Introduction
It was a typical hot and dry day in Bakel, the largest town in the chaotic northern region of Fulanistan. The town was mostly shack dwellings aside from the central business markets which consisted of bullet-marred, run down concrete buildings that were built before the civil war. This was a common scene around the country. The centre of town once had paved roads, however you could not tell anymore because the red sand covered much what remained. The fountain at the centre of town had no water in it, and the magnificent copper statue at the centre which once showed a triumphant soldier was missing and had been missing for at least 15 years. In its place, a small flagpole with the Fulani flag was stuck into the hole where it was bolted down. Adjacent to the fountain was an armored Land Rover with prospective oil businessmen inside. One of them, was Jean Simard, a Belmonti representative of an independent oil firm in Akwasasne. He was particularly interested in an oil deal because of a potential oil pipeline between Akwasasne and Fulanistan.
Jean stared out the window at the somewhat crowded square. The people who walked by were dressed in mostly traditional clothing, however many children and young men were dressed in track pants and t-shirts. The driver of the armored Land Rover left the vehicle to go the bathroom, to which Jean wondered if there was actually a bathroom to go to. The driver returned to the car and began to drive to the prospective oil site 20 kilometers outside of town.
It was a typical hot and dry day in Bakel, the largest town in the chaotic northern region of Fulanistan. The town was mostly shack dwellings aside from the central business markets which consisted of bullet-marred, run down concrete buildings that were built before the civil war. This was a common scene around the country. The centre of town once had paved roads, however you could not tell anymore because the red sand covered much what remained. The fountain at the centre of town had no water in it, and the magnificent copper statue at the centre which once showed a triumphant soldier was missing and had been missing for at least 15 years. In its place, a small flagpole with the Fulani flag was stuck into the hole where it was bolted down. Adjacent to the fountain was an armored Land Rover with prospective oil businessmen inside. One of them, was Jean Simard, a Belmonti representative of an independent oil firm in Akwasasne. He was particularly interested in an oil deal because of a potential oil pipeline between Akwasasne and Fulanistan.
Jean stared out the window at the somewhat crowded square. The people who walked by were dressed in mostly traditional clothing, however many children and young men were dressed in track pants and t-shirts. The driver of the armored Land Rover left the vehicle to go the bathroom, to which Jean wondered if there was actually a bathroom to go to. The driver returned to the car and began to drive to the prospective oil site 20 kilometers outside of town.