Dora Neza approaches a stronghold at Kivu in the Congo, carrying her ill elderly father Michael on a litter behind her. She has come to seek the help of the Redeemer, whom she has heard is the Christ returned, to heal her father. In return, she offers coveted information - the news that a kindoro is being held hostage in Bujumbura, the PLA are offering a reward for him, and Michael knows his location. Gideon, the Redeemer, agrees to heal Michael, but secretly administers only a temporary reliever which will eventually tear down his organs and kill him.

Gideon heads for the city of Bujumbura, half-wrecked in the aftermath of the Emergency, with a zumbi in his company. The commander of his Legion, Musa Kun, remains stationed outside to assist his mission. They meet their local man, Yusufa, outside the Mayor Ndumuna's building. Ndumana pleads with them not to start a panic, but even as they speak Yusufa's men fight with security as they search the building for the kindoro. He orders his security to shoot Gideon but Gideon's power renders their weapons useless. When Gideon threatens the man with the fearsome zumbi, he gives up the location and description of the kindoro - John Lai, who had discovered a coveted medical cure and was now running from the Science Ministry. With the information secured, Gideon has the zumbi kill the mayor and his men.

Yusufa's men find John Lai and bring him to Gideon. John has a powerful and wealthy buyer whom he says will offer a grand reward for his safe return, or otherwise become a great danger to the Legion if crossed. He asks for a way to communicate with his buyer to give him a piece of information the buyer needs before he comes to get him. Gideon offers a microweb receiver, and his men intercept the message, which seems to be a set of coordinates. They have what they need from John. When John realizes what's happened he pleads that he can be of more help, but Gideon's men throw him off a mountain.