Chapter 13: Into Hell

Michael came to on the floor of a filthy truck as it bounced and dipped through the rough Bolivian roads. The odors of sweat and fear made his eyes open as he could see a young man, maybe 16 maybe younger crying softly and leaning into an older man as they sat on a wooden bench that lined one side. Several other men sat with them and the other side held the same, men and boys, with one woman. Young with long black curly hair. She kept her face looking down to the ground and let her hair fall in front of it. Afraid of looking up or being noticed.

The back of Michael's head ached, but not as badly as the pain behind his eyes or his back and legs. He struggled to sit up and shook from the fever that persisted well into this new day. An older man sitting close to him grabbed his arm and helped him steady himself, then lean back against the wall that led to the trucks cab. The man placed his fingers over his lips to quiet him and point to the two men that sat at the rear of the truck. Each held a weapon and seemed to be in charge of the trucks cargo; live humans.

"Hablas Espanol?" the man whispered to him.

Michael recognized the question and shook his head no.

"You are sick, with fever?" The man asked in broken but good enough English.

"I am. Do you know where we are going?"

"I don't. I don't want to guess."

Michael nodded in understanding. He would have to bide his time. Anything he did, could get everyone killed. He needed to wait.

"Do you have any water?" Michael said, feeling the thirst growing within him minute by minute and knowing he needed to drink soon.

"No, there wasn't time."

"You were taken from your home too."

"Si, and my son Ernesto. He is over there. My name is Javier."

"I'm Michael." He said, shaking his hand.

Michael looked across the truck to a young man in his 20's who was watching the two of them. Michael nodded at the man who returned the gesture.

"How long was I out?"

The man looked at him confused.

Michael repeated the sentence and pretended with his hands to be sleeping.

"Oh, oh, No se. I don't know. You were in here when we arrived."

"How long ago was that?"

The man thought for a moment. "Maybe an hour, maybe more."

"Have we been driving that whole time?"

"No, we have stopped twice to pick up people."

"Does this happen a lot?"

"No, no. Only soon."

"Soon? You mean this just started?"

"Yes, yes. A few months, maybe."

"Why?"

The truck came to a screeching halt as the passengers were jostled forward slightly. Michael gritted his teeth from the pain. Then it moved forward slowly, the truck bounced back and forward violently as it rolled over rough terrain.

The two men in the rear stood, holding the sides. Michael knew that now was a good time to take them since they were off balance, but he wasn't up to it. He didn't have the strength to get to them quickly. The fight at the country home had taken what strength he had left. He would have to build it up again. For now he would have to go where he was led.

"Ah, Ms. Glenanne. So nice to meet you." The man in front of her was tall and built. His skin a dark tan as well as his eyes and his hair. He was pleasant to look at even for a man well into his 60's. "I am Manuela." He said holding out his hand.

"Nice to meet you too." Fi said with a genuine smile as she took his large firm hand into hers. She liked attractive men.

Manuela looked at Jesse. "Mr. Weston, we have heard so much about you." He said. Please sit and have lunch.

The round table was set elegantly for an out door lunch. The large fan above made the heat disappear.

"Manuela this is actually my assistant, Trace. Michael was not able to join us today, but he will be at our future meetings.

"Nice to meet you, Trace." Manuela said grabbing his hand firmly. Jesse noted the power in the large mans hands and the roughness of his palms. He was a man that frequently had his hands in his business and Jesse did not have to shake them to know what they could do.

"Thank you. The pleasure is all mine." Jesse said glancing at Fiona.

Manuela watched the truck roll past the front of the house and stop just out of sight to the left. Landscaping around the home blocked their view. Several men could be seen running to the truck as Manuela raised his hands.

"They are here! Come, come! I want my guests to see this." His voice was powerful and commanding.

Manuela held out his hand for Fi as she came around the table. He could see from her shoes that she would not enjoy climbing down the stairs again. Though he did enjoy how she looked in them.

Fi accepted his hand and together they climbed down.

"Vete, vete." Men screamed into the truck as the back canvas flap was opened and bright light filled the dank space.

"Vamos con Dios." Javier said, making the sign of the cross and reaching out to help Michael up. One by one they jumped down from the back of the truck and were moved off to the side.

Michael arrived at the gate. He could see the girl getting dragged toward the main building. When he was ready to jump a man with a gun pointed it at him and readied the gun to fire.

"Con cuidado, be careful my friend." Javier said looking back before he was violently shoved forward to the crowd.

Michael jumped down and immediately dropped to his knees. It took what strength he had left to get back to his feet before the gun butt hit his shoulder blade and he was pushed forward.

"I hate for you to ruin your shoes." Manuela said as she reached the white gravel driveway, looking down at the legs that held the heels.

Fi noticed that he looked at more that the strappy sandals. "I will be fine, thank you." She said and began moving forward past the tree that blocked their view. Men were hoping down off the truck, and in their arms large rough cotton bags.

"Look, look this is my first harvest! My first fully grown crop." There was much excitement in his voice.

Fi looked at him surprised. "What is it?" she asked.

"Coffee, the new drug of choice." Manuela said patting Jesse on the shoulder firmly.

The men continued to unload the coffee.

Manuela beamed with delight at the sight of the bags. The truck was full to the brim of the rough coffee bags.

"Come, let us have lunch now and fine coffee. We have much to talk about."

Fi and Jesse looked at each other. Confusion filled their eyes.

Michael shuffled over to the others. They stood in a compound made up of high walls of stucco, most of it crumbling and overgrown. Several areas were patched with old trees and wood. The main building stood in the middle and it too was old and decrepit. Most of the grass in the compound was dead and dying as it was trampled by the men that walked around, many running. Some wearing camouflages and carrying weapons. It was chaos and disorganization.

A man in front walked forward. He was dressed nicely in a linen suit and fine shoes. A hat covered his dark hair "Welcome to my future empire. Those that work hard will be rewarded and those that don't, well."

He pointed to the far corner where an old man stood in tattered clothing. His hands tied behind his back and two men stood in front of him, each with a weapon. The men waited and watched until the man in the suit raised his hand. Then one of them raised their gun and pulled the trigger shooting the old man in the head. A spray of blood hit the wall as he collapsed in a heap.

The small crowd gasped as the two men dragged the dead man away.

Michael looked at Javier next to him. "What is this place?"

"I think it is Hell" He answered