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almost a week at sea one of the crew came down to announce that they would arrive that
night and instructed everyone to prepare. A mixture Ofjubilation and angst gripped the
passengers.
Well after sundown, at nearly ten o’clock, the passengers were instructed to move
to the deck. In the distance Jigo saw a small cluster of lights faintly illuminating a grey
landmass, the borders of which blended seamlessly into the surrounding darkness. As the
boat moved closer, he removed his identification papers and some money from the duffle
bag he was carrying and placed them in the pocket of his coat. Lack of sleep and hunger
helped the cool ocean air penetrate his body; shivering, he waited. As per the instructions
they received in Senegal, a small boat was to meet them in the ocean to ferry them to land
where another contact would lead the group to safe lodging for the night. Excitement
grew on deck, although the captain and his crewmembers looked stem and drawn - all
five of them remained in the control room, staring fixedly ahead.
Without warning, at about eleven, the boat came to a stop some distance from
land, well away from the lights and well away from the shore. All eyes turned to the
distant beach for any sign of a boat, but it was too dark to see. What happened next
signaled to Jigo the end of his dream and the beginning of a new chapter of his life. One
of the crew appeared on deck holding a handgun and instructed everyone that the contact
was not coming and the crew couldn’t risk getting closer. Jigo realized what was
happening: he would have to swim to shore in the icy water, without his belongings and,
perhaps worse, would have to fend for himself on the other side. After some delay, fierce
shouting and crying, the captain agreed to take them closer to the island, but eventually
everyone, including some younger children, was forced overboard.