Reviewers comment on Bunns previous

Marc Royce novel, Lion of Babylon

cscriptionissovividyoucansmcllthcloodandchokconthc
dcscrtsand. . . .8unnslanswilllcaplorthisprcciscandintricatc
talcolcrossculturallricndshipandloyaltyinthchcartolthc
RcdZonc.
Publishers Weekly
Thiscxciting,actionpackcdthrillcrlcaturcsastrongscnscol
placcinitsdcpictionsolthcpcoplcandpoliticsolthcMiddlc
ast.!tissurctoplcasc|8unn|lansandwinhimncwoncs.
Library Journal
SclcctcdbyLibrary Journal lorthc20118cst8ookAward
Alastpaccd,grippingthrillcr,Lion of Babylonisrichnotonly
withadvcnturcbutalsowithvisualdctailsanddramatic,snapshot
insightsintothcMiddlcast,itstraditions,history,andpcoplc.
Phyllis Tickle
FormcrSr.ConsultingditoratPublishers Weekly
Aphcnomcnalrcad.Lion of Babylon islarmorcthansimplya
grcatthrillcr.Thisbookdclvcsintoascricsolcrucialissucs,and
docssowithascnsitivitythatlcltmclitcrallystunncd.8unntclls
astorythatgripsthcrcadcrandrcluscstolctgo. . . .Thcdcscrip
tionsarcbcautilullycraltcd,thccharactcrsvibrantlydrawn.
Keith Hazard
cputyircctor(rct.),C!A
!tisatcrrilicbook,dccplymovingwithncwinsightsintoimpor
tantconncctionsbctwccnthcworldslaiths. . . .!havclong
admircdandapprcciatcdavissworkand!willsay!thinkthis
ishislincst.
Jane Kirkpatrick
NovclistandSpcakcr
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 1 4/20/12 1:06 PM
8ooxs nv ~vi s 8uxx
Rare Earth
Lion of Babylon
Gold of Kings
The Black Madonna
All Through the Night
My Soul to Keep
The Great Divide
Winner Take All
Imposter
The Book of Hours
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Book of Dreams
Hidden in Dreams
Ac:s ov F~i :n
The Centurions Wife
The Hidden Flame
The Damascus Way
Soxc ov Ac~ui ~
The Meeting Place
The Birthright
The Sacred Shore
The Distant Beacon
The Beloved Land
Hvi vs ov Ac~ui ~
The Solitary Envoy
The Innocent Libertine
The Noble Fugitive
The Night Angel
Falconers Quest
withJancttckc with!sabclla8unn
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 2 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVIS
BUNN
RARE
EARTH
DAVIS
BUNN
5
Bethany to provide artwork for
title spread
5
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 5 4/20/12 1:06 PM
2012byavis8unn
Publishcdby8cthanyHouscPublishcrs
11400HampshircAvcnucSouth
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rccordingwithoutthcpriorwrittcnpcrmissionolthcpublishcr.Thconlycxccptionis
briclquotationsinprintcdrcvicws.
LibraryolCongrcssCataloginginPublicationata
8unn,T.avis,1952
Rarccarth/avis8unn.
p.cm.
!S8N9780764210174(hardcovcr:alk.papcr)!S8N97807642
09062(pbk.)1.!ntcrnationalrcliclKcnyaFiction.2.Rclugcccamps
KcnyaFiction.3.MincsandmincralrcsourccsKcnyaFiction.!.Titlc.
PS3552.U4718R372012
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ScripturcquotationinchaptcrsixistakcnlromthcHoly8iblc,Ncw!ntcrnational\cr
sion.N!\.Copyright 1973,1978,1984,2011by8iblica,!nc.

Uscdbypcrmission
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ScripturcquotationsinchaptcrsthirtytwoandlortyscvcnarctakcnlromthcHoly8iblc,
TodaysNcw!ntcrnational\crsion.TN!\.Copyright 2001,2005by8iblica,!nc.
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Thisisaworkolliction.Namcs,charactcrs,incidcnts,anddialogucsarcproductsolthc
authorsimaginationandarcnottobcconstrucdasrcal.Anyrcscmblancctoactualcvcnts
orpcrsons,livingordcad,iscntirclycoincidcntal.
Thcintcrnctaddrcsscs,cmailaddrcsscs,andphoncnumbcrsinthisbookarcaccuratcat
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_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 6 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Thisbookisdcdicatcdto
Michelle and LeRoy Yates.
cdicatcdinscrvicc,
wiscincounscl,stronginlovc.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 7 4/20/12 1:06 PM
11
Bethany to provide artwork
for chapter openers
Chapter One
M
arcRoyccarrivcdatthclatcstAlricancrisisbywayol
aUnitcdNationschoppcr.Hcwasalastminutchirc,
takingthcplaccolamanwhohadtraincdhardlorthcrolc.
Marchadlittlcchanccolsucccss.vcnhissurvivalwasin
qucstion.HchadspcntawcckinNairobihcaringthisadozcn
timcsandmorccachday.Hcwasnotwclcomc,hcwasnot
wantcd.ThclourUNstallcrssharingthcchoppcrshunncd
him.ThcykncwMarcwascmploycdbyLodcstonc,aU.S.
companycontractcdtobringincmcrgcncysupplicsanddoso
loraprolit.ThcUNstallcrsmightnccdhiscompany,butthcy
stilltrcatcdMarclikcapariah.Thcychattcdamongthcmsclvcs
andstudicdthcrisingtidcolmayhcmbclowthcm.Thcydid
notcvcnacknowlcdgchisprcscncc.Marcwashavingtoogood
atimctocarcwhatthcythought.Hcwashcadcdbackinto
action.!twascnough.
Upahcad,ancwcalamityhadstruckarcgionalrcadydcv
astatcdbydrought,laminc,andcivilwar.Avolcanoncarthc
bordcrbctwccnKcnyaandUganda,dormantlorccnturics,
hadcruptcd.MarchadbccnawakcncdinNairobitwohours
bclorcsunriscwithlranticordcrstogooutthcrcandmakc
thingshappcn.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 11 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
12
Hcignorcdthcglarcsashcshouldcrcdhiswayintight
tothcwindow.Hcwasnotgoingtomissthislirstairbornc
glimpscolhisjob.ThcbascolMountlgonwasjustvisiblc
tohiswcst,butthcpcakwaslosttothcashcloud.ircctly
ahcadolhimwasaribbonollircrunninglromthcvolcanos
ncwlissurc.Thchillsidcwasnowsplitwithvcinsolsmokc
andlirc,awoundolviolcnthucs.
Asthcyswoopcdinlorthclinalapproach,Marcstudicdthc
advancinglavallow.Ahcadolthcmoltcnrockwasalloodol
pcoplcandvchiclcsllccingthcruincdcityolKitalc.Fromhis
pcrch,Marccouldsccthcrcmnantsolashantytownthatcrawlcd
itswayupthconccvcrdantslopc.Thccityhadbccnllattcncdby
thccarthquakcthathadprcccdcdthccruption.Vhcrcthclava
hadnottouchcdwasonlydustandrubblc.Kitalcwasnomorc.
Thcylandcdinadryrivcrbcdwcstolthccity.ThcUNrclicl
workcrsjumpcddownanddcpartcdwithoutaword.Marc
hadnoidcawhcrctogo.Allhchadwasasctolvagucordcrs,
printcdthatmorningatLodcstoncsairportollicc.Hcshowcd
thcshccttothcchoppcrpilot,whogrinncdathisconlusion.
Howlonghavcyoubccnatthisjob:
ightdays.
Thccopilotslippcdollhcrhcadphoncssoshccouldcnjoy
thcshow.Thcpilotaskcd,Vhatkindoltrainingdidthcy
givcyou:
!vchadawcckinNairobi.
Thcpilotscxchangcdaglancc.Andbclorcthat:
!wasanaccountant.!n8altimorc.
Thcpilotswcrclaughingoutloudnow.Vhydontyoujust
hangtight,lctusllyyoubacktothcNairobiairport.Youcan
catchthcbigsilvcrbirdbacktosanityland.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 12 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Rar e Ear t h
13
Thanks,but!vcgotajobtodo.
Man,youvcgotno idcawhatyourcabouttogctyourscll
into.Thcpilotpointcdoutthcsunsplashcdwindscrccn.
Thisplaccwillkill you.
Marcshouldcrcdhisbackpack.Anyidcawhcrc!chcckin:
Thctwopilotspointcdhimtowardatcntatthcbordcr
olthclandingzonc,thcndismisscdhimwithapairolmock
salutcs.
Vcrcitnotlorthcashlloatinglikcbrittlcsnow,thcScp
tcmbcrairwouldhavcbccnplcasant.Thctcmpcraturcwasin
thcuppcrcightics,thcmorningskyachalkybluc.8utcvcry
nowandthcnablackcloudstrcakcdabovcMarcshcad,vaguc
shadowsthatpromiscddangcrtocomc.Andollinthcdistancc
wasaconstantlowrumblcthatthrummcdthroughMarcs
boots.
!nsidcthctcnt,Marcloundcontrollcdchaos.Awoman
worndownbylatigucandstrcssinspcctcdhisordcrs.Yourc
anothcrmcrccnary:
!mthcncwsupplyolliccrlorLodcstonc.
Vhat!said.Shcshotoutahand.Passport.
Marchaditrcadylorhcr.Shcchcckcdhislaccagainstthc
photo.Thcnshckcycdhisnamcintoacomputcr,squintcdat
thcscrccn,andpointcdatthcdustychaos.Sccthoscsupply
trucks:
Thclicldbcyondwasaminicityolsupplymountainsand
rumblingtrucks.Ycs.
FourarchcadcdlorthcFrcnchcampnamcdhcrcinyour
ordcrs.Gochcckinwiththcdispatchcr.Shcinspcctcdhim
again,hcrgazcglintingwithdarkhumor.ontcxpcctlooks
andasmilctogctyouvcrylarouthcrc.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 13 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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Vhatsmilc:Marcrcplicd,butthcwomanhadalrcady
turncdaway.
Thclourtruckswcrcpilcdhighwithcornmcalsacksand
watcrpurilicationsystcmsandmcdicalsupplics.Marckncw
bccauschchadbccngivcnthcmanilcstbyaswcatingdis
patchcrwhoscarcclycvcnglanccdatMarcscrcdcntials.Thc
manwassimplygladtolindsomconcwillingtotakcrcspon
sibilitylorthcload.
Thclcadtruckwasa\olvowiththrcchundrcdthousand
milcsonthcclock.Thcothcrswcrcincvcnworscstatcsol
rcpair.Marcsscatwaspatchcdwithducttapc.Thcsprings
dugintohisbackwithcvcryjouncingdip.Thcdrivcrwasa
goodnaturcdAngolanwhoscnamcMarchadnotcaught.
Thcysharcdthctruckscabwithtwoothcryoungmcn,onc
olwhomwasstullcdintothcrcarcrawlspacc.Twomorcrodc
pcrchcdontopolthcload.
ThcdrivcrspokcalcwwordsinMarcsdircction,laughcd
atMarcslackolundcrstanding,andturncdonthcradio.Thc
volcanolormcdahissingovcrlaythatdrowncdoutthcmusic,
sothcdrivcrslippcdinatapc.Thcmcndrummcdthcirhands
intimctothctuncandchattcrcdconstantly.Thcairwascom
prcsscd,thcmcnslragranccancarthyspicc.Vhcnthcyturncd
wcstontothcmainhighway,Marclinallyrclcascdhissmilc.
Hcwashcadcdinthconcdircctionhctrulyrclishcd.Toward
action.
Thcmanilcsthchcldwasstampcdwiththccmblcmol
Marcscompany.Lodcstonchadrcccntlybccomconcolthc
largcstsupplicrsolhumanitariancquipmcntinAlrica.Thcirs
wasaspccialtyscrvicc.Thcirclicntsincludcdcvcrymajoraid
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 14 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Rar e Ear t h
15
agcncy,alongwiththcUnitcdNations.Vhcncvcrandwhcr
cvcracrisiscruptcd,thcagcncicsturncdtolirmslikcMarcs
todclivcrcmcrgcncysupplics,anddosolast.
8utthcrcwasaproblcm.ncsolargcithadrungalarmbclls
cightthousandmilcsaway.VhichwaswhyMarchadbccn
broughtin.Anoutsidcrwhosomcthoughthadnochanccol
succcssandcvcnlcssolsurvival.8clorcdcpartinglorNairobi,
Marchadbccnrcpcatcdlywarncdolunsccnlocswhowould
makcitthcirbusincsstoassurchcncvcrmadcitbackalivc.
Marchadrcspondcdthathcwouldhavchaditnoothcrway.
Nowthathcwasisolatcdbysmokcandlircandturmoil
andAlrica,Marcwondcrcdathishabitollandinginimpos
siblcsituations.
Trallicalongthcmainroadtoldorctmovcdatacrawl.
ircctlyahcadolthcmwcrccrudcdonkcycartspilcdwith
larmimplcmcntsandchildrcn,withgoatsticdtothcrcargatcs.
Thcanimalsloughtthcropcsandblcatcdasthcywcrcpullcd
lorward.Marcsconvoyrcmaincdonthcroadlorovcrthrcc
hoursandcovcrcdlcssthantcnmilcs.
Thcythcnturncdnorthonwhatwaslittlcmorcthanarut
tcddirttrack.ApairolwaisthighsignswithRcdCrosscamp
namcswcrcthconlyindicationollilcahcad.Asquadolborcd
soldicrskcptthctralliclrommakingthcturn,motioningit
larthcrwcstwithlanguidAlricangcsturcs.Altcrcxchanging
alcwwordswiththclcaddrivcr,thcsoldicrsstcppcdasidc.
Thc vista consistcd ol scrub and thc occasional thorn
trcc.Tothcirlclt,thcworldwaslostbchindacurtainol
doom.ccasionallythcycamcuponcrumblcdpatchcsol
asphalt,butmostolthcroadhadlongbccnwashcdaway.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 15 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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Thcytravclcdthroughmucholthcday,crawlingalongata
briskwalkingpacc.Marcligurcdthcymighthavccovcrcd
twcntymilcs.
Thcywcrclarcnoughlromthcvolcanonottosccmany
cindcrs,whichwasgoodbccauscthcrcgionlookcdboncdry
toMarc.Nowandthcnthcwindshiltcdjustcnoughtolling
ashthcirway,blankctingthclowbrushwithalalscsnow.Thc
drivcrstartcdcoughingandmotioncdlorMarctorolluphis
window.Thccabinquicklybccamcalctidsauna.
Thcypasscdthroughalorcstolskclctaltrccs,blcachcda
ycllowishwhitcbythcdrought.Vhcnthcycmcrgcdonthclor
cstsothcrsidc,Marcwatchcdasadozcnspcctcrsappcarcdon
thcroadahcadolthcm.Thcwomcnwcrcdrcsscdintribalrobcs
coatcdwithash.Thcyhadwrappcdthccdgcsolthcirhcad
kcrchiclsaroundthcirlaccs,lcavingonlythccycscxposcd.
Vhcnthctruckblcwitshorn,thcwomcnstcppcdasidcslowly.
Thcycarricdbundlcsollircwoodandvicwcdthcpassingtruck
throughcycsrcdaslivccoals.
Justasthcyarrivcdatthccampsbordcrlcncc,thcwind
startcdpushinginlromthccast.Asthcairclcarcdthcy
rollcddownthcirwindowsandbrcathcddccply.Thcdrivcr
bccpcdhishornoncc.Thccampguardspullcdbackthcmain
gatcs,andthcytrundlcdinsidc.Tcndrilsolashblcwlrom
thcground,bittcrllurricsthatstungthccycsandlcltMarcs
mouthtastingololdsmokcandsullur.Thccampwasimpos
siblyquict,thccarthblankctcdbyscvcralinchcsolvolcanic
powdcr.
Thccampwasamassivcshantytown,ancndlcsssprawl.
wcllingswcrcbuiltlromcorrugatcdsiding,plasticshccts,
canvastarps,thornbrush,anything.Somchadminiaturclcnccs
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 16 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Rar e Ear t h
17
surroundingbitsolland,Marcassumcd,lorchickcnsorothcr
animals.Childrcnstoodandwatchcdthcmpass,thcirlcctand
lcgsturncdthccolorololdboncs.
Thcyroundcdaslightbcndandcamcuponawallolpackcd
humanity.Thcpcoplcblockingthcroadprcsscdoutolthcway,
thcirmotionsslowandgrudging.Thcycntcrcdthccamps
ccntralcompound.Thchordccncirclcdthcm,twcntyorthirty
pcoplcdccp.Marchcardasoltrumblc,likcanothcrvolcano
thrcatcningtocruptbcncathhislcct.nlythisonccamclrom
thcpcoplcwhonowsurroundcdthctrucks.
Thcdrivcrandhismatcsmuttcrcdncrvously.
Staycool,Marcsaidsoltly.
Thcdrivcrglanccdovcr.!twasunccrtainwhcthcrhcundcr
stoodMarcswords.8utMarcstoncandcxprcssionwcrc
cnoughtocalmhim.Hisdcathgriponthcwhcclcascdslightly.
!nsidcthcthrongwasancmptyspacc,pcrhapstwohundrcd
yardsacross.Thisccntralzonchcldanadministrativcbuilding
olunpaintcdconcrctcblocks,achapclandschoolhousc,amcdi
calclinic,abunkhouscandmcsshall,andatrioolgodowns,
thclocalwordloranopcnsidcdwarchousc.Thccntircarca
wasrimmcdbypcoplc.
Asquadolsoldicrsinswcatstaincdunilormsstoodbclorc
thcgodowns.Fourpcoplcinwhitcgownswatchcdthcirtruck
throughthcclinicsmosquitoncttingwalls.thcrwiscthcrc
wasnomovcmcnt.Justthcwalloldarklaccsandscowlsand
rcdrimmcdcycs.
Thcnawomancamcboundingoutolthcadminbuilding.
Shcappcarcdtobcinhcrlatctwcnticsandwasattractivcina
dishcvclcdmanncr.Shchadacoltishmanncrolrunning,hcr
longlcgswcightcdbyhcavylaccupboots.Arubbcrbandonly
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 17 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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partlymanagcdtocontrolhcrdarkbrownhair.Shcgrippcd
MarcswindowsillandaddrcsscdhiminlranticFrcnch.
Sorry,Marcsaid.oyouspcaknglish:
Thcwomandcmandcd,Vhcrcarcthcsoldicrs:
Marcwavcdatthctrucks.Vcrcjustdclivcringsupplics.
!spokconthcradiowiththccoloncl.Lastnightandagain
thismorning.!lorgcthisnamc.Hcracccntwasalmostcomi
callyFrcnch,drawingthcrslromsomcwhcrcdccpinhcrthroat
andmakingzsolcachthsound:Ze radio wit ze colonel.Hc
promiscdmorcsoldicrs.
Thcbasccampisshccrchaos,Marcrcplicd.Nooncsaid
anythingaboutsoldicrs.!ncvcrsawanolliccr.!llcwin,thcy
toldmctocomchcrc.
Thcwomanrclcascdhiswindowsoastopullhcrhairaway
lromhcrlacc.Marcrcalizcdshcwasdoinghcrbcstnottocry.
Shctookapairolraspybrcaths,thcnsaidquictly,Vcarc
allgoingtodic.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 18 4/20/12 1:06 PM
19
Bethany to provide artwork
for chapter openers
Chapter Two
W
hcnMarcstcppcddownlromthctruck,thcsurround
ingthronggrcctcdhimwithalowgrowl.Hcprctcndcd
nottohcaranything,thoughhisbcllyquivcrcdlromncrvcs.
FcaraddcdtrcmorstothcFrcnchaidworkcrsvoicc.How
canthcyscndmcmorcsupplicsandnostall:!amthconly
pcrsonhcrcwithauthority.!cannotcontrolthcsituation.
Marcopcncdthctrucksrcargatcandunhookcdthcbungcc
cordsholdingdownthcmcdicalsupplics.Hcpullcdoutthc
ncarcstcratc.Takcthis.
Shcdidsoonlybccauschcshovcdthccontaincrintohcr
arms.idyouhcaraword!justsaid:
Marcpullcdoutasccondoncandstartcdacrossthcash
covcrcdcarth.Hckcpthisvoicccalm.!wouldadviscyouto
bcquict.
Shchurricdtocatchup.Howdare yousaysuchathing.
Youhavcno idcawhat!vc
Marcsmilcdchccrily.Yourtoncolvoiccismakingthings
worsc.
Thcmcdicalclinicwasanidcnticalconcrctcblockstruc
turctothcchapclandadminbuildingandbunkhousc,only
ithadbccncxpandcdbyhookingopcnsidcdtcntstothrcc
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 19 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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olitslourcxtcriorwalls.Marcslippcdthroughthcmosquito
ncttinglowcrcdtokccpoutthcashandaskcd,Vhospcaks
nglishinhcrc:
Anattractivcyoungnurscinaswcatstaincdunilormsaid,
!do.
May!askyournamc:
Kitra.
!amMarc.
Thcaidworkcrbchindhimclcarlydislikcdbcingignorcd.
YouLodcstoncpcoplcarcallthcsamc.Youthinkyoucan
buyyourwayoutolanycrisis.
Marcrcplicd,!knowyourcscarcd.8utwccangctthrough
thisintact.Hcrcalizcdthcnurscwasbackingawaylromhim.
Vhatsthcmattcr:
Kitrawasdarkhaircdwithcycsolcmcraldlirc.Youarc
lromthcLodcstoncgroup:
Thatsright.
Hcrlaccnowhcldanacridmixollcarandloathing.Gct
outolthistcnt.
Look,!mhcrc
Lcavc!
Apairolmcdicalstallcrsstartcdtowardhim.Marcsctthc
cratchcwascarryingonancmptybcdandraiscdhishandsin
submission.ThcFrcnchaidworkcrwatchcdinbittcrtriumph
asMarcrctrcatcd.
AtallAlricaninadarkshortslccvcdshirtandpastors
collarwaswaitinglorhim.Pcrhaps!canhclp.!amCharlcs
Matindc,campchaplain.
Marcgcsturcdatthclaccsglaringthroughthcscrccn.Vhat
justhappcncdinthcrc:
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 20 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Rar e Ear t h
21
Thcaidsupcrvisor,hcrnamcis\alcric.Shcisvcrylright
cncdandmostccrtainlyoutolhcrdcpth.Thcchaplainsn
glishwasprcciscandhcavilyacccntcd.Hcwasinhislortics,
tallandslcndcrinthcmanncrolalongdistanccrunncr.As
lorthcnursc,shchasapcrsonalissucwithyourcompany.
Marcaskcd,Vhataboutyou:oyouhavcaproblcm
withLodcstonc:
Ccrtainlynot.Charlcsindicatcdthccrowdolpcoplc.My
conccrnislorthcm.Myqucstionis,canyouhclp:
Marclikcdthatanswcrasmuchashcdidthcchaplains
stcadymanncr.Vhoclscisinchargchcrc:
CharlcsmotioncdtowardamiddlcagcdAlricanwholcancd
againstthcsidcolthcncarcstgodown.HccradlcdanAK47
withsuchcascitwasalmostpossiblctoignorcthcrcadincss
tohisstancc.ScrgcantKamal.
!sthcscrgcanttobctrustcd:
Hcdocsnothavccnoughmcn.Hccomplains.8utycs,!
thinkhcisagoodman,andhismcnagrcc.
ocshcspcaknglish:
Alcwwords.
Vouldyoucomctranslatclormc,plcasc:
\alcriccmcrgcdlromthcmcdicaltcnt,clcarlydisplcascd
withhowMarcwascircumvcntinghcrauthority.Shclcllin
bcsidcthcmandcontinucdwithhcrcomplaints.!wasprom
iscdmorcstall.!waspromiscdsccurity.Vcdonothavcany
waytoprotcctthcsupplicswchavcnow.
Thcscrgcantscowlcdat\alcric,addinghisowndisplca
surctoMarcs.Thcwomanwcntsilcnt.ScrgcantKamalworc
akhakiunilormwithblucstripcsonhislapclsandslccvcs,
dcnotingasoldicrinthcUNHCRbrigadc.Vhcnthcchaplain
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 21 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
22
introduccdthcm,Marcdrcwhimsclluptolullhcightandgavc
thcmanaparadcgroundsalutc.Plcasccxtcndtothcolliccr
mysinccrcrcspcctlorkccpingthingsundcrcontrol.
Thcscrgcantundcrwcntarcmarkablctranslormation.Gonc
washissullcnragc,whichMarckncwwasanoncomscus
tomaryrcsponsctothrcatsolanykind.Thcscrgcantsmilcd,
rcvcalingamouthcrammcdwithovcrlybrighttccth.
Marcsaid,AskScrgcantKamalwhcnthclasttimclood
wasdistributcd.
Thcchaplainrcplicdwithoutasking.Notsinccthcvolcano
cruptcd.
!nccdthcscrgcanttorcspondandlcclincludcd.
Ah,olcoursc.Charlcsspokcwiththcscrgcantinwhat
Marcassumcdwasalocaltonguc.Hcthcnrcplicd,Thrcc
daysandcounting.
Thcaidworkcrsnappcd,Howcould!possibly dclivcrsup
plicswhcn!havcnoidcaolwhatorwhorcprcscntswhich
rclugcclamily:Vchavcthousands olncwrclugccsarriving
cvcryday.Vcwcrcpromiscdmachincstomakc!s.Vcwcrc
promiscdstalltomakcpropcrrccords. Vcwcrcpromiscd
guards.
Marcturncdtothcaidworkcr.Yourassistanccisnolongcr
rcquircd.
\alcricgapcdathim.Comment?
Marcsaid,Youwouldhclpusalotbyrcturningtothc
adminbuilding.
Thcchaplainactuallysmilcd.
Howdare
Arcyouablctolinditonyourown,Marcsaid,orshould
!askthcscrgcantlorancscort:
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 22 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Rar e Ear t h
23
Thcscrgcanttrackcd\alcricsangryrctrcatwithcynical
approval.HcturncdbacktoMarcandnoddcdoncc.
Marcaskcd,Howmanyablcsoldicrsarcwctalkingabout
hcrc:
Sixtccn,Kamalrcplicdthroughthcchaplain.ncundcr
strcngthsquad.
Marcscanncdthcarca.Thctcnsioncmanatinglromthc
anxiouscrowdwasapalpablclorcc.!tlclttoMarclikcalingcr
slowlydrawingdownonthctriggcr.Vcdonthavcmuch
timc.
No,Charlcsquictlyagrccd.Vcdonot.
Hclikcdthcpastorscalm.!twasthcmanncrolsomconc
whohadlongsinccgivcnupworryingovcrcvcrythinghc
couldnotcontrol.Marcscnscdthcscrgcanthcldthcsamc
attitudc,solongashissupcriorsgavchimdircctionandat
lcastahopcolsurvival.
Thcgodowns,whosctinroolswcrcsupportcdbyconcrctc
blockpillars,wcrccrammcdtothcgillswithsupplics.Thcthird
wascmpty.Marckncwwithoutaskingthatthcscrgcanthad
masscdthcprovisionsintoassmallaspaccaspossiblctokccp
lromovcrcxtcndinghissquad.Marcaskcd,Vhichgodown
holdsyouroldcstpcrishablcs:
Thcscrgcantuscdhismachincguntopointatthcgodown
tohislclt.Charlcstranslatcd,Thcmcalysackshavcbcgun
tosmcll.
kay,hcrcswhatwcdo.Vcpullthctrucksuptothc
cmptygodown.Youtakcyourmcnollthcwarchouscthcrc
anddircctthcmtostandguardwhilcwcollloadthctrucks.
Thcscrgcantundcrstoodimmcdiatcly.Youwilllctthcm
stcalcvcrything:
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 23 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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Firstolall,thcsupplicswcrcalwaysmcantlorthcscpcoplc.
Nobodyisstcalinganything.Sccondly,wcdonthavccnough
mcntoguardthrccgodowns.
Thcscrgcantlookcdatthcsurroundingthronglorthclirst
timc.Andthcyarcstarving.
Marcrclcascdthclaintcstwispolwrath.Thatisabsolutcly
unacccptablc.
Thcscrgcantturncdback,approvalclcarinhisdarkgazc.
Charlcstranslatcd,Kamalaskshowlongyouwillbcstaying.
ncdaybcyondaslongasittakcs,Marcrcplicd.Lcts
gctstartcd.
Marcjoincdthcguardsstandingaroundthctrucks.Hc
hcldaNambumachincpistolthatbclongcdtooncolKamals
soldicrswhowasdownwithgutrot.Marchadncvcrlikcd
thcNambu.Thcgunwascxcccdinglyugly,withapigssnout
olabarrclandacurvcdcliplongashislorcarm.Thcclip
wasovcrsizcdbccauscwhcnthcwcaponwasswitchcdtolull
automaticitthrcwoutbullctsaslastasmctalrain.Thcgun
waspolishcdwithycarsolhandling,butthcrcwasnorust
andthctriggcrwaslirm.Marchadnodoubtitwouldlirc
wcll.8uthchadnointcntionolusingit.Hccarricditasa
showolauthority.
8ccauscthccampwasabouttoblow.
ThccampwasrunbythclargcstFrcnchaidagcncy.Alricas
crisiscampswcrcscgmcntcdbyagcncyandnation,toavoid
languagcconlusionandduplicationolcithcractionorpcrson
ncl.8utwhcnthcvolcanohadcruptcd,thcnationsministcr
lorrclugccshadordcrcdthccampsdircctorstotakcovcrthrcc
othcrcampswhoscownadministratorswcrctrappcdinKitalc
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 24 4/20/12 1:06 PM
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25
andprcsumcdlost.\alcrichadbccnthcloncaidworkcrlclt
inchargc,andwasovcrwhclmcd.
\alcricwasobviouslyaccustomcdtohavinganynumbcr
olstalldowhatcvcrshcwantcd.nlynowthcrcwasnoonc
aroundlorhcrtomanipulatc,cxccptlorthcpastorandthc
scrgcantandapairolovcrworkcdmalcnurscs.Kamalscowlcd
whcncvcrshccamcwithinrangc,andhismcnwcrcmorcthan
happytolollowhislcad.Thccampcldcrsuttcrlydcspiscdhcr.
Charlcsvicwcdhcrwithamuscdcondcsccnsion.Marchadno
idcawhatopinionthcmcdicalpcrsonnclhadol\alcric.Hc
hadnotbccnpcrmittcdbackinsidcthcirtcnt.
Sinccthcothcradministratorshaddcpartcd,thccamp
hadswcllcdlromnincthousandtosomcwhcrcaroundthirty
thousandpcoplc.ThisMarclcarncdlromthcpastor.Charlcs
rcvcalcdasharpbutgcntlcwisdomthatmatchcdthcsilvcr
thrcadswovcnthroughhisclosccroppcddarkhair.Thcman
posscsscdaquictdignitythatMarcloundgcnuinclyappcaling,
cspcciallyasitrcmaincduntouchcdbythccurrcntcrisis.As
Marcscparatcdthcmcdicalsupplicsandwatcrpurilication
systcmslromthcloodstulls,hcaskcd,Thinkmaybcyoucould
lindthccampcldcrs:
Thatissimplccnough.Charlcsgcsturcdtowardaclustcr
ololdcrmcnstandingtothcrightolthcmainroad.Allbut
oncisthcrc.Thcothcrislaidupinthcclinic.
Villthcyspcakwithmc:
Thcywilllistcn.Aslortalking . . .Charlcsgavcanclo
qucntshrug.Thcystoppcdspcakingto\alcricthcdaybclorc
ycstcrday.
Marcstoppcdbythcncarcstgodownandhcltcdasackol
grain.ThccldcrswatchcdinunblinkingsilcnccasMarcandthc
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 25 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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chaplainwalkcdovcr.Adccpvoiccroarcdlromsomcwhcrcto
Marcslclt.Thcsoundwaslollowcdbyachorusolrumblings.
Marccouldhcarthcpastorsbrcathing,quictgaspslikchchad
justrunahardmilc.
Marcsctthcgraindownatthccldcrslcctandsaidwithout
prcamblc,!ollcrmysolcmnapologylorthchardshipsthcy
havclaccd.!thankthcmlorthcordcrthcyhavcmaintaincd
inthccampdcspitcthcsituation.
Charlcs translatcd in thc samc tight brcaths, ncrvous
punchcsolalcwwordscach.Thccldcrsmadcnosignthcy
hcardhim.
Myaimistorclicvcthcworstnccdlorlood,andthcnsct
upancquitablcsystcmtodistributcthcothcrgoods.
Charlcssccmcdtohavctroublclindingcnoughairtoshapc
thcwords.Vhcnhcwasdonc,Marcsaid,Tcllthcmthclclt
godownholdslood,andcvcrythingcanbctakcn.Now.
vcnbclorcCharlcslinishcdtranslating,thcyoungcstol
thccldcrsturncdandliltcdhisstallhighovcrhcad.Hcwas
aslcndcrmaninhislatcthirtics,withthcmotionsolatigcr
andlcaturcstomatch.Thcrcwasnodoubtinghisauthority.
Hcpointcdatthcgodownandcallcd.Thccrywastakcnup
byahundrcdvoiccs,athousand.Allbutthccldcrscruptcdin
atidcolashcolorcdrobcs.
Non, non, cest ne pas ThcFrcnchaidworkcrhadthc
goodscnsctoscrcamhcrobjcctionslromthcadminbuildings
lrontstcp.Shcshrickcdonccmorcatthcscrgcant,whopaid
hcrnomorcattcntionthanMarcorthccldcrs.
Thcpcoplcrushcdthcgodownlromallsidcs.Thcnativc
truckcrsstoodonthcirvchiclcsandchattcrcdncrvouslyas
thcUNsoldicrslormcdalincbctwccnthclcltgodownand
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 26 4/20/12 1:06 PM
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27
thcothcrsupplics.8utthcpcoplcmadcnoattcmpttobrcak
throughthcphalanx.
Vhcn\alcricrcalizcdnooncpaidhcranyattcntion,shc
scatcdhcrscllonthctopstcpandsmokcdandsulkcd.Marc
ignorcdhcrandkcpthisattcntiononthccrowd.Thcpcoplc
clcarcdthcwarchouscwiththcspccdollocusts.Thcrcwcrca
lcwsquabblcs,notmany.Thcyoungcstlcadcrprotcctcdonc
womanwhoscsackwasbcingtuggcdatbyapairoltccnagc
girls.Thcscrgcantordcrcdtwoolhismcntoshicldatriool
childrcnstrugglingwithacarton.Frominsidcthcmcdical
station,paticntsrosconthcirbcdswhilcthcstallstoodand
watchcd.
Childrcnbcgandancingaboutthcccntralcompound.Pack
ctsolPlumpyNutllickcrcdmirrorlikcinthcirhands.Plumpy
Nutwasatrucsucccssstory,acombinationolVcstcrningcnu
ityandAlricannccd.Thcproductrcquircdnorclrigcration,
wascrammcdwithvitaminsandprotcins,costlcssthanthirty
ccntsaportion,andsuitcdthclocalstastcs.Marchadtricdit
inNairobiandthoughtittastcdlikcpcanutbuttcrlaccdwith
boilcdham.8utthcchildrcnlovcdit.Andthatwaswhat
mattcrcdmost.
Thcnitwasovcr.Thctcnsionwasrclcascd.Thccampwcnt
quict.Marcrcmaincdwhcrchcwas,stationcdbythccldcrs,
untilwoodsmokcroscandblankctcdthccampwiththclra
granccolcookinggrain.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 27 4/20/12 1:06 PM
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 28 4/20/12 1:06 PM
29
Bethany to provide artwork
for chapter openers
Chapter Three
T
hcaltcrnoonwasquict,thchoursvcrylull.Thcccntral
compoundrcmaincdringcdbythinwispsolwoodsmokc.
Anhourorsoaltcrthcgrainwasdistributcd,thcwinddicd.
Thcsouthwcstcrnskywasdominatcdbyagiantpillarolash.!t
rosclromthccarth,aloomingmcnaccolbiblicalproportions.
Marcprowlcdthccompound,mostlysothcpcoplcwould
bccomcaccustomcdtohisprcscncc.Hcandthcsoldicrsand
thctruckcrssortcdthroughthcgoodslillingthcothcrtwo
godowns,boththoschchaddclivcrcdandthcpilcsalrcady
inplacc.Thcrcwcrcnomanilcststhathccouldlind,sohc
borrowcdpcnandpapcrandclipboardlromthcmcdicaltcnt
andlashioncdlistsolhisown.Thrcctimcshcwcntbackto
thcmcdicaltcnt,twicctodclivcrsupplicsandonccmorcto
askwhatclscthcyrcquircd.ThcnurscnamcdKitrascowlcd
athimcvcrytimcMarccamcwithinrangc,butmadcnomovc
tobarhiscntry.
Vhilcthcmcdicalstalldiscusscdwhattoaddtothcirgrow
ingwishlist,MarctrackcdKitrasmovcmcnts.Thcnurschad
thcrarcabilitytorcmainalluringcvcnwhcncxhaustcdand
strcsscd,likcnow.Marcdidnotmindhcrhostility,lorhckncw
thcrcasons.!ntruth,hckncwagrcatdcalabouthcr.Shcwas,
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 29 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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inlact,thcrcasonhchadcomc.Sooncrorlatcrhcwasgoing
tohavctoconlronthcr.8utnotyct.
ThcoldcstloodstullsMarcshiltcdintothcnowcmpty
warchousc.Thcsoldicrshullcdanddiscusscdthctaskamong
thcmsclvcs,butdidnotobjcct.Thctruckcrslollowcdthcsol
dicrslcad.Justasthcywcrccomplctingthctask,thcchaplain
cmcrgcdlromthcmcdicaltcntwithatwopagclistolsupplics.
Vcmanagcdtocontactthcdoctors.Thcyaddcdmatcrials
rcquircdbythcothcrcampswhcrcthcyarcworking.
Goodidca.Marccopicdthcitcmstohismanilcst,thcn
handcdthcmcdicalstall slistbacktoCharlcs.Tcllthcm
toholdontothis,sothcycanchcckthcirordcragainstthc
incomingsupplics.
Thcywillaskwhcnthcscitcmsshouldarrivc.
Soon.!hopc.Hcrosctohislcct.Youmindtranslating
lormc:
Togcthcrthcyapproachcdthctruckcrs.Marchandcdthc
manilcsttothclcaddrivcr,thcncxtractcdtwohundrcddollars
lromhismoncybclt.Tcllhimthcrcsanothcrlivcbillslor
himandhisworkcrsilhccandclivcrthisstullinthrccdays.
Charlcsdidso,thcnrcplicd,Hcsays,thcproblcmisnot
himandnothistrucks,butthcdcpotbosscs.
Tcllhimtohangtight.!mgoingtomakcacouplcolcalls
andgcthimanamc.Marcmovcdovcrtothcscrgcantand
ollcrcdanothcrcashpaymcnt.TcllScrgcantKamal,hcand
hismcnwcrcaplcasurctoworkwith.Thismoncyismyway
olsayingthanks.
Thcscrgcantmadcthcmoncydisappcar.Thisispaymcnt
lorwhatwchavcdonc,orwhatisycttocomc:
Marcgrinncd.!amlikingthismanmorcandmorc.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 30 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Rar e Ear t h
31
Charlcsaskcd,Am!totranslatcthisalso:
Surcthing.Marccrosscdthccompound,climbcdthcstairs,
andknockcdonthcadminbuildingsdoorlramc.Hccouldscc
thcFrcnchaidworkcrscatcdbchindthcdcskonthcrooms
oppositcsidc.8ut\alcricgavcnosignshcwasawarcolhim.
Marcpushcdopcnthcscrccndoorandcntcrcd.!vcshiltcd
thcloodwiththccloscstuscbydatcstothccmptygodown.
Shccontinucdtostarcoutthcmainroomsrcarwindow.Thc
backarcawasdominatcdbyamassivcbaobabtrcc.8cyondthat
stoodaloncconcrctchut,housingthcgcncratorandlucltank.
Marccouldhcarthcgcncratorslowthrobbingthroughthc
opcnwindow.Vhcn\alcricgavcnorcsponsc,Marccrosscd
thcroom.!nccdtouscyoursatcllitcphonc.
Marchcltcdthchcavyapparatusollhcrdcsk.Shcglarcd
athim,butdidnotspcak.Thcdcviccwaswarmandslightly
moist.Marcassumcdshchadjustlinishcdacall,probably
complainingtosomconcaboutwhathchaddonc.Hcwipcd
thcphonconhisshirtanddialcdthcnumbcratthctopolhis
ownmanilcst.Hcmadchisrcqucst,gotthcrcquircdnamc,
cutthcconncction,andrcplaccdthcphonc.!mthinkingit
wouldbcagoodidcatodclcgatcrcsponsibilitytothccldcrs.
AndCharlcs,ilhclldoit.
Youarchcrcalcwhoursandyouthinkyouknowcvcry
thing.Shcpluckcdacigarcttclromthcpackonhcrdcsk.
Thclargcccntralolliccstankolstalcsmokc.Howpositivcly
Amcrican.
!sthcrcaphotocopymachincorprintcrthatworks:
!wantnothingtodowithyouoryourqucstions.Shclit
hcrcigarcttcandblcwalongplumctowardthcrcarwindow.
YoursupcriorsatLodcstoncmustbcvcryproud.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 31 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
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Marcscarchcdthcolliccsandloundancwprintcrscanncr
inthcsccondroom.Hctookouthispassportandmadclilty
copicsolthcpagcwithhisphoto.Vhcnhcrcturncdtothc
lrontroom,\alcricwasstillthcrc,stillblowingsmokcatthc
baobabtrccbcyondhcropcnwindow.Marclcltthcbuilding
withoutanothcrword.
Charlcssccmcdtohavcbccnwaitinglorhim,whichMarc
tookasagoodsign.Togcthcrthcywalkcdtothccollcctionol
thrccramshacklchutsthatmadcupthccldcrscompound.Thc
buildingswcrcidcnticaltoallthcothcrsMarcsaw,madclrom
plasticshcctingandraggcdtarpaulinsanddricdtrcclimbsand
thornbush.Thctrioolstructurcsopcncdintoasmallinncr
yardwhcrcchickcnspcckcd.Thccldcrsrcmaincdscatcdon
littlcstoolsasMarcandCharlcscntcrcd.Thcccntcrstool
wasoccupicdbythcyoungcstolthcgroup,thcmanwitha
prcdatorslatcntlorcc.
Marchandcdovcrallbutoncolthcphotocopicdshccts
andlaunchcdstraightin.Thcrcarcboundtobcwcakcrand
oldcrmcmbcrsolthiscommunitywhomightnotrcccivc
thcirsharc.!wantyoutotakcrcsponsibilitylorgcttingthcm
lood.!dsuggcstyouuscthcscprintouts.ncolyousigna
photocopicdpagcandhavcCharlcsdothcsamc.Scrgcant
Kamalandhismcnwillhandovcrasackolgrainlorcach
signcdlorm.
Thcyoungchicltookthcpagcs,inspcctcdthcm,andcntcrcd
intoasolcmndiscussionwiththcothcrs.TwiccCharlcsintcr
jcctcdalcwcommcntsolhisown.ThccldcrsstudicdMarc
intcntly.
Thcdiscussionwcntonlorsomctimc.Thcnthclcadcr
callcdout.Swiltlyapairolstoolswcrcbrought.Thcchicl
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 32 4/20/12 1:06 PM
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33
gcsturcdlorMarcandCharlcstoscatthcmsclvcs.Aclaypot
olsomcmildlylcrmcntcdcowsmilkwasbrought.!ttastcd
likcmontholdcottagcchccscandsmcllcdlarworsc.8ut
MarclollowcdCharlcsscxamplcandsmackcdhislipsovcr
thcputriddrink.
Thclormaliticsobscrvcd,Marcsaid,!nccdtoknowwhat
problcmtoattackncxt.
Thccldcrssccmcdtohavcbccncxpcctingthisvcrystatc
mcnt.Thcrcwasabriclcxchangc,alowmurmurasthcclay
potmadcitswayaroundthccirclc.Charlcstranslatcd,Thc
youngcrwomcnandthcwidowsandthclonclygrandmothcrs.
Thcyhavcaproblcm.
Thcmosthclplcss,Marcsaid,showinghcundcrstood.
Thconcswithnomantoprotcctthcm.
Thccamplacksmanythings,butthcmostscriousnccdis
cookingoil.Thcrcislircwood.Thclorcstyousccbcyondthc
campboundaryhasmostlydicdwiththcdrought.8utmany
olthcwomcnrclusctogo.Vcarchcaringtalcs.Charlcs
hcsitatcd.Thisisasadthing.
!amlistcning,Marcsaid.Hcdidnotknowwhathcwas
goingtohcar,butalrcadyhisgutburncdwithlivccoals.
Thccldcrssuspcctsomcolthcmcnwaitlorthcyoung
womcnanddcmandscxincxchangclorgrantingthcmpas
sagc.Somcolthcscmaidcnsrclusctocntcrthclorcst.Thcy
arcstarving,cvcnwhcnthcynowhavcgrain.
Marcstoodandmadcaproccssoldustingollhispants,
tryingtohidchisragc.!willsccwhat!cando.
Thccldcrshadthcsamcrcdrimmcdcycsascvcryoncclsc
inthccamp.Thcystudicdhimcarclully.Thcyoungcstlinally
spokc.Charlcstranslatcd,Thcywishtoknowyournamc.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 33 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
34
MarcRoycc.
Thcyaskilyouarcachiclinyourhomcland.
Sorry.No.Hcturncdtolcavc.Justanaccountant.
Atasignallromthcyoungchicl,Charlcsrcmaincdwhcrc
hcwasasMarcroscanddcpartcd.Gathcrcdinthiscirclcwcrc
clcvcncldcrslromlivcdillcrcnttribcs.Twowcrcinlactnot
olliciallycldcrsatall,mcrclythoscsclcctcdtospcak.nlyonc
wasatrucchicl,olthcLuo.Hcwasthcyoungcst,notyctlorty.
HisnamcwasPhilip.Philiphadtakcnthisncwnamcwhcn
hchadturncdtoChristianity.Hisclanhadbccnanimistlor
ovcrathousandycars,worshipingthcsunandccrtaintrccs
andthchillknowninnglishasKilimanjaro.Charlcshcld
thisoncinsomcthingakintoawc.
ThccldcrlromthcNdcbclctribcaskcd,Truly,thisncw
comcrisamanwholooksatnumbcrs:
Vhywouldhclic:anothcrrcplicd.
Thcclaypotwaspasscdlromhandtohand.nlyalcw
drank.AmongthctalltribcsmcnolthcRiltplains,thcpot
wouldhavcbccnspiccdwithlrcshcowsblood.Vhcnitcamc
toCharlcs,hcdippcdhisnoscintothcpotsopcning,thcn
passcditon.Asachild,hchadbccomcphysicallyillmcrcly
lromthcodor.Hcstilllounditlaintlynauscating.8uthchad
lcarncdtomaskhisdistastc.Hcsaid,MarcRoyccgcnuincly
carcslorthoscallcctcdbythislatcsttrial.
!scnscthisaswcll,Philipsaid.
ThclactthatPhiliphadspokcninagrccmcntcndcdthc
discussion.ncolthcoldcrmcnaskcdhim,oyouthink
hcisthconc:
!onlyknowwhat!drcamcd,Philiprcplicd.Youhavcall
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 34 4/20/12 1:06 PM
Rar e Ear t h
35
hcardthis.Manytimcs.Sinccthcnightamonthandmorc
bclorcthccruption.
Tcllusagain.
Amanarrivcsonachariot.Hccntcrsthroughthccamps
lrontgatcsinthcdayshighhcat.
Thcrcwasarcspcctlulmurmur,arumblingdccpinthc
chcst.AKikuyucldcrcallcdlorasmokc.Hisscniorwilc
approachcd,drawingalongstcmmcdclaypipclromapockct.
Shcuscdacurvcdknilctoparcshavingslromacomprcsscd
plugolnativctobacco.Shclitatwigandpullcddccplybclorc
handingthcpipctohim.
Philipcontinucd,Hchaltsthcchariotandcntcrsthrough
thcgatcsonloot.
Thisthcncwcomcrdidnotdo,ancldcrsaid.
Pcrhapshiscntcringonlootsuggcstsadccpcrmcaning,
Charlcsollcrcd.Anywhoarcollcrcdthcpotmightspcakas
ancqual.Asymbol.
Thccldcstamongthcmrcspondcd,8utasymbololwhat:
Humility,pcrhaps,athirdsaid.radcsirctobcacccptcd.
Thcrcwasnoimpaticncc,nonccdtoprcsslorward.Thc
cldcrscountcdtimcbyadillcrcntclock.Thcstorywaslcss
importantthanundcrstandingwhatrolcMarcRoyccmight
playinthcdaystocomc.
Vhcnthcothcrswcntsilcnt,Philipsaid,Vhcrchcstcppcd,
thcashdisappcarcd.Grassshootsrosclromthccarth.And
thcn!wasliltcdup.Highasancaglcsllight!rosc.Andlaras
!couldscc,allthccarthbloomcd.Trccswhosclimbsarcnow
whitcasoldboncsborclruit.As!awokc,!hcardthcmaidcns
andthcchildrcnsingingthcharvcstsong.
!tcannotbcthisonc,thccldcstmurmurcd.Amanwho
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 35 4/20/12 1:06 PM
DAVI S BUNN
36
dwcllsinaroomwithoutwindowsandcatsnumbcrsaswc
wouldmcalybrcad.Thisonccannotbringthcrain.Thisonc
cannotsavcourland.
!sawwhat!saw,thcyoungchiclrcplicd.
idyouscchislacc:
!didnot.
Thccldcstamongthcmhclduponcarm.Hisscniorwilc
stcppcdlorwardandhclpcdthcmantohislcct.Hctookthc
claypotalinaltimc,drankdccply,andsmackcdhislips.Hc
lcancdhcavilyonhiscancashcstartcdtowardhishut.Hc
saidashcdcpartcd,Thisncwoncwillstayonlyaslongashc
cantakcmoncylromourplight.Hcwillcounthiswinnings,
andhcwilllcavc.Numbcrsarcthcwhitcmanslascination.Hc
mustlillthclorms.Hcmustcountthchcads.Andwhcnhc
gocs,wcwillbcaswcarcnow.Scckingtosurvivcanothcrday.
_Bunn_RareEarth_LH_djm.indd 36 4/20/12 1:06 PM