Early in the morning, a white yacht carrying Semler and Jabba left Cape Padrao, heading north toward Cabinda Province.


    Cabinda is an exclave of Angola, separated from the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its history dates back to the 1885 Berlin Conference on West Africa, where the Protocol of the Berlin Conference divided up the former Kingdom of Congo territory among France, Belgium, and Portugal. The Portuguese colony established there became known as Portuguese Congo, now called Cabinda.


    In April 1974, Portugal experienced the "Carnation Revolution," ending the fascist rule established by the authoritarian leader Salazar. During the following two-year transitional period, the new government began implementing a decolonization policy, relinquishing all overseas colonies, leading to the independence of Portuguese colonies worldwide.


    In January of the following year, Portugal and Angolan armed groups signed the Alvor Agreement, defining Cabinda as an "indivisible and inalienable part of Angola." However, the Cabinda Enclave Liberation Front and other independence-seeking organizations did not attend and declared the agreement illegal.


    That same year, with support from Zaire''s President Mobutu, a provisional government for the "Republic of Cabinda" was established in Kinshasa, proclaiming independence on August 1. On November 11, the day of Angola''s independence, MPLA forces entered Cabinda and quickly gained control of the area with Cuban military support. However, the Cabinda Enclave Liberation Front did not abandon its goal for independence, reconstituting in the 1990s with factions like the "Renewal Committee" and "Armed Forces," continuing the struggle through guerrilla warfare.


    Semler sat quietly on the upper deck of the yacht, holding a glass of brandy mixed with soda, gazing silently at the faint outline of the coastline in the distance.


    "By conservative estimates, Cabinda produces 900,000 barrels of crude oil daily, accounting for 60% of Angola''s total output," Jabba said, adjusting his dark amber Alain Mikli sunglasses. "Yet, the government only allocates a tenth of the taxes and oil revenue to Cabinda, which remains one of the country''s poorest provinces."


    "Still, those oil companies are ''fat sheep,'' so kidnapping and extortion are common occurrences." He took a big sip from his glass of brandy and ice, then proudly added, "So I proposed offering protection to these companies, in exchange for hiring employees I recommend."This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "And then charge a recruitment fee to those hired?" Semler interjected.


    “Heh-heh.” The hefty man laughed, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth. Whether it was the drink or his desire to boast, he seemed especially talkative today. "More than half of Eni and Chevron''s local employees were introduced by me. And since Angola''s banking sector is still underdeveloped, they also rely on my underground bank to remit salaries back to their families."


    "Smart." Semler immediately understood the scheme. He swirled his glass with a complex expression, then turned his head away, remaining silent.


    At 9 a.m., the yacht anchored about half a nautical mile from the shore. A few crew members brought a two-foot square light yellow package from the hold, quickly unfolded it, connected a pump, and inflated it. Then they attached an engine. About fifteen minutes later, the package became a small inflatable boat that could hold four people. The "tall, skinny guy" from the previous day''s security check took the helm, ferrying Semler and Jabba toward the shore.


    As the inflatable boat approached, silhouettes gradually emerged on the beach. Drawing closer, Semler could see three vehicles parked there: a dirty, worn-out Datsun 720 pickup, a rust-covered Chevrolet S-10, and a dark blue Toyota Land Cruiser 60. A group of armed locals surrounded the vehicles, some holding AK or RPD rifles, and one of them was waving at them.


    As they reached the shallows near the beach, the "tall, skinny guy" cut the engine, and two gun-toting men waded into the knee-deep water to drag the inflatable boat ashore.


    The two disembarked, trudging through the sand toward the convoy. Jabba chattered in the local dialect with the group before signaling them over, taking a seat in the back of the Land Cruiser. Semler, not bothering to shake the sand out of his shoes, joined him.


    With two trucks full of armed men escorting them at the front and back, the convoy left the beach and proceeded inland along a narrow dirt road.


    ---


    Annotations:


    - Carnation Revolution: Refers to the April 25, 1974, military coup in Lisbon, Portugal, which overthrew the dictatorship led by Marcelo Caetano. Soldiers participating in the coup placed carnations in their rifle barrels, symbolizing a peaceful transition, hence the name "Carnation Revolution."


    - António de Oliveira Salazar: Former Prime Minister of Portugal who ruled the country under a fascist regime for over thirty years.


    - Cabinda Enclave Liberation Front (FLEC): Also known as Frente para a Liberta??o do Enclave de Cabinda.


    - Eni SpA: An Italian multinational oil and gas company and Italy''s largest industrial enterprise, with revenues exceeding 84 billion euros in 2009.