Lij Mikhael tells them that he is buying the obsolete armoured cars and weapons Gareth is offering as the international community has placed an embargo on selling modern arms to Ethiopia and importing them to the land-locked country.

Consequently he makes a deal with Gareth and Jake to smuggle the cars into Ethiopia via French and British Somaliland, and he dispatches the services of his nephew Gregorius to guide them.

Lij Mikhael then "convinces" Barton and Swales to stay and help the Ethiopians by pointing out that they are in the middle of hostile territory and he cannot now spare men to escort them back to civilisation.

Lij Mikhael forms an uneasy alliance with Ras Kullah of the Galla, another Ethiopian tribe, to assist in the defence of the Sardi Gorge.

However, the Italians secretly pay Ras Kullah, who is portrayed as immoral and degenerate, a significant sum in gold to betray Lij Mikhael.