Chapter 16
GARNIER OPENED THE seal and the envelope with fear for the news he would find inside.
As he had thought the contents of the envelope was a letter from his superior Colonel Geoffroy De la Fontaine dated twenty days before in Franceville. The paper had the logo of the Infanterie Légère d'Afrique Regiment. The text was brief, concise and compelling.
"The Lieutenant Alain Garnier must suspend his current mission and travel with his men to Zanzibar where he will board a ship bound for Madagascar. Once there he must embark again in a steamer bound for the city of Libreville, march overland and join his unit in Franceville. This order is effective immediately. "
The letter was signed by his superior.
Involuntarily Alain crushed the letter; it had the effect of putting in evidence
