Pearls

by Mills, Lisa

  They stared at her for a moment then looked at one another. She recognized the territorial looks on their faces. Neither wanted to be the first to leave and give the other a chance to plead their case to her.

  She glared at them both, disgusted and fed up. “Fine. I’ll leave and when I come back, you’d both better be gone.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  An hour later the men still hadn’t returned. Isabel finished putting away the mini-stove and dinner utensils. Rather than sit and wait for them, she decided to climb to the terraces and view the sunset from a perch near the heavens. After a twenty-minute climb, she settled on a soft patch of grass and studied the fiery brilliance of the western horizon. Birds chirped from the treetops, and Isabel let their songs sooth her. Slowly, her tension dissipated, and she was able to consider the turmoil in her mind with some semblance of reason.

  God, what do I do now? I thought I could trust Manuel, but Raúl’s accusations suggested otherwise. But can I believe anything Raúl says? Both men have feelings for me, so naturally, they’re going to feel like they’re in competition and try to discredit one another. How much of this conflict is about male ego, and how much is based on truth?

  She wrapped her arms around her legs and dropped her forehead to her knees. I have invested so much emotion in each of these men that I don’t know if I can trust my judgment. Manuel said he loves me, and I think I’m falling for him. He’s smart and steady, with that quiet strength that wraps around me and makes me feel secure. He loves You, and I trust his sincerity. But how can I be sure this is right? Abuela would tell me to look with the discerning eyes of the Spirit, but I have so little practice. You’ll guide me through this, won’t you, Lord?

  His answer came in the form of peace, drifting through her soul like a gentle spring breeze. Thank you.

  She sat on the hillside, allowing Him to comfort her and fill her weariness with strength until the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving the terrace in shadows. She decided to leave, knowing she should make the climb down while some light remained. Just then, a low percussion sounded across the landscape and built into a dull roar.

  The strange rumble made Isabel’s hair stand on end. Her instincts screamed danger.

  She jumped to her feet and turned in a circle, her head snapping from side to side, looking for the source of the sound. The rumble grew louder, and the trees on the slope far above her began to snap and crackle. She stared in amazement at the mountainside, which shifted and rearranged itself with alarming speed. A wall of sliding rock swallowed vegetation, stripped the color from the slope, and refaced the green mountain with cold gray stone. Large boulders and small stones hurled toward her in a dizzying blur, kicking up a plume of dust in their wake.

  She stared with morbid fascination for precious long moments before she realized the monster streaking down the mountainside intended to devour her. In seconds the rockslide would sweep the entire area clean. Horror shot through her, locking her muscles into useless masses of frozen sinew.

  Time slowed to a crawl, transforming each second into an eternity of terror. She looked from left to right, seeing no avenue of escape. No chance to outrun the beast, but maybe—

  The fear that had paralyzed her only seconds earlier now jolted her muscles with superhuman energy. Her legs pumped beneath her as she ran toward the sliding wall of rock. If she could just get to the cleft in the retaining wall before the avalanche hit. The ground beneath her feet trembled, as if dreading the imminent assault. Her step faltered, and she flailed to keep her balance as she ran.

  Pebbles and dirt hailed down on her, stinging her arms and face, obscuring her flight to safety. Out of time, she dove, spending every ounce of strength she possessed in a last attempt at salvation. She rolled until her body slammed against stone with brutal force.

  Then the thunder consumed her.

  Eighteen

  For terrifying long moments, the ground trembled and deafening noise enveloped Isabel. She pressed herself into a shallow cleft in the retaining wall, and every muscle in her body tensed as rocks and boulders passed a few feet overhead. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her hands over her face to ward off the spray of dust and stones raining down. The larger rocks vaulted off the terrace above her, their momentum carrying them over her hiding spot and launching them further down the mountain.

  After an eternity of seconds, the rumbling faded and eerie silence settled over the area. Her heart pounded hard enough to break her ribs. She let out the breath she’d been holding and drew another only to choke on the cloud of dust swirling in the air around her.

  “It’s over. I’m alive.” Isabel whispered reassuring words to herself and willed her tense muscles to relax and her body to stop trembling. Slowly, the terror of the moment subsided, and her body responded to the relief of safety.

  Isabel pushed to a sitting position and leaned against the cleft in the wall that had served as her protector during the onslaught. The small niche was half blocked by debris now, and Isabel wasn’t sure she could climb out of the small opening remaining. She shoved at the nearest rock, but it didn’t budge. From her position, lying down in the small space, she had no leverage. Better to conserve her energy.

  Exhausted from the ordeal, Isabel closed her eyes and allowed herself to rest for a moment. A memory from childhood wafted through her mind. Her father had taken her to see a rock quarry to help with her geology project for a science fair. Isabel clearly remembered the sound of the blasting that echoed across the quarry walls. The sound was strangely like the one she had heard moments ago just before the rockslide began.

  The skin on the back of her neck prickled with fear. Was this another accident or an intentional attempt on her life? Isabel suspected someone wanted her dead—but who and why? She lay there trapped and scared while night settled over the mountain, wondering if she’d have to spend the night and asking herself if she might be safer here than in the camp.

  “Isabel?” Manuel’s frantic call carried across the terraces.

  “Here!”

  She could hear him scrambling over the rocks and loose scree. She pushed up as close to a sitting position as she could manage and thrust her hand out the opening near the top of the niche. The beam of his flashlight found the hole and directed a shaft of light inside her little cubby.

  Manuel appeared in the haze of dust and debris. When he reached her side and knelt in front of the opening, his eyes met hers with relief and fear mingled on his face.

  “Isabel! Are you hurt?”

  “No. Not really.”

  “Just a minute, let me get you out of there.” He lifted stones and shoved boulders out of the way until he’d cleared a pathway out of the cleft. She crawled out and let him help her to her feet.

  “You’re bleeding.” His fingers gently probed her arm as he examined the source of her injuries.

  “Just a few cuts and scrapes. I inflicted them on myself when I slammed into the wall.”

  Manuel’s gaze flicked over the retaining wall and the lack of damage and debris directly beneath it. “You hid here?”

  She nodded. “The cleft in the wall was just big enough to shelter me.”

  “So you were right in the middle of the landslide?”

  She closed her eyes and nodded again.

  “Where is Raúl?” he asked.

  “I haven’t seen him since I left the two of you at the camp.”

  “Me either. As soon as I heard the noise and realized what had happened, I rushed back to the camp. When I couldn’t find you, I got scared. I know how you like to come here at sunset, but I prayed that for once you’d gone somewhere else. I didn’t see how you could survive if you were here.”

  A chill skittered down Isabel’s spine. Only Manuel knew her evening routine. Had he devised this incident to eliminate her as Raúl suggested he would? She opened her eyes and fixed him with a direct stare. “Are you disappointed this accident didn’t kill me?”

  He looked stricken. “How can you a
sk that? Don’t tell me you believed anything Raúl said down there. He’s trying to tear us apart.”

  She looked deep into his eyes, searching for reassurance of innocence or confirmation of guilt. His dark eyes revealed no hint of deception. “Where were you just before the avalanche?” she asked him suspiciously.

  “Sitting on the rock where I have my morning devotions. I left my Bible there if you want proof.”

  “I do.”

  Disappointment lined his face, but he nodded.

  “I’m sorry, Manuel. I want to trust you, but someone is trying to kill me. If I put my trust in the wrong person, I could end up dead.”

  He held out a hand. “Fair enough. Come on. I’ll help you down the stairs.”

  He directed the flashlight a few feet ahead of them, so they could see to find footing in the rubble. Slowly, they descended the stone staircase and made their way back to camp, stopping to pick up his Bible, which was right where he’d said it would be. Isabel relaxed, certain her instincts were right this time. Abuela was a good judge of character, and she’d assured Isabel she could trust Manuel. He’d been nothing but open and forthright in their dealings thus far, so she had no reason to question his integrity.

  Raúl occupied a canvas chair when they approached. He jumped to his feet and rushed to her side when he caught sight of them.

  “Isabel, what happened? Are you all right?”

  “A little banged up but my injuries aren’t serious.” She studied his face, hating the distrust she felt, but unable to ignore the feeling. He returned the look with openness and concern. Her suspicions eased. Maybe she’d overreacted. Neither man seemed capable of murder. Besides, if they’d brought enough explosives to generate an avalanche, she would have seen them. Obviously, this was an accident—a freak occurrence no one could have predicted.

  Still, she’d sleep lightly for the remainder of the trip.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “It’s completely ruined, Isabel.” Manuel stared at the pile of twisted metal and broken glass. While Isabel had managed to escape the ravages of the avalanche, the disaster pulverized the equipment they’d left on the terraces.

  She stared at the pieces of shredded metal, wondering how she would have looked if that wall of rocks had slid over her. Swallowing hard, she tried to focus on the task at hand. “What do you suggest we do?”

  “Leave. There’s no point in staying here now. The terraces are destroyed.” He glanced around the area, angry at the devastation the historical site had suffered. Most of the turf was shredded, and giant gouges marred the once-pristine terraces. Some of the retaining walls had collapsed under the pummeling, and Manuel knew a few heavy rains would wash out much of the terrain. The ancient terraces would slowly erode and disappear. A shame. “We spent three weeks working at this location. If we didn’t find it in that amount of time, it’s probably not here.”

  From the corner of his eye, he noticed Isabel studying him. Despite the fact that they had found his Bible exactly where he said it would be, she still didn’t trust him completely. Her lack of confidence disappointed him, but he didn’t intend to give up. He would simply work harder to earn her faith.

  Standing, he turned to face her. “Even if we could keep working, I’d insist on leaving. Since we arrived, it’s been one incident after the other. I don’t like feeling that you’re in danger.” He grazed her cheek with his fingertips.

  She didn’t shy away from his touch. A good sign.

  “Come on. Let’s put some distance between this place and us. Maybe we’ll outrun trouble.”

  She nodded and slipped her hand into his. “Let’s go tell Raúl.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  While Manuel arranged for Isabel to see a doctor, Isabel leaned against the outer wall of the medical facility and glanced around the streets of Santo Domingo, thinking it strange to be with so many people again after weeks of isolation.

  “I need to return to Caracas and see to my business interests. A problem has arisen that I cannot handle over the phone.” Raúl’s gaze darted over Isabel’s features then dropped to the ground. “You don’t need me here anyway.”

  Isabel felt a surge of compassion. Raúl’s pride had taken some severe blows in the last few weeks. Though she recognized God’s handiwork in progress, she couldn’t help but pity the man. When God stripped a person of defenses, the process hurt, even if it was for the best.

  “We appreciate all the help you’ve offered. We couldn’t have done this without your financial support.”

  Raúl shrugged. “You may as well know, the money was irrelevant. I agreed to partner with you so I could continue to see you.”

  “I know.”

  His eyes met hers. “I still care. I always will.”

  She nodded. “I know that too.”

  He sucked in a deep breath, as if pulling courage into his body. “Is there any chance for us?”

  She paused, choosing her words carefully. “Right now friendship and business are all that are possible.”

  He sighed. “I wish your answer was different, but I’m not surprised. I don’t blame you either. If the situation were reversed, my stance would likely be the same.”

  She held out her hand, and he wrapped his fingers around it. “Take care of yourself, Raúl. And promise me you’ll think about our conversation.”

  “The one about God?”

  She tilted her head and looked at him with all the sincerity she could muster. “You might find what you’re searching for in Him.”

  The door of the medical clinic opened, and Manuel stepped out. “They have an exam room waiting. The doctor can see you in just a few minutes.”

  Isabel drew a deep breath. “Really, I’m fine. I don’t need to see a doctor.”

  Manuel crossed his arms over his chest. “You will see the doctor or I will drive you back home to your grandmother.”

  “Please, Isabel. See the doctor.” Raúl gave her a look of determination similar to Manuel’s, and Isabel knew she had no choice but to concede.

  “Fine. I’ll go, but it’s a waste of money.”

  “Not in my opinion. I’ll see you later. Maybe not until you return to Caracas, but I’d like to hear about the Amazon.” Raúl leaned toward her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  Isabel nodded.

  Raúl turned and offered a hand to Manuel. “Take care of her.”

  Manuel looked surprised at Raúl’s uncharacteristic gesture but accepted the offered hand. “I will. Have a safe trip back.”

  The two men stared at one another, and Isabel sensed a message passing through the undercurrents of their gazes. For the first time, Raúl seemed to acknowledge some grudging acceptance of Manuel and his new role in her life.

  “I’m leaving then.” Raúl turned and climbed into the jeep he would drive back to Caracas. With the loss of equipment in the rockslide, they no longer needed two vehicles to transport gear. With a look of regret in his eyes, he started the vehicle and guided it out onto the road.

  Isabel waved until he disappeared around a bend. Turning to Manuel, she smiled. “Guess I can’t avoid this medical exam any longer.”

  He opened the door and held it for her. “After you.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Glad to finish the long drive, Manuel steered the car down the busy streets of Puerto Ayacucho, gateway to the Amazon. The people bustling in the streets wore looks of anticipation as they added colorful decorations to storefronts and windows. The plaza in the center of town was barricaded to traffic, and the area churned with people setting up for an event. Tables and chairs clustered around food vendor stands, and a group of men assembled a stage at one end of the plaza. Bright flags and streamers fluttered in the breeze, adding to the festive picture. Manuel guessed there would be music and dancing in addition to the delicious food and drink.

  “I wonder what’s going on here.” Isabel eyed the activity with the look of one who has spent weeks in isolation.

  Her face showed a hunger for some soci
al time, and her interest gave him an idea. “Looks like a festival. I’ll ask someone about it.”

  Manuel found a decent hotel a few blocks from the center of town and paid for two rooms. He walked Isabel to hers and made sure the facilities were adequate. It offered a single bed with a faded blanket, a battered dresser, and a bathroom no larger than a closet. Not the most deluxe accommodations, but they were clean and functional—the best one could hope for in this part of the world.

  He left her sitting on the bed and returned a few minutes later with her bags. After placing her belongings inside the door, he leaned against the frame. “I asked the hotel manager about the activity in the center of town. He said it’s Carnival Week. They have a big celebration just before Lent, and the festival starts tonight.”

  She nodded. “I figured it must be something like that.”

  He met her gaze and summoned his nerve. “I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of attending the festival with me this evening.”

  She smiled. “Are you asking me on a date?”

  “I thought it was time we got around to our first date, since we decided to start dating about three weeks ago.”

  She glanced down at her clothes and her smile faded. “It sounds like fun, Manuel, but I don’t have anything to wear. Every outfit I brought is filthy. I was considering doing something about my dirty laundry when you knocked.”

  He noticed the dark smudges under her eyes. They’d worked hard for the last two weeks, and she needed a few days of rest and fun. He tweaked her earlobe, unwilling to accept no for an answer. “We can do laundry tomorrow. You clean up and take a nap. I’ll see you later.”

  She nodded, yawning as she shut the door.

  “Wait.” He put his hand on the door and stopped her. “I forgot to tell you. Don’t go anywhere without me. We’re only a few miles from the Columbian border. Sometimes guerillas cross over and when they do, Americans aren’t safe.”

  “That’s comforting.”

  “Promise me.”

  “I promise I’m going to wash up and take a nap. No excursions outside the room.”

  “Good. I’ll see you later.”