CHAPTER FIFTEEN
January 29
6:05 a.m. West Africa Time (12:05 a.m. Eastern Standard Time)
Sambisa Forest
Borno State, Nigeria
“Okay,” the man said to no one. “I’m here.”
To the east, the sun rose over the dense green wilderness.
The ancient truck bounced slowly over the rutted and pitted road. Everything was dry as a bone, and a cloud of dull orange dust followed the truck for at least a mile. The truck—an old military troop transport with a green canvas awning covering the back—reached the top of a steep hillside. All around, the endless forest fell away in a breathtaking panorama.
The driver put the truck in park, engaged the foot brake, killed the engine, and waited. His window was down, and the morning air was a mad cacophony of bird calls and screeches. He could already feel th
