia explained.
"And the amulet?"
"It was with the scepter, but I couldn't get it because I'd lost my invisibility. Borobá will do it."
"How?"
Nadia pointed to the window, where Alexander saw billowing black smoke.
"I set fire to the royal mantle," said Nadia.
Almost immediately they heard a confusion of yells; the guards who had been inside came running out, as did several soldiers from the barracks. Soon the whole village was awake, and the area was crowded with people running with pails of water to put out the fire. Borobá took advantage of the confusion to grab the amulet and leap out the window. Instants later he joined Nadia and Alexander, and all three faded off in the direction of the forest.
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Beneath the cupola of the treetops, the darkness was nearly absolute. Despite the jaguar's night vision, which Alexander had invoked, it was almost impossible to make any forward progress. It was the hour of the serpents and poisonous insects, of wild beasts on the prowl, but the most immediate danger was of stumbling into a bog and being swallowed up by the mud.