CHAPTER 10
Rick, Sofia, Luis, and Javier had gone over their plan in great detail as they’d left the city, heading into Ecuador’s rainforest region, but no one had spoken for the last hour as they got ever closer to their destination. Night had fallen fast. The glow of the headlights on the dark highway had been hypnotic. The world seemed to narrow in scope to two points of light leading the way to a destination they were each drawn to for their own reasons.
Rick thought about the Tayos Caves system. They were getting so close to a place of mystery and wonder and extraordinary natural beauty. He thought about how bittersweet it was going to be to come so close to a place he’d longed to see with his own eyes, but not be able to explore. There would be no sight-seeing on this trip. No grand expedition in search of lost treasure. He wondered what the night would bring, but he just hoped they’d all get out alive.
Rick had glanced over at Javier from time to time on the drive. Javier had been exceptionally quiet once they’d finished going over their plans. He knew there was a lot the young man wasn’t telling them. He hoped whatever it was he was keeping to himself wasn’t going to get them all killed.
Finally, Rick’s attention perked up as Javier pulled off the E40 highway and turned right, down a narrow roadway that wasn’t even visible from the main road. He drove down a way on a rough and muddy road filled with potholes, barely wide enough for the truck. Branches scraped the sides of the truck and slapped against the windows, as water splashed up from the deep potholes. It was as though the jungle was consuming their insignificant vehicle.
They all sat up straighter, immediately alert.
The sense of nature closing in on them in a near-suffocating embrace was quickly bringing back more memories for Rick. He knew that out here they had to play by the jungle’s rules, which could be merciless and unforgiving.
Javier then took another quick right and parked the truck in the midst of some thick foliage.
“We go on foot from here,” he said, turning off the ignition. “I know a path. It’ll take us about an hour, maybe more if we have any delays, to hike to where I saw the prison camp. Grab your gear.”
They exited the truck, pushing through the leaves and branches. Each grabbed their rucksack of supplies and placed it on their backs.
To their surprise, Javier also pulled out a rifle and some ammunition.
“You didn’t mention that,” Rick said, eyeing the gun.
Sofia and Luis looked startled.
“It’s for our protection,” Javier replied. “It’s not safe in the jungle at night.” He slung the long gun over his shoulder and then grabbed the machete he brought along for cutting through some of the thicker jungle growth.
Rick looked over at Sofia.
She shrugged her shoulders.
He let the matter go. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The night air of the jungle was a balmy 72 degrees and humid. A soft breeze brushed his face. He glanced up at the night sky. Out here, without light pollution from the city, the sky was a dazzling array of sparkling stars. It was as though they had a distant audience watching them. But Rick knew it was a dispassionate one that would calmly watch as they either succeeded in their task or died a swift death for trying, by man or nature. He sighed. No help would be coming for them once they stepped into the immense rainforest spread out before them.
Sofia thought about her father out there in the jungle, scared, injured, and she hoped, still alive.
“Time to cover up,” Rick said.
They all donned their balaclavas, which Javier had suggested they wear for additional camouflage, and grabbed flashlights, which they were only to use in case of emergency. They didn’t want to alert Ares of their arrival and give away the element of surprise. They would need to rely on Javier’s knowledge of the path they were to take.
“Follow me,” Javier said, waving them forward. “And be quiet or we won’t make it to the prison camp alive.”
No one made a peep.
Rick’s heart pounded as they left the relative safety of the truck for the jungle.
The group made their way, silently, in single file. Javier was in the lead, deftly cutting through the dense foliage with his machete, while Rick brought up the rear.
They were immediately surrounded by very dense, fragrant, damp jungle growth, which seemed to make the civilized world disappear. They ventured deeper into the tropical rainforest. The thick canopy overhead blocked out the night sky. The air was becoming increasingly humid and the leaf-covered path slippery and wet, dotted with shrubs and covered in vines. There were also tangles of lianas everywhere. They were long, thick, climbing woody plants, rooted in the ground, curved and hanging from the surrounding canopy trees from which they clung to in order to grow ever higher towards whatever sunlight they could capture during the day. Everything was covered in moisture and before they knew it, their hair and clothes were damp.
The night was awash with a cacophony of sounds. Much like the city, the daytime world gave way to the nighttime realm with a different array of jungle denizens making their way out to begin their hunt. The rainforest was alive all around them. They could hear movement, but saw nothing. Likely, their presence was being tracked by all manner of creatures, as they disturbed the natural order of their jungle home.
The narrow, winding path Javier led them down was barely describable as a footpath. In spite of Javier’s efforts with his machete to clear their path, Rick was getting slapped in the face with wet leaves and branches every few steps. He had to
