AfricaBoard

The smell is overpowering: the sweet, metallic scent of blood mixed with the acrid odour of burnt flesh. The gibbering thing is strapped down to a spiked chair under which gas grill maintains a steady broil. One eye hangs down to the edge of its lips, or where lips would normally be. The other has been opened up like a flower. A deep cleft has been made in the nose down to the septum, and it has been propped apart with metal sutures. The neck and chest are covered with wounds from which large expanses of flesh have been removed up to the organs, some that have ragged edges green with infection and others that are blistered and charred. The lung inflates and deflates from behind the stomach like a balloon. The arms have been denuded in a spiral and allowed to swell until they look like massive inchworms. The hands have been folded back and stapled in that position, sans nails. Genitals are entirely lacking. The thighs are covered with welts from a knout, and rivulets of metal have solidified in trails where they have flowed from the calves down to the ankles and toes. The teeth have been very intentionally drilled, filed, or chipped. It is a pitiful sight.

"What is this odd creature?" King Duarte asks, appalled.

"Suspect found attempting to plant charges at electrical substation," an attending policeman reads.

"Who is he working for?"

"His device was built using parts sourced from several private companies in various countries, and we believe we can narrow down the purchases to the Caliphate of Algiers."

"Algiers? That doesn't seem likely. We've been at peace for decades!"

"We thought so, too, or we would not have needed to do all of this."

"Well? What did you find?"

"He was very hard to break. He was mentally conditioned and handled carefully. He knew just enough to lead us to a private airstrip, and the most recent chartered flight was from Gedoopstad."

"Bro Kinaba?"

"Yes."

"Is there a motive?"

"They have always been after our African territories."

King Duarte sighs and asks, "I understand, but was this really necessary?"

"Without question."

"I shall act accordingly."

"Do you recommend military or diplomatic action at this time?"

"No, keep it quiet for now. Look for others; there will be more."

"Yes, sir."

King Duarte sweeps out of the police station, anxious not to spend another minute in that abattoir.