Page 25 - Unlikely Stories 1

Madagascar Madness

murdered them. It was madness to hope that salvation and refuge
could be found here for our people. Madness.”
“But you, sir: what did you do when Vichy took over?”
“I left this place and joined guerillas deep in the forest. It was there
I contracted malaria. It went untreated, of course. I am dying. That is
why I will not be traveling back to the States with you, young man.
There will be no antidote in my final chapter. Leave me here, in
peace, with my secrets.”
Private Seidell stood up, shaking his head to clear it. Had that
beverage been slightly alcoholic?
“I don’t know whether to believe you or not. Certainly no one
back at HQ will believe me! In my opinion you are mentally
unbalanced. Perhaps you really are a Romanian. But your physical
deterioration is obvious: you would not survive a trip on these dirt
roads back to town. If you have no American ID, then I am not
obligated to report your existence. So I can honor your wishes as well
as my duty. Goodbye.”
He saluted the old man, fallen silent after the effort of a long
conversation. Then he turned, walked carefully back to his jeep, and
drove away as fast as he could from the compound and its madness.

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