by PJ Skinner
‘And what if he decides to take my treasure as well? Honestly Mike, I can’t believe you’re sitting on your arse in Calderon. Why aren’t you on your way to the jungle?’
Mike had never told Edward about his heart problem, as he was afraid that he would be cut loose. Edward was ruthless when it came to money. Mike was his plaything but he was not interested in broken toys.
‘We’ve only just found out and the flight’s tomorrow, so I was calling you to let you know.’
‘I should fucking think so. Don’t let me down, Mike. My wife will have my balls for this.’
‘Don’t worry, it’s all under control. I just wanted to keep you informed.’
‘Well let me know as soon as you’re near a phone.’
‘Will do. Bye then.’
‘Bye.’
Mike was still uncertain. It was alright for Edward to order him to the jungle but he thought that Mr Sanchez’s man would be able to deal with Wilson. And what about his heart? He could not help worrying.
Later, he had a coffee in the office with Gloria. He fiddled with a ballpoint pen, clicking the top in and out, over and over again. Gloria gave him a look that stopped him in his tracks. They drank their coffee without milk, as no one had remembered to buy any, with Tati away on holiday. Marta had stayed at home to look after her son, who had picked up a cold at school.
‘I can’t help feeling responsible,’ said Gloria.
‘Responsible? How and for what?’ asked Mike. He was irritated at being reminded that he felt the same. He could not imagine why it was Gloria’s fault that Sam and Alfredo were in the jungle with a desperate man who might do anything for money.
‘I knew some things about Wilson but I didn’t tell you because I thought his private life was his business,’ replied Gloria. ‘I didn’t realise that he was so indebted to such dangerous people. We could have stopped him from going on this trip.’
Mike sighed.
‘Gloria,’ he said. ‘I knew that Wilson had tried to assault Sam and I sent her back into the jungle with that man. What I did was far worse.’
They both sat in silence.
‘The worst thing is that we won’t know what’s happened for days,’ said Gloria at last.
Mike made up his mind. He needed Edward to finance his projects. To keep Edward on his side, he had to stop Wilson.
‘Do you want to go to Riccuarte?’ asked Mike. ‘I don’t know if we can do anything about this situation but we might stand a chance of getting some news.’
‘And your health?’ asked Gloria.
‘Bugger my health. I need an adventure. We can fly to the beach first thing in the morning and hire a car to San Lorenzo. That should be less strain on my heart than taking the train for hours. We can hire a truck or car to Riccuarte and be there by evening. What do you say?’
‘Vamos!’ said Gloria, her eyes flashing. ‘Let’s go and save Sam and Alfredo.’
Mike laughed. ‘I don’t know about saving them, they can look after themselves. We need to save the treasure from Wilson, or Edward will have my guts for garters. Sitting here any longer is not an option.’
‘I’ll ask my father to get us a seat on the plane, as it’s always full. He has friends who can organise a car from the airport to San Lorenzo,’ said Gloria.
Gloria went to call her father and Mike packed a bag. He could feel his heart pounding with excitement. He could not tell if this was good or bad. He came out in a sweat with the thrill of joining in the adventure, even though it might be dangerous. He was far more worried that the stress of waiting for news would make him more ill than a quick jaunt to Riccuarte. Letting Edward down could have worse consequences and at least he did not have to field his calls if he was in the jungle.
***
Segundo leaned back against the wall and patted his full stomach.
‘Wow! That was some breakfast, Dona Elodea. I thank you, and my stomach thanks you.’
‘I like to see a man enjoy his food,’ she replied beaming. She leaned over the table to take his plate away. ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? You can drink it while you explain to me what you’re doing here and why you’re looking for Señor Malvado.’
‘Yes, please. Make it nice and sugary to sweeten my day.’
Dona Elodea smiled at the corny line. She poured them both a cup of hot coffee from the gas burner. They sipped it cautiously.
The scalding coffee burnt its way down Segundo’s throat and he wondered where to start. He decided not to beat about the bush.
‘What I’ve got to tell you is important. I need you to believe me when I say that this Wilson Malvado is a very dangerous man. He tried to kill the daughter of my boss by ordering someone to sabotage the brake lines on her car. She was lucky to survive.’
Dona Elodea gasped and covered her mouth with her hand to prevent herself from swearing. She crossed herself, mouth open in anticipation of the next revelation.
‘The problem is that Wilson’s boss didn’t know about this before he sent him on this trip with Don Moises, Sam and Alfredo,’ continued Segundo. ‘They’re in serious danger, as Wilson thinks they’re looking for treasure and he wants it for himself. He has major debts and several of the big crime families in Sierramar are looking for him.’
‘And is there any treasure?’ asked Dona Elodea, breathless with expectation.
‘Of course not,’ replied Segundo, more brusquely than he meant to. ‘It’s a myth. Wilson’s desperate for money. He’ll do anything to get himself out of trouble. I must stop him before it’s too late.’
Dona Elodea considered this tale. She wanted to believe Segundo. But he was so charming that she was worried that she was not thinking clearly. She made a decision.
‘Okay. I know what to do. You may not agree with what I’m about to say but you must trust me. Is that alright with you?’ she asked.
‘I’m in your hands,’ replied Segundo. ‘I can see that you’re a determined and intelligent woman. What can we do now?’
‘You must stay in Riccuarte. I know you don’t want to do this but I’m sure that if you go looking for Wilson upriver, you’ll make things worse.’
Segundo protested. Dona Elodea held up her hand. He stayed silent. She continued.
‘I’ll send a messenger to Don Moises. He is the leader of the Indian tribe at Arenas, which is where they’re staying. He’ll know how to deal with Wilson Malvado without causing trouble. He’s a very clever man. I guarantee you that he’ll know what to do. It isn’t right to disturb the Indians, as they can be very vengeful if someone gets hurt. Leave it to Don Moises. He’ll deal with it. Señor Malvado will be delivered to you, dead or alive.’
Segundo pondered this offer. He was not used to taking orders from anyone except Señor Sanchez. He had never before taken orders from a woman. He was not a stupid man. However, he was out of his depth in these remote coastal communities, where he had no allies or experience.
‘When will you send him?’ he asked.
‘Carlos will leave now. He’s only waiting for my order. He’ll go and tell Don Moises that you’re looking for Wilson Malvado and explain why. He’ll ask him to send him back to Riccuarte. Don’t worry. Wilson will come back, either of his own free will or trussed up like a suckling pig.’ She smiled.
Behind her, Rijer had appeared in the door. He had an ancient gun by his side.
‘Until then, I’d like you to stay in the lockup. Is that fair?’
‘Yes, that’s fair,’ replied Segundo, all thoughts of making his own way to Arenas evaporating. ‘I’ll stay there until you let me out.’
He followed Rijer out of the house and down the road. Dona Elodea watched them go. She almost trusted him but not quite enough to let him roam free in the village. She had good instincts, which was why Don Moises trusted her so much. She shut the door of her house and set off to find Carlos. Afterwards she planned to go to the market. She would make a nice fish soup for her guest to take the edge off his captivity.
Five
minutes later, Dona Elodea bustled up to Carlos, who was standing in some grey mud on the riverbank beside a small canoe. This could hold two passengers or a small amount of freight. He was leaning on his pole with one hand and smoking with the other. He looked up as she approached and raised his eyebrows quizzically. Dona Elodea beckoned him to join her on a drier part of the bank and leant in to speak to him so that no one else would hear.
‘Carlitos, there’s an emergency. That man we locked up says that Wilson is dangerous and intends to harm anyone who gets in his way. You must go straight to Arenas and find Don Moises. Tell him about Wilson and wait for his instructions. Have you had breakfast?’
Carlos smiled. Dona Elodea lived to eat and presumed that everyone else did, too.
‘Yes, Dona Elodea. Fried eggs and corn patties.’
‘Well, you’d better take these bananas, as I doubt you’ll eat again before evening.’
‘Thank you, Dona Elodea.’
‘Carlos, don’t forget; this is top secret. No one must know why you’re going.’
‘You have my word.’
With that, Carlos skipped across the mud, grabbing his pole and landing on the slim vessel in one practiced movement. He had no trouble balancing the canoe in the strong current and poling away from the shore without any sign of a wobble. He pushed the canoe out into the river and started his journey to Arenas.
Dona Elodea watched him until he rounded the first bend and was out of sight. He turned and waved at her before he disappeared, knowing full well that she would be anxiously watching him until then. He gave her a cheeky grin and was gone.
***
Sam and the rest of the team had gone to the site to supervise the clearance of the small plateau. It was a simple job, as it soon became apparent that there were no large trees growing on it. There were some young trees and bushes but it was mostly lianas and creepers, which dangled down from overhanging trees that surrounded the plateau. They stopped for lunch. Sam wondered what they were going to eat. Alfredo and Don Moises started to set up a fire but Wilson showed no interest in helping. The workers got back on the canoe and indicated to Sam that she should come with them. Sam looked to Don Moises for an explanation, but he just waved her on. Alfredo was laughing. She was mystified. She was shown to the middle of the boat and given a paddle, which, they indicated to her, was not for immediate use.
The workers pushed the boat downstream a few hundred metres to a deep, wide pool at a bend in the river and stopped the canoe in the middle of it. One man held the canoe steady using his pole. One of the others rummaged around in a bag. To Sam’s surprise, he took out what seemed to be a stick of dynamite. He cut a five centimetre piece off the end and stowed the rest back in the bag under the bow. Another man cut what could only be a piece of fuse from a reel and stuck it in the dynamite. She noticed with horror that he had only two good fingers on his right hand. Suddenly, she realised what they were doing. She tried to object but in her panic she could not find the appropriate Spanish words. She felt rising panic but remained rooted to her seat.
The worker lit the fuse with a box of matches, which he had hidden in a boot. He held the dynamite in the air, perilously close to Sam’s head. The crew counted to three. He threw the stub into the water. It exploded as it hit the surface with a loud bang. Sam put her hands over her ears too late and was left with a ringing noise echoing in her head. Stunned fish floated to the surface. With cries of excitement, the crew leapt out of the canoe, leaving Sam sitting there with her mouth open. The last to leave indicated that she should use her paddle to keep the boat in the middle of the pool. Sam used all her strength to keep the canoe steady.
The workers swam back and forth, dropping the stunned fish in the boat. Sam could see from their bright colour and rows of sharp teeth that they were piranhas. She remembered all the times she had swum in the river without any idea that these were lurking under the surface. And she had been worrying about the Candiru fish? The men were all back on the boat within three minutes. Sam was gracefully told to stop paddling, even though she fancied doing a bit more. The man with the damaged hand sat next to Sam. He extended his hand gently to her. She took it and examined the gnarled finger endings. Their eyes met, and Sam asked, ‘Boom?’
‘Si. Boom!’ shouted the man and he threw himself backwards into the water. The other men all roared with laughter. Sam realised that this was his party trick and joined in. She held out her hand to help him back onto the boat. The canoe glided up the river to where Don Moises had a good fire going with an improvised grill made of twisted wire. The men jumped out of the canoe with their booty. Sam followed. She must have looked stunned because all three men who had stayed ashore roared with laughter.
‘Why didn’t you warn me?’ Sam hissed at Alfredo, who was doubled over with mirth.
‘Priceless,’ he managed to say.
The fish were quickly gutted and thrown whole onto the grill. They cooked quickly and were flipped over and ready in less than ten minutes. The smell of their crispy skins made Sam salivate. She was presented with the first one wrapped in a palm leaf. She nibbled cautiously on the fleshy bit by the fin. It was absolutely delicious. There was a myriad of bones but it was worth it. Absolute silence ruled until the fish were finished and the last finger was licked. Then they made themselves comfortable and had a half-hour siesta on the riverbank. This was the kind of experience Sam had dreamed of at university. She began to feel at home in the jungle.
XVII
Carlos made good time in his light craft and arrived in the village of Arenas at midday. He pulled the canoe up onto the shingle and under the trees at the edge of the riverbank. He arranged the low hanging branches over the top of the canoe and stuck his pole firmly into the ground so that it was not visible from the river. Satisfied with his work, he walked up the slippery clay steps to the raised, flat piece of land on which the village was built. He headed straight for the civic building but, as he expected, there was no one there. Most of the women and children had gone to pick plantains for supper. He sat on the steps and waited for them to return. One of the women who had stayed in the village gave him a bowl of rice and fish. Soon he had a young audience to watch him eat his lunch. No sooner had he finished than a football appeared and he was forced to play with the children in return for his food. Carlos did not mind. He had three children of his own and spent a lot of time playing football with them when he had no work.
He felt proud that he had been chosen as the messenger by Dona Elodea. He was not used to having such important jobs to do. It was better than sitting around smoking and playing cards with Rijer all day. He asked where the others had gone but was met with blank stares. He understood that it was none of his business. After playing football for the requisite couple of hours, he climbed into a hammock on the porch of the civic building and fell asleep.
***
By late afternoon, the plateau was almost totally cleared of vegetation and the workers had started on the soil covering the rock base. Alfredo was very quiet and paced over the plateau like a caged tiger. He had stopped taking notes and seemed to be having some sort of internal debate. He muttered to himself. On occasion, his arms would fly out from his sides in a shrug. Sam approached him cautiously and tapped him on the shoulder. Alfredo spun around in fright at her touch, as if roused from a nightmare.
‘Alfredo, are you alright?’ asked Sam.
‘Alright? Yes, I think so. I assume so. That is…’ His voice trailed off.
‘Do you know what significance the plateau holds?’ she asked.
‘Significance? Oh, yes. No. well, I don’t know, really. There are no signs of construction. It just seems to be a random platform for worship or something. I don’t know really. It’s not what I expected. I need to think. I need to wait until they clear off the earth. Maybe there will be some indication of the purpose or relation to the treasure. Tomorrow we will know, I hope.’
Alfredo lapsed back into his reverie and started pacing the plateau ag
ain. Sam left him to his thoughts, realising that he needed some space to figure them out. Perhaps it was a wild goose chase after all. Maybe it was a place for offerings or human sacrifice and had nothing to do with treasure. She felt disappointed for Alfredo but not for herself, because in truth, most of the fun for Sam had been in the adventure and simply being in the jungle. She was still exhilarated after her close encounter with dynamite fishing.
Sam went off to look for unusual insects to photograph, until Don Moises declared that another storm was coming and it was safer to stop work and return in the morning. Everyone downed tools and descended the stairs to the jungle floor. The path they used was becoming wider and flatter all the time and took less and less time to walk.
The rain started before they got to Arenas. Everyone was totally soaked by the time the canoe beached on the riverbank. Sam looked up from under the hood of her jacket and noticed that Carlos was standing under the trees beside a small canoe. He gestured to Don Moises, who ran across to the shelter of the large leaves to join him. The rest of the group walked up to the civic building where they were staying and changed into dry clothes.
Sam stored her used camera film in her bag and wound a new one onto her ancient Canon. She liked to get ready for the next morning when she was wide awake, as she had a habit of forgetting very important stuff at dawn. The ladies from the village arrived soon after dark with their supper of fish soup, slices of boiled plantain, squashed flat for frying called patacones, and grilled crayfish. There were also some fresh avocados. Sam drooled with delight.
‘I wouldn’t eat the crayfish if I were you,’ drawled Alfredo.
‘Why not?’ she asked.
‘They catch them in the river.’
‘So?’
‘The crayfish are easy to catch because they all swim over and eat the poo we leave in the river during our morning evacuations. Isn’t it wonderful how nature recycles everything?’
‘Yeuch, I can’t believe it. I’m not eating these.’
‘You won’t mind if I eat yours, then.’
