Page 178 - Real English 2024 Book 8

REAL ENGLISH 8

By then, Mozambique had been
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battered by decades of war and famine.
It was said to be the poorest country in

the world. The Marxist government was
itself struggling against a new generation of
rebels. 11
It was widely reported that the

Mozambique rebels had bases in
neighbouring Malawi, though no one had
any proof. Malawi normally banned foreign
journalists. But taking advantage of a tour
by Prince Charles, I slipped in as part of the
official press entourage. 12

I soon split off from the group and
headed south. For a day and a half, I drove
along the Mozambique border, speaking to locals and missionaries.
struck with repeated blows Finally, in the middle of the second day, I stopped at a trading store.
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people fighting against The interior was almost black after the bright sun outside.
their government I asked the storekeeper if he ever saw rebels on this side of the
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a group of people who border. My eyes got used to the darkness just in time to see his wide
travel with an important smile disappear. From the furthest corner I heard metallic chinking.
person
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wrapped ‘Who wants to know?’ asked a deep voice. 14
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broad belts worn across the In the corner were six men swathed in bandoleers of
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body for carrying bullets ammunition, with dull brown grenades dangling from their
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a supply of bullets, etc. webbing. Russian Kalashnikov rifles were propped against the wall.
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hanging loosely A rocket launcher was laid across a concrete table as the men drank
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a strong narrow closely soda.
woven fabric used for belts ‘You coming with us,’ said one of the men, ‘back to our base.’
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tools and equipment made And with that they all got up to leave, their ironmongery
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of metal clanking.
walked heavily with effort We trudged south through scrub. The patrol’s English speaker
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small bushes and trees veered off, and I was left with five heavily armed guerrillas and no
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changed direction way to communicate. They were led by a thuggish sergeant who,
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with the manners of a
criminal despite the intense heat, wore a fleece-lined Russian aviator’s hat
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a middle-ranking army with furry earlaps that dangled to his shoulders like spaniel ears.
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officer At every rebel encampment we passed, I sensed the story of my
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a breed of dogs capture being embellished. I had been armed. I had resisted.
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made more interesting I was a spy. Sometimes the story was accompanied by cuffs and kicks.
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