Jungle Fever
I do not own the rights to the A-Team and am not receiving any money from this story.
Chapter Three – The Bandits of Santa Marta
The two jeeps overloaded with men pull into the camp of the bandits. The leader comes out of his hut expecting a good report, to see only two jeeps return, and his men looking beat up and depressed.
"What happened? Where are the other jeeps?"
"We're sorry El Capitan. They had mines and they took out two of our jeeps. We have two men who have been injured. I think they should go to the hospital."
"Think! Who gave you permission to think? We will not use the hospital in Santa Marta. I don't know what goes on there, but people go in and don't come out. No, put them in the first hut and tell Manuel to look at them. Now, what's happening? Those oil men don't have weapons. What happened?"
"I don't know. Ricardo said an army truck pulled into the compound right before nightfall. He saw four men get out. Then he came back to join us for the raid. We waited for them to all go into the one building and then we made plans to move in and maybe get close enough to burn up that building. Then Ricardo's jeep hit a mine and blew up. We waited and then tried to come in from a different side and another jeep blew. We grabbed our men and got out of there before we lost any more jeeps, or men."
"Alright, they want to play rough, we can play rough, too. Break out the machine gun and mount it on one of the remaining jeeps. We will not just run raids. We will plan on going in for the kill this time. If Senor Fernandez is paying us to get rid of these oil workers, then we must do whatever we can to make them leave. If we kill a few in the process, oh well, too bad for them. Heh, heh, heh. Now get busy, vamanos!"
The few men, who are not working on the jeep and machine gun, are loading weapons and getting ready for what looks like a major campaign. Juan De Marco, El Capitan, is sitting in his hut, looking at the map of the oil camp, when his radio comes to life. He reaches over and flips the switch that allows him to talk to the person on the other end. Of course, he knows who it is and Senor Fernandez's voice fills his hut.
"Well Juan, have you got good news for me?"
"No sir, the oil workers have brought in some new men and they are army trained it seems. They took out two of our jeeps tonight, but we're making plans to hit them again very soon."
"This isn't what I wished to hear! What am I paying you for? You were supposed to run these workers off with a few attacks and some sabotage of their equipment. I want that oil field! There're millions of dollars in that oil, but we've got to get rid of the American company so we can take it over. Now do I need to find other bandits to finish this job, or are you capable of doing it?"
"No, I mean yes, Senor, we can get rid of them for you. They just surprised us with some new tactics. We'll be able to take care of them for you. Just give me and my men a little time. They'll be gone soon, very soon. I promise!"
"Alright, Juan, you've one more week to get rid of them, or I will hire someone else. Do you understand me? One more week!"
"Yes sir. I understand. Gracias, Senor Fernandez. I won't fail you."
All Juan hears is static on the radio from Fernandez's end. He's got to get this done. He's planning on the money that he has coming after they finish this job. He heads out to check on the progress of his men on mounting the machine gun.
Senor Dom Guillermo Luis Zavala-Fernandez is a man to be reckoned with. He owns a large hacienda and the surrounding land for miles around Santa Marta. He was generous to the American company to let them build their oil wells, but all along his plan was to let them get started, have them attacked by bandits, and chased away, so he could take over and reap the rewards of the oil field. This way he didn't have to pay for the geologists and their surveys. He just waited until they found the oil and started drilling, and then he would move in. By hiring the outside "banditos" he could remain behind the scenes and just step in when the Americanos were gone. It was well thought out and the timing was going according to plan, but he hadn't counted on the Americans bringing in reinforcements. He should've anticipated this, so the anger he was feeling toward De Marco, should partially be aimed at him. He would give them the week, but before then he would start making inquiries into another group of banditos to hire. "Ah, let's see, I think I have the number of a certain Pedro who can be trusted to do this for me and not cost me too much. Now where is that book with my numbers?" He shuffles through his desk drawer and locates a small black address book. He opens it, and thumbs through several pages before he finds what he's looking for. He reaches for the ornate white and gold trimmed phone on his desk and starts to dial the number. "Pedro? I may have a job for you." The conversation continues in Spanish and the details are worked out for a later date, a one week later date.