The next day, after a long breakfast that included strategizing how they’d function when they returned to the compound, Ernest decided to accompany Val and Kerry, so Tyrian did have to stay with Anna at the hotel. While Kerry calmed herself preparing him for her departure, the little boy easily left her side again.
Yuxnier was waiting in the lobby, ready to dispatch the threesome back to the Fihankra.
In the backseat of the car, Val looked through her cell phone, checking the same blogs she’d read the day before and for sure she found images and recordings of her and Kerry arriving at the compound the day before and even more history presenting Kerry standing there on the Juliet with Brother Krishna. Headlines were more shocking: KERRY JACKSON CONFIRMS JAMISON TAYLOR IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN CUBA. One image had made it to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the largest newspaper in circulation in Georgia. The articles about it on the AP wire were national. Kerry’s face was everywhere. In the pictures she was smiling and looked like she supported whatever the headline dictated. Even the video made it seem as if she was in agreement with everything Brother Krishna had said on the balcony. When she’d waved to the woman with the baby in the audience, it was made to look like she was holding out a Black Power fist. Kerry looked like a new revolutionary.
Val passed her the phone.
“What is this?” Kerry asked as she looked through. “Who is doing this?”
The gates at the checkpoints they’d passed just hours ago were now fully decorated and prepared for their return. Yuxnier drove right through with no problem and at the final checkpoint, they allowed the car to pass and continue on to the main building before the obelisk.
The crowd was thicker still. And the plain, working clothing everyone had been wearing was repl
aced with all kinds of cultural celebratory gear and headdresses.
Yuxnier, who hadn’t been allowed inside the day before, and Ernest looked out of the window in awe. Somehow, Ernest thought, everything the women had explained in what sounded like lies was so true. Now he worried about how he could sum this all up to share with someone else.
The people flooded the car and the chanting from the day before continued. Yuxnier had to drive slowly, near a crawl, to ensure that he didn’t hit any of the spectators.
“What is that? What are they cheering?” Ernest asked.
“Queen,” Kerry said. “It’s what they named me.”
At the wooden doors, Nzingha was waiting in red with the three girls beside her. When Kerry, Val, and Ernest got out of the green Beetle, the girls ran up to them and placed the new flowers around their necks.
Nzingha nodded to them, but there was some hesitation in her smile. Val noted it, but she couldn’t explain it to herself.
Again, they entered the wooden doors. Tables were covered with food and flowers so lovely it was hard not to touch. However, socializing or even eating was not in the mission the threesome had devised over breakfast. They were to go there and demand to see Jamison. That was all. That was it.
“Please eat,” Nzingha said, pointing to the tables.
“We ain’t hungry,” Val said directly, but Ernest had already forgotten the plan and was eating a piece of pineapple that was the sweetest he’d ever had. Val shot a stare at him. “Really? Really?”
“Oh, don’t trouble the brother. He is just eating our good food,” Nzingha said.
“Mind your business,” Val said. “And where is Jamison? That’s why we are here. Not to eat. We just came for what we were promised.”
Kerry stood beside Val, nodding along.
“In time,” Nzingha said, ushering them through the pleasantries. Again, Val sensed her little hesitation, a slight distance in her voice. Val still couldn’t explain it to herself, but she just knew something was wrong.
Nzingha led them to another room, this one just as big as Brother Krishna’s office, but less cozy. There were seats in a row that made it look like maybe the room was a classroom or some kind of study room.
“What is this?” Kerry asked. “Is this where Jamison is coming?”
“Have a seat,” Nzingha said. She pointed to the chairs in a row and left the room, closing the doors behind her.
“Something isn’t right,” Val said. “And I know it. I can sense it.” She didn’t take the seat Nzingha had offered her. In fact, none of them did.
Ernest went over to the bookcases at the back of the room and read titles of what looked like legal manuals and guides.
“Well, she did say Jamison was here,” Kerry said, but in her voice it was clear that she’d sensed Nzingha’s change. “Let’s just see—”
The doors of the room opened again and Baba Seti walked in, wearing the work clothes the others had been in the day before. His kufi was gone.
“Baba Seti,” Kerry said when he walked in. “Where have you been?”
“I apologize for my absence, sister,” he said. “I have been with my people preparing. And now you’re here, so we are ready.”