This gave them the afternoon to rest and to enjoy one more meal time together, another chance for Donald to make up for lost time and feast on Nile Perch. Of course, Mac had also organised through WCI for a sizeable financial gift that he was going to leave with Dembe to give to Suzie.
The gift paid for a full hotel over the entire weekend; reimbursing her for the clientele she would have lost having closed the inn for their protection. Plus, there was a significant monetary gift to bless her. With the gift was a letter explaining that on Harry’s next trip to Kampala, he would book her into the hospital affiliated with WCI, and they would perform cosmetic surgery to remove the scar from her face. If she was ready, of course.
Suzie had expressed, over a meal, that her desire was to one day afford cosmetic surgery. Now she had her desire fulfilled.
At their final meal together in The Fish’s Belly, Mac and Harry invited Dembe to join operation “New Hope.” It goes without saying, he was decidedly overwhelmed.
“We’re connected,” he had gushed. “Thank You, Father God! This is now the next stage of God’s vision for me … for us!”
Dembe would stay in Kampala until the Zimbabwe project was over, and join up with the team when they arrived in the next six weeks. Mac also booked him into The Fish’s Belly for their five-day visit coming up. This would help Dembe connect with the project from inception, and he could join them on their drive up to the base site north of Pakwach.
As they enjoyed one last meal together, Harry asked Donald a question.
“Don, do you know what Dembe means?”
“Um, no,” he shrugged before turning to Dembe. “BaBa, what does your name mean?”
“Peace,” replied Dembe. “Peace, or peaceful.”
“That’s so apt for you, Dembe,” said Rachel.
“Dembe, what does Kato mean?” asked Daniel, curious.
The room went quiet for a moment.
“Kato?” said Dembe softly. “Kato. It means second of twins.”
Donald dropped his fork.
Harry’s jaw dropped.
Rachel gasped.
Daniel bit his lip.
Mac put his right index finger on his lip and tucked his left hand under his right elbow, coming to the correct conclusion before anyone else did.
A long silence hung over the room.
“Twins?” Rachel broke the silence.
“Donald,” asked Dembe. “You don’t remember?”
“BaBa what? Remember what?”
“Your twin brother?”
“Twin?” Donald’s jaw went slack. “I have a twin brother?”
“Donald’s a twin?” gasped Harry.
“Balondemu. Your older brother, older by fifteen minutes. He had a birthmark, similar to yours. On his stomach.”
“I have a twin brother,” Donald was perplexed. “I have no recollection.”
“What happened to Balomd … dem … mu?” Daniel struggled to pronounce it.
“Balondemu,” repeated Dembe, his eyes filled with pain. “It means, the chosen one. The first born male was very important in our tribal culture…”
“Yes?” Harry couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“He was also taken that night. The same night as Donald.”
“Taken with me?” Tears ran down Donald’s cheeks. “Why don’t I remember?”
Harry put his arm around Donald.
“There’s very little chance he’s alive,” continued Dembe. “But then I thought the same about you Donald. Maybe … perhaps, in our work in northern Uganda with New Hope … maybe we will find him.”
A download of expectation charged the circle of family and friends.
Dembe turned slowly to Harry.
“Mzee,” he said softly. “Then …. then it will be even better than this!”
THE END
About the Author
Craig R. Kirkby and his wife Lorna are currently based in Melbourne Australia with their two daughters Hannah and Jenna.
Having served as a pastor and missionary for twenty years, he has a passion to inspire Jesus-followers, young and older, and to catalyse Kingdom exploits in our world today.
Check out his personal weblog here…
www.abetterfuturenow.com
And the Dayspring Adventure Series weblog here…
www.dayspringadventure.wordpress.com
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