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