by Kim McMahill
“Sometimes I think we’re spared so our families won’t suffer.”
“I’m an only child and my parents died in an auto accident when I was eighteen. The other Rangers and some of the civilians killed had wives, kids. The whole deal. So why am I here?”
Jessica didn’t know what to say. She had heard of similar situations on the news, such as what had happened many years ago in Somalia, but she had never known anyone who had lived through such horrors. From her life in the inner sanctum of the political arena, she possessed a pretty good idea of how these things worked. The U.S. military was not actively engaged in Liberia, so when Jack’s team was hit, they were on their own. She imagined there was a discreet effort to rescue them by fellow soldiers, but everything that happened was kept as quiet as possible and out of the news.
“Your story explains a lot. I was starting to wonder what made you tick. I was almost afraid you were a hit man for the mob or a terrorist or something. I don’t know many people capable of killing someone with their bare hands.”
“Is that why you looked so terrified when I had you pinned?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t really think you’d hurt me after everything we’ve been through, but the possibility that maybe you’d snapped did cross my mind.”
For years Jack was afraid he would do just that, so he stayed away from people as much as he could. He took up mountain climbing as a way to escape and eventually it had turned into a job and he slowly began to trust himself with people again. He met Dave and Zach and they had taken him in and were like brothers to him and then there was Elaine. She’d opened him up and changed his life, but then the door slammed shut in his face once again. He wanted to tell Jessica about Elaine, but couldn’t. That pain was still too fresh.
Jessica searched his eyes and could see the agony and she desperately wanted to make it go away. What could she possibly say to ease the pain? In her sheltered life, there was no way she could claim to understand what he had been through and if she tried, she would be a fraud and he would know it.
“Have you and Ted stayed in contact?”
Jessica felt tension grip his body and feared she had hit on another subject best left alone. She hated seeing the pain etched on his face and wished she could take back her last question.
“He’s dead. Within a year, he died in a house fire. The investigators insisted it was an accident.”
Jessica tried to wrap her mind around not only what he said, but the way in which he spoke of certain incidents, but couldn’t. She reached up and placed her hands on each side of his angular face. She touched her lips to his and lingered.
She kissed him so gently Jack thought he might melt. No one had ever shown him such tenderness and understanding. Life had always been hard and he had never questioned whether or not it was supposed to be any other way. He had no doubt Elaine had loved him, though she wasn’t the marrying type. She’d been an independent adrenaline junkie. With her, everything was fast and rough, a race to the next rush. He had never told Elaine about Liberia, because he didn’t want her pity and wasn’t sure how she would react. She wasn’t the sensitive type, which was why he had been drawn to her and so comfortable with her. Elaine never talked about her feelings and emotions and she didn’t expect him to either. He thought that was what he wanted—until he met Jessica. He didn’t feel like Jessica pitied him when he told her his story, only that she accepted him.
When Jessica finally eased away, she could see the pain was gone. She was almost disappointed, because now she had no excuse to repeat the action and for some reason, she really wanted to.
“What was that for?” he asked with a smile on his lips so innocent that she had to fight to not kiss him again.
Jessica wasn’t sure how to answer his question since she wasn’t certain if she had done it for him or for herself. Before she had to decide, they were interrupted by the unmistakable thwack of helicopter blades. Jack jumped to his feet, dumping her on the ground as he rushed toward the thinner vegetation hugging the bank of the river. She scrambled to follow and Megan struggled to rise.
“It’s an American UH-60 Black Hawk,” Jack shouted as he waved his arms over his head. “Damn. They’ll never spot us through the trees. From above, I’m sure all they can see is a carpet of green with a little ribbon of water snaking through.”
Jessica ignored his pessimistic comment and jumped up and down, waving her arms frantically. She refrained from screaming since it would do no good and they had no idea if their pursuers were nearby.
As Jack suspected, the craft veered off before it reached them, no idea they were below. The helicopter disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The disappointment was audible as the whir of the Black Hawk’s blades was replaced by the rush of the river and the sound of Megan’s cries.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Megan collapsed onto the ground with her head in her hands. She sobbed and her shoulders shook. She hadn’t thought about being rescued, had assumed from the start that it was up to them to save themselves, but the helicopter had given her a brief glimmer of hope and then it was snatched away.
Jessica knelt down beside her and draped an arm around the young woman’s convulsing shoulders.
“It’s okay. Maybe they’ll come back. I can’t believe it’s a coincidence they flew over. They have to be looking for us and must have some reason to be here instead of closer to where we were abducted.”
“I just want to go home. I’m sorry, but I’m just so tired and weak and I’m afraid I’m putting you and Jack in more danger. He shouldn’t have gone back to the village for medicine¾he could have been killed.”
“Apparently it’s not easy to kill me, so don’t worry. Believe me, better men have tried and failed.” Jack knelt in front of her and placed a hand on her forehead. “Let’s get you more comfortable and we’ll rest for a few hours. Your fever’s back.”
Megan nodded and permitted Jack and Jessica to help her to her feet. They spread the blanket on the ground and eased Megan down. Jessica pulled off the young woman’s shoes and socks to allow her blisters to air dry while Jack ripped a strip of cloth from the bottom of the blanket and soaked it with cool river water. He placed it on her forehead and Jessica held her hand while Megan struggled against the fever.
For hours, Megan squirmed and moaned. Sweat accumulated in droplets on her face and ran down her temple in small rivulets whenever the cloth was removed and re-cooled in the river. Her skin was the color of a cat’s tongue and as warm to the touch.
Jessica sat by her side and held her hand while Jack kept cloths, cooled with river water, on her forehead. As the fever began to break, Megan fell into a restless sleep. Jessica set Megan’s clammy hand down and stood to work the cramp out of her leg, and then followed Jack to the river’s edge.
“Do you think there are crocodiles or caimans in this river?” She stared at the formidable body of water.
“Probably not here. I know there are in the coastal areas of Tabasco and Campeche, but I think we’re too far inland and the water is moving too fast. We have a little elevation here, small hills belonging to the Chiapas Sierra, but I’d still keep alert because snakes are a definite possibility and some are much more deadly than a caiman or croc.”
Jessica thought back to the previous night and wondered again about what she’d heard jump into the water, but decided she’d rather not think about it. She had enough filling her mind without worrying about the creatures of the night. The immediate dangers had to be addressed and they needed a plan.
“What do we do now?” she asked.
“I got a glimpse of a map in the shop where I bought the tamales. We’re a little further west than I thought we were and in an area where there are a lot of small lakes. At one time, we were pretty close to Palenque. If we would’ve known, we could’ve probably gotten help there. It’s a pretty touristy place, with its ruins and all. It doesn’t look like there’s much to the east of us for a long ways, so now I’m thinking we�
�ll keep heading north, following the river since we can’t seem to cross it anyway, but veer west and shoot for Villahermosa, where I’m sure we can find a phone.”
“What about the helicopter? Do you think they were looking for us? Maybe we should stay put in case it comes back.”
“It’s hard to say what they were doing. I’m sure there are a lot of people searching for you, but unless they received a tip, I don’t know how they would have known to look here. We could be anywhere by now. Heck, we could be in Guatemala as far as they know. But, if we get another chance to flag the helicopter down I’ll make sure to get their attention. Whether or not they’re here specifically for you, I’m sure they’ve been briefed and they’re on the lookout.”
“What about Megan? She doesn’t seem fit to travel, but I feel like we’re sitting ducks here.”
“We need to try to move on as soon as she wakes up. We’ll just have to travel slowly and work around her fevers and chills. If she can just tough it out for another day, the chloroquine will kick in. Today is going to be miserable for her, but we can’t stay put after I was seen in the village this morning.”
Jessica fetched the rag, re-soaked it with cool water and placed it back on Megan’s forehead. She sat down and watched her toss and moan for several more hours as Jack paced next to the river’s edge. She could tell he was nervous and anxious to move on, but was thankful he didn’t push Megan. The more rest Megan could get the better.
She wanted to go to Jack and try to ease his tensions, but held back. Jessica had a feeling there was still more he was keeping from her, but she wouldn’t pry. He would tell her when he was ready and hopefully, when he did, it would be possible for her to offer him the comfort he needed.
Megan stirred and opened her eyes. She struggled to sit and the wet rag fell into her lap, making her scream, which sent a jolt straight to Jessica’s heart and had Jack running for them.
“Sorry,” Megan said sleepily as she realized what had landed in her lap. “I didn’t know I had a cloth on my head, so when something cool and wet hit my bare legs, I thought something creepy had fallen out of the tree. A lizard or a snake...heaven knows we’ve seen plenty of those out here.”
“You scared me to death.” Jack offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet. “How are you feeling? Do you think you can walk for a while?”
Megan placed a hand to her forehead and brushed the sweat away. She did feel a little better and her fever seemed to have dropped again. She wondered if the chloroquine was already starting to work. This bout of fever didn’t seem quite as violent as the last, nor was it followed by fierce chills as it had the night before. As she thought about the medicine, a pang of guilt stabbed at her once again. Jack had risked his life for her and she didn’t want to let him down.
“I’m much better. Let’s make some tracks,” she said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
“That’s my girl. Let us know if we’re walking too fast or you need to rest. We don’t want to wear you down too far.”
Jessica had the blanket bundled up and slung over her shoulder by the time Megan had assured them she was fit to travel. They stayed close to the river and kept up a decent pace. The trees and brush were dense forcing them to weave in and out of stands of vegetation and step over down logs. The ground was soft and the insects were thick. Even though Jack had told her the mosquito that carried the malaria parasite bit at dusk and dawn, Jessica swatted each pest away with mild panic. She had no desire to go through Megan’s experience.
Every now and then a rustle in the trees overhead or in a nearby bush would startle the group and make Jessica jump and clutch her chest. She seldom caught a glimpse of the monkeys that followed them curiously, but their sudden bursts of movement always made her heart skip a beat. Around every turn, she expected to see one of the men who were trying so desperately to capture her.
Even though the going was rough and she was distracted by swarming insects and energetic monkeys, Jessica kept up a strong pace and maintained a close eye on Megan. The slight changes in elevation made her gasp for breath on the incline and she was surprised Megan’s stride continued to be long and the sick woman never lagged behind.
Each hour they stopped for a break. Jessica wanted to be sure no one became dehydrated, especially Megan. She didn’t know much about malaria, but with any sickness it was important for the body to get plenty of fluids as it dealt with fevers. She could see Megan was getting weaker as they went and her dull, sunken eyes concerned her, but Megan claimed she was fine and refused to stop for long, so they moved on.
“It seems the further north we go, the thicker the jungle.” Jack looked at Megan’s colorless complexion. “If we had a machete, the going would be much easier, but we would be simple to track.”
Jack couldn’t help but worry, but he didn’t know what to do except continue on. They had no food or water and the insects were brutal in the growing humidity of the jungle. They needed to find a better place to stop for the day. He feared Megan couldn’t go on much longer, despite what she claimed as he watched her struggle to stand.
The sun had reached its peak and Jessica was hotter than she could ever imagine possible. The humidity was so high the jungle felt like a sauna. Her limbs felt weighted and each movement required considerable effort. She wasn’t even surprised when the birds ceased to make music. She figured even for them, it took too much energy to fly or sing in the heavy heat. Jessica was exhausted and knew this had to be taking its toll on Megan, but her friend never complained and refused to give up for the day.
They found a faint path through the trees, which made the going a little easier. Jessica didn’t know if it was a game trail or created by human feet, but she didn’t question the brief respite from the rugged overland trek of the past few hours. She wasn’t sure if she had enough strength left in her knees and legs to crawl over one more downed tree and envied Megan’s long stride.
The trail began to widen and soon opened up into a small weedy garden. The plot of land was dotted with squash hills, beans crawling up trellises made of sticks, and corn. They wandered through the young crops, wondering how far away the owner lived. Manny’s garden had been a long way from the house, but they weren’t certain if that was a common practice.
“Wait here. I’ll do a quick sweep of the area and see if the residence is anywhere close by,” Jack said as he moved away from the garden. “This might be a reasonable place to stop for the night. The thinned trees allow the sun through and it’s drier, with a lot less insects, and at least we can see more than ten yards in front of us.”
Jessica ushered Megan into the shade at the edge of the garden and helped her sit down and drink some water. She bent over Megan and placed her hand to her forehead. She felt normal, but her face was flush and gaunt and her eyes lifeless and sunken. The black eye she’d been dealt when they were in captivity was almost gone, but the purplish hue lingered enough to make Megan look even more bedraggled.
Megan spoke and her words were little more than whispered gasps. Jessica was worried they were pushing Megan too hard, but the young woman was too stubborn to stop. Under normal circumstances, Jessica assumed malaria was something most people rode out in bed, not trekking through a steaming jungle with a horde of killers on their heels.
As Jessica held Megan’s hand, trying to offer comfort, panic began to well inside her. She tried not to permit the thoughts to enter her mind, but as she listened to Megan’s labored breathing, she couldn’t help it. What if they lost Megan? What would they do? They couldn’t just walk away and leave her. Jessica wasn’t sure she could endure one more tragedy, but feared she would have to in order to survive.
Jessica heard a twig break and stood. She was surprised Jack was back already, but relieved. Her thoughts were starting to drag her into a dark place filled with hopelessness and fear. She struggled to avoid being drawn into despair, but it was getting more and more difficult to remain positive. Having Jack near always made her feel st
ronger.
She whipped around to talk to him about Megan’s condition, but instead found herself face-to-face with an angry old woman holding a machete firmly in her hand. Jessica gasped and Megan looked up, startled.
The Lacondón Indian woman eyed Jessica. They were about the same height, but the dark wiry-haired woman outweighed Jessica by thirty or forty pounds. The woman’s eyes moved cautiously to Megan. She stared at her for several moments before the machete relaxed in her hand. The woman moved closer and her eyes locked on Megan and the anger was gone.
“Malaria,” Jessica offered.
The woman nodded and set the blade on the ground. She ran a weathered hand down Megan’s cheek. Megan reached up and grasped the woman’s hand and they stared at each other. Even from her vantage point behind them, Jessica could see the pleading in Megan’s eyes and the woman responded.
“Mi casa.” She motioned for Jessica to help her get Megan to her feet.
Jessica didn’t know what to do. They needed help and some place safe to rest. Food and water. But she couldn’t leave without Jack. Plus, she didn’t know if she could trust the woman, but had no reason not to.
Jessica desperately wished she knew Spanish. She felt foolish attempting to communicate with charades and a scattering of words, but had to explain why they couldn’t leave just yet.
“Amigo,” she said as she pointed to the trees.
The woman shook her head back and forth, pointed at the trail and grasped Megan’s arm. The woman was strong. Jessica could see that she was going to get Megan up with or without her help, so she decided to lend a hand. The woman pulled Megan toward the trail and Jessica held firm.
“Amigo,” Jessica said again pointing to the trees.
“What do we do? We can’t leave Jack. He’ll freak if we’re gone when he gets back and what if he can’t find us?”