“Unfortunately, no,” Lorraine said.
“The reason they may’ve been posing as FBI is because we’re US citizens,” Lee said. “CIA can’t go after US citizens, but the FBI can.”
That made the most sense. “The big question is who is directing them.”
Mike stood at the back of the room, holding a beer and saying nothing. He’d been steadily becoming more aloof.
“We still haven’t heard from Dr. Smith and don’t know if we will ever again,” I said. “Lovemark and Da Silva are at the compound with Schmidt V, so something big is going on. I think it’s time we plan to get into the compound and see what we can find.”
Jorge spoke up. “It would take too long for us to infiltrate the compound as peasants or even as truck drivers. Let’s go in through the blind area Enrique found and target the lab and infirmary.”
Sue produced a pad and pen. “What else exactly do we need?”
“We need the cancer drug research and formulas.” Ivan raised one finger, followed by a second. “I want proof to make sure the Plycite corn is far from being ready for mass distribution.” A third finger was raised. “Also, we need photographs of the people who are being used as test subjects, for human-rights crimes. And any charts documenting their conditions would be helpful.”
“That could be a tall order for us to achieve all at once,” I said.
Enrique brought out the rough sketch of the compound and spread it out on the coffee table.
We all gathered for a closer look.
With a pencil Enrique marked an X at the far corner of the perimeter fence behind the barracks. “We enter here.” Then he circled the building in the center of the compound. “The infirmary.” He traced a line and marked a long building at the top of the map. “The lab.”
“Have you studied the movements of the guards?” Lee asked.
“Somewhat,” Enrique said. “Mainly during the day.”
“We watched for an hour the other night,” Jorge said. “But I know, Lee, that’s not enough, even though we saw minimal movement.”
Lee bent closer to the sketch. “I suggest we go tonight and watch their patterns.” He pointed at the edges. “We can have observers at different areas of the perimeter and note who goes where and when.”
“Even though we may want to, we can’t rush this,” Lorraine said.
“It’ll take a few nights,” Lee said.
“Agreed,” I said. “We need to use every precaution.”
Olga and Esmeralda, who’d been at school, rushed into the room.
“There was a note at the drop-off spot.” Esmeralda passed the piece of paper to Ivan.
He unfolded it and read. “Dr. Smith is unable to leave the compound unescorted, because they know he met with us. He has however assembled the cancer drug information and will leave it next to the perimeter fence tonight.” There was a second sheet of paper that Ivan held up—a rough drawing of the compound and an arrow pointing to a specific place.
“Does it look like his handwriting?” Jorge asked.
“It’s the same as before.” Ivan passed the note to Jorge. “His writing has sharp edges.”
So for sure they knew we were in Florencia and had been around the compound. It was probably a trap, but could we afford not to go? “I don’t think we have a choice.”
There was silence in the group for a moment.
“It could be a setup,” Sue said.
Ivan looked concerned. “But we need that information …”
“We’ll have to move in and out quickly,” Jorge said.
CHAPTER 35
We’d decided we had to take the chance. Hopefully Dr. Smith would be able to sneak the cancer research information to us. Ivan was the most vocal about how we had to trust Dr. Smith, otherwise why would he have approached us in the first place?
It was agreed that Enrique would go, because of course he knew his way around the area the best; Jorge, because he’d become the security leader; me, because I insisted; Sue, because she insisted even harder; and Lorraine, because she had jungle-combat experience that we’d been unaware of until now.
There was no way Lee would be able to make it to the compound without assistance, so he’d wait at the end of the tunnel with a rifle in case we were followed back.
Of course, Ivan couldn’t be risked, as he had to disseminate the research when we returned with it.
Monica and Mike would watch the cameras and monitor communications.
After the decisions were made, people dispersed from the living room.
Enrique and Jorge decided to go out to buy some fresh batteries for the night-vision goggles and see if they could find walkie-talkies or something we could communicate with.
Mike and I were the last ones in the living room, and I wanted to take the opportunity to talk to him.
I approached and patted him on the shoulder. “How you holding up?”
“Fine.” He’d tensed when I’d touched him. “I’m fine.”
“This is stressful, and we all handle stress in our own way.”
Mike took a swig of beer. “This could all go horribly wrong.”
“But you know we have to do it.” I thought for second. “For me, I know it’s worth the risk. There’s nothing more important than what we’re doing.”
Mike stared at the wall.
Maybe if I reminded him how and why he arrived at this point. “What about Summer? She’d be so proud of how far you’d come with the seed bank information and how we’ve tied it to the population control plan.”
His eyes widened, but his gaze remained off to the side.
It’d be best to offer him a way out. “If you want, we can take you to the airport. I’d totally understand, and so would everyone else.”
Mike looked at me and then back at the wall. He took a stuttering breath.
“Think about it.”
He placed the half-drunk bottle on a small table next to us and wiped his arm across his eyes. As he exhaled, in a quiet voice with determination, he said, “Don’t be such a pussy.” Then he turned and punched me in the arm. “I’m good. All in. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Jorge and Enrique were speaking in Spanish when Sue and I entered the dining room. They switched to English as soon as they saw us.
“It’s never happened before.” Jorge rubbed his stomach.
“Jorge’s getting soft,” Enrique said to us. “He ate chicken on a stick from a street vender, and now his tummy is sore.”
“You had some too,” Jorge said to Enrique. “You don’t feel anything?”
“No,” Enrique said. “Eating United States food must’ve made your stomach wimpy.”
Others filed in for dinner.
Monica brought in a platter of braised pork.
“Sorry, Sis; I need my stomach to settle,” Jorge said.
Monica looked to Olga, who was standing next to her. “Please go get your uncle some seltzer tablets and water.”
I sat in the living room, in green camouflage pants and shirt, my boots on, the Glock holstered, night-vision goggles in one hand, backpack in the other, waiting to go. We’d made a plan for escape in case it was a setup; however, it was flawed if we were overrun by Naintosa security—we’d have to see them coming. I felt responsible for everyone and didn’t want anything to happen to any of them. We’d all come so far.
I noticed that Mike’s beer was still sitting on the small table in the corner.
Closing my eyes, I reached deep within. How did I feel? Nervous. Were we going to make it through this? I couldn’t tell. What did I need most? The feeling plowed into my mind—focus. I let it solidify and then opened my eyes.
Sue had come over. “You ready?”
“Focus,” I said out loud. “Yep. You?”
Sue looked nervous too, and was rubbing her belly in clockwise circles. “As I’ll ever be.”
I hoped she didn’t have the same problem Jorge had. “Your stomach okay?”
“Yeah,
why?” She placed her hand down to the side.
Jorge came out of the powder room adjacent to the living room. “Everyone ready?”
Enrique walked past Jorge and sniffed the air coming from the restroom. “Are you sure you can make it?”
Jorge narrowed his eyes. “I’m fine.”
It was midnight, and everyone who was going was in the laundry room. The people staying stood around the doorway.
Jorge and Enrique had only been able to find two walkie-talkies that they’d thought could be strong enough to work in the jungle at the required distance; Jorge held one and Lee the other.
Enrique opened the tunnel door, and we filed down one by one with our flashlights on.
It was cool in the tunnel and damp. We went the same way as before, which seemed faster this time. Before long we were out in the thick jungle.
Lee remained at the tunnel entrance with an automatic rifle in hand.
Under the canopy it was pitch black and humid, the warm air dissipating slowly. We could hear nocturnal creatures all around; our flashlight beams came across disembodied eyes watching us.
Enrique led us forward.
Branches and thick leaves kept smacking me everywhere. Something was crawling on the back of my neck, and I went to swat it away. Jorge grabbed whatever it was and threw it off me. I didn’t even want to know what it was.
Sue kicked a rock by mistake, making noise. Then I almost stepped on a snake trying to slither away from us.
To add to the inky blackness, we’d entered a bank of low, soupy fog. The ground was muddy and sticky. The flashlight beams were reduced to only about twelve feet.
We switched from flashlights to night-vision goggles, which worked better.
A thick rubbery leaf that Sue had just ducked under hit me in the face. That made me close my eyes for a second, and when I opened them, I walked right into her. Sue had stopped when Lorraine and Enrique stopped.
I could just make out the fence ahead.
We dropped to our knees and watched for any movement.
After a minute, Enrique whispered, “Wait here while I go get Dr. Smith’s information.”
I felt Jorge shudder beside me. I pulled off my goggles and looked at his face. He cringed and was obviously in pain.
“I have to go.” He was barely audible. “I’ll be right back.”
It was the worst possible timing, but what good would he be if he shit himself? Tainted street meat could bring down the toughest of men.
The others saw what was going on. Enrique nodded, and Jorge disappeared back into the bush.
“We can’t see well from this far back,” I whispered. “Let’s move in another twenty feet so we can have a better view of the fence line, to make sure you’ll be okay.”
Enrique nodded and then led us forward, the four of us crouching.
When the fog whitened from the emanating lights within the compound, we stopped.
Enrique looked back at us and then squatted as low as he could and moved forward to the fence.
Sue and Lorraine were on either side of me. We went down on our knees behind a large fern.
There was rustling from behind, which must’ve been Jorge coming up to join us.
Lorraine tightened on the rifle she was carrying. Sue and I pulled out our revolvers.
Enrique went down on his belly, disappearing from our view.
A beam of light scanned by from inside the compound.
Someone was right behind us. As I turned, I was struck so hard in the back of the head that I hit the dirt face-first. Severe pain engulfed my head as if my skull had been cracked.
I could only open one eye and saw Sue lying next to me.
Another blow …
CHAPTER 36
Don’t execute him yet.” The voice was rough with a German accent. “We must interrogate them first.”
The pain banged between my temples. I was being dragged by someone with their arms through mine, my feet bouncing along the ground. I fought to open my eyes. We were entering the compound. Sue was being pulled next to me, hopefully just unconscious. Enrique was walking behind us, hands clamped behind his neck. Two men were pointing military rifles at him. There was no sign of Lorraine or Jorge.
A man came into my sight line. He was tall, slim, and dressed in black. He walked with a limp. He wore round spectacles and had a gray-and-blond buzz cut above his evil smile. His image reminded me of how an Aryan Nazi would look in a movie. “Hello, Mr. Barnes. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” It was the same voice ordering someone not to execute one of us. “I’m Otto Schilling, head of Schmidt’s private security and the one who will inflict excruciating pain on you if you don’t do what I say.”
The person dragging me had their arms clamped hard under mine. The joints between my shoulders and arms were beginning to ache.
Dr. Smith had sold us out to his employer. Had I actually doubted that he would? The man’s guilty conscience wasn’t enough to fully turn him to do the right thing. He was probably dead now anyway.
Otto kept walking between the people dragging Sue and me, looking proud, as if we were his trophies. If his words and appearance were meant to scare us, they had a mixed effect on me. Yes, I was scared, but more for the others.
I’d found myself in similar positions in the last three years—this wasn’t a new experience. So many people that I cared for had died on this journey that there was little left to lose. What if I’d be beaten and they’d finally kill me? Stop that thought. I glanced at Sue. I wanted to live. I didn’t want to just be another life snuffed out as they reached their goal of controlling the population. I was surprised at my ability to think that clearly under the circumstances, and the pain between my ears was beginning to subside.
There was concrete under my heels now, and the constant bumping was making my feet hurt inside my boots.
A door opened and we were pulled into a building.
Enrique was close enough for me to see the fear in his eyes. I had to do everything possible for him to make it back to his family.
“What the fuck! Fuck you! Let go!” Sue had gained consciousness. She started squirming so violently that the large man pulling her lost his grip and she fell to the concrete floor.
Otto rushed over and with the butt of his rifle hit Sue square in the stomach, hard. She groaned and went into the fetal position, clutching herself.
“What the fuck are you doing? Don’t you dare hurt her!” I struggled to get free but couldn’t.
Otto came up to me and pointed his gun at my face, his stare menacing.
Another man came from somewhere and helped lift Sue. They took her by the arms, but she didn’t straighten, still holding her stomach.
We moved down a hallway until we entered a windowless room.
I was dropped and kicked in the back. That didn’t hurt so much.
Someone pulled me up and made me sit on a metal stool. Sue was placed on the chair next to me and Enrique on the other side. Someone sat past Enrique; it was Lorraine. She must’ve been ahead of us. Thank goodness she was still alive.
I could tell Sue was in a lot of pain but grimacing not to show it. The lap of her pants was wet with something dark.
“Shit, Sue, you’re bleeding.”
She stared down and then back at me, her eyes trying to look defiant.
Determination poured through me. I had to make sure Sue made it out of here. I breathed deep to force the remaining pain out of my head and think with clarity.
I surveyed our surroundings. The room was square with boxes stacked against one wall, the others bare and gray. Turning my neck as far as I could, I saw a desk against the wall behind us with someone perched on the edge of it.
Otto had left, leaving behind three large guards—one Caucasian and two Latino. We weren’t bound in any way; the three guns pointing at us would prevent our escape. I’d have to wait for the right opportunity—one of our captors would slip up.
I glanced at Lorraine, and she appe
ared to be unharmed; the same with Enrique. Where was Jorge? His diarrhea could’ve been the best thing that happened. He’d come for us.
The only door to the room opened, and in walked two of the men I hated most—Hendrick Schmidt V and Carlo Da Silva. Then a young man followed who had a resemblance to Schmidt. He’d been the one in the Mercedes with Da Silva, whom Ivan had said was Hendrick’s brother, Günter.
Right behind them was Lieutenant Furyk. Now we knew what side he was on. Furyk walked straight back to whoever was perched at the desk.
Where was Lovemark?
Last in was Nazi Schilling. “Leave us,” he said to the guards. “Go and see if Villegas has been found.”
So, Jorge had gotten away. Also, they wouldn’t know about the others back at the house. We had to buy time and make this go as slowly as possible.
“Nick and Sue, we meet at last.” Schmidt smirked. “What brings you to our neighborhood? Colombia is a dangerous place; people disappear.”
I tried to keep my voice level and matter of fact. “Schmidt Junior, you can’t keep going on like your father, ruining the world and controlling the population, without expecting resistance and suffering retribution.”
“That’s Dr. Schmidt and I’m ‘junior’ to no one.” He took a step toward me, but Da Silva placed a hand on Schmidt’s shoulder, stopping him.
“When will you get the point that this is much bigger than you?” Da Silva focused on me. “You lost souls think you’re exposing some diabolical plot to destroy the world? We’re saving it from all the damage, pollution, and overpopulation. You should be thanking and supporting us.”
“The most damage has been caused by you.” Sue’s breathing was strained. “Your genetically engineered food and pesticides are the worst pollution of all. How can you justify that?”
“Justification is in the eyes of the beholder,” Da Silva said.
“We don’t need to justify anything to you or anyone else,” Schmidt said. “We’re the ones who make the rules.”
Da Silva continued. “You’ve never fully grasped what we’re doing; this work is for the long-term success of humanity in this world. Our goals have taken generations to implement and will take more time for the results to be achieved. Sometimes it may look like we’re creating damage, but we’re actually doing good when you see the final result. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”
Beyond Control Page 28