I have just read Jacques Pauw’s latest book, ‘Rat Roads’ (Zebra Press) and am still shaking somewhat. It’s bloody spine chilling stuff. What an incredible depiction of one man’s journey: all the way from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda to South Africa. It illustrates the pinnacles of evil, goodness and determination. Congratulations to Jacques Pauw on portraying this man and his unbelievable story. This is a must read for anyone who loves and travels this African continent. In April 1994, on my Cape to Cairo trip, near lake Victoria, we passed thousands of Tutsi refugees fleeing the genocide in Rwanda. In a small mud church, I found Paul Gashumbu with all his belongings in one yellow packet. His parents, wife and five children were killed with machetes in front of him. (He escaped the killing by falling backwards into a Banana grove outside his house) When he saw me in the dim light of the little church, he ran to me crying out, “Save me — save me, Angel Gabriel!” I took him along to just before the Kenyan border. I pointed to the distant blue hills, gave him 100 US Dollars and said, “Good luck, my friend, I hope you find peace one day”. I just stood there and watched him disappear into the distance with tears in my eyes. It all seems just like yesterday. I often think about him and wonder whether he somehow found some love and happiness. Maybe Kennedy Gihana in ‘Rat Roads’ will know? What a HappySad place —– this Africa of ours.