The Jaguar

by A. T. Grant

  The porters were in the hut and this was where Cesar directed the team. There was a tiny slatted porch, a counter covered by boxes and a small, shadowy room barely big enough for the group to assemble. It was crammed with bags, lifejackets and other kit. A couple of rough-cut benches provided the only furnishing, other than a white board on one wall. It was covered in the graffiti of old messages - random memos and observations from groups who had passed that way before. People began to rummage for personal possessions. Others sought shade and, if possible, a breeze, wherever they could find them. Lloyd and Hannah had cast aside their shoes and were paddling through the shallow waters, Hannah complaining that tiny fishes were nibbling her toes. David discarded his troublesome boots and joined them, only to retreat rapidly in the face of a thorough soaking. Tinny music began to play. Laura listened as she fussed over Jackie’s injured foot, temporarily forgetting her anxiety about those who might be following.

  Marcus and Cesar were getting to grips with the baggage and allocating tents. The porters handed out cold sodas from a large cool-bag. Most were content to sit and sip, and to take in the timeless simplicity of the waterscape. Ethan was the first to notice the two men walking purposefully along the beach, ignoring the children as they passed by. Large and local, they looked quite formal and it occurred to him they may be park officials. One appeared to be limping slightly. He pointed them out to Marcus, as he emerged onto the porch with a bag in either hand. Marcus put down his burden and scratched his head. Then he highlighted them in turn to Cesar. Cesar spread his hands to convey his own lack of recognition and walked purposefully out to meet the pair.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The Lake

  “Don’t you wish we were them?” Alfredo looked soulfully at his brother.

  “Perhaps,” pondered Luis, “but I’ve no idea what that would be like?”

  “Like being kids again, I should think: like being back at the ranch with nothing to do all day but explore and get into trouble. We were good at that - weren’t we, Luis?”

  Luis smirked, even though his stomach was in knots. He couldn’t get away from what they were about to do. By involving tourists they would cross a dangerous red line. He took a deep breath and stood up, wiping sand from his sides. They had washed and cleaned - smoothed their hair and clothes as best they could - in the cool waters of a sheltered creek.

  “Come on, let’s do this - there’s no other way. Stay relaxed, Alfredo, and walk slowly. If we spook them, somebody might run for cover. Then we’re screwed.”

  They broke out into the open. Two children were playing obliviously in the water, just as the brothers had once done. Both immediately felt protective towards the youngsters. As they passed them they realised they had already been seen. A young Mexican was striding forward to meet them, a quizzical expression on his face.

  “Smile and wave,” Luis instructed his brother, knowing they had to counter their battered facial features. Their interceptor managed only a forced grin in return. All three stood awkwardly, a short distance apart. Cesar stretched out a hand to Luis, and introduced himself. Alfredo was surprised when Luis gave his real name. Reluctantly, he too spurned an alias. They concentrated on the lapping waters beside them, uncertain what to do next. Then Luis cleared his throat.

  “I need you to listen very carefully to me, young man. Please don’t look around or appear nervous. We are criminals, we are on the run and we are armed.” Luis held Cesar’s nervous stare.

  The message was well received. Colour drained from Cesar’s features. He was convinced his former drug supplier had arranged a hit. On the point of bolting, he hesitated as Luis spoke again.

  “The safety of your party depends on what you do now. You need to understand this - otherwise things will go very badly for everyone - even for these children.”

  Cesar nodded slowly, desperately trying to comprehend who these people might be. Although beads of sweat descended from Luis’ threadbare brow, both his scar and the natural authority in his voice told Cesar he was not to be crossed.

  “We are going to invent a story,” Luis continued. “Tell me - what is your name?”

  “Cesar.”

  “Tell me, Cesar, what is this place?” Luis made an expansive gesture from jungle to lake.

  “It is a biosphere reserve, a natural park run by the state government.”

  Luis looked out at the shimmering, brown line which was all that could be seen of the far shore. He put an arm upon his brother’s shoulder. “Then we,” he continued, “are park officials.” He stopped again to think. A look of triumph spread across his features. “Our story is that there are poachers in the park. Cesar, what animals are there here to poach?”

  “We have jaguar, puma and crocodile. Before the park was created, there was much hunting.”

  “Then that is our story. We have been warned that poachers from Belize are in the park. We are concerned for the safety of our tourists, so have come to join you.” Luis glanced in an appeal to Alfredo, for help with the plot. Alfredo responded.

  “We arrived this morning, in a hurry. Our colleague was meant to bring our uniform and kit, but he didn’t show up and we haven’t been able to contact him. We decided to continue anyway, just to make sure that this group is safe. Searching for the poachers has left us in this state.” Alfredo swept a hand from his battered face to his clothing.

  Luis looked appreciatively at his brother. This, he thought, could really work. “Cesar, who is in charge of this party? We need you to bring this person here, so we can relay the story. It is up to you to convince them. Can you do that?”

  Cesar solemnly concurred. He couldn’t think of anything else to do, and had noticed the guns in each man’s pocket. He half swivelled to go then checked, uncertain. Luis gestured him onward, with a warning that any attempt to use a mobile phone or radio would have dire consequences.

  Luis turned away from the encampment. “We must not look concerned,” he warned Alfredo. “I think the boy will do as he is told but, if not, we’ll use force.” Luis briefly considered the children as hostages, but then stamped his foot in self-disgust. They could hear Cesar in conversation with Marcus. The discussion grew heated and Luis sensed Alfredo’s growing disquiet. “Don’t worry; this man wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t concerned about us and our story.”

  Cesar eventually returned with an irate-looking Marcus. Luis suddenly realised that nerves were corroding his usually excellent English, but Alfredo filled the wary silence. “There is absolutely nothing to worry about,” he assured them. “This is simply a precaution. I hope Cesar has explained why we are not yet fully equipped?”

  Marcus stared blankly. He was too upset to say anything. Not once on this trip had he felt in control. He had been wrong-footed at every turn. Why had nobody mentioned poachers? What the hell were they doing in a place where they needed armed guards? Only Carlos had told him anything close to the truth, and he had unexpectedly disappeared. What was he going to tell the group now? “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but this is not acceptable. We will say nothing to the others now, in order to avoid panic, but in the morning we’re all going back. I’m not leading my team into danger. This expedition is over.” Marcus turned emphatically and walked away. The others followed, as casually as they could muster.

  “What were you arguing about?” Hannah was dancing around them.

  “Nothing, Hannah, these men are here to help us with our adventure.” Cesar had to fight for the breath to speak, but others still overheard.

  “What’s wrong?” John Tanner had just emerged rather awkwardly from his tent.

  Luis addressed Cesar, discretely. “Get the group together. We need to talk to everyone.”

  Cesar looked doubtful, but strode across to Marcus, who had diverted his anger into erecting the second of two large gazebos. Luis and Alfredo continued purposefully into the
centre of the group.

  “Buenos tardes, Senores. Quiere algo para beber?” David held up a couple of cans, both of which were taken with genuine gratitude by the visitors. Somehow, this tiny act of hospitality made their task a lot more straightforward.

  “Usted habla Espanol muy bien, Senor,” Luis responded, appreciatively, if not entirely truthfully.

  Several others had been drawn from the shade by the presence of visitors.

  “I saw you both earlier,” David continued. “That must be your car in the forest. You’ve been watching out for us, haven’t you?”

  Luis couldn’t help but burst into a broad grin. It was as if he had given David their script.

  Alfredo grasped the opportunity to build upon their alibi. “I hope you don’t mind - we had reports of poachers in the area. We left in a rush this morning and all day have been either searching for them, or looking out for your party. We may have to rely a little upon your hospitality, this evening.”

  Laura glanced uncertainly at Marcus, who was still focused on setting up camp. She wondered why he wasn’t introducing the visitors, particularly as they had obviously put themselves to so much trouble on the group’s behalf. Despite her confusion, she couldn’t help but smile at this ruggedly handsome and strangely familiar young man. “I saw you both too. You had me worried for a while when you kept your distance, but it’s nice to know we’re being looked after. I’m sure it’ll be fine for you to stay,” she concluded, decisively.

  Ethan appeared with a couple of fold-up chairs. The brothers settled into them thankfully. Luis leaned across to Alfredo, whispered to him in Spanish then gestured Cesar closer. He had already spotted the danger that the local porters posed. “Cesar, tell me if these men will see through our story?”

  “They all work for my father’s tour company. Daniel, the oldest, knows the area well, but I don’t think he’s met any park officials. He’s in charge of one of the motor launches. The other two will break camp in the morning and go home. They aren’t a problem. It is Marcus you need to convince.”

  Luis looked up to assess the situation again, just as Hannah and Lloyd careered past. They dived into one of the tents, emerging again just as rapidly.

  “We’re going swimming,” Lloyd breezily informed Laura who, slightly peeved that the newcomer’s conversation had so quickly lapsed into Spanish, decided to join them.

  Luis cast a wary eye over her departing form, but had more pressing matters to sort. “Cesar, when the two porters depart there must be no tricks, no messages. You understand that, if we’re pursued, your friends here will be our only protection. Tomorrow we will join you in the boats. We will head for the coast then the two of us will take one vessel and leave. This will happen somewhere remote, so it will take a while for you to report us. If all goes well, our cover story will last until then. When we go, we will have to ask your guests to hand over their phones. May I have yours now for a moment, please?” Luis removed the SIM card.

  Already the curiosity inspired by the brother’s arrival was dissipating. Poaching sounded plausible, even vaguely exciting, but instilled little sense of personal danger. In a strange place, surrounded by strange people, unusual goings-on were only to be expected. Some decided to join the swimmers and others drifted towards the aroma rising from the newly fired gas barbeque. Only David hung around, inspired by his earlier linguistic triumph, but was unable to pick up the rapid-fire dialogue. Then Ethan reappeared, this time with a couple of fishing rods. The pair was soon deep in conversation and rambling, bare-footed, in search of calmer waters.

  Alfredo laughed instinctively as he heard Luis’ stomach rumble. Both were very hungry, but couldn’t relax as Marcus had disappeared from view.

  In a discrete grove of trees, some distance behind the shack, Marcus was vigorously digging a hole for the latrine. This activity, he reflected, suited his current situation rather too well. He stopped, wiped his brow, pulled out his phone and called Carlos. Fortunately, there was still a weak signal. After a short delay, an impatient voice answered.

  “Digame.”

  “Hello, Carlos?”

  “Oh, it’s you, Marcus. How goes it? Is my son looking after you?”

  “Did you know there are poachers in this area?”

  “In the Reserve, you mean? That is highly unlikely.”

  “Well, they’re here and, apparently, they could be dangerous. We have two park officials with us now. I think they want to accompany us as extra security.”

  “Marcus, this is most irregular.” Carlos paused to think. “I’ll find out more, if I can get hold of anyone at park headquarters. It may be too late in the day. Once I know what’s going on, I’ll call both you and Cesar. In the meantime, do as you are instructed. As long as you do so, you’ll be quite safe.”

  As soon as Marcus re-pocketed his mobile he felt more relaxed. He had shared his burden and taken professional advice. The trip could continue tomorrow, as planned. At least the newcomers should be informative guides, he reasoned.

  Marcus didn’t notice Cesar’s troubled features as the other approached. Cesar wanted to tell the truth, but equally didn’t want to face the consequences of doing so. Then Marcus stretched, yawned and sleepily passed on his decision that the expedition could proceed. Cesar should let their new found protectors know. Both went gratefully back to their chores, relieved that someone else had eased their dilemma. Shadows from the trees lengthened and reached across the beach.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  The Lake

  Alfredo’s weariness disappeared the moment he saw Laura playing in the cool lake waters. Then Marcus wandered over with two plates full of food and both brothers refuelled greedily. The peace offering was followed by increasingly relaxed conversation, during which Cesar did an excellent job of steering Marcus’ questions away from anything that might expose the visitors’ lack of credibility as guides.

  Alfredo’s eyes wandered frequently, to dwell upon Laura’s trim and shapely form. Her lithe figure flexed beneath a wet and therefore almost entirely superfluous costume, which celebrated the firm roundness of her breasts and the well fashioned tuck of her buttocks. He felt drawn to her innocence as she gambolled unselfconsciously through the spray kicked up by the children. Her effortless connection to days of youthful abandon only added to the appeal.

  Alfredo was determined to at least discover her name. Arms folded tight across her cleavage and head down in cold and concentration, Laura eventually hurried past, hopping gingerly back up the beach to change. Alfredo was entranced by her clean, paper-white skin. Her legs caught the after-glow of the sun as it reflected weakly from the sand. Did she glance briefly in his direction? Alfredo wasn’t sure and only fleetingly during the next hour did he see her again, as she snatched up a few items of food and hurried back to a tent. Her absence gave the encroaching darkness a heaviness which was only partly alleviated by Ethan and David’s triumphant return. Both had caught handsome specimens of the local lake trout. Luis responded like the boy Alfredo had once known, pulling out a pocket knife and demonstrating how to behead and gut each one. Luis didn’t need to pretend to be a park warden, Alfredo reflected, he simply needed to shed the years that had ruined them both.

  Laura reappeared in grey leggings and a light-blue fleece, her hair carelessly tussled and a long, uneven fringe almost covering one eye. She was glowing, despite a serious look on her face. Alfredo thought her the most gorgeous thing he had ever seen. He had an almost uncontrollable urge to leap up and sweep her into his arms. He shuffled needlessly in his seat to disguise the rush of adrenaline which surged unexpectedly through him. Laura flicked away a stray lock of hair and sat beside Marcus to impart the latest on Jackie’s injury. She had removed several more splinters and cleaned and redressed the wound. The pair concluded that now they were taking to boats she should be fine, although Laura would continue to look for signs of
infection. A long silence ensued, as neither could find the words to broach the issue of their new arrivals.

  Felicity wandered over from the group by the shack. She cadged a portion of the fish which her brother, Ethan, was greedily devouring. David held out the remainder of his own plateful to Luis, who tucked into it equally enthusiastically. As David jumped up to find him a fork, he disturbed a small red and fluorescent-green crab. It tumbled and scuttled into the night, causing Luis to chuckle and almost choke on his meal. When Luis had finished he carefully balanced the plate on his knees and cleared his throat, generating a momentary flicker of concern in Cesar’s eyes, which only Felicity noticed.

  “When I was young my father told me a story about people in our country.” Luis paused to rehearse his English and to ensure he had everyone’s attention. “A fisherman returns to port, his bucket filled with crabs. He carelessly casts the bucket aside. A colleague warns him to put a lid on it, so nothing escapes. Oh, don’t worry, the fisherman replies, they’re Mexican crabs. As soon as one starts to climb, the others will pull him back down.” Luis chuckled to himself, seemingly oblivious to the uncomprehending looks of the others.

  “That’s a very cynical story for someone who works with nature,” Laura observed, staring hard at Luis.