Tintin in Mexico

Chapter I

Welcome to Mexico

The travel, so far, was not being boring as the Paris one. The Captain fell asleep in the middle of it. Sure, he appeared to be aware of the "exotic beverages" only available on the country, and with that, I mean lots and lots of alcohol. The Professor claimed to be working on a cure, though. But a lot has passed since he said that.

Tintin had a dictionary and a few "Mexican" Spanish phrases written down. People have said that language was the most difficult one. Sure he knows a little, but, the motivation of learning of the place he and Haddock were going to visit was very low.

The plane finally arrived to the airport. Tintin just hoped the Captain didn't say anything about the county. Mexico was not that fancy like Europe, but not that poor either like a few parts of Africa and Afghanistan. Also, it was not the country's fault to be "discovered in last place and turned to more-than-bull-crap by the Spanish Conquerors".

Continuing, Tintin, Captain Haddock, and Snowy headed to the hotel.

After arriving, the lad decided to inspect the place. No roaches, no spiders, no cameras, no microphones... the place was very clean.

-Lad, what were you searching?- The Captain asked.

-I was just inspecting the place.- He replied

-Well... what are you going to do?-

-You know exactly what am I going to do.-

-Tintin, don't you get tired of this? I mean, we arrive to the hotel, then you go to inspect the city, and...-

-Captain, remember we have the direction of the gangsters of this country.-

-They will know you're European.-

-That's part of my plan.-

-Lad, the people of this country are very dangerous. I mean, haven't you heard the news?-

-Trust in me, Captain.- Tintin replied with optimism.- Trust me.-

The Captain nodded.

-Thanks, Captain.- Tintin thanked.- I'm glad you want to form part of my plan.-

-Anytime, boy.-

-But, you need to use this.- Tintin said as he turned to one of his suitcases and searched something

-Use what?- the old sailor asked

Tintin then showed him Remy's clothes. Haddock got a little angry because the lad wanted him to use "old man clothes".

-No way I'm going to use your old man's clothes, Tintin! NOT ON THIS LIFE!-

-But Captain...-

-I said "NOT ON THIS LIFE!".-

-Captain, please!-

Haddock, because of a personal reason, still had a grudge against Mr. Van Kuifje, and recognizes Tintin still admires him because he managed to give a lot of information to the police, even if he was retired. Then, it came to his mind the lad has made a lot of things for him lately, like giving him the keys of the Antique Shop and a part of the English Pounds he received a day earlier.

-Fine, lad.- The Captain replied.- I'll use your father's clothes.

-Thanks, Captain!.- Tintin replied with a smile as he gave him the clothes.

-So...- What are you going to wear?- Haddock asked as he removed his jacket and blue turtle-neck, revealing his hairy chest.

Tintin then showed him another variation of his "Panther" costume.

-This is what am I going to wear.- he replied as he started to change his clothes.- My name will still be "Nameless", of course. And yours is going to be... Gregory Prosper.-

The Captain then laughed.

-Screw that name.- The Captain replied as he laughed.- It sucks! I want to be... Atticus Peck.-

-Captain...- Tintin then, decided to change his words.- ... fine, "Mr. Peck".-

After a few minutes, both males finished changing their clothes and hid the suitcases under the bed.

-Well... where do we need to go?- The Captain asked.

They then left the building.

The surroundings were literally crowded. Because of the times, many policemen and soldiers were inspecting each corner.

A lot of tourists were passing by the streets and also, there were a lot of stray dogs. Snowy was feeling very intimidated, and pleaded to his owner to carry him. And Tintin did. The names of the streets were a bit weird. All of them named by some national hero, soldier, or even the President.

At sight, it appeared the people didn't know the word 'drug' or what it was. Mexico is famous because of the corruption and the national wars it was having: thousands of citizens die every day as victims of what's going on, children are skipping school because of the temptation of winning money at early age, people either disappear or are taken as hostages by the Mexican mobsters, and the list goes on...

After walking a few blocks, they finally manage to arrive to the place: a craftwork market.

Blistering Barnacles! The story's repeating! The Captain thought.

They gave a little sight to the inside of the market and saw a man in his late-twenties, attending a few customers.

Captain Haddock was trying not to get distracted by the craftwork being sold in the little markets. Sure, those are able to steal the attention of one, and also, their prices were exaggerated. He preferred to focus on the sea, or whatever it came to his mind. The last thing he wanted to do was buying stuff he won't find a use for.

It was getting darker, and the time of closing was arriving.

-I don't like waiting here, lad.- The Captain replied.-It makes me feel I'm being watched because we're spying somebody.-

-Captain, I know you feel that.- Tintin replied.- Why don't we go to the library across the street?-

-Okay, lad.-

They went towards the library and stayed there a few hours.

Tintin and the Captain left at 9:00 pm, the time the place closes. Because there were people around, they decided to inspect the corners of the streets.

After a long walk, they returned to where the market was.

The surroundings were alone, like in a ghost town.

-Tintin, I don't have a good feeling about this.- The Captain replied.

-Captain, the direction that was written in the book took us here.-

-What if he wanted to play with your mind?-

-Captain, look.-

The men then looked to the market, and hide behind a car.

A lot of men were entering to the place. After they were inside, the lights of the market went off.

-It's our opportunity, Captain!-

Tintin, Haddock, and Snowy went to see what was going on. They saw through the window and watched how the men were going through a basement via a trapdoor.

-We need to go there and see what are they planning, Captain.- Tintin said

Snowy found a secret entrance, then. Because of the size of it, the lad was the only one who was able to enter. Both dog and human managed to sneak inside and went towards the trapdoor. All they were hearing were voices talking in Mexican Spanish.

-... todavía no hay señal de los Europeos que tenemos que recibir.- A voice said

-Quizá hubo un problema en el vuelo. Gérémi ni alguien de su clan nos ha llamado.- Another one replied

Tintin was smart enough to figure out what were they saying and left to where the Captain was.

-Captain, they're waiting members of the Circle of Paris.- Tintin said

-But aren't they aware of their death?- He asked

-I suppose not.-

-Well... it has sense. Let's give it a try.-

They knocked the door. A few footsteps were being heard. The door was opened by the young man they saw earlier.

-Good evening.- Tintin said.- I think you know who we are.-

-We're representing the Circle of Paris.- Haddock said with a suave British-like accent

-Oh.- The owner replied.- We were talking about you a few minutes ago. Come in.-

The two men entered and the owner directed them to the basement, where the group they saw was there.

-Quienes son ellos? - one asked

-Relájense. - The owner said.- Son los hombres de Gérémi.-

-Bien, bien. - Another said.- Ya era hora de que llegaran.-

-Sorry for the mood of my men.- The owner said to both.- They are not used to wait. But please, take a seat. We are going to talk about business.-

-Got it.- Tintin replied

They took two of the remaining seats around the table the five men and the only woman, who was around the owner's age, were.

-Before starting, I want to tell you we're so honoured to have gangsters from Europe in this place.- The owner said.- My name is Adolfo Constanzo Cárdenas, the leader of this group. And yours happens to be...?-

-My name?- Tintin asked.- My name won't mean a thing to you. The Godfather calls me "The Nameless".-

The men gasped at unison, very surprise.

-But weren't you dead?- the woman asked

-The world may think I'm dead, but the truth is, I'm not.- Tintin replied.

-And what about your friend?- one of them asked

-My name is Atticus Peck, and I'm his right hand.- Captain Haddock replied.- Do you have a problem with that, Mexican?-

-No, not at all.- The man shook his head in terror.

-Boys, boys... we're not reunited here to fight.- Adolfo said.- What would Gérémi think if he was present?-

-He'll be disappointed of you.- Haddock replied

-Shush, Atticus.- Tintin said.- The Boss won't like to know about this little fight.-

-We happen not to know your names, by the way.- The Captain said.- I won't like to end naming you "Mexican one", "Mexican two", "Mexican three..."-

-Alright, we got it.- One of them replied.- My name is Juan García. The next one is Jorge Costilla, then Jesús Gutiérrez, and Luis Flores.-

-And finally...- Adolfo said as he approached the only female in the group.- ... this attractive woman, who happens to be my wife, is María Aldrete.-

-Nice to meet all of you in the same day.- The Captain replied and tried not to laugh of the names.

-Well, now we know each other.- Tintin said.- I suggest we start our plans now. The Boss told us something about packages of drugs not available in Europe. We might start now talking about that and figuring out how to sneak them.-

-I love how you think, Nameless.- Adolfo replied

-Please, call me "Puma".- Tintin replied

-Is that one of your nicknames?- Juan asked

-One of my favourites.- Tintin replied

-Well...- The leader said.- ... as we said earlier, the police has been increasing its security since the "Black Hand" incident a month ago... and that obviously is interfering with our worldwide customers. Making them wait is not the answer. However, thanks to the help of an old Southern contact, I managed to talk with one of the powerful men ever existed: Gérémi Bonilla.-

-Too bad the man retired after the dog incident.- Jesús said.

-Gérémi's working from an old folks' home.- María commented.- Nothing stops that man.-

-Bonilla has helped a lot of mafias during his youth. From being literally nothing to the number one of the world's most wanted men... it says a lot, specially his love for the man.- Luis added

-He's our inspiration.- The leader said.- And, as I said before, we had the honour of having his best men, working with us.-

After saying how they admired the French gangster, and their ideas for sneaking the drugs to Europe, Tintin felt he was having the urges on helping. I guess his being "in character" was affecting him so much. Either that or he wanted to get a rest. The accent of the Mexican gangsters was weird: it was like they were shouting for no reason. Snowy was left outside, as a guard, of course. The last thing Tintin needs is the Mexican Mafia recognizing the dog when they're not on their costumes.

A few hours passed, and the men didn't look satisfied of the ideas. The lack of sleep might be the reason of it.

They decided to come back later, this time, not as a group of gangsters, but of friends. Camouflage is essential to be hidden. The police will never suspect of a group of people who are sitting in the main park, laughing and drinking some beverage, like coffee, hot chocolate, or water.

The group then leaves the market. Tintin and Captain Haddock were "proud" of all the information they learned about the "Halcones Azteca" (literally, "Aztec Hawks").

While on their way, Haddock thought it was the best time to tell him about what he perceived from the lad back in the market's basement.

-I don't know, lad.- The Captain said.- Those "Hawks" are not a "good vibe" for us.-

-I know they aren't.- Tintin replied.- But you know it's my work, and it needs to be done.-

-You need to be careful. The guy who's being called "Drug Lord" has a lot of charisma. I noted you even believed your own paper.-

-I know, and I'm sorry, "Mr. Peck".-

-Just be careful. We can't be in this forever.-

-I understand. Nothing lasts forever.-

-We have an agenda, and we need to take care of it.-

-I'm very aware of it. I need first to send a message to the Interpol. The Mexican police might not believe us, but they'll believe the European police.-

-I just hope you're right, boy. The last thing I need is you being murdered or tortured by those Mexican scumbags.-

-Really? I thought the last thing you wanted was sharing a life with Bianca Castafiore.-

-Don't ever mention her name in my presence.-

Tintin laughs.

-Let's believe, Captain. We just have tomorrow to stop those gangsters before the packages are sent.-

-And the message? How'd you deliver it?-

-Remember the other things my father left me?-

-Yes? What's with that?-

-That telegraph, radio, and antenna need to be connected within each other and to a few communication cables. Then, the message will be sent in a few minutes.-

-You're smart, Tintin. Creepy, but smart.-

xxxxx

A/N: I hope you liked the first chapter of "Tintin in Mexico". If I had a mistake (like someone OOC), please tell me, so I can correct it!

And by the way, the names of the gangsters are based from their real-life counterparts, except for the boss, Adolfo Constanzo Cárdenas. He's a mix of "The Godfather of Matamoros" and "Tony Tormenta".

Enjoy!