Chapter 32

I feigned sleep, moaning slightly as I rolled over onto my stomach, allowing me to open my eyes slightly. This time it wasn't my hand that was touching the scar on my shoulder and it wasn't a dream. A hand gently stroked the wound and then it was stroking my hair on the back of my head. It reminded me of how my father would try to settle me after I'd been ill. The smell of cigar smoke wafted around me, emanating from whoever it was in the room. I knew it wasn't Ranger, I would have sensed him, and I knew it wasn't Isai because I'd never seen him smoking. I argued with myself as I laid there whether to jump up and attack whoever it was or whether to continue to feign being asleep. If this person knew I was awake would that make them more likely to attack me, would they be stronger than me? Strange as it seemed I didn't feel threatened by my visitor so decided to stay still. There was the soft rustle of clothing as the person moved away from my bed. My hearing was in overload as I listened for what might happen next. What I didn't expect was the drape moving and the window being closed. For some reason my nighttime visitor had quietly left the room leaving me worrying if he would return.

I don't know how long I stayed laid in the bed. With every passing minute the anxiety I'd been feeling slowly subsided as the light coming from outside grew brighter. I felt an ache in my heart, an ache for Ranger. I so desperately wanted him here with me. Would he have understood the cryptic message referring to Les? I hoped so but then again if he'd followed through with the name of Isai's grandfather that would surely lead him here, wouldn't it? Or would someone have wiped out all information on Isai and his family? I was brought from my musings by the sound of movement outside my bedroom door, footsteps that were receding and then the smell of coffee permeated the room. It was time to get up and face the day and whatever came with it.

I was dressed in clothes I'd found in the closet, light black cotton trousers that billowed around my legs and a pale blue cotton top. I supposed that these clothes would be cool to wear, I'd gotten quite hot and sweaty yesterday in the jeans and T-shirt I'd worn. I remade the bed and was on route to the kitchen when I heard my name being called from outside. Walking onto the verandah I found Isai sat at the table with what looked like breakfast.

"Estefania are you okay, you look a bit pale?"
I smiled as I sat down and poured out a coffee then added cream and sugar. I didn't trust Isai enough yet to tell him about my night time visitor. Maybe it was someone that Ranger or Lester had sent, to make sure it was me being held here in this compound.

"I was really tired last night but I never seem to sleep well in strange places"
"Maybe I should take you out to get some fresh air and sunshine"
"Would it be safe?"
"We'll have men with us"
I contemplated the pastries set out on a plate in the middle of the table and eventually my stomach won the debate. They really were good, sweet with a hint of spice inside.

"Lina asked what you would like so I had her making these. Not traditional Colombian but I'm sure she enjoyed making them"
"It's delicious, similar to the pastries we get back home"
"Good, she'll be pleased"
They were so good that I ended up eating a second one and then sat back to finish my coffee. I have to say the coffee here was certainly good.

"What do I need if we're going out?"

"Maybe some sturdy footwear. Meet me back here in ten"

I went back to my room and made sure the plans for the mine and my notes were still hidden under the mattress of the bed and found some canvas trainers to wear. I didn't have anything to take with me, no phone or watch or even a bag. I was waiting for Isai as he came out of the house. Another man who could be ready quickly. His hair was wet and he'd obviously shaved and was now wearing white cotton trousers and shirt. He handed me a large brimmed straw hat and sunglasses as the truck pulled up in front of the house. This time there were two men sat in the flatbed section with rifles across their chests. Isai helped me in and then he followed me and sat in the back. There was a driver and another man in the front, meaning we had four armed men with us. This time I was more observant of the scenery as we drove. We seemed to be heading back to where the helicopter had landed but instead of driving through the town the driver took us around it. We parked in an area that already had a few cars parked there so I got out from the truck and waited to see where we going to be going. Isai had his hand at my back as he guided me toward a set of steps that seemed to disappear up into the hillside. The side of the hill was made from a smooth dark grey rock with outcrops of greenery trying to survive in the crevices. As I looked up, I could see a tall mast at the top and knew we were heading toward the white cross. The steps finished meaning we had to now traverse across the rocky outcrop, but it wasn't too steep. As we reached the top, I could see the cross, overshadowed by the tall mast. I turned to look to where we had come from, amazed at the view around us. The town was nestled below us hidden by trees but as I looked further, I could see the reflection of light from water.

"Over there, beyond the water is Venezuela. The Orinoco river flows that way and is basically the border. Over there is another river, the Meta which also forms the border"
"So the rivers join?"

"Yes, the Orinoco flows out to the Atlantic, it's the third largest river in the world"

It really was beautiful here and obviously a place where people came to, judging by the growing number of people among the rocks.

"This is where that photo was taken isn't it, the one with you and your mother?"
"Yes, she loved to come up here. She'd spend all day here just taking in the ambience of the place while I played with some of the other kids"

As I adjusted my hat, I looked more closely at who were near to us. I spotted the four armed men sat on the rocks facing away from us, each one taking a different viewpoint.

"Come I know of a café by the river where can spend some time"

It was getting hot stood up here, so I was glad to be heading back down. As we reached the steps I looked down to where the truck was parked, something had attracted my attention, so I looked between the parked cars at the people taking things out and herding children ready to spend the day here. It would be a good place for a picnic and from the fluttering in the sky above me, a good place to fly a kite. As we got closer to the bottom my eye caught the frame of a man that I would know anywhere. Not the man I was desperate to see but the sight of Les lifted my spirits. He was dressed in jeans and a dirty white T-shirt and was waiting for us to come down from the steps. There were two men ahead of us and two behind, making a formidable barrier around us. I had to let Les know that I'd seen him without it being obvious to Isai. As I reached the last step I purposely stood on the very edge of the step, meaning my balance was off. I stumbled forward only to have a hand come out and catch me before I faceplanted the ground.

"I'm so sorry"
"De nada"

No sooner had Les said that than I felt another hand take my elbow and pull me across to the truck.

"Are you okay, you could have hurt yourself"
"No, I'm fine. I misjudged the step, so I lost my balance"
"Luckily someone caught you then"
"Yeah, lucky"

I pretended to limp slightly as we came to the car, but inside I was so happy as I tightly gripped the small disc that Les had pushed into my hand when he'd caught me. I knew it must be a tracker, well I couldn't think of anything else it would be. Once in the car I slipped it into my pocket trying to work out a better place to hide it. As the truck pulled out from the parking area, I could see Les halfway up the steps. None of the men or Isai seemed unduly concerned so relieved I sat back in the seat trying not to show how excited I was.

The café by the river was small but quaint. With colored plastic chairs outside under the shade of a large canopy. The men seemed to disappear, but I knew they were somewhere close, keeping a look out again. Isai ordered us both coffee and a selection of fruit from the waitress, so I tried to relax. There was a breeze that felt good and I watched what was happening on the river. There were a number of wooden piers with boats fastened to them and buildings which I assumed was where repairs happened.

"The boats are mainly fishing boats though they have to be careful of the height of the river. In summer it can become very low and in winter the water runs too fast"
"What's to stop people from crossing?"

"This a very poor area but difficult to get to. There are more dangers than just government troops here. There is an ongoing armed conflict involving Colombian government forces, Marxist insurgents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the smaller National Liberation Army and the groups constituting the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia happening. These organizations vie for control of the drug trade in the region and use the porous border to support their illicit transactions, to obtain arms, and to provide a safe haven from Colombian forces. You wouldn't be safe on your own anywhere near the border, Estefania. That's one of the reasons why I have armed men with us"
I knew Colombia wasn't a safe place to be but having not actually seen anything I suppose I was being a bit complacent. The idea of groups being around, groups who seemed to be controlling things yet at the same time fighting against each other was sobering and reminded me of why I always worried when Ranger went in the wind. When the coffee came, I noticed they didn't provide any cream so started to look around for some.

"Try it black, it is so much better than diluting the taste with cream"
It wouldn't stop me from adding sugar, but I had to admit it did taste good. Maybe I might revert to having my coffee this way but only if the coffee was as good as this.

"Milk and cream are not used very often so everyone drinks their coffee black. Supplies of food into the area are scarce so people make do with what they have"

"What was it like growing up here?"
"Not too bad. Father made sure we had everything we needed but as a boy I was made to remain in the compound. The threat of kidnapping was something my family has always taken seriously"
"So who did you play with?"
"The workers children, though they were always wary of me. I suppose my best friend was Tomás"
"What happened to him?"
"He went with his father to work the mines"

"Maybe a name to find out about, someone else from your history"
"It's easy to lose touch with people as you grow up and move away"

That though was another possible thread to follow. Someone who knew Isai well, who had grown up with him and seen him as the boss's son. The son who had everything from a privileged family and someone who didn't have to go and work in the mines. Would Tomás have been jealous or even resentful once he'd been made to follow his father and work? Yeah, I definitely needed to find out more about him.

"Do Tomás's parents still work for you?"
"No, the family moved closer to where the men worked. The mother didn't want to be here without them"
I just wished that I spoke Spanish, Lina had maybe been here when Isai was a boy, she seemed to have that maternal instinct where he was concerned so maybe she would know more about Tomás and what had happened to him and his family.

We both grazed on the fruit until it was all gone and finished our coffee in silence. Maybe Isai was remembering events from his childhood. As he stood and placed money in the dish on the table our guards suddenly appeared. The truck was parked in sight over the road and I heard the sound of the engine starting. It wasn't long before we were back at the compound. I had no idea what the time was but wasn't looking forward to how I might spend the rest of the afternoon and evening. As we exited the car Isai turned to leave me and looked to be heading to the main house.

"Isai?"
"I need to visit the main house, she's usually more lucid in the afternoon. There are books in the house, maybe you can just relax and read"
As a dismissal he wasn't rude, but I still felt that he didn't want me around. Instead of going into the house I went and sat on a comfortable chair on the veranda watching as the children played and people were going about their work. I noticed a small area toward the wall where a man was busy tending to plants and a small building further away that I think Isai had mentioned as being where the men slept. I must admit that as I sat, I dozed, the feeling of being safe inside a compound helped to relax me but I was still wondering what Les was up to and who else of the Merry Men might be around. There were probably too many armed guards here for them to do anything so I would have to wait for the opportunity to see them and maybe get to them.

I was aware of Isai coming back, but he ignored me as he went inside the house. It wasn't much later that he came out to tell me that dinner was ready. I hadn't really noticed that the sun was sinking, that the evening was nearly upon us. The meal was okay, though I had a feeling that most meals would be similar and in some ways a little bit bland. I couldn't complain though, I knew Lina would have done her best and I hated to think what trouble she'd gone to in order to provide me with the pastries that morning. Isai was unusually quiet and any time I tried to start a conversation with him he shut me down. I had no idea what the hell was going on with him. Once we'd finished, I excused myself intending to retire to my room.

"Estefania, I'm sorry. I'm not much company this evening"
"It's okay, you have a lot on your mind"
"My mother's health isn't good, and we can't seem to contact the doctor"

"Any reason why?"
"Only that there might be an emergency he's attending"
"If you need to talk you know I'll listen"
"I know, but I need to think first"
I nodded my head and left him. I'd wanted to call Ranger and hear his voice but didn't want to push Isai into that. The less Isai thought about Ranger, the better. I relished the feel of washing away the days dust and grimy feeling that I had. I made sure the window and door were locked before checking the bed for my notes and the plans. They were where I'd left them so turned down the covers and got into bed.

Sleep was elusive as I remembered my night time visitor and I tossed and turned being so aware of the sounds around me. I must have fallen asleep though because I came awake with my heart beating quickly, frightened that there was once again someone inside the room.