Author Description

On a hopeful day for Africa Nelson Mandela walks to freedom and James Hacking water-skis near Pretoria with his mistress and wife, but in Zimbabwe political oppression and starvation drive a moderate leadership contender to flee for his life. Providence drops the prickly problem squarely in James's lap. "Freedom" for Zimbabwe in 1980 cost the Hacking family and many native inhabitants dearly. Hope of general prosperity vanished, trampled by jostling despots intent only on self-enrichment but in 1990 Elias Mpofu, a charismatic Zimbabwean footballer wealthy from sporting success in Europe dares to stand against the incumbent dictator. Violent state-sponsored retaliation is swift and James, weary of homeland politics, is sucked back into the affair by friendship, fairness and inherent concern for the underdog.His British wife Eve, un-nerved by the implications of Nelson's release and Winnie Mandela's statement "With our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country,"" bolts back to England leaving the romantic field open for James's mistress Loretta.With a comfortable home in Johannesburg and a stable job flying between South Africa and Botswana he is in no rush to join her but a tragic event follows his intervention in Zimbabwe speeding his departure. A financial depression in the UK and marital difficulties with Eve drive him to North Africa flying as one of Muammar Gadaffi's "Technical Mercenaries" at a time when Primrose Mpofu is lobbying the Libyan dictator to help overthrow the Zimbabwean dictator who killed her husband. She convinces James to get involved yet again and he could never resist a lady in distress.For more information and short stories see www.gordonorr.net.