90 Miles To Freedom

by K. C. Hilton

  His father shook his head. “I shall be fine. I need you to be safe and take care of your mother. Can you do that for me?”

  Adelio nodded somberly and felt his mother’s fingers squeeze his shoulders from behind. He held the cross in his fingers and examined it carefully. In the middle was a small red gem, which shimmered beautifully in the dim lamplight. Inscribed on the back of the cross was his family name.

  His father patted his head again, then nodded slightly. He got to his feet, turned to the door, and walked away without another word. That was in the year 1992.

  Five years later, when Adelio was fifteen years old, his mother got sick. They couldn’t afford the proper medicines to help her survive the illness, and she died while Adelio sat at her bedside. Ironically, Adelio’s father had been a doctor, and had he remained with them in Cuba, he might have been able to heal her. But being a doctor in Cuba meant very little. In their country, a taxi driver made more money than a doctor.

  Adelio had received no word from his father in five years.

  By then, Adelio was old enough to work and take care of himself. Now that he wasn’t responsible for his mother anymore, he decided to start a new life.

  That was what had brought him here, to the side of Collin’s boat. It had been fifteen years since his father’s departure, and Adelio still had not heard from him. He feared the worst, believing his father had probably died while “sailing to freedom”. Either that, or he had been captured and enslaved by the traffickers. Adelio didn’t know which would have been the better option.

  Adelio told Collin he had dedicated his life to the memory of his father. And the way he did this was by helping Cubans find freedom and happiness in America. He wanted to safely transport them while keeping them out of the hands of human traffickers.

  “When someone is told that they can get free transportation to America and when they get there they might even be given a job, they will most likely jump at such a generous offer. They are so desperate to get a job and money that they will do anything. The fall of the economy and lack of jobs has made people eager for any opportunity at a better life.” Adelio looked Collin straight in the eye. “Wouldn’t you do the same for your family?”

  Collin nodded warily.

  “However, once the so-called destination is reached, the traffickers tell the Cubans that they have to work for the transporters in order to pay off the cost of travel. Being gullible and thinking that this makes sense, they agree to work off the cost. Then the traffickers pay little to nothing and make it impossible for the workers to pay off their debt. This way, the citizens of Cuba fall into the trap of human trafficking and are stuck in a vicious cycle of hardship and poverty for the rest of their lives.”

  Collin was torn. It sounded dangerous, and from everything he’d read, it was highly illegal. And yet if he got involved, he would be helping these people. Keeping them safe and offering them a new life. Not only that, but he could make a lot of money while he was doing it.

  So maybe human trafficking had an upside: it brought together the new business arrangement between Collin and Adelio. The two men shook hands and discussed contact arrangements over the internet, as well as dates, times, meeting points and so on.

  Chapter 15

  Over the next little while, Collin learned a great deal from his new friend. Adelio told him that under the current “Wet-foot, Dry-foot” policy, Cubans who reach American soil were generally allowed to remain in the United States, while those stopped at sea were sent home. That made the successful travelers more likely to contact the American government upon their arrival, unlike other illegal immigrants who tended to hide from law enforcement.

  Adelio brought the Cubans to Collin, who then transported them to U.S. soil. The two were good partners and trusted each other implicitly.

  The job was easy for Collin because he felt good about what he was doing. Collin was a compassionate man and was sympathetic to the citizens of Cuba. He believed that Adelio and he were doing a wonderful thing, helping people to freedom and out of poverty. Most of the refugees they transported were young, and all desired a better way of life. They wanted to get established in America and eventually try to bring the rest of their families over legally.

  Collin never felt threatened by anyone he transported. In fact most of the time the people that boarded his fishing boat did nothing at all but nod gratefully at him, and they were more than willing to sit wherever Collin indicated. Most never uttered a sound throughout the entire trip. Collin invested some of his own money every time, providing each person with their own backpack. The pack was filled with non-perishable food, water, and a map so that they had at least that much when they arrived in the new country. Each backpack also contained an envelope containing one hundred dollars.

  The Cubans paid Adelio, and when Collin picked up the passengers halfway through the Straits of Florida, he was given an envelope by Adelio, paying him for that evening’s work. The rendezvous always took place in the late evenings. Collin was paid in American money, which seemed a little curious, but it was something Collin never asked about.

  He also never asked Adelio how much the Cubans actually paid for the transportation. Sometimes he wondered if Adelio kept half the money, but knowing Adelio as he did, that didn’t feel right. For some reason, Collin had a feeling Adelio gave most of the money to Collin, if not all of it.

  An online ad informed Collin of the days for the exchange, as well as the location. The locations were never spelled out, just in case the ads were intercepted, but Collin knew where to go. They had arranged specific pickup locations and given them each a specific letter name. The letter A appearing at the end of the online ad would mean Collin was supposed to go to one particular location. The letters B, C and D directed him to different spots.

  If there were ever any changes, another online ad would be placed. Collin checked the online listings every morning at a certain time, making sure he knew exactly when and if a meeting was going to take place.

  They ran a tight little business, helping others, helping themselves, and Collin really didn’t see any problems with it.

  Chapter 16

  Cuban Departure Day 1

  My name is Gavin. Today I leave Cuba. Cuba is the only home I have ever known. I left just after midnight with only stars for light. It was very dark because I had to leave when no one could see.

  I journey across the ocean, floating to America and to my freedom. It should only take four days or so to cross the water. Six days at the most.

  I leave without permission from my government, and I leave without my family and my friends. Some call this an illegal exit. Only my wife and son know of my leaving. I could not take the risk of others knowing, no matter how close they are to me. After it is discovered that I am gone, all of them will be put under surveillance and interrogated by the Cuban government. Even those that do not know of my leaving. I pray for them all.

  I am a doctor, but the pay is not what it should be. I try very hard, but I must be able to provide for my family, and we can no longer live a decent life in Cuba. Some people would think me a foolish man for taking this risk. I believe it is not I who am the fool. The fools are the ones who believe Cuba will get better. They wait forever, hoping for a change, but this is not the answer.

  Yes, I am afraid of this journey. But I would rather die trying than continue to live in poverty in Cuba.

  I built a makeshift raft, and I am actually quite proud of its design. The raft is slightly larger than I am, and held together with twine. By building it that way there is less to be detected and it is easier to disguise. I could have made a larger raft, one I could have filled with more food and water, but then I would have been more easily discovered. I had to take my chances with a smaller raft.

  Tucked into my raft is a thin, wooden ore which is about three feet long. My plan is to paddle for as many of the days as possible. I also have a homemade compass. It was made with a magnetized needle stuck through a cork to h
elp guide me towards America.

  I hope I have enough food and water to last me for six days. I plan to eat and drink sparingly, just in case the winds or the current make my journey longer than anticipated. Everything I have to eat and drink is wrapped in plastic and tied with twine to the edges of the raft.

  The weather can be unpredictable, so I am wearing a short sleeve shirt as well as a long sleeve shirt, and long shorts to protect me from the sun and harsh elements. There is no need to wear socks or shoes.

  I have a small knife in my pocket as well as some used motor oil in a few small containers. These are to help fend off sharks and keep me safe. Many people have died trying to make this journey to America, and all of my people have heard the horrible stories over and over again. Some people have starved to death or drowned, and those are considered the lucky ones. The worst deaths were brought on by shark attacks.

  I hope the winds and currents carry me swiftly on my journey. If the currents are in my favor my raft will be like a slingshot going towards America. But this water is treacherous with all of its strong currents and many sharks.

  I pray that I make it to America. I will be at the mercy of the water. I pray a lot.

  I am risking everything for the love of my family, so I can give them a better life. In Cuba everyone is poor and living meaningless lives. Work is hard to find. Despite this, I have never done anything illegal in my lifetime. Not until now.

  * * *

  Evening

  The sun was blazing hot today. My head aches and my body feels horrible, but I am trying very hard not to get sick. I can’t afford to lose any fluid by doing that. Being on the open water without proper shade is worse than I could ever have imagined.

  In the afternoon I couldn’t wait for the sun to set. Now the cool temperature on my burned skin is making me shiver. My teeth constantly chatter.

  I never knew nighttime could be so dark. The sunset was a relief for my skin, but until the stars came out I could not see much of anything, and I am terrified of the darkness. I am happy for the light of the moon and stars. They sparkle on the water and try to cheer me. I try, but I do not feel any better.

  Even now, under their twinkling lights, I am unable to see the creatures of the water, so I am afraid to go to sleep. I should have brought a flashlight but I did not have the money to buy one.

  I am more thirsty than hungry and when I move, my hands shake. The heat of the day has drained my energy, but I must not drink all of my water. It needs to last longer. My hands and arms are sore because I paddled most of the day. No doubt they will be aching in the morning.

  I am exhausted and want to sleep, but can only afford to take short naps. I have tied my wrist to the raft with twine just in case I fall into the water while I am sleeping. I should have built some type of edge on the sides of my raft so that I wouldn’t have to worry about falling into the water while I sleep. But there is no point in pondering over what ought to have been done. What’s done is done. There is no going back now.

  The night is quiet. Dreadfully quiet. And the water is still. I listen for sounds of any kind, but there is nothing. I feel like I am the only person on the earth. This is not a good feeling. I’m a grown man with an education. I shouldn’t be afraid. But I am.

  I miss my family and wonder how they are doing. Has anyone asked about me? Does anyone of authority know that I have left?

  One day gone. Only three more days to go. Maybe five. I hope my journey does not turn out to be longer than I had planned. But even if it does, I must believe I can do this. I have no other choice.

  Chapter 17

  Although Collin only transported two or three days a week, he took his boat out every morning and evening. His reason for doing this was to ensure that the Coast Guards didn’t become suspicious. They did routine checks of the boats in American waters along the Florida Strait, looking for drug traffickers and other criminals.

  Collin had been stopped a couple of times but had never had any problem. He got to know some of the guards by their surnames, which were stitched onto their uniforms, and though it could never be said that he became close friends with any of them, they were on a friendly basis with him.

  “Captain Scott,” a Coast Guard called. “Catch anything good today?” they would typically ask.

  Collin had been blessed with a trustworthy face and had a friendly manner about him that seemed to put the Coast Guards at ease. They kept their inspections short and sweet, just the way Collin liked them. He was always prepared. His fishing gear was always displayed around the boat and he set coolers around the deck, all of which were filled with ice. That way he didn’t raise any suspicious eyebrows.

  It also helped that on several occasions Collin took a few of his friends out on day long fishing trips, providing them with plenty of food and drinks. He always managed to time it so his friends were having plenty of fun when the Coast Guards arrived. Some of his drunken buddies purposefully joked loud enough for the Coast Guards to hear. It was all in good fun.

  Occasionally he had to demand that his friends cool it, because when they overdid it they could get extremely obnoxious. Collin never drank a drop of alcohol when he was on board, and disapproved of the way his friends teased the Coast Guards when they stopped by for a spot inspection. One time it got particularly bad and Collin had a hard time quieting everyone down. The Coast Guards hadn’t looked impressed.

  But after this memorable occasion, Collin noticed that the Coast Guards didn’t come to his boat for inspections anymore. Instead they either radioed him to ask if he needed any assistance or simply waved as they passed. So in the end, his crazy friends actually helped.

  Coast Guard Perez was a regular with the evening shift aboard the patrols. Perez stood out from the rest of the officers. He was clearly not American born and had a strong Spanish accent, though he spoke English very well. Collin figured Perez would be a great asset to the Coast Guard, in case they happened to find any Cuban refugees floating on rafts in the Florida Strait.

  Despite the fact that Collin still felt he was helping people by transporting them from Cuba, he also knew that what he was doing was not only illegal, but also highly dangerous. If Collin were ever caught by the Coast Guard, he would be thrown in jail, though he sometimes wondered if the Coast Guards might show a little compassion and turn a blind eye to what he was doing. While there was a slight possibility of that, Collin knew he would never get any kind of kindness from traffickers. If he were ever caught by human traffickers, he would be killed.

  In addition to the occasional day trips with his friends, Collin also took friends scuba diving a few times a week. Everything was a brilliant cover. Not even Collin’s closest friends knew what he was up to. They just thought he was treating them to a fun day on the sea.

  Often it was just Collin and Joey in the boat. He and Joey were as close as any brothers could be, and Collin was a typical overprotective big brother.

  Even though Joey wasn’t keen on the boat he loved the water as much as Collin did. Collin thought it was important that Joey know everything there was to know about the fishing boat and sonar equipment. He encouraged Joey to learn as much as possible about the ocean and boating. At times Collin wondered if Joey knew more about some things than he did, but Joey never let on.

  The other person Collin spent most of his time with was Adelio. They had become friends, sometimes meeting just to fish or enjoy a conversation out on the water.

  He learned that Adelio had grown up in poverty and when he had managed to find work he saved every bit of money he could. As he’d grown he’d worked two jobs and long hours. One job paid him small wages and the other job provided him food in exchange for his work. Adelio eventually saved up enough money to purchase a fishing boat. With it he started his own business of helping Cubans, like himself, find a better way of life. Now he was married and his wife was expecting their first baby.

  In a way, Adelio reminded Collin of Harriet Tubman. She was the escaped slave fro
m Maryland who had eventually become recognized as the “Moses of her people”. Over ten years she put her own life at tremendous risk so that she could guide hundreds of slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad. When Collin told Adelio that, his friend looked shy but pleased.

  Over time Collin and Adelio became the best of friends. Unfortunately, their friendship was limited to whatever they could do on each other’s boats. Collin thought it would be great to bring Adelio home to meet his family and friends. He knew Adelio would enjoy himself and that he would love George’s fine grilling. He thought how awesome it would be if he could take him to a ballgame with some of his other friends.

  But Adelio never mentioned coming to America. Collin often wondered why he simply didn’t get on Collin’s boat and go to America with him. But he never asked. And Collin figured if his friend hadn’t mentioned it, there was probably a good reason. He assumed it was because Adelio didn’t want to leave his wife and unborn baby. Then he would be just like his father before him, when he had left his mother and Adelio. It was also probably difficult for the Cuban authorities not to notice a pregnant woman getting onto a fishing boat. And after the baby was born? Well, the sight of a woman with a baby, boarding a boat was even more obvious.

  Adelio loved his country. He told Collin all the time about how beautiful it was. He raved about the architecture, the endless countryside and pristine white beaches. No. Adelio would never leave his country or his family.

  But that did not keep Adelio from being curious about America. He asked Collin endless questions then sat attentively, listening in amazement to the answers. Once in awhile he’d contribute little bits of trivia that always spiked Collin’s interest.

  “Did you know,” Adelio asked one time, “that many sailors used to wear gold earrings so that they could afford a proper burial when they died?”