| Freetown, Sierra Leone. | | | | a view", overlooking the Emerald sea, about |
| | | | hundred meters below us. Really magnificent |
| We touch down at Lunghi International 17.00 | | | | to see the waves breaking below your window. |
| PM late afternoon. Our contact has shown his | | | | |
| presence, and we are whisked through | | | | After dinner at the Continental Restaurant we |
| Immigration, Customs at an unusual speed, | | | | meet other guests, amongst them one who works |
| considering the location we are in. | | | | for the U.N.H.C.R. We get to know the |
| | | | Soldiers of Fortune who are present, ex |
| Chauffeur, car awaiting us in the Parking lot | | | | French Legionnaires who now do covert |
| and we take off to cross the Lagoon that | | | | operations for the CIA. One guy in particular |
| separates Lunghi International to Freetown. | | | | arises my interest, I am told he is a |
| Once we arrive the Hovercraft Ferry docked at | | | | Helicopter Pilot, a real crazy guy. French, |
| the port, we take seats in the reserved | | | | in his mid forties, you can see that he is |
| space. And this moment I catch the striking | | | | different from the others. He appears with a |
| image of the young kids sitting on the | | | | Jute sack in his hand and removes the thread |
| craft's deck sideways from the main cabin. I | | | | that is tight around its neck. The bar dames |
| hadn't noticed them when we entered the | | | | are all too curious and come all to see the |
| Hovercraft | | | | what's in the sack. Reaching into the sack he |
| | | | pulls his hand out fast, giving the |
| You feel the sadness, the endless misery, the | | | | impression something bit him. The girls all |
| emptiness in their faces, the pain that those | | | | scream and run in all directions. He repeats |
| kids had gone through, for they are victims | | | | the whole show a few times, much to the |
| of Fodeh Sankoh's Rebel Militias. A | | | | amusement of all present. The spectacle ends |
| senseless, barbaric horde of brutal | | | | when he empties the sack and nothing appears. |
| criminals, enjoying the pains inflicted on | | | | All laugh after the girls reappear, and |
| the little kids, maiming and injuring those | | | | punish him for the scare he put onto them. |
| for live. I recall the looks in those eyes as | | | | |
| if occurring today. An everlasting impression | | | | We retire late that evening and sleep with |
| one can not forget, for those kids were | | | | the waves beneath us battering the shore. |
| without arms, or wrists. | | | | |
| | | | I wake up by a strange noise, coming from the |
| Fodeh Sankoh, the main Rebel who never | | | | sea. It is dawn, before 06.00 AM, and I hear |
| admitted to his crimes, his guerilla fighters | | | | a whining sound approaching the Hotel, very |
| would ask his captives the gruesome question | | | | rapidly. I am up at once, a relict of my Army |
| :"Short sleeve or long sleeve ..." Any | | | | training, rush to the window just in time to |
| comment would be superfluous to describe the | | | | sea a Bell Military Chopper approaching low |
| agony suffered by those who fell into the | | | | over the sea at full speed towards the Hotel, |
| hands of their captors. | | | | and as fast as it approaches, lifting up from |
| | | | the sea right in front of my room. Hovering |
| After the Ferry ride we continue to Freetown | | | | sideways like a swing in a Fun park, the |
| where another car waits to take us to our | | | | Chopper lies almost idle in the air after the |
| hotel, the Cape Sierra, the only decent place | | | | fast upswing, and then drops back over the |
| run by an Italian businessman. During the war | | | | sea to disappear. The howling of the Turbines |
| the hotel became a command post for the | | | | still in my ears, I see the face of the Pilot |
| Rebels, then for the troops of the O.A.U , | | | | and recognize the daredevil I saw the |
| the CIA, the U.N. All were crammed in this | | | | previous night at the bar. A stunning display |
| hotel. | | | | of Piloting skills, dangerous but done with a |
| | | | precision that leaves no room for error. |
| Upon arrival we are greeted by the Italian | | | | |
| owner, who arranged our contact in Sierra | | | | When I walk down for breakfast I am told this |
| Leone. We are here to negotiate a business | | | | is his way of waking up the other guests |
| deal with an International Company to sell | | | | lodging at the Hotel. |
| our Packaging Products. | | | | |
| | | | ............................................ |
| The room is what one would call "a room with | | | | ......next : Business and Departure . |