Primal Nature

by Monique Singleton

  Hector—as expected—insisted on joining the two women. He would not leave Dulce. Reluctantly she agreed, and they started to make plans for their departure. They would take one of the mercenaries’ vehicles and leave it in an open place far from here. A friend took the mercenaries car and ditched it in a different location because it would probably have a SAT NAV locator. This was a clear message to Salina that the mercenaries didn’t need them anymore. Packing what they deemed necessary, they said their goodbyes. Secure in the knowledge that the villagers would be able to protect themselves with the measures that they had initiated.

  The drive to the vicinity of where they expected the new revolutionaries to be took all day and part of the next morning. The new compound was in a different location all together because Alex was party to all the locations that had been used in the past. Tonal had heard about the general vicinity from Enrique and visiting old comrades on the way confirmed that they were on the right track. They met up with their old friend Juan Torres from the council and made their way to the small group of fighters.

  Once they were close they had to ditch the transport and resume the trip on foot. This posed a challenge for Hector with the fresh stitches in his leg. Eight hours later—soaking wet from the rain—they arrived at a small camp deep in the jungle. It was not visible until they were almost on top of it. There they were greeted by Jesus. He was alarmingly aged. His hair was bright white, and his stance bent and uncomfortable. He walked with a cane.

  ‘It is so good to see you both, even though I wish it was under different circumstances.’ He embraced both women in turn.

  ‘I wish I could say that you look good Jesus.’ Tonal said—direct as always.

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR

  ‘The past few years have taken their toll on my health, I’m afraid. The situation is very troubling, and I am no longer a young man. Camping in a tent doesn’t agree with me as much as before.’ Jesus answered. ‘Come in. Get out of the rain, dry a bit.’

  The meeting was a heated one. Some of the revolutionaries were new to the cause—or at least new to the group—and had not known Alex personally. They viewed him as any other enemy. Others had known and fought with him and felt betrayed. They wanted revenge. Jesus, Dulce and Tonal were reluctant to act without at least trying to reason with Alex. For old-time’s sake. Ultimately, they wanted a solution. One they could all live with. It was Jesus who had the swaying vote. They would attempt to speak with Alex. Give him one last chance. Tonal would do the honours. The fact that she was extremely difficult to kill was one of the reasons. The other was that the general consensus was that Tonal would probably make the most impact on Alex. Dulce was too emotionally involved, and Jesus was too valuable, old and feeble to chance an armed encounter, even if he didn’t agree to all the reasons.

  During the next week information was gathered about Alex’s whereabouts. Being the political figure that he was, his official itinerary was easily found on the web. This offered no options, as he was heavily guarded and never accessible. One of the revolutionaries turned out to be a master hacker and they managed to gain access to Alex’s more personal agenda. They found out that he would be at his estate in the La Pedrera region as of the following weekend. A small affair, no guests, just the Presidential pair. They would leave for the estate Friday afternoon and be back in the capitol by Monday eleven o’clock. It was a six-hour flight by helicopter for Alex, and that would leave him Saturday and Sunday for relaxation. The resistance decided on Sunday. Nowadays Alex was a heavy drinker and after two late night booze sessions he would probably be less on his guard. Hopefully the same would apply for the guards.

  Additional hacking produced out-dated architectural plans of the estate and the enormous grounds. A small team of three was sent in advance for recon work. They would try to determine the best way to gain access to the grounds and meet up with the main group later on.

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

  The main group left for the estate on Wednesday, traveling on foot for the first leg of the journey. Nineteen miles from the compound they borrowed horses from a farmer sympathetic to the cause. They travelled until Friday afternoon. Leaving the horses at an abandoned farm, they continued on foot for another hour which brought them three miles from the edge of Alex’s estate. It was a gigantic mansion in more than one hundred acres of land. Eighty percent of which was jungle, the rest was cultivated land and gardens.

  They set up camouflage tents on the edge of a stream—just inside the tree-line— and settled down to wait for the advance group. Their meal was dried meat and army biscuits—no fire would be started. They were too near the estate for that.

  The night brought the familiar sounds of the nocturnal animals. Hunters like the jaguar and the ocelot, prey like the tapir and capybara. Insects made the stay unpleasant. After dark Tonal moved into the jungle and changed. She would do her own recon, being able to go where the others couldn’t.

  The revolutionaries had been informed of some of her strange talents. It had been necessary to explain why she was the ideal person to talk to Alex. She would be in the most dangerous position and her healing powers may come in handy. The change had shocked most of the inner council. They had seen the end result. The other revolutionaries had not, they were left in the dark about that part.

  Returning to the tents early the next morning with a full stomach and information about the Estate, she changed back and dressed before she joined the others. The advance party was expected in the course of the morning, so they waited. At half past eleven one of the sentries brought two of the three recon men to their waiting companions. They spoke for almost an hour.

  The grounds of the estate were extensive and therefore impossible to close off entirely. The jungle animals had trails that they used to enter the grounds when they wanted to forage. Most of the trails were known to the groundskeeper, and subsequently monitored with cameras. But the recon party had managed to find two trails that were relatively new and unknown. Slipping through the perimeter they had found an enormous tree that offered a reasonably comfortable perch from which to observe the mansion and its inhabitants. Camouflage nets completed the hide, making them invisible to the house’s occupants. An hour before the helicopter arrived they had noticed an increased activity in the grounds and the house. Some of the bodyguards arrived early and started securing the area. They had not been happy with the preparations so far and with a lot of shouting and posturing had spurred the home security employees to a higher security level.

  Alex and Salina had arrived in a helicopter late Friday evening, somewhat later than expected. This had resulted in foul moods for both of them. A contingent of nine bodyguards accompanied them and fanned out over the area near the mansion. The recon group had seen Alex rise early Saturday morning with an obvious hangover. Nursing his first drink of the day, he sat in the gardens of the mansion until he felt better. After breakfast he saddled a horse and rode in the ménage for an hour. Salina had woken up and taken a swim in the pool. She was naked and that caused the first row when Alex returned to the plush seats rimming the blue water. The bodyguards were used to the bickering and had not reacted, either to the argument or to her exhibitionism.

  The recon party had chosen this time to leave the scene. One had stayed behind at a safe distance, the other two had made their way to the rendezvous site.

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX

  In the course of the afternoon the group decided on a plan. They would move into the grounds of the estate in the late hours of the night when the guards were at their most vulnerable. They would wait for an opportunity either in the house or on the grounds. Preferably on the grounds far away from the house. They did not want to endanger any of the servants or other innocents.

  Sleeping in shifts they rested until the time came to leave. The group packed the few belongings they had and scattered any signs of their presence before they left for the estate. The trails were dark, the ground wet and sticky. Around them they heard the sounds of
the jungle: strange howls, rustling leaves, the screams of the prey animals.

  Tonal walked point. Her senses attuned to the smells and sounds. Her vision changed the gloom into almost daylight. They crossed small streams, pushed their way through dense vegetation and reached the perimeter of the estate around three in the morning. One of the original recon group went to the lookout where they had left their comrade the day before. The others proceeded to a part of the grounds where the forest was exceptionally dense. There were no manmade trails in this part of the grounds. Chances were that they would not be found here.

  Settling down to wait, they posted sentries anyway.

  In total there were nine of them. Dulce had wanted to come along but was stopped by Jesus’ veto. Not that he didn’t trust her to stay quiet, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Hector had stayed in the revolutionary’s compound, officially to support Dulce and because of his bad leg, but mainly to make sure that she stayed put. Tonal was glad that they had not accompanied her. She didn’t need the distraction. Her mind was already in turmoil. She was excited to see Alex again, but apprehensive about how he would react. Against her better judgment, she hoped that he would be receptive to their arguments and that he would change his ways. That the Alex that she had known would surface again and make amends. Deep down inside she knew it was wishful thinking. But still she hoped.

  Around eleven in the morning, one of the recon-group rushed into the hiding place and informed them that the jeeps were being readied. Probably for a hunt. Alex and Salina were both dressed in camouflage gear and sporting rifles. There were three jeeps for the Presidential couple and the six bodyguards. The remaining five soldiers would stay at the mansion.

  Checking their own weapons, the revolutionaries moved back to one of the main trails in the grounds that led from the mansion into the jungle. They chose a spot where there were no motion detectors or cameras. The track was just large enough for a jeep to drive though--deep tyre tracks were evidence that it had been used before. It led to one of the watering holes where animals congregated. The revolutionary’s expectations were proven right when the last recon man joined them with news that the hunting party was headed their way. They fanned out into the foliage on both sides of the road for maximum coverage and made themselves invisible. The rain from the previous day had turned the ground to mud, making any real speed impossible—even with a four-wheel drive—and caused the jeeps to almost crawl down the tack.

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN

  The open Jeep stopped in the middle of the dirt road, the driver was uncertain what to do. About fifty metres in front of the car stood a seemingly unarmed bare-footed woman framed by the jungle on either side of the path.

  ‘Why are you stopping?’ Alex demanded, looking around. ‘Have we arrived at the site?’

  The driver pointed ahead.

  ‘Oh my God.’ it was Salina, she instantly recognised Tonal.

  The bodyguards stormed out of the following jeeps and moved to the front of the vehicles. Slowly they became aware of bright red luminescent spots dotting their faces and bodies. The laser sights were familiar, and they froze—referring to the bodyguard who was seated in Alex’s jeep next to driver for guidance. He in turn looked to Alex.

  ‘Lower your weapons.’ Alex ordered ‘I know this woman.’ The hairs on the back of his neck were upright. He had never dared to contemplate that she would appear so suddenly. Part of him hoped that she would turn up at his door and just look him up, that things would be as they once were. But deep down in his heart he understood that it was impossible. There was no way that she would agree with his current policies and strategies. That, and the way that they had parted ways, bode no good. Her appearance in the jungle, coupled with the red laser dots was the certainty that he needed to know that she was not here for a courtesy call. She was also not alone. That meant that some form of resistance had gathered again. Probably more of the old clan. Only now to oppose the new President—him.

  The subdued light of the sun through the tree tops shone on her face. She looked good. Her tan showed that she had been out a lot. The familiar ochre coloured eyes mesmerised him once again. Like they always did.

  Tonal walked closer to the congregated soldiers and jeeps. She stopped about fifteen meters from them. She nodded to Alex.

  ‘You’ve noticed that I am not alone’ stopping for effect. ‘Sit and listen Alex.’

  ‘Are you going to let her talk to you like that?’ Salina screamed hysterically ‘You are the President, kill her.’ One glance from Alex silenced her.

  ‘Tonal, it’s been a long time. I see that you are well, though I wouldn’t expect anything else. Not with you. Is Dulce here as well? How is she?’ He looked past Tonal anxious to see if his sister was there too. Truth be told, he missed them both a lot.

  ‘She is well, all things considered.’ she answered. ‘No thanks to Salina.’

  Glancing at his wife, who shrugged as though unaware of what she meant, Alex asked. ‘What do you mean?’ his stomach sank. ‘What has Salina got to do with Dulce?’

  ‘She sent a group of mercenaries to kill us, specifically to take back Dulce’s head.’

  ‘That’s ridiculous. That isn’t possible. I wouldn’t allow it.’ Regarding his wife, his conviction evaporated.

  ‘They are a big threat to you and to your position. I told you years ago they should have been taken care of. You wouldn’t do it, so I did.’ The flatness of her tone was unbelievable and so typically Salina.

  ‘How could you? She’s my sister!’ he was fuming. Salina was not impressed and sulked.

  ‘That’s not the only thing I am here for Alex.’ Tonal continued. He turned back to look at her. ‘You’ve screwed up big time. There is nothing left of what you were, of the ideals we all fought for. You are becoming the tyrant that you deposed. Worse even, you should know better.’

  ‘I was entitled.’ He retaliated ‘It was my turn to have some of the benefits, some kind of reward.’

  ‘What part of the entitled reward are you on now Alex?’ Her voice was calm and soft, which only intensified the impact. ‘How much more than this do you need? How much of this do you really need?’ She paused. ‘You have had more than enough for your effort. The wealth that you have amassed has been over the backs of the people you once fought for. You used to be the people’s saviour, what happened to you?’ Her words cut deep. Somewhere deep-down Alex knew that he was on thin ice at the least, had known for a long time. He’d noticed that he was having trouble making the decisions that his advisers and Salina coached him to make. But somehow, he couldn’t turn back on the path he had chosen. He had gone too far. There was too much to lose. He stayed silent.

  ‘Do you even remember why we fought Alex?’ Her eyes pierced his soul. ‘How can you sanctify what you have done? How can you reconcile yourself with the pain and suffering that you cause? You used to fight the tyranny. It was your life, your goal. You were one of the people. Julio would turn in his grave if he saw what you had become.’

  ‘Leave my father out of this.’ Alex retaliated half-heartedly.

  ‘How can I? He was the driving force behind the revolution, behind what we did. Go back to what you were, to the ideals that you used to have. Become the man you should be, the man you were. Make amends and start helping the people. Do your job. Be the President.’

  ‘It’s not that simple.’ He spat back. ‘You have no idea what politics are, the pressure that I’m under. It all looks so simple from where you are.’

  ‘So, retire. Let the people chose a new President. One who is able to withstand all the intrigue and stress. Get out or do something about it. Stop whining.’

  ‘I can’t, there are people relying on me.’

  Softly, ‘Yes, Alex there are… …. the people of this country. Your old friends and comrades.’ He was silent. There was no answer to that. ‘I don’t feel sorry for you Alex. You made this bed, so lie in it. You wanted to be President. So be one. Be a good one. Take responsibil
ity for your people. For the country. Do some good for someone else, instead of only for yourself and the rich. The people are no better off now than they were before the revolution.’ Her words cut so deep. ‘I’m here to warn you Alex. Change your ways. Go back to your old ideals, your old goals. This is your first and only warning.’ The silence was palatable.

  ‘Don’t make me kill you Alex.’

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT

  Raising his head Alex looked at her. He had no doubt that she would make good on her threat. He knew her, knew what she was capable of.

  Turning around, Tonal walked back to where she had appeared and moved into the jungle. The red dots disappeared from the soldiers and the Presidential couple.

  Salina instantly screamed. ‘Get them, go on, kill the scum.’ Alex waved the soldier still.

  ‘No, leave it. There is no way we will be able to get them anyway.’

  The main bodyguard countered ‘We should at least try. Kill as many as possible.’

  ‘Kill her!’ Salina screamed.

  ‘I said NO! We go back to the house.’ Alex was adamant. Reluctantly the bodyguards took their places in the cars and reversed until they reached a clearing where they could turn around.

  Alex was visibly rattled by the encounter. He had felt safe and secure in the grounds of his mansion—certain that no one would be able to get through the security measures. This illusion had been shattered. Not only Tonal had gotten through, but enough others to hold them all under shot until she was finished. He turned to the bodyguard in the front passenger seat. ‘This is an unacceptable breach of security. You’d better get some answers quickly about how they managed to get in the grounds and who screwed up, or I’ll have your head. This is intolerable. They could have killed us both. I want your report before five this afternoon. With the solutions to the breach in security.’ As an afterthought ‘and get the helicopter ready, we leave within the hour. I’m not staying here any longer than necessary.’