Category: fiction

Chapter Thirty-Eight can be found here.As he got out of the taxi and walked over to where the driver had told him he could find a bus to Ghana, Paul wondered just why it was he suddenly felt such a sense of loss, felt that something was wrong, that he, somehow, had made a mistake … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Nine: Beginning →

Chapter Thirty-Seven can be found here.The paved road, Paul and Gilly found once they got to it on their way back from Nazinga, was blocked. A cordon of uniformed men stood on both sides of the tarmac, their guns held across their chests. Paul wished he had seen them earlier so they could have pulled … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Eight: Returning →

Chapter Thirty-Six can be found here.As dawn came, urban, almost European Abidjan rose ahead of them, showing off its multi-story buildings, highways, modern stores, banks, and hotels. So distinct from Bobo, or Ouahigouya, or Mopti, all essentially still African cities. Paul, still half drunk and completely exhausted, and having slept for a couple of hours, … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Seven: Gaining →

Chapter Thirty-Five can be found here.“So you’re not worried by riding on the back with me driving?” Paul attached his camera bag to his backpack and handed it to Gillian, who was arranging bags on the rack over the rear wheel of Paul’s bike. “I mean, I never had all that moto training you non-teachers … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Six: Losing →

 Chapter Thirty-Four can be found here. The train pulled slowly into the station just after seven, almost exactly at dusk, hours late, but no more than expected, given the attitudes of the others on the platform.  Stiff, still, from the ride the day before as well as from sitting on the hard benches in the … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Five: Advancing →

Chapter Thirty-Three can be found here.None of the supply stores in Ouaga had seen anything like the parts Paul presented to them.  One, finally found a diagram matching one of the pieces in a supply book, and said he could order it from France, though it would be expensive, and would take several months.  It … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Four: Breaking →

Chapter Thirty-Two can be found here.War or not the train would leave for Abidjan sometime in the late afternoon.  Or so they were informed once they arrived at the station.  At least, it would leave Ouagadougou at two.  That much was certain, the agent assured them, but he refused to give a firm time of … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Three: Talking →

Chapter Thirty-One can be found here.The AfroProg administrator shrugged.  “You’ll have to work with what you can find.  But you should be good at that, after Peace Corps.  You shouldn’t need anyone to hold your hand.”  His expression softened.  “Look, a reforestation after-project was written into the initial grant.  Unfortunately, after your salary, and a … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-Two: Building →

Chapter Thirty can be found here.He didn’t remember getting to bed, didn’t remember anything after the police gave him his passport back, but at least he did wake up in the hotel room.  Surprisingly, he didn’t feel hung over.  He sat up and looked around him.Sam was already out of bed.  He had pulled off … Continue reading Chapter Thirty-One: Slowing →