mind discussing a little problem in front of your friends?”
“Not at all,” Jack said. “Major Lunsford is my friend as well as my commanding officer. I look on Sergeant Thomas as a friend as well as a master sergeant.”
“But I’m sure you don’t want to force the others to have to listen to a business conversation, do you?”
“With your permission, sir,” Thomas said in Swahili to Lunsford, “I will take the others into the house.”
“Granted,” Lunsford said.
“Thank you,” Mobutu said to Thomas.
Mobutu helped himself to another beer and waited until Smythe and Thomas, supporting Peters between them, made their way across the lawn to the verandah.
“There is a slight problem with the people who are going to finance the purchase of Air Simba,” Mobutu began, now speaking French. “Somewhere they have gotten the idea that the company is not in as good shape, financially, as your father led me to believe it was, and I—my friends—told the bankers it was.”
“May I speak frankly, Joseph?” Jack asked in French.
“We are friends,” Mobutu said.
“My father has faith in the Congolese government,” Jack said. “When he listed the assets of the company, he treated the vouchers issued by the government as cash. The bankers, possibly, being bankers, do not share Dad’s faith that as soon as possible the government vouchers will be paid.”
Mobutu did not reply.
“The second problem is that the bankers have somehow formed the idea that your father has more or less deserted Air Simba for greener pastures, suggesting this is because he is fully aware of the financial difficulties of Air Simba,” Dr. Dannelly said.
“They know he has resigned as chief pilot of Air Congo, and is now living in the United States,” Mobutu added.
“He told you about that, Joseph,” Jack said. “The U.S. government has asked for his services, and he could hardly refuse. I thought you understood.”
“I understand,” Mobutu said. “It’s the bankers that don’t understand. ”
“I’ll help in any way I can, of course,” Jack said, “and so will Dad. But I don’t know—”
“One of the solutions suggested,” Dannelly said, “is that your father return here for two or three months, during which time General Mobutu assures me the problem of the unpaid vouchers can be taken care of. That would put the concerns of the bankers to rest.”
Jack thought: I wonder where that suggestion came from? You?
“I don’t see where that would be possible,” Jack said.
“If he doesn’t come back, the bankers will be convinced they are right about his having deserted what they think of as a sinking ship,” Mobutu said. “And if that word got around, that Air Simba is a sinking ship . . .”
“What if Jack were to run Air Simba for a while?” Lunsford asked. “Would that help matters?”
“General Mobutu had considered that, frankly,” Dannelly said. “But Jacques is in the Army. . . .”
“Perhaps something could be worked out,” Lunsford said. “Unofficially, of course.”
“You seem very willing to be of help,” Dr. Dannelly said.
“Beware of Americans bearing gifts?” Lunsford said. “Would you be surprised if there were something in it for me?”
Mobutu chuckled.
“What would be in it for you?” he asked.
“If Jack were wearing an Air Simba uniform, and flying an Air Simba airplane, something he’s done for years, the bankers would be reassured. . . .”
“And?” Mobutu asked.
“Air Simba flies all over the Congo, all over southern Africa, without questions being asked,” Lunsford said. “That would help me do what I have been sent here to do.”
“And now that the government, I understand, is preparing to redeem the vouchers . . .” Mobutu said.
Meaning, of course, Jack thought, that you will call the minister of finance in and “suggest” he redeem Air Simba’s unpaid vouchers even if it means stripping the treasury of every last dollar instrument. Anything for a good cause, especially if that cause is “your associates” being able to borrow the money to buy Air Simba at forty, fifty cents on the dollar.
“The bankers would be assured that Air Simba is solid financially, ” Jack said.
“Exactly,” Mobutu said, almost triumphantly. Then a worried look crossed his face and he looked at Dr. Dannelly.
“I think,” Dannelly said after a moment, “that everyone might profit if Captain—excuse me, Lieutenant—Portet became Captain Portet of Air Simba again for the next several months.”
“And even afterward,” Lunsford said. “If the Congolese Army were to charter Air Simba to support Colonel Supo.”
“Yes,” Mobutu said. “You could arrange this, Major Lunsford?”
“Consider it arranged, General,” Lunsford said, and reached across the table with his