Rabbit fever, p.30
Rabbit Fever, page 30
However, Zak, not fond of the idea of Ewan taking these items along on their journey, intervened by gathering them and tossing them unceremoniously into a black bin bag.
The more daunting part of Ewan’s packing was dealing with his various electronic devices. At first, he had planned to toss them into a bag to bring with him to the new house.
However, Zak reacted as if Ewan were about to commit a heinous crime, insisting that this task be done with care. Zak supervised Ewan as he turned on each of the devices and demonstrated that he had wiped them clean of any traces, including previous Wi-Fi connections. They even took measures to erase any evidence of their connection to the Wi-Fi router.
Then came the hard decision. Zak believed that the Somali contacts had compromised some if not all of Ewan’s devices, and he urged him to divulge which laptop he had used to contact them. As soon as it was identified, the laptop was snatched from Ewan’s hands and handed to the housekeeper.
Ewan noticed the housekeeper appeared to have some experience in securely disposing of devices, likely due to her association with Zak.
Turning back to Ewan, Zak hinted that they should get rid of all the devices but acknowledged the importance of Ewan’s online activities. Ewan felt a lump in his throat, fearing Zak was about to recommend discarding all his devices, effectively cutting him off from the outside world.
Zak asked for the truth regarding the devices and whether any were exclusively used for personal matters, without any mention of Africa, plans, or meetings. Ewan hesitated when it came to the phones. Several of them were compromised, but he was unwilling to part with all of them.
Ewan had one crucial phone, which he used to request money from his parents. Although he could contact them via email, the phone was more efficient.
The messages were traceable, allowing both Ewan and his parents to monitor when they were read, often expediting money transfers. Thinking on the spot, Ewan realised that there was little incriminating content on this phone, mainly conversations with his parents about an upcoming trip to Africa and his mother’s volunteer work as a doctor before his birth. Ewan concluded the conversations could be easily explained as benign interactions with his parents.
Holding up the handset, he informed Zak the phone had only been used to ask for money from his parents and should be considered clean.
While Ewan half-expected Zak to inspect the phone himself, Zak stated he trusted Ewan’s judgement. Zak then gathered the remaining devices, placing them into another black bag, and handed them to the housekeeper.
She promptly informed Zak and Ewan that there was nothing more they could do at the apartment. She would finalise the preparations to return it to the owner and also take care of the devices that Ewan had handed over.
Chapter 31
The housekeeper shut the apartment door, pointing Zak and Ewan down the narrow staircase onto the bustling street below.
“So, what’s the plan now?” Ewan badgered Zak.
Despite the sweltering heat, Ewan felt a sense of urgency, realising there were still numerous things he needed to accomplish. Whilst Zak prioritised household tasks, games, and setting tests to feed his paranoia about being tracked.
Amid the bustling street filled with people and the cacophony of traffic and street vendors, Ewan looked imploringly at Zak. His words almost drowned out by the surrounding noise, Ewan grappled with the feeling of being now led by Zak’s agenda and losing control of the situation.
Reflecting on how he had been directing Zak for weeks, Ewan felt a pang of frustration. He had hired Zak to follow his instructions, yet now it appeared Zak wanted to embark on an adventure at Ewan’s expense. Standing aimlessly on the worn pavement, with no clear plan in sight, Ewan found the situation far from ideal.
“Don’t fret, Ewan,” Zak grinned.
Once again tousling Ewan’s hair, making him feel almost like a child asking adults about topics beyond their understanding.
“Everything’s under control,” Zak reassured, fishing for the SUV keys in his pocket.
He gestured for Ewan to follow him across the road, through the barber shop, and out the back door to the waiting car. Ewan couldn’t comprehend why they couldn’t use the road and walk around the block instead of taking a shortcut through a shop. It seemed to save only a couple of minutes, and the reasoning eluded him.
Yet, he considered that perhaps this wasn’t about timesaving. This was Zak showing off. Demonstrating his ability to take a shortcut through the barber shop purely because he could. It was another display of what he could accomplish and implicitly indicating to Ewan that without Zak, this shortcut wouldn’t have been an option.
The barber seemed unsurprised by Zak’s behaviour. Not even batting an eye as Zak led Ewan through the small doorway into the barber shop. Exchanging a greeting as they traversed the store, past hanging charms separating the shop from the back area. Through another small door, finally emerging into a dusty back alleyway where the gleaming SUV awaited them.
As they settled into the SUV, Zak naturally took the driver’s seat and turned to Ewan.
“I know a man we need to visit,” Zak began, “he specialises in breeding and selling rabbits. I believe his knowledge could be quite valuable to us.”
Bewildered, Ewan looked at Zak and shook his head.
He snapped.
Expressing his frustration at the mysterious and bizarre plans – visiting street children at the port, involving the mysterious housekeeper, and now embarking on a trip to see a rabbit-breeding man on a farm.
Ewan insisted that it was time to get serious and put an end to these strange detours. In his attempt to regain control of the situation, Ewan started to worry if he had gone too far. While acknowledging Zak’s efforts to assist, Ewan emphasised the need to address pressing matters. He passionately gestured towards Zak, expressing concern that they hadn’t followed up with the Somalis since their poorly executed meeting the day before.
The looming issue of the compromising video and the doctor already kidnapped by the Somalis added to Ewan’s frustration. He pointed out that while Zak was engrossed in his version of Ewan’s plan, there was the critical matter of the scientist Ewan had sent them to collect. He raised his voice, emphasising that these issues outweighed any information Zak hoped to gather from a farmer.
Zak was visibly taken aback by Ewan’s outburst and regarded him with a puzzled look.
“Ah, so you finally have a tongue,” he laughed, reaching over again to ruffle Ewan’s hair in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
This gesture didn’t yield the desired response. Ewan pushed Zak’s arm away and continued his rant, reiterating his concerns without adding any new information, under the impression that repeating himself would elicit a reaction or an answer from Zak.
As Ewan’s face grew redder, he was aware of this physical manifestation of his anger, a trait he couldn’t seem to shake, unlike other traits inherited from his father that he had been able to minimise.
“You look like you’re about to explode, my friend,” teased Zak as he inserted the key into the ignition.
Turning the key and causing the SUV to shudder slightly, the engine emitted a low purring sound, and the dashboard lights flickered to life. However, after a pause, Zak turned the key back the opposite way, shutting off the engine.
The SUV returned to silence, its various dashboard dials dimming.
“Okay,” Zak started, “it’s clear you’re worried about things. Let me share what we need to do. We can’t keep having these petty arguments every time we talk, or else we won’t accomplish anything,” he offered, attempting to calm the situation.
Deep down, Ewan knew Zak was right and recognised the considerable time wasted in arguments. However, having his concerns labelled as ‘silly’ only fuelled his anger. Nonetheless, he held back his retort, motioning sarcastically for Zak to continue as if eagerly awaiting a keynote speech.
Gazing directly at Ewan, Zak began to share his perspective on the situation. He emphasised to Ewan that he didn’t view the Somalis as a significant issue.
“I’m surprised these people managed to pull off what you wanted,” he taunted.
Leaving Ewan uncertain if Zak aimed this comment at him, implying Ewan’s incapability to execute parts of his plan effectively. Or if it was directed at the Somalis themselves.
Continuing, Zak explained that he didn’t consider these Somalis a major problem. While acknowledging their possession of a compromising video, he recalled their lack of complete conviction regarding Ewan’s request to return to Madagascar and abduct a scientist.
Zak agreed that they were enthusiastic about securing payment for the task, but they didn’t seem sold on the plan. Zak proposed his approach to dealing with these three men: informing them of a change in plans. He suggested conveying that the scientist was no longer required and advising them to release the doctor soon. He even floated the idea of subtly hinting that they could demand a ransom for the doctor, allowing them to keep the entire payment.
Reasoning that by altering the narrative, it might appear as though a poorly organised group of kidnappers attempted a ransom plot but took their time to demand it. He speculated that they might still expect some form of payment in the future. As they were no longer holding the doctor or pursuing the scientist, it could be argued that they didn’t require the significant amount they might demand.
Ewan scoffed and let out a frustrated remark at Zak,
“So that’s your grand plan? Just tell them ‘change of plans, whoops, sorry’?” He fumed.
Continuing his tirade, expressing how this situation was not akin to cancelling a car hire or a restaurant booking.
In Ewan’s view, Zak’s approach seemed to grossly trivialise the challenge at hand. Zak’s suggestion of a simple ‘thanks but no thanks’ to people who had already committed crimes on Ewan’s behalf felt inadequate. Ewan pressed Zak about potential trails leading back to them and the risk of these individuals sharing confidential information Ewan had disclosed to them.
Sensing the conversation wasn’t progressing, Zak took a stern approach, holding Ewan’s wrists to prevent his frantic gestures that were meant to emphasise Zak’s lack of seriousness.
“What did I tell you this morning?” Zak challenged, maintaining his serious gaze, his grip getting tighter on Ewans wrists, “let me remind you, this is my world, I understand it, sadly, you do not. Plans changing isn’t a surprise. If we offer these people money for doing relatively little, they’ll prefer it over another kidnapping. They probably want to sever ties with us and might not be keen on collecting people for you and keeping them in various locations. Once we suggest this to them, they’ll likely jump at the chance to get more cash.”
Despite Zak’s explanation he understood this world better than Ewan did, Ewan remained unconvinced and displeased at being treated like a child throwing a tantrum, with his wrists being held to curb his gestures. Acknowledging Zak’s understanding of the situation, Ewan couldn’t believe it could be as simple as Zak suggested.
“Fine, if it’s that simple, then you can handle it,” Ewan said with the demeanour of a child not getting their way.
Zak appeared unfazed by this response, which made Ewan wonder if that was the reaction Zak had expected all along. Confirming that once Ewan shared any contact details he had, Zak assured that he would find a way to reach the mysterious trio.
Ewan, still simmering with resentment, retaliated,
“Well, you made me get rid of the laptop, or at least it’s with that housekeeper, whoever she is,” he sniped, his frustration evident.
Zak let out a weary sigh, reminding Ewan that his past success in finding these individuals meant it wouldn’t be an impossible feat to track them down again. Although the laptop wouldn’t be returned and was now under the management of the housekeeper, Zak remained confident that reestablishing contact with these men wouldn’t be an insurmountable task.
Feeling somewhat defeated, Ewan reluctantly conceded.
He grudgingly accepted Zak had a point. Recalling the dark web site where he first contacted them. The encrypted communications. The username etched into his memory. Ewan realised that reconnecting wouldn’t be overly challenging for either him or Zak.
After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Ewan reasoned that severing ties with these individuals, despite the existence of the compromising video, would alleviate a significant burden hanging over both him and Zak.
“Fine, then,” Zak exclaimed, a glimmer of triumph in his voice, as he clasped his hands together as if marking a victory.
“Tsss” was the only reply Ewan could muster, not wanting to fuel Zak’s victory lap further.
“Once you share the details with me later, I’ll ensure these men don’t trouble us anymore. Another task crossed off the list,” Zak remarked, gesturing as if ticking off items on an imaginary checklist.
“Okay, okay, let’s just get going,” pleaded Ewan, bored of yet another attempt from Zak to show that it was him that knew best.
“Now we’re finally making some headway,” Zak congratulated himself, a hint of self-satisfaction evident as he turned the key in the ignition, reviving the SUV’s engine.
As they drove off, Zak attempted to mend the atmosphere between them, offering a partial apology for not keeping Ewan informed about the specifics of his plans. The sincerity of Zak’s gesture remained dubious to Ewan.
Responding with a huff. Ewan turned away. Feigning intense interest in the scenery passing by on the Maputo streets, concealing his lingering irritation and scepticism towards Zak’s assurances.
Chapter 32
Before long, the bustling streets of Maputo faded into the distance, gradually giving way to a transformation in the architectural landscape. The built-up nature of the housing slowly shifted from taller structures to lower-level residences, transitioning further into areas with a shanty town and slum-like appearance.
These sights made Ewan shudder as they passed by, contemplating the harsh reality of life within these makeshift dwellings. He couldn’t help but imagine the daunting challenges of existence in a shack crafted from corrugated iron, held together precariously with rope, lacking windows, and likely devoid of basic amenities such as electricity and running water.
Zak, noticing the expression of disdain on Ewan’s face, sought to correct his perception.
“These people don’t have the luxury of choice in their living conditions, my friend,” he remarked with empathy. “Try not to judge their situation.”
Ewan, feeling a pang of shame for his initial reaction, flushed with embarrassment. He nodded in acknowledgment and tried to divert attention away from his gaze, pretending to be engrossed in picking at his nails. His earlier display of disdain for others’ misfortune left him feeling ashamed and self-conscious.
As the shanty towns faded into the distance, the landscape transformed, lush green farmland stretched along both sides of the road. Vast plantations extended as far as the eye could discern, painting a picturesque scene. The once-tarmac road had transformed into a bright orange dirt track, leaving the smoothness of Maputo’s streets far behind. Now, riddled with potholes, the rough terrain caused both Ewan and Zak to jostle about in the SUV as Zak navigated the vehicle at a swift pace.
Ewan wasn’t certain if there was a speed limit on this road, but he was certain Zak’s speed was far too high given the challenging road conditions. Witnessing Ewan bouncing around, Zak chuckled, remarking Ewan should consider himself fortunate; in the rainy season, this road would either be impassable or transformed into a river.
To Zak, these conditions were considered acceptable!
Ewan found little solace in this explanation but felt relieved when the erratic movement of the SUV gradually eased as Zak decelerated and turned onto a narrower, significantly deteriorated side track. In the distance, a long, squat, unassuming grey building came into view. On its own, it seemed inconspicuous, resembling just another farm structure scattered among the endless expanse of farmland.
As Zak manoeuvred the SUV along the rough track, Ewan noticed a hand-painted sign at the roadside. The sign, displaying a poorly painted image of a rabbit alongside contact details and what Ewan presumed to be the proprietor’s name, caught his attention.
He arched his eyebrows in feigned surprise, somewhat taken aback by the realisation they had arrived at the rabbit farm Zak had mentioned. Ewan had expected Zak’s mention of a rabbit farm to be a jest or another test, and he had only half believed it would materialise.
If he interpreted the sign correctly, it indicated the unremarkable structure they were approaching was indeed the rabbit farm. It appeared that Zak perceived this farm as crucial for their plan to succeed.
As they arrived outside the weathered building, Zak confidently pressed on the horn, its loud blare serving as a boisterous announcement of their presence. Bringing the SUV to a stop, Ewan glanced at Zak, silently inquiring if they should disembark. Zak gestured for them to wait, tapping his hand on the steering wheel before sounding the horn again.
Under his breath, he grumbled about not changing out of his light grey suit before deciding to visit a farm, expressing concern about keeping it clean. Ewan chuckled inwardly, noting the triviality of Zak’s worry about a bit of dirt on his suit, wishing instead for an explanation of their purpose there.
“What’s the plan here?” Ewan prodded Zak.
Receiving a brief response indicating that, in Zak’s view, the person they were about to meet was an animal husbandry expert. According to Zak, this farmer’s knowledge of disease prevention among livestock could be reversed and applied for their own purposes.
“You see, my friend, we don’t need a scientist. What we need is someone who understands these matters,” Zak asserted confidently.
After a few more horn blasts, a man emerged from around a corner of the building. He appeared in worn-out, dirty jeans, a faded checked shirt, and a baseball cap whose motif had long faded away. It was unclear where had emerged from, as there seemed to be no obvious doors along the lengthy building.
The more daunting part of Ewan’s packing was dealing with his various electronic devices. At first, he had planned to toss them into a bag to bring with him to the new house.
However, Zak reacted as if Ewan were about to commit a heinous crime, insisting that this task be done with care. Zak supervised Ewan as he turned on each of the devices and demonstrated that he had wiped them clean of any traces, including previous Wi-Fi connections. They even took measures to erase any evidence of their connection to the Wi-Fi router.
Then came the hard decision. Zak believed that the Somali contacts had compromised some if not all of Ewan’s devices, and he urged him to divulge which laptop he had used to contact them. As soon as it was identified, the laptop was snatched from Ewan’s hands and handed to the housekeeper.
Ewan noticed the housekeeper appeared to have some experience in securely disposing of devices, likely due to her association with Zak.
Turning back to Ewan, Zak hinted that they should get rid of all the devices but acknowledged the importance of Ewan’s online activities. Ewan felt a lump in his throat, fearing Zak was about to recommend discarding all his devices, effectively cutting him off from the outside world.
Zak asked for the truth regarding the devices and whether any were exclusively used for personal matters, without any mention of Africa, plans, or meetings. Ewan hesitated when it came to the phones. Several of them were compromised, but he was unwilling to part with all of them.
Ewan had one crucial phone, which he used to request money from his parents. Although he could contact them via email, the phone was more efficient.
The messages were traceable, allowing both Ewan and his parents to monitor when they were read, often expediting money transfers. Thinking on the spot, Ewan realised that there was little incriminating content on this phone, mainly conversations with his parents about an upcoming trip to Africa and his mother’s volunteer work as a doctor before his birth. Ewan concluded the conversations could be easily explained as benign interactions with his parents.
Holding up the handset, he informed Zak the phone had only been used to ask for money from his parents and should be considered clean.
While Ewan half-expected Zak to inspect the phone himself, Zak stated he trusted Ewan’s judgement. Zak then gathered the remaining devices, placing them into another black bag, and handed them to the housekeeper.
She promptly informed Zak and Ewan that there was nothing more they could do at the apartment. She would finalise the preparations to return it to the owner and also take care of the devices that Ewan had handed over.
Chapter 31
The housekeeper shut the apartment door, pointing Zak and Ewan down the narrow staircase onto the bustling street below.
“So, what’s the plan now?” Ewan badgered Zak.
Despite the sweltering heat, Ewan felt a sense of urgency, realising there were still numerous things he needed to accomplish. Whilst Zak prioritised household tasks, games, and setting tests to feed his paranoia about being tracked.
Amid the bustling street filled with people and the cacophony of traffic and street vendors, Ewan looked imploringly at Zak. His words almost drowned out by the surrounding noise, Ewan grappled with the feeling of being now led by Zak’s agenda and losing control of the situation.
Reflecting on how he had been directing Zak for weeks, Ewan felt a pang of frustration. He had hired Zak to follow his instructions, yet now it appeared Zak wanted to embark on an adventure at Ewan’s expense. Standing aimlessly on the worn pavement, with no clear plan in sight, Ewan found the situation far from ideal.
“Don’t fret, Ewan,” Zak grinned.
Once again tousling Ewan’s hair, making him feel almost like a child asking adults about topics beyond their understanding.
“Everything’s under control,” Zak reassured, fishing for the SUV keys in his pocket.
He gestured for Ewan to follow him across the road, through the barber shop, and out the back door to the waiting car. Ewan couldn’t comprehend why they couldn’t use the road and walk around the block instead of taking a shortcut through a shop. It seemed to save only a couple of minutes, and the reasoning eluded him.
Yet, he considered that perhaps this wasn’t about timesaving. This was Zak showing off. Demonstrating his ability to take a shortcut through the barber shop purely because he could. It was another display of what he could accomplish and implicitly indicating to Ewan that without Zak, this shortcut wouldn’t have been an option.
The barber seemed unsurprised by Zak’s behaviour. Not even batting an eye as Zak led Ewan through the small doorway into the barber shop. Exchanging a greeting as they traversed the store, past hanging charms separating the shop from the back area. Through another small door, finally emerging into a dusty back alleyway where the gleaming SUV awaited them.
As they settled into the SUV, Zak naturally took the driver’s seat and turned to Ewan.
“I know a man we need to visit,” Zak began, “he specialises in breeding and selling rabbits. I believe his knowledge could be quite valuable to us.”
Bewildered, Ewan looked at Zak and shook his head.
He snapped.
Expressing his frustration at the mysterious and bizarre plans – visiting street children at the port, involving the mysterious housekeeper, and now embarking on a trip to see a rabbit-breeding man on a farm.
Ewan insisted that it was time to get serious and put an end to these strange detours. In his attempt to regain control of the situation, Ewan started to worry if he had gone too far. While acknowledging Zak’s efforts to assist, Ewan emphasised the need to address pressing matters. He passionately gestured towards Zak, expressing concern that they hadn’t followed up with the Somalis since their poorly executed meeting the day before.
The looming issue of the compromising video and the doctor already kidnapped by the Somalis added to Ewan’s frustration. He pointed out that while Zak was engrossed in his version of Ewan’s plan, there was the critical matter of the scientist Ewan had sent them to collect. He raised his voice, emphasising that these issues outweighed any information Zak hoped to gather from a farmer.
Zak was visibly taken aback by Ewan’s outburst and regarded him with a puzzled look.
“Ah, so you finally have a tongue,” he laughed, reaching over again to ruffle Ewan’s hair in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
This gesture didn’t yield the desired response. Ewan pushed Zak’s arm away and continued his rant, reiterating his concerns without adding any new information, under the impression that repeating himself would elicit a reaction or an answer from Zak.
As Ewan’s face grew redder, he was aware of this physical manifestation of his anger, a trait he couldn’t seem to shake, unlike other traits inherited from his father that he had been able to minimise.
“You look like you’re about to explode, my friend,” teased Zak as he inserted the key into the ignition.
Turning the key and causing the SUV to shudder slightly, the engine emitted a low purring sound, and the dashboard lights flickered to life. However, after a pause, Zak turned the key back the opposite way, shutting off the engine.
The SUV returned to silence, its various dashboard dials dimming.
“Okay,” Zak started, “it’s clear you’re worried about things. Let me share what we need to do. We can’t keep having these petty arguments every time we talk, or else we won’t accomplish anything,” he offered, attempting to calm the situation.
Deep down, Ewan knew Zak was right and recognised the considerable time wasted in arguments. However, having his concerns labelled as ‘silly’ only fuelled his anger. Nonetheless, he held back his retort, motioning sarcastically for Zak to continue as if eagerly awaiting a keynote speech.
Gazing directly at Ewan, Zak began to share his perspective on the situation. He emphasised to Ewan that he didn’t view the Somalis as a significant issue.
“I’m surprised these people managed to pull off what you wanted,” he taunted.
Leaving Ewan uncertain if Zak aimed this comment at him, implying Ewan’s incapability to execute parts of his plan effectively. Or if it was directed at the Somalis themselves.
Continuing, Zak explained that he didn’t consider these Somalis a major problem. While acknowledging their possession of a compromising video, he recalled their lack of complete conviction regarding Ewan’s request to return to Madagascar and abduct a scientist.
Zak agreed that they were enthusiastic about securing payment for the task, but they didn’t seem sold on the plan. Zak proposed his approach to dealing with these three men: informing them of a change in plans. He suggested conveying that the scientist was no longer required and advising them to release the doctor soon. He even floated the idea of subtly hinting that they could demand a ransom for the doctor, allowing them to keep the entire payment.
Reasoning that by altering the narrative, it might appear as though a poorly organised group of kidnappers attempted a ransom plot but took their time to demand it. He speculated that they might still expect some form of payment in the future. As they were no longer holding the doctor or pursuing the scientist, it could be argued that they didn’t require the significant amount they might demand.
Ewan scoffed and let out a frustrated remark at Zak,
“So that’s your grand plan? Just tell them ‘change of plans, whoops, sorry’?” He fumed.
Continuing his tirade, expressing how this situation was not akin to cancelling a car hire or a restaurant booking.
In Ewan’s view, Zak’s approach seemed to grossly trivialise the challenge at hand. Zak’s suggestion of a simple ‘thanks but no thanks’ to people who had already committed crimes on Ewan’s behalf felt inadequate. Ewan pressed Zak about potential trails leading back to them and the risk of these individuals sharing confidential information Ewan had disclosed to them.
Sensing the conversation wasn’t progressing, Zak took a stern approach, holding Ewan’s wrists to prevent his frantic gestures that were meant to emphasise Zak’s lack of seriousness.
“What did I tell you this morning?” Zak challenged, maintaining his serious gaze, his grip getting tighter on Ewans wrists, “let me remind you, this is my world, I understand it, sadly, you do not. Plans changing isn’t a surprise. If we offer these people money for doing relatively little, they’ll prefer it over another kidnapping. They probably want to sever ties with us and might not be keen on collecting people for you and keeping them in various locations. Once we suggest this to them, they’ll likely jump at the chance to get more cash.”
Despite Zak’s explanation he understood this world better than Ewan did, Ewan remained unconvinced and displeased at being treated like a child throwing a tantrum, with his wrists being held to curb his gestures. Acknowledging Zak’s understanding of the situation, Ewan couldn’t believe it could be as simple as Zak suggested.
“Fine, if it’s that simple, then you can handle it,” Ewan said with the demeanour of a child not getting their way.
Zak appeared unfazed by this response, which made Ewan wonder if that was the reaction Zak had expected all along. Confirming that once Ewan shared any contact details he had, Zak assured that he would find a way to reach the mysterious trio.
Ewan, still simmering with resentment, retaliated,
“Well, you made me get rid of the laptop, or at least it’s with that housekeeper, whoever she is,” he sniped, his frustration evident.
Zak let out a weary sigh, reminding Ewan that his past success in finding these individuals meant it wouldn’t be an impossible feat to track them down again. Although the laptop wouldn’t be returned and was now under the management of the housekeeper, Zak remained confident that reestablishing contact with these men wouldn’t be an insurmountable task.
Feeling somewhat defeated, Ewan reluctantly conceded.
He grudgingly accepted Zak had a point. Recalling the dark web site where he first contacted them. The encrypted communications. The username etched into his memory. Ewan realised that reconnecting wouldn’t be overly challenging for either him or Zak.
After taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Ewan reasoned that severing ties with these individuals, despite the existence of the compromising video, would alleviate a significant burden hanging over both him and Zak.
“Fine, then,” Zak exclaimed, a glimmer of triumph in his voice, as he clasped his hands together as if marking a victory.
“Tsss” was the only reply Ewan could muster, not wanting to fuel Zak’s victory lap further.
“Once you share the details with me later, I’ll ensure these men don’t trouble us anymore. Another task crossed off the list,” Zak remarked, gesturing as if ticking off items on an imaginary checklist.
“Okay, okay, let’s just get going,” pleaded Ewan, bored of yet another attempt from Zak to show that it was him that knew best.
“Now we’re finally making some headway,” Zak congratulated himself, a hint of self-satisfaction evident as he turned the key in the ignition, reviving the SUV’s engine.
As they drove off, Zak attempted to mend the atmosphere between them, offering a partial apology for not keeping Ewan informed about the specifics of his plans. The sincerity of Zak’s gesture remained dubious to Ewan.
Responding with a huff. Ewan turned away. Feigning intense interest in the scenery passing by on the Maputo streets, concealing his lingering irritation and scepticism towards Zak’s assurances.
Chapter 32
Before long, the bustling streets of Maputo faded into the distance, gradually giving way to a transformation in the architectural landscape. The built-up nature of the housing slowly shifted from taller structures to lower-level residences, transitioning further into areas with a shanty town and slum-like appearance.
These sights made Ewan shudder as they passed by, contemplating the harsh reality of life within these makeshift dwellings. He couldn’t help but imagine the daunting challenges of existence in a shack crafted from corrugated iron, held together precariously with rope, lacking windows, and likely devoid of basic amenities such as electricity and running water.
Zak, noticing the expression of disdain on Ewan’s face, sought to correct his perception.
“These people don’t have the luxury of choice in their living conditions, my friend,” he remarked with empathy. “Try not to judge their situation.”
Ewan, feeling a pang of shame for his initial reaction, flushed with embarrassment. He nodded in acknowledgment and tried to divert attention away from his gaze, pretending to be engrossed in picking at his nails. His earlier display of disdain for others’ misfortune left him feeling ashamed and self-conscious.
As the shanty towns faded into the distance, the landscape transformed, lush green farmland stretched along both sides of the road. Vast plantations extended as far as the eye could discern, painting a picturesque scene. The once-tarmac road had transformed into a bright orange dirt track, leaving the smoothness of Maputo’s streets far behind. Now, riddled with potholes, the rough terrain caused both Ewan and Zak to jostle about in the SUV as Zak navigated the vehicle at a swift pace.
Ewan wasn’t certain if there was a speed limit on this road, but he was certain Zak’s speed was far too high given the challenging road conditions. Witnessing Ewan bouncing around, Zak chuckled, remarking Ewan should consider himself fortunate; in the rainy season, this road would either be impassable or transformed into a river.
To Zak, these conditions were considered acceptable!
Ewan found little solace in this explanation but felt relieved when the erratic movement of the SUV gradually eased as Zak decelerated and turned onto a narrower, significantly deteriorated side track. In the distance, a long, squat, unassuming grey building came into view. On its own, it seemed inconspicuous, resembling just another farm structure scattered among the endless expanse of farmland.
As Zak manoeuvred the SUV along the rough track, Ewan noticed a hand-painted sign at the roadside. The sign, displaying a poorly painted image of a rabbit alongside contact details and what Ewan presumed to be the proprietor’s name, caught his attention.
He arched his eyebrows in feigned surprise, somewhat taken aback by the realisation they had arrived at the rabbit farm Zak had mentioned. Ewan had expected Zak’s mention of a rabbit farm to be a jest or another test, and he had only half believed it would materialise.
If he interpreted the sign correctly, it indicated the unremarkable structure they were approaching was indeed the rabbit farm. It appeared that Zak perceived this farm as crucial for their plan to succeed.
As they arrived outside the weathered building, Zak confidently pressed on the horn, its loud blare serving as a boisterous announcement of their presence. Bringing the SUV to a stop, Ewan glanced at Zak, silently inquiring if they should disembark. Zak gestured for them to wait, tapping his hand on the steering wheel before sounding the horn again.
Under his breath, he grumbled about not changing out of his light grey suit before deciding to visit a farm, expressing concern about keeping it clean. Ewan chuckled inwardly, noting the triviality of Zak’s worry about a bit of dirt on his suit, wishing instead for an explanation of their purpose there.
“What’s the plan here?” Ewan prodded Zak.
Receiving a brief response indicating that, in Zak’s view, the person they were about to meet was an animal husbandry expert. According to Zak, this farmer’s knowledge of disease prevention among livestock could be reversed and applied for their own purposes.
“You see, my friend, we don’t need a scientist. What we need is someone who understands these matters,” Zak asserted confidently.
After a few more horn blasts, a man emerged from around a corner of the building. He appeared in worn-out, dirty jeans, a faded checked shirt, and a baseball cap whose motif had long faded away. It was unclear where had emerged from, as there seemed to be no obvious doors along the lengthy building.
