In Honor of My Fallen Comrades (Day 58, September 18, Thursday)

It's flying time, again! In spite of its tarnished record, flying is a necessary evil in Congo. Otherwise, it would take months versus days to get to and from Kananga. This week again, Kananga is serviced by three airlines. There is almost a daily flight into and out of Kananga. My flight is scheduled for 11:4a departure. So we decide to be at the airport by 9:45a to fight through the inefficiency. Jim drives his vehicle with the airport decal. The airport decal costs $400 a year. It entitles the owner to parking inside the airport grounds, entrance to VIP lounge, and access to the tarmac to escort your guests to and from the plane. Other patrons have to park outside the airport gate and walk with their luggage about a quarter of a mile to the terminal. Of course, porters are available for hire to carry your luggage. In previous times, you could paid a small fee to enter and drop off passengers. But now it costs almost $50 to do the same. Upon arriving at the gate to the airport ground, a car is parked at entrance. Jim says it is the director at one of the town's two banks. He is frantic and animated. Obviously, we does not want to pay the legalized highway robbery. He pointing his finger and shouting to the airport official. After about five minutes, he becomes more agitated and walks around the car from the passenger's side of the car to other side of vehicle nearest the official. Then, outruns his wife and daughter after him. They are crying and screaming while trying to refrain him. I am preparing to duck for protection or at least see a fight. The women are finally able to calm the situation with their loud crying and screaming. The policeman manning the gate panics and lets the car through gate. Now, the airport official is shouting at the policeman for letting him through the gate without paying. We drive through the gate without any of the drama. Eventually, I prepare to board the Hewa Bora flight to Kinshasa via stop in Mbuyi Mayi. It's 25 minute flight over to Mbuyi Mayi, the provincial capital of diamond-rich Kasai Oriental, the richer side of the Kasai twins. Before walking out the plane on the tarmac, I see about 12 or more humanitarian workers get off an Air Serv plane. Just two weeks ago, one of their planes crashed after taking off from the airport in Bukavu in eastern Congo, killing all 17 passengers and crew. I say a prayer for my fallen comrades, and for my flight.