Paradise [Draft 1]

Chapter 7: Judges (11039) [DRAFT]

Chapter 7: Judges (11039)

Father Nimite had spent a week in and around Goldengreens now, and each new visit to a farm or camp brought fresh shame onto Father Dekulos's head. His neglect to his duty and blatant corruption was there plainly to see in the records and receipts kept by the church in Goldengreens and the Committee leaders at the farms. Nimite did his best to turn a blind eye, or try and rationalise Dekulos's actions, but after a while even that seemed to just make matters worse.

Nimite decided just to avoid Dekulos as best he could. It was not his place to judge the old priest, despite the fact that Dekulos often looked like he wanted to be judged. So Nimite was very thankful for the presence of Edward McQuade, the Red Cross worker. Working with the Red Cross provided Father Nimite an excuse to stay away from the church in Goldengreens and, with his car gone north with Samuel, also a means of transport. The tough looking ex-soldier seemed happy to help, as long as it was to the benefit of the local slave population. McQuade kept his own schedule though, so it had been slow going and sometimes Nimite had had to wait a day or two before going to the next camp. Each farm or camp he went to, he talked to surly Committee representatives and took copies of all their records, building up a picture of greed and corruption. It appeared that everyone Dekulos had gained power over, be they displaced people, backdam vagabonds or runaway slaves, he had sold to the camps. Nimite had often wanted to ask what he was spending all the money on, be he refrained from questioning the old priest – it was not his job. That would come later and from more senior figures in the church.

They were back in Goldengreens now, after days of travelling around the backdam. Nimite had bathed, slept, and eaten. After that he had gone down to the Post Office to see what the problem was with the phone lines. Unfortunately, the problem was simple, the line was broken somewhere between here and Evermarch and there was no likelihood of it being repaired any time soon. He now waited in a shady bench at the corner of the church yard while McQuade went to buy diesel for his truck. McQuade paid for his supplies from a stash of US dollars so secret that he had not even revealed to either of the priests where it was. After ten minutes or so he heard the, by now very familiar, roar of McQuade's truck as it rounded the corner. It pulled up beside him and Edward looked down.

'That's her all set for another drive up to Develde, Father.'

'That is good news Mr McQuade,' remarked Nimite. 'Let me just get my bag and I will come with you.'

Twenty minutes later they were rumbling out of Goldengreens, back into the jungle. Dekulos had, out of the blue, insisted on coming with them, and was sat in the back by himself while Nimite sat up front.

'It has been very frustrating,' said Nimite over the noise of the engine. 'I cannot get a message out. I do not know if Samuel arrived safe and sound. I don't know what is happening up north. I don't know anything at all, Mr McQuade!'

Nimite laughed his loud musical laugh. McQuade said nothing. On the several trips they had taken together already, Nimite had done the majority of the talking and this one was turning out to be no different.

'I have decided I like the jungle,' declare Nimite as he sat with his elbow sticking out of the passenger door window. 'It is hot here, but I feel like I am doing God's work. Yes, Mr McQuade, the jungle is hot and there is much evil here, but in that case is this not where I should be? Where the suffering is at its most, where the need is the greatest, there is where a man of God should be, is it not?'

'Just keep telling yourself that, Father,' said McQuade.

Nimite laughed again. 'How easily it comes to you to mock me! Thank God for you Mr McQuade otherwise what would I do? You and Big Brenda here, you come to aid me, send by Him I am sure this is true.'