The Arcturus Man

  When they returned to the airfield, Rubio telephoned Sami in Sofia. He explained what had happened. Sami was a pragmatist. These things can happen. It is no one’s fault. Blame is a waste of time. They had to find a solution.

  “My friend, don’t blame yourself. This is very clever man. It could happen to me,” said Sami.

  “I think I lost him in Newport.”

  “Stop? No place names. No names at all. We both know what we talk about. Detail not necessary.”

  “Excuse my ignorance,” said Rubio.

  “I want you to call our American friend. I gave private number last week. Do you know what I am talk about?” asked Sami.

  “Yes, I think so. This is the number written on the flash paper, isn’t that correct,” said Rubio.

  “That correct, but the kind of paper detail you can omit,” said Sami. “I am not as experienced as you are. I apologize again.”

  “We not that different and I certain that neither of us went to university. This just common sense,” said Sami. Rubio had an engineering degree but he wasn’t about to contradict the fat Russian.

  “Understood,” said Rubio. He didn’t want Sami to lose confidence in him. He was not helping himself. He slowed down his conversation so he could think about what he was saying.

  “OK, change mind. I telephone American. Will ask him to help find person lost,” said Sami. “When he contact you, follow instructions carefully. He tell you how to contact him when he has information. Use public telephone. He won’t answer phone. As I say, you call answering machine. Be brief. No detail.”

  “Is it permitted to ask why the Americans want to help us?” asked Rubio.

  “No, not permitted,” said Sami.

  “Understood,” said Rubio.

  Sami hung up.

  Gulf Of Mexico Late December

  Just as water seeps in through tiny cracks in the foundation of a house, so too Jared’s depression crept in. He understood the chemistry of depression, but understanding it wasn’t enough to stop it. Jared lost interest in acting normal. He reverted to being Jared again. He was brilliant and aloof. He didn’t hide his intelligence now. It was yet more separation from Jenny. She had been his buoy and now she was slipping away. He became sullen and talked less each day. He missed the sex, but that wasn’t intolerable. What had actually been important was that he felt that Jenny wanted him, not that he needed her. If she no longer wanted him, nothing else mattered. Nothing!

  Jenny saw the transformation but because she didn’t understand what was happening, she couldn’t understand how to arrest it. For a time she thought that Jared might be secretly drinking. She went so far as to secretly mark the liquor bottles to see how much he was drinking. The levels never changed.

  She gave Jared subtle clues that she might be receptive to having sex again, but he never responded. She knew he sensed these signals so she was certain that he was rejecting her. He was! But it was an act of self-punishment, not rejection. She didn’t know that. Jenny moved into the smaller aft cabin the evening of the fifth day at sea. Jared knew he didn’t deserve Jenny. He didn’t deserve anything.

  Jared was up first. It was six in the morning on the sixth day. It was going to be a hot day. He made coffee and breakfast. Jenny didn’t wake until well past nine. They were well out the sea by the time see came up on deck. They were heading south.

  “Morning,” said Jenny.

  “Good morning.”

  She glanced at the sun and then at the direction of the boat. The sun was high in

  the sky but it was over her left shoulder. It should have been behind her. “The sun’s on my left. Are we going south?”

  “Yes! Not left. Starboard. The sun is starboard. Considering your Swedish ancestry, you might be interested that the convention of calling the left, starboard, comes from the Vikings. They called that side of a boat the board. They placed their steering oar on the left side. The steering oar was the star. Hence, the left side of a ship has always been called the star board.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “The right side is called the port side. The boat was also tied up on the right side because the steering oar was on the left side and berthing on that side could damage the steering oar. Hence, the right side is called port.”

  “Where are we going, Jared?”

  “Have you heard the term, posh—meaning something expensive and elegant?”

  “Of course I have.”

  “When the British gentry cruised the Nile River from Cairo, and if you had money, you always asked for a cabin on the port side going south and on the starboard side returning to Cairo to avoid the scorching sun. That is, you wanted port out and starboard home. The first letters of each word spell POSH. Of course, that assumes that the cruise is short and only in the morning. If the cruise left in the morning and returned in the afternoon, you would want port out and port home, POPH. Some say that a posh voyage was from England to India, not on the Nile, which would make more sense. Yet others say that this derivation is nonsense and that posh comes from slang meaning dandy.”

  “Fascinating. You’re dodging my question. Where are we going?”

  “Panama,” said Jared.

  “What happened to New Orleans?” asked Jenny.

  “I already explained this. New Orleans was just a ruse. What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

  “Sorry. You did say that. I don’t know. I knew that. I’m just not thinking,” she said.

  “We should be there in about four or five days,” he said.

  “Four days. Well, I guess that’s OK. I am actually enjoying this cruise now that we are in warm weather. I would have thought that the police and military, you know, would be an even bigger problem in a foreign country.”

  “We’re not going to Panama, exactly. We are going to an autonomous Indian Territory, Kuna Yala, or some call it Comarca. It is self-governing and they have their own police, albeit a very small force. It is the archipelago of San Blas, inhabited by the Kuna people. They are mistakenly called the San Blas Indians by tourists. These are basically the same people that greeted Columbus. The archipelago is made up of about 365 islands and a strip of the mainland, although only 35 to 50 islands are inhabited. It varies from year to year. They are wonderful people. I know them well and I learned their language quite some time ago. Their language is part of the Chibchan group.”

  “Sounds fascinating.” This time she was sincere. It did sound fascinating. Jenny visited Sweden once but had never been anywhere else overseas.

  “I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  “How many times have you been there?” she asked.

  “Six times, eight if you count two years that I spent in Panama before I discovered the Kuna. In fact, I bought this boat in Panama.

  “Did you go there on vacation?”

  “In a manner of speaking. I try to go each year but it isn’t always possible. When I do get to go, I camp in the jungle for a few weeks. It is my way of decompressing when the world gets too complicated, too crowded, and too loud. I always look forward to these trips. Each time I stay a little longer. The jungle gives me an adrenoline rush.”

  “You’re kidding me. You like living in the jungle with the snakes and the bugs.”

  “It is really wonderful. You have to try it some time. Everything you need is there for you. Water. You cut a water vine and the water from the vine is pure and cool. Marvelous fruit. The peccary is delicious roasted slowly on an open fire. There is incredible variety and the wildlife is fascinating. Nothing will bother you if you understand and respect it. All humans have a primordial memory—call it a primordial instinct—that goes back to when we all lived in savannahs and tropical rain forests. Panama has both. It brings back those long-lost suppressed memories.”

  “My primordial memories are probably ice and fjords.”

  “You’re not going back far enough. We all came out of Africa. The recent discovery of Pierolapithecus catalunicus in Spain—the 13 million-year-old common
ancestor to humans and great apes—is unlikely to change the out-of-Africa view,” said Jared.

  “Why are you talking like this? Are you doing this deliberately or are you just trying to irritate me,” she said.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “It’s like being with a recording of an encyclopedia that never stops playing.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m boring you,” he said.

  “No, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I really didn’t.”

  “It’s all right. Why don’t you call your sister and let her know you’re OK.” He was changing the subject. Good.

  “Good idea.” Jenny reached for the cell phone.

  “There are no cells out here. You have to use the sat phone.” her.

  “Hi Krissy.”

  “Jenn, you are PNG. Mom is frantic. Like where are you. He dialed out for

  We saw the news about the explosion on the island. I know you’re OK because I talked to you after the place blew up, but Mom is worried sick. Even Lars called asking what happened.”

  “I’m fine. I’m fine.”

  “Where the Hell are you, Jenn?”

  “I really can’t say,” said Jenny.

  Jared whispered. “It’s OK. Tell her.”

  “I’m in the Caribbean with Jared. We’re cruising. It is so beautiful. I can’t wait to

  get you down here some time. The water is ten shades of aquamarine. The weather is marvelous.” She kept glancing at Jared to see if she was saying anything she shouldn’t. He kept nodding OK.

  “His God Damned island blows up and you guys are cruising. I don’t believe you.”

  “I’ll explain all of that when I get home. People aren’t looking for me are they?”

  “DUH! Like Mom and Lars. Every hour on the hour.”

  “I mean other people,” said Jenny.

  “No! No one else. Why should people be looking for you?”

  “There are a few people who knew I was visiting Jared when that thing happened. I thought the police might be searching for me.”

  “No, not yet. I’ll ask Mom. Hell, you ask Mom. And what the Hell happened out there. Like what blew up? Are you on the lam?”

  “Don’t be so darned melodramatic. We just didn’t want to have to answer a lot of dumb questions so we went on a cruise,” said Jenny. “This call probably costs a fortune. I’ll call you again later, but right now I’ll give Mom a call and let her know I’m OK.”

  “Good. Call,” said Krissy.

  Jenny put the phone back in the cradle.

  “Is it OK to call my mother?”

  “Of course. And take your time. Don’t worry about the cost. It’s nothing.

  Jenny gave Jared a curious look but went ahead and dialed out.

  “This is going to be girl talk. You don’t mind?” She started to climb down to the main cabin.

  “Not at all. Take your time,” he said.

  Jenny came back to the galley about fifteen minutes later. sat phone.

  “Jared.” She paused.

  “We’re not running away from these Colombians, are we? She handed Jared the

  Like you said before, you’re trying to draw them in, aren’t you? That’s why you’re letting me use the satellite phone,” said Jenny.

  “Yes!”

  She already knew what his answer would be, but it still stunned her to hear it. “They’re going to come with an army this time. They’re going to kill you Jared.

  They’re going to kill ME,” she said.

  “That is not going to happen. That is another reason I want to be in Panama when

  they get here. The rain forest is so dense that there is no way that they can mass. They

  are going to be spread out. Many will get lost. The Kuna will help me keep track of

  where they are. Overhead infrared sensors won’t do any good in the jungle. The canopy

  is too thick and there would be too many hits with IR. This is exactly why I decided

  against going to Louisiana. I will have the advantage in Kuna Yala.”

  “I’m afraid for you Jared. You still seem to be treating this like a game.” “No game. Not this time. And, I wasn’t going to tell you this until later, but I plan

  on leaving you with the Kuna for a few days. You’ll be safe with them.” “You’re dumping me?” asked Jenny.

  “I am not dumping you. It’s just safer for you to be away from me and, for that

  matter, it’s safer for me. I am at risk if I have to worry about you. Trust me.” “I do trust you but I can’t help worrying. That’s an understatement. I’m petrified.” “You will be fine. Not to worry,” he said.

  “Do you have a good friend with the Kuna?”

  “Yes, several. They are proud and honest people. I am a curiosity to them because I speak their language—quite well actually. I would say they are friendly because of that but no outsider is completely trusted. They don’t see me as an outsider. They have resisted all kinds of pressure and offers for commercial development in their territory but

  they will accept money if the offer is honorable. You can trust them.”

  “Do they speak English?” asked Jenny.

  “A few probably do. Do you speak any Spanish?”

  “Not a word. I had Spanish in high school but I don’t remember any of it.” “It will be fine. Don’t worry. I’ll help you,” said Jared.

  Jenny was very worried.

  Gulf of Mexico- Christmas Eve

  It was midmorning and it was already getting hot. This part of the Caribbean was often very shallow. Coral shoals and banks were all charted but required constant attention to navigation to avoid them. Some banks were literally a foot or less beneath sea level. The GPS navigation helped but it was no substitute for unvarying vigilance. It was easy to run aground after just a few minutes of being inattentive.

  The depths changed constantly, ever changing the color of the water. It was common to come across an area where there were stark contrasts in blue and aquamarine bands across the water. The smaller islands had a variety of vegetation and palms, surrounded by soft white sands. It was idyllic and sometimes too beautiful to be believed. The unwary traveler could be beguiled into not recognizing that danger can be seconds away.

  Jared dropped anchor at a coral reef for a few hours to fish. They needed dinner. In no time at all he had taken two yellow-tail snapper. He had his shirt off. Droplets of sea water clung to his skin. Jenny brought out iced tea.

  “Thanks. I appreciate it,” he said.

  “Tink nutin of it mon, don’t you know.” She smiled. It was a very bad rendering of a demented Jamaican accent. She was trying to be nice again. Jared smiled. She was sure it had been days since the last time she saw him smile.

  “I’m going in for a swim. These are my favorite shorts. I hope you don’t mind.” He stripped off all of his clothes and dove naked into the sea. Jenny watched him closely. He looked good. His wounds had almost entirely healed. Jenny stood thoughtful for a few minutes but then hurried to find the snorkel gear in the port lockers. She scanned the horizon. There wasn’t another boat or island in sight.

  “A little skinny dippin, mon. Good for the soul, don’t you know,” she said. It was even worse this time, but at least she was trying. She hoped that Jared would snap out of his foul mood. She undressed and pulled on her flippers and mask. It was a graceless moment even though he couldn’t see her from where he was. She dropped into the water as quickly as she could and swam to Jared. He put on the gear and they swam together to the reef and began to snorkel. It was breathtaking. As soon as Jenny put her face mask into the water hundreds—maybe thousands—of colorful tropical fish appeared. They were invisible from above. It was a fantasy world.

  She was startled when she spotted the first barracuda. Jared dove beneath her to signal OK to her underwater. The barracuda had several fishing hooks lodged in its jaw. A yellow fishing line leader trailed behind one of the hooks. It was an eerie sight. She gradually rel
axed as she realized that they weren’t going to bother her. Jared wouldn’t let her stay in the water if there was any danger. She was sure of that. Then she saw the reef sharks. She panicked. She lost the vacuum in her face mask and swallowed some sea water. Jared swam to her. He was only a few feet away. They surfaced.

  “Don’t worry about the reef sharks. They aren’t interested in you. You’re not wearing a colorful bathing suit—what you have on—or should I say what you don’t have on—is perfect. Really! You have no flashy jewelry. You’re not splashing. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Are you sure? They are really big,” she said.

  “They’re only five or six feet. They look bigger than they are. The yellow-tail that I caught probably attracted them. You’re not menstruating, are you?”

  “No, I’m not,” she said.

  “Then you have nothing to worry about.”

  Watching her swim naked was unsettling for Jared. She readjusted her mask. They snorkeled again. They both took deep breathes and dove down ten or twelve feet until they could almost touch the reef. Jared waved her off when she tried to pick up a large shell. The Caribbean reef sharks still made her nervous but it wasn’t long before she forgot about them entirely. Jared was right. They were ignoring her.

  This time it was Jared who spotted it. It was a bull shark. It looked like it was about eleven feet in length. Jared recongized that it was a female; males don’t grow that large. This was a very dangerous shark. Jared knew that the majority of shark attacks are probably from bulls. He signaled Jenny to surface.

  “Swim back to the boat and climb on board.”

  “What’s happening?” she asked.

  “Just do what I ask.”

  Jenny hadn’t seen the bull shark yet.

  “Just as well,” thought Jared.

  Jenny swam back toward the boat. She didn’t hurry. She didn’t see or hear Jared as he began to splash the water. He slapped it with the palm of his hand over and over again. She got to the boat and climbed up the transom ladder. She looked back to see what was happening. Jared was still out there. He didn’t come back with her. She started putting on her underwear. Then she saw the ominous dark form pass beneath the boat, heading toward Jared. It was huge.