by Rai Aren
They exited the truck, pushing through the leaves and branches. Each grabbed their rucksack of supplies and placed it on their backs.
To their surprise, Javier also pulled out a rifle and some ammunition.
“You didn’t mention that,” Rick said, eyeing the gun.
Sofia and Luis looked startled.
“It’s for our protection,” Javier replied. “It’s not safe in the jungle at night.” He slung the long gun over his shoulder and then grabbed the machete he brought along for cutting through some of the thicker jungle growth.
Rick looked over at Sofia.
She shrugged her shoulders.
He let the matter go. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The night air of the jungle was a balmy 72 degrees and humid. A soft breeze brushed his face. He glanced up at the night sky. Out here, without light pollution from the city, the sky was a dazzling array of sparkling stars. It was as though they had a distant audience watching them. But Rick knew it was a dispassionate one that would calmly watch as they either succeeded in their task or died a swift death for trying, by man or nature. He sighed. No help would be coming for them once they stepped into the immense rainforest spread out before them.
Sofia thought about her father out there in the jungle, scared, injured, and she hoped, still alive.
“Time to cover up,” Rick said.
They all donned their balaclavas, which Javier had suggested they wear for additional camouflage, and grabbed flashlights, which they were only to use in case of emergency. They didn’t want to alert Ares of their arrival and give away the element of surprise. They would need to rely on Javier’s knowledge of the path they were to take.
“Follow me,” Javier said, waving them forward. “And be quiet or we won’t make it to the prison camp alive.”
No one made a peep.
Rick’s heart pounded as they left the relative safety of the truck for the jungle.
The group made their way, silently, in single file. Javier was in the lead, deftly cutting through the dense foliage with his machete, while Rick brought up the rear.
They were immediately surrounded by very dense, fragrant, damp jungle growth, which seemed to make the civilized world disappear. They ventured deeper into the tropical rainforest. The thick canopy overhead blocked out the night sky. The air was becoming increasingly humid and the leaf-covered path slippery and wet, dotted with shrubs and covered in vines. There were also tangles of lianas everywhere. They were long, thick, climbing woody plants, rooted in the ground, curved and hanging from the surrounding canopy trees from which they clung to in order to grow ever higher towards whatever sunlight they could capture during the day. Everything was covered in moisture and before they knew it, their hair and clothes were damp.
The night was awash with a cacophony of sounds. Much like the city, the daytime world gave way to the nighttime realm with a different array of jungle denizens making their way out to begin their hunt. The rainforest was alive all around them. They could hear movement, but saw nothing. Likely, their presence was being tracked by all manner of creatures, as they disturbed the natural order of their jungle home.
The narrow, winding path Javier led them down was barely describable as a footpath. In spite of Javier’s efforts with his machete to clear their path, Rick was getting slapped in the face with wet leaves and branches every few steps. He had to struggle to keep his footing as they stepped over and around vines, lianas, tree seedlings, and an array of ferns and shrubs. The jungle growth was getting denser the farther on they went.
“Stay close,” Javier said in a low voice.
Rick nodded. Pausing for only a minute could allow the others to disappear from sight. It would be very easy to get lost forever out here, especially in the dark of night.
They marched on, the sounds of damp leaves and snapping twigs under their booted feet marking their journey.
Rick tried to keep his own panic at bay. He knew Ecuador’s rainforest had incredible biodiversity. He just hoped they wouldn’t cross paths with one of its most fierce inhabitants—the jaguar. He still had nightmares about crossing paths with the big cats in the Mato Grosso. He shuddered at the thought and said a silent prayer that they wouldn’t fall prey to any predator tonight—of the human or animal variety.
Rick felt sweat trickling down his neck and back as they fought their way forward in the dark through the dense, humid rainforest, and thought to himself how utterly insane this was. Every time he ventured out into the jungle, it seemed things got even more insane. Here he was putting on a brave face, marching with a small group of people out into the deep jungle, at night, amongst deadly predators, going to rescue a prisoner from an armed group of mercenaries.
I must be mad, he thought to himself. And getting madder the older I get. He’d laugh if it wasn’t so imperative they make no sounds. He wondered what his father would have to say to him if he saw what he was doing and how he was allowing all these people to take on such a potentially deadly risk.
Just then, Rick jumped as something moved on a tree branch he’d grabbed to steady himself on the slippery path. He’d thought at first that it was a thick vine that had wrapped itself around the branch. It wasn’t. It was a snake. A big one, several feet in length. It was clearly disturbed by his presence as its body undulated and shifted, circling higher on the branch.
He let out a heavy sigh of relief when he realized it was an emerald tree boa, its bright green body accented with a distinctive pattern of irregular white zig-zagging horizontal stripes, and not one of the venomous varieties of snake this area was known to have.
“Sorry, dude,” he whispered under his breath.
The others had taken no notice of his close encounter.
Just as well, he thought.
They carried on silently in single-file, staying close to each other.
Javier started increasing his pace. The young Shuar was lithe and fit and sure on his feet. He seemed not to tire as he wielded his machete against the jungle growth. The entire hike had seemed effortless for him, as though he’d traveled this path all of his life.
The rest of them worked hard to keep up and maintain their footing through an ever-changing maze of twisting vines and trees and thick shrubs that scraped against their pantlegs and brushed their arms. They were all dripping with sweat now, their faces hot underneath the balaclavas.
They made their way down a steeper section. They grabbed onto tree trunks and vines to keep from slipping, their path made even more tricky by having to navigate in the darkness. The descent continued as the ground became even more wet and mushy with layers upon layers of fallen leaves.
They followed Javier as they rounded the slope of a small hill and descended next to a limestone outcropping, draped in thick vines and covered in moss, on their left. The ground beside them rose to about five feet as they passed by it.
Rick smelled the pungent tangle of earthen growth around and beneath the rocky outcropping. This area felt more humid, likely due to the now closer proximity of the Rio Santiago, he figured.
Suddenly, Luis tripped over a thick liana, sprouting from the rainforest floor. He let out a low grunt as he caught himself from falling by grabbing onto a nearby tree branch.
Far overhead, there was a series of high-pitched, piercing screams as a troop of Spix’s night monkeys were startled over their unwelcome presence, mistaking them for predators. Rick caught glimpses of their distinctive yellow chests, accented by dark gray fur, as the small, nocturnal monkeys leapt and swung wildly from branch to branch, and tree to tree, to get away from the intruders.
Javier quickly turned and glared at Luis.
“Careful,” Sofia whispered.
Luis nodded, feeling sheepish.
Rick silently cursed the situation. That’s all we need, he thought, now screaming night monkeys are going to announce our presence to the armed, hostage-taking mercenaries we’re inexplicably searching for, on our own. Or to the jaguars. Or both.
They weren’t stopping for any reason.
They picked up their pace to escape the cacophony of monkey shrieks.
A short while later, Javier started slowing his pace. “We should be getting close,” he whispered to the group. “Stay low.”
They all crouched down lower and stayed close together, maintaining careful footing. The reality of their situation was pressing in on them. Out here, they were becoming increasingly vulnerable to all kinds of threats and there was no easy retreat.
Then, Javier stopped. He held up his fist for the group to halt.
They waited, wondering what was happening, hearts pounding.
“Wait here,” Javier said as he crept forward.
Rick grew concerned. He ignored Javier’s request and followed him.
About fifteen feet ahead, Javier stopped again. “Oh, no,” he whispered.
The prison camp was no longer there.
CHAPTER 11
“What do we do now?” Rick asked, after Javier told him that what they had feared was true—the prison camp had moved.
Javier didn’t answer right away. He took out a small flashlight and was searching the ground and surrounding area for traces of their movements. He crept a few feet ahead.
Rick followed, staying low.
Javier pointed to the ground and then into the jungle foliage ahead. “Here,” he whispered, pointing to the tell-tale signs of broken branches, pressed leaves and recent foot traffic in the mud. “I think they went that way.” He motioned ahead.
“But they could be anywhere off in that distance,” Rick said in a hushed voice, as he gazed off into the darkness.
Javier thought about that for a moment. “At some point, they will need to cross the river, if they are heading to the Cueva de los Tayos entrance.”
“They could already be inside the caves system,” Rick replied.
Javier shook his head. “That’s hard to do with prisoners.”
Rick realized he was right. Abseiling down a 65-metre deep shaft with a series of ropes, burdened with prisoners wanting to escape would be a near impossible feat.
“They might keep the prisoners above-ground, while they descend,” Rick suggested.
Javier nodded. “It’s a possibility.”
“It would at least slow them down, if that’s what they’ve done. That could be to our advantage.”
Javier considered that. “We’re almost directly north of the caves entrance. If they were going to cross the river, they would likely have done so fairly straight ahead.”
Rick agreed. “So then, we head forward, if they’re not there, they’ve most likely crossed the river.”
“Si,” Javier replied, frowning. “We will decide then if we also have to cross the river.”
Rick hoped not. They’d be vulnerable to being spotted on the open water.
Javier turned around. “We should go back,” he whispered. “Rejoin the others.”
“Right.”
They quickly headed back and then explained to Sofia and Luis what their plan was.
None of them had any intention of turning back.
The foursome headed deeper into the rainforest, following the trail that Javier had spotted. They were getting closer to the Rio Santiago. The area grew more humid and damp.
Finally, Javier held up his hand.
“Shhh,” Javier whispered, placing a finger over his lips. “I think we’re getting close. I can hear voices.” He motioned them to duck down out of sight. He fished his night vision goggles out of his rucksack. “I’m going to take a closer look. Stay here.”
Sofia and Luis silently complied. They could hear the voices, too, but couldn’t make out what was being said.
Javier crept forward. His small frame made stealth easier for him.
Rick, who’d been bringing up the rear, protecting the group from behind, once again decided to edge closer to Javier.
Javier was now lying flat on his stomach, peering through the foliage, with a deep frown on his face. He pursed his lips.
Rick took up position beside him. Sure enough, the prison camp had moved closer to the Rio Santiago, and closer to the Tayos cave system. He knew that was no accident.
“They’re searching for the metal library, aren’t they?” Rick whispered.
Javier didn’t answer. He stared straight ahead, peering through the night vision goggles.
Rick whispered as quietly as he could, “They’ve probably camped for the night.”
Javier only nodded as he searched for the prisoners. He tensed.
“I’ve found them,” he whispered to Rick. “Allí,” he said, pointing to the corner of the encampment. He handed Rick the goggles. “There are three of them, bound and gagged.”
Rick took the goggles. He spotted them. One older man and two younger men. Each had been gagged and tied to separate trees right next to one another. There were two guards near the three prisoners and two other guards patrolling the perimeter. There was a large tent erected in the center of the encampment. Rick watched for a while. He saw only one man come out, talk to one of the guards, then re-enter the tent.
Rick tried to beat back the dark memories of having been in this situation himself. He vividly recalled the total vulnerability, the fear of what was to come, the sheer powerlessness. Sweat poured down his back. Seeing this made it feel like it had happened to him only yesterday.
Focus, dammit, he scolded himself. You can relive your worst nightmares later.
“That must be Diego. Are the others your missing friends?” Rick asked, trying to shake off his anxieties and bury them as deep as he could right now.
Javier’s face was grave. “Si, but only two of them. I searched, but I could not locate the third.”
“Let me double-check,” Rick said.
He scanned the encampment, but Javier was right. No sign of a third prisoner.
“I don’t see him either,” he said in a hushed tone, placing a hand on Javier’s shoulder, “but that doesn’t mean he isn’t somewhere else. We just haven’t found him yet.”
“Her,” Javier corrected him, but he didn’t look convinced about finding her.
Rick wasn’t either. And now, knowing it was a woman, made him even more concerned about what could’ve happened to her. He didn’t want to think about the dark possibilities.
“We’ve got to make a plan to get them out of there,” Rick said. “Let’s find out all we can before we head back.”
Javier nodded.
After Rick and Javier had taken turns getting a good look at the guards, the weapons they carried, and the layout of the encampment, they slunk back and rejoined the others.
In a low whisper, Rick filled them in on all the details of what they had seen.
“That must be our padre,” Sofia said quietly, hope welling up inside her.
She took Luis’ hand and squeezed it, giving him an encouraging smile.
“I hope so,” Luis said, as he swallowed hard, doing his best to keep his emotions in check.
“They likely won’t be expecting us,” Javier offered.
“Especially not in the dead of night in a jungle filled with predators,” Rick added.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Javier replied.
“Ok,” Rick whispered, “we’ve got to figure out a plan to free them. We don’t know what kind of shape they’ll be in, so we’ll have to be smart about this.”
“Where do we go when we do free them?” Sofia asked, worriedly. “It’s a long way back to the truck from here.”
“Si, can we still make it that far?” Luis asked.
Javier clenched his jaw. He knew it was far riskier trying to make it back to the truck now. The chances of their capture increased the longer their escape route was. He was being forced into a corner; into a situation he did not want and did not expect. There was an option he didn’t want to present, but he knew he had no choice now. Not if they wanted to survive this.
; They waited for his reply.
“It is too risky to try to make it back to the truck with all of us,” Javier admitted, shaking his head. “It’s too far now. Too much can go wrong.”
“What do you suggest?” Rick asked.
“A different escape route and a place to hide if needed.”
“Oh?” Sofia asked.
Javier let out a heavy sigh. “I know where we can go,” he whispered. “It’s a place they won’t know. It’s nearly impossible to find. It’s a bit of a hike, but I think it’s our best bet. I spotted it on our way here.”
“I trust your judgement,” Rick said quickly.
“Me, too,” Sofia added.
“How are we going to get past all of those guards?” Luis interjected, in the barest of whispers. “They’re armed.”
“We knew we wouldn’t be able to outgun them, and that wouldn’t be our strong suit anyways,” Rick answered, “so we’ve got to outsmart them.”
They all nodded, trying to think of strategies.
Rick thought for a moment and came up with an idea. It was their best play as far as he could tell. “We’re going to have to create a distraction. Something to draw their attention away from the prisoners. Let’s use the firecrackers. We can set them off a few meters away, on the opposite side of the camp from where the prisoners are.” He shared the directions of where that was. He was glad they’d packed all manner of supplies for this trip.
“Good idea,” Luis said in a low voice. “I can do that.” He wanted to do anything he could to help his father and was eager to get this nightmare over with.
“You’re not going alone,” Sofia whispered. “I’ll go with you. We’ll set them off together.” There was no way she was going to let her little brother out of her sight.
Luis smiled at her protectiveness. She’d been that way ever since their mother died. “I’ll grab the firecrackers,” he said. He fished them out of one of their packs and handed some to Sofia.
“Sounds good,” Rick said. “Javier and I will free the prisoners. Hopefully we’ll still only have one guard each to take out. We’ll use the stun guns he procured for us.”
Javier nodded and grabbed two stun guns out of his rucksack. He handed one to Rick. He also fished out his slingshot and stuck it in his back pocket.