Free Diamond Mine by Felicia Rogers

pews and ended at the office in the back of the chapel. Open windows offered little respite from the heat.
    The young child sat in a chair, swinging his skinny legs back and forth. The door clicked closed, and he jumped up and rushed forward. Brittle arms wrapped around Rory’s leg as the boy lifted his gaze to meet his face. Words rushed from his mouth, and Rory missed the translation. Lifting his brow, he looked to the priest.
    Speaking in the child’s native tongue, Father Thomas soothed the boy. Reluctantly, he released Rory and sat back in the chair. The words volleyed and Rory waited.
    Father Thomas said, “This child came from Grace Children’s Home. He claims Melanie Sekibo, the leader of the orphanage, and all the children living there, were taken.”
    â€œAll right,” Rory said, shifting in his seat, missing the significance.
    â€œThey were taken by a faction of traders working for Biashara Githinji. The man runs a notorious criminal empire. Most notably, he trades in illegal diamonds, but it seems he has stretched his reach.”
    Rory nodded, a feeling of unease settled in his stomach.
    Father Thomas continued, “This is not all. The child says a white woman, an American, arrived earlier today. A friend from the United States who came to visit with Melanie. She was taken as well.”
    Rory’s heart skipped a beat. Instantly he thought, I ’ m not here to rescue people. I ’ m here to hide from the press and repent of my sins .
    He gulped and twisted his hands in his lap. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    Father Thomas frowned. “Rory, you do not understand. If you did, you would be more upset. They, the women and children, have been taken to Tapiwa’s camp.”
    â€œWho?” asked Rory, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his knees.
    Father Thomas’ sigh of anguish filled the room. “Rory, the women and children have been taken by human traffickers. Tapiwa is the leader of Biashara’s workers. As I said, Biashara has stretched his reach. These ladies will be sold into slavery and lost forever.”
    Rory sat up straighter. “What? No, that’s impossible.”
    â€œI am afraid not. South Africa has laws against such actions, but they aren’t always enforced. Often it is the foreigners, or visitors, to the country who are in the most danger.”
    These weren’t the answers Rory wanted or needed. He asked, “Why was the orphanage targeted?”
    The question was asked of the child, and Father Thomas translated. “The boy doesn’t know. He says he was new to the orphanage. Until today, he’d not seen the traffickers.”
    Rory’s instincts kicked in. “How did this one escape while all the others were taken? You can’t trust him, Father. It may be a trick.”
    â€œAh, it is no trick. The child was taking care of, um, personal matters when the men arrived.”
    â€œYou mean he was in the loo?”
    â€œYes. He claimed he played with the others when a very white lady with long brown hair visited with Melanie. She is the mother of the children, if you will.
    â€œAnyway, he left and went to the outhouse right before the jeeps pulled up. He peeked through cracks in the boards and saw Tapiwa’s men. Apparently, Melanie attempted to hide the woman or keep her quiet, I’m not exactly sure on that part of the story. He seems to think the woman had an infirmity of the mind because of her slow actions. Of course, that is not important.”
    Father Thomas waved his hands through the air and continued. “Once they left with the inhabitants, the boy ran here as fast as he could. He says before he went to the orphanage, he’d heard on the streets that a white hero stayed here. That is why he came. Because he thought the hero could help.”
    The child’s head bobbed up and down. On the verge of denying the boy, the father, and the whole orphanage, he