The Jungle’s Secret, Part Three
Photo by Intricate Explorer
“Oh, shit,” Michael stated in a controlled tone that belied his concerns about this new situation as we three stood and watched the drama unfold below. After the men in the opening to the cave had started to stir, it didn’t take long for them to vigorously hustle around to gather their belongings, while shouting out commands in an obvious readiness to move on.
“What do we do?” I whispered.
No suggestions were forthcoming as to our next move. We each felt helpless with no weapons, except the clubs Roberto had made for us, and they would only be useful if we needed to defend ourselves up close, which was a place we didn’t really want to be.
“Watch for Roberto’s signal, I guess,” Michael finally stated.
No sooner were those words spoken when Keith said, “Look! Roberto is waving us over.”
As we all began running down the path toward our leader, we could see the bad guys heading into the mouth of the cave then disappear within its darkness.
I groaned. Not only out of frustration at seeing the men disappear and not seeing any signs of my wife, but for my own disabilities. I was really dizzy, and I hurt like hell. I wondered if it wouldn’t be wiser for me to stay behind after all. I would not want to hold up the others by keeling over and needing my own emergency administrations.
When we met up with Roberto and Bartolo, after Abi made his way toward us, Roberto explained his plan. I did not argue his command that I stay behind to tell the Federales what was happening and direct them to the path and follow it to the end.
“There is a campsite at the end of this long cave system where these men will go,” Roberto explained. “It’s on the other side of the highway and past the Calica Rock Quarry. I am sure this campsite is theirs. I have been there and have seen parts of some ruins and some altars and storage huts that are being used.”
He looked at me and continued, “I need for you to tell the soldiers that there are many places where the cave has fallen in where the men could climb out if they know someone is chasing them, so we need to be quiet in our hunt, and the Federales should control the situation at the top if they see the men below, or if they try to climb out.”
“Why don’t we go the upper route, which would be faster for us, instead of inside of that dark cave?” Michael questioned nervously.
“Because the Federales know nothing about caves, and they would get lost since there are many offshoots that a person could follow. They could end up needing rescuing themselves. It is better that they are on top to make sure the bad men do not escape that way. They have guns and can keep that from happening, and we only have our small weapons. But we have a compass to keep us from getting lost and can keep the men from returning back this way.”
Roberto looked at me and said, “I know you want to help us, but you will help the best by staying behind so that we don’t have to worry about you falling or something and holding us up. And someone needs to be here to tell the other men where to go and what is happening, which you can do. That would be the most helpful.”
This was not a question; it was a command that I was willing to accept and abide since I had already convinced myself of that very thing. I knew Roberto was right.
I nodded my acceptance of his order. “Just bring back my wife and stay safe doing it,” I pleaded as they turned and left to make their way to the bottom of the earth’s rocky opening.
I waited only about fifteen minutes when I heard stomping feet and bodies charging through the underbrush behind me voices that sounded like cursing. The Federales had arrived.
Photo by David Peters
I stood so they could see where to come, told them as much as I could in my limited Spanish about the situation, and pointed to the path that Roberto wanted them to follow. I explained what they might find, and what to look for along the way, and they were off.
There was no reason for me to sit at this spot and feel bad alone when I could walk back to the Yan Ten road, the cart, and wait with Rose and Vero. We could go for provisions to make the wait more pleasant, or I could maybe sleep and try to get over this pounding headache.
That thought was tantalizing and made a lot of sense, but the guilt was too overpowering to accept that plan easily. How could I sleep while my wife is in captivity, and I don’t know where or how she is?
The pounding in my head was not only making me dizzier and more nauseous from the pain, as I plodded through the jungle on the narrow path, it was also not allowing me to think clearly. I tried to watch where I was going and not think at all, but Lola’s face kept popping into my vision, and her need for me to help her.
By the time I got to the golf cart where Rose and Vero were waiting, I had decided on my next move. The two women were on alert when they heard me scrunching my way down the path toward them and wanted to know what was happening. While explaining to them what had gone on before and after the Federales had arrived, we were driving toward our community.
“You’re going to get some sleep now, right?” Rose asked me. “After all, there’s nothing you can do but wait and you might as well be doing something that will help you feel better.”
“That was my first plan, but I have come up with another that I like better. One that is not as easy for me physically, but one that I need to implement to feel better emotionally.”
“I don’t like the sounds of that,” Vero interjected. “What’re you thinking?”
I told them what Roberto had told me about where he thought the bad men were going. “I want to recruit a few more people, gather implements for weapons, and take the car to drive to the site Roberto told me they’d likely be heading. We’ll wait at that end of the cave for them to appear because we will get there quicker than the Federales who are on foot. We’ll be there to grab Lola before the bad men can get away.”
“Nothing can go wrong with that plan,” Vero said wryly and began listing off the ‘what-ifs’ that she could see as problems.
“First,” I said, “no, I’m not absolutely certain that that is the right place, but it’s a start. Second, I will try to get someone, maybe two of the guards and maybe some other guys from the park to help out, who might not be afraid to fight. Third, I’ll gather whatever items at home that could possibly hurt the bastards to take as weapons.”
The two women stared at me as if I had lost my mind. But then, as if they’d read the other’s thoughts, both said at the same time, “Count me in.”
It was my turn to stare in disbelief.
“I can’t have either of you coming with facing that kind of danger.”
“Why,” asked Vero in a stunned tone, “because we’re females and useless?”
“Well, no.”
“Then why?”
I couldn’t come up with a valid reason other than being more protective of our good friends and the wives of the men who were already helping, so I just told them that.
Photo by Jamie Fenn
They both scoffed derisively as if to say, “Not good enough,” without actually saying the words, so I shrugged and said, “I don’t like the idea, but if you are insistent, I’ll welcome your ingenuity and agility.”
“Great!” Vero stated, “Let’s implement. We’ll drop you off at your place then take the cart back to its owner and try to recruit whoever we see while on our way. Then we’ll go get our own weapons and change into combat clothes.” Both she and Rose chuckled over that statement.
Rose added, “We’ll meet you at your place.”
I smiled. I was suddenly feeling a lot better.
Perhaps the pain wasn’t so bad because I had a purpose to strive for and other things to think about and had some very willing friends to help ease the burden we were about to undertake.
In the hatchback of my SUV, I put in two shovels, a nine-iron from my golf bag, my machete, the kitchen fire extinguisher that would shoot out chemicals, rather than water, and a hammer from my toolbox. I also threw in a case of bottled water and some snacks, just in case we were there longer than I expected, and because I was really hungry.
The two women walked up with arms loaded with their own versions of weaponry: a tennis racket, a skillet with a metal handle, the long end from a mop or broom, and a couple of empty wine bottles.
“Good choices,” I told them. Did you have any luck finding anyone else to help out?”
“Yes, we need to go pick up Bill, Cecil, and Greg. They will have some heavy-duty items to bring along.”
“Great! Let’s go!”
I got into our Nissan Pathfinder and started the engine while the women got back into the third seat. “Those bigger guys’ll need the most room to sit,” Rose stated when seeing my questioning look as to why they sat so far back.
The three men were waiting outside Bill’s place. I stopped and got out to shake their hands and thank them for their help before opening up the back end for their preferred equipment.
“What an opportunity!” Cecil remarked. “I brought some of this stuff down just for such an occasion. I’ve heard too many horror stories about atrocities in foreign countries not to be prepared, and with bringing down my motor home, there were all kinds of places to hide stuff.”
“Yeah, Greg and I only had these things,” Bill interjected, showing me his flare gun and Greg’s underwater spear.
“All good!” I told them. “And I see what you mean about being prepared. This stun-gun will be perfect, as well as your pepper spray. Even this slingshot is a good weapon. I think we can truly do some damage. Let’s get goin’.”
Driving out of the community and to the highway, I explained to the three men what had happened, and about Roberto’s suspicions.
“Roberto would know,” Bill stated, “He has been a caver for many years and knows the jungle and its inhabitants better than anyone I know, except for Gil, who was the original caver. Remember, he was the one who discovered the cave and mapped it, where Rio Secreto is now and got Roberto started with his interest in the pastime of caving. Unfortunately, Gil is no longer here, but Roberto has as much knowledge, I would say.”
“To be sure,” Greg chimed in, “and he’s friendlier.”
“By the way,” interjected Cecil, “I’ve been thinking. What if the Feds get to the spot where we’re heading before the guys who have Lola, which is likely since they won’t have the obstacles to overcome in the cave; and what if they won’t let us get involved?”
“Well, that’d be a great thing,” Greg announced, “having the Feds do all the work for us, right?”
“Well, yeah!” Vero concurred.
“We could be on standby, just in case something goes awry, though,” Bill stated.
“What if the Feds are in with these guys?” asked Cecil.
Photo by Bruno van der Kraan
Don’t miss what happens next in Part Four-Who do we trust?
If you missed any parts of the story read them here: