Bukavu, October 16
1) The rain has washed the bridge away. It seems we are stuck. (But don't worry, we'll soon get out.)
2) It seems we're really stuck.
3) We are quite close to the Equator so it will be dark in a few minutes.
4) It seems the battery has died.
5) I thought maybe we could get some help from the people in that village there, but I have just spoken to them and it seems like the people around here are not so friendly.
6) That looks like a very bad storm coming. It will probably rain very hard in some minutes.
7) I think we must walk back to that last village to try to spend the night there.
8) I went to talk to the soldiers at the command post to see if they could come and offer us some security. But it seems they are very drunk, and bad people.
9) This is the best house in the village, so we will sleep here.
10) These rats are quite fast, aren't they?
11) There have been no raids here by the interahamwe for at least six months. Things are now very peaceful here. Why don't you try to sleep?
12) Now that it is morning and we are safe, I can tell you the truth: the last time the rebels came here to abduct women was just three weeks ago. Last night I was panicking but I did not want to tell you. If they had heard you were here, they would definitely have come running.
13) With what they would have earned for you, they could have retired!
(With great thanks to the inestimable Jack Kahora, driver Charles Kabungulu and district administrator Joseph Kakez, for the rescue.)
