in my life, and I won’t risk them on what is, even to me, a fool’s errand.
But some fool’s errands must be done. So this is my own mission, right or wrong.
Our trek continues with Francisco leading the way with a machete, occasionally switching off with one of the other men as they clear a bit of brush from the narrow pathway he seems to be following.
To untrained eyes, it barely even looks like a trail, more so a thin meandering where water tends to run down the hills with the daily rainstorms. Even with my pathfinding abilities, I’ve more than once guessed wrong at the turns he’s wanted to take.
But Francisco seems certain of his destination, so I’m trusting him, and Nikolai, that he is actually taking me to the cave as arranged. Still, I’m keeping my head on a swivel, a knife in my hand, and the GPS in my backpack has spare batteries.
I see Francisco lift his hand in a fist, a sign I know well, and my freeze is instantaneous. I drop to a knee behind the nearest tree as he slowly crouches down, hunkering into the dense greenery and almost disappearing in his dirty brown clothes. His rifle comes up, and for the first time, I feel inadequately prepared for this. Francisco’s old bolt-action is large caliber, heavy, and able to pierce the jungle foliage.
On the other hand, my knife is only useful in hand-to-hand combat, whether with man or beast. If it’s one of the cartel guys, I’m not sure I’ll even have a chance to get close enough for the knife to be an asset. They’ll likely shoot from yards away. And an animal? Well, they’re accustomed to stalking prey in these treed hunting grounds, so they definitely have the advantage.
Suddenly, the silence is broken by the rapid burping sounds that I’ve heard in my nightmares and woken up in cold sweats hearing, the distinctive chattering sound of the AK-47 on full auto. A symphony of death only intensified by the ripping paper sound of leaves being punctured, the occasional thwok of a round hitting a tree, and the screeching of the surrounding wildlife as everything not of the human species busts ass for the exit.
As soon as the first shot rings out, I press myself against the tree I’m behind, dropping my pack and making myself as small a target as possible.
Scanning the terrain, I look to Francisco to see his take on the situation. I’m a leader, a doer, and have been in war more times than any man should. But this is his jungle and I’m the interloper, so I’ll use my resources wisely.
From in front of us, I hear a booming voice speaking so fast I can’t catch it to let my brain translate. But I see the tension release from Francisco and the other two guards.
Francisco looks to me, a wide smile showing the gaps in his teeth. “Okay, Norte. Conosco. With us.”
He yells back, garbled and loud. A moment later, there are footsteps on the leaves in the underbrush, a deep rustling, and the occasional crack as a branch is stepped on.
I hold my position, not willing to take Francisco’s word on things until I can see for myself. I keep my eyes trained on where the sound is coming from and suddenly, a big, sweaty guy in a tank top emerges through the misty greenery.
He smiles at Francisco, but it falls instantly when he sees me behind a tree. He lifts his AK again, aiming at me, and I can see he’s a half-second away from firing when Francisco steps between us like a damned fool, a human shield.
He holds his palms out, one to me and one to the other man. “No, is okay! Nikolai safe passage!”
Their bickering switches to Portuguese, and is fast, but I catch enough to realize that the newcomer didn’t know about this trip. But with Francisco and his two guys all saying the same thing, he’s inclined to believe them. Finally, with a sneer in my direction, he lowers his gun and nods.
I pull my pack back on as Francisco talks quickly with the man. A few minutes later, we melt back into the jungle, the burly guy disappearing in the other direction as he resumes his patrols.
But now I know that I was right.
There are eyes on me from all around.
Chapter 34
Carly
After checking out of the no-tell motel, we’ve made it as far as the diner down the street,