“I’m hit! I’m hit!”

Near Goka Falls

“Want a Kit-Kat?” This was Yuri, a Russian reporter still chasing the stories here. We are two of a small handful of the press that haven’t fled the country. I passed on the chocolate and aimed my camera out the passenger window catching some shots of the zebra in the distance.

Yuri was driving us to Goka Falls, a tall majestic waterfall. We were scheduled to meet with a local commander of the APR. I’m not sure what we expected to find. For me, I’m always searching for the personal angle. Who are these people who can do such horrible things? What does it take to choose the life of a mercenary? In fact, is it even a choice for all of them?

Goka Falls sits high atop a large cliff. A narrow winding road leads up to the APR’s complex beside the head of the Falls. We arrived at the base of the road and were waved through the checkpoint. We drove on up, Yuri carefully navigating the twists and turns. The foliage was thick with trees and vines. We could barely see the sky beyond.

Then out of nowhere: POP POP POP POP!

The window cracked with two bullet holes. Yuri swerved to the side and slammed into a tree.

And again: POP POP POP!

We crouched low in our seats, but the bullets kept coming. Yuri flipped the car in reverse and hit the gas, but the wheels spun. We were stuck.

POP POP POP POP!

“I’m hit! I’m hit!”

That was Yuri. He held his right shoulder where blood was spilling out.

I shouted out the window, “We’re reporters! The press! Press, press!

POP POP POP!

Glass shards splintered around us. We both huddled low. “Press! Press! Press!” But no matter what we shouted, they kept firing…whoever ‘they’ was.

We heard another vehicle rumble up to us. This was it, we had to identify ourselves fast or we were dead.

I threw my hands in the air, clearly visible and shouted, “Press! Press! Press! Press!”

I heard some shouts near us – Zulu. The shooting had stopped, and then I heard another voice much farther off. Again, in Zulu.

They both shouted back and forth while Yuri and I huddled low. Yuri’s shoulder was bleeding badly and I handed him my jacket to press against it.

A man approached the car and opened the door. It was the guard at the checkpoint below. There had been a misunderstanding. The guards up here didn’t catch the radio message about our approach. He actually laughed and said, “Lucky for you he’s a terrible shot”. That was enough for me.

“Are you mad? He’s shot my friend! I need medical attention right now. He’s been shot in the shoulder by your stupid man out there.”

That seemed to wake up the guard. He nodded and helped to move Yuri into his vehicle. We then drove to the compound where he received treatment. The wound was not serious fortunately. But the entire episode tainted my meeting with the APR commander.

Comments

[john]

Reuben what do you think of the jakal. do you think he should killed for his crimes or do you think he has good reasons for what he does?

[cfa]

shit man it is just like darfur

[Micheal Anonymous]

what is this like real life or the game man im confussed..... if its real life then that is fuked up.....and good luck to u if it is cu u in a fuked place n if it aint then all u motherfukers are retarded....God speed... what tha hell kid ur dum

[kano]

dam my buddy got kidnapped lol how the hell am i suppose to find him.he went missin so i got to search every hut or what?

[Flightbird]

tehss games ess c0ols

[Justin]

That whole episode showed me that the APR undoubtedly believe in the "shoot first, ask questions never" moto. But still I can't believe that reuben and Yuri made it out alive. They are very brave men and may God watch over them both.

[Cody]

Wow I was in africa once it wasent very restful.

I like your work :)

[Sensical]

Good to see that the Nestle corporation is still capable of getting products into and out of the country. Or perhaps Yuri had brought it himself, saving it for a special occasion. I'm guessing that 'near death experience' was not the occasion he was intending. And, regarding the copious and dangerous checkpoints, it sounds like the need for so much communication between them leaves chasm-sized gaps for *mis*communication to occur. Hope these 'guards' keep their double-A's fresh. Sounds like a matter of life and death not to. Or at least a matter of life and shoulder wounds.

[Tom]

It would appear that this particular unit of APR troops werent very alert... This and the mention of "hes a terrible shot" means that the unit probably arent very well trained. Are the APR recruiting crap mercs? If so, why? Are they running out of money?