فصل 30

Chapter 30: Another Arrival

Our plane landed at night at the Cuzco airport. I had never left the United States before, and standing in a foreign airport where all the signs were in a different language filled me with anxiety. We walked out of the terminal. The air was warm and moist.

“My head is killing me,” Wade said, grimacing.

“I have a headache too,” Taylor said. “It started as soon as we landed.” “It’s altitude sickness,” Ostin said. “Cuzco’s elevation is eleven thousand feet, more than double Idaho’s.” “Does it go away?” Taylor asked.

“Not always,” Ostin said. “I read that the best remedy is to drink coca tea. In fact, that’s what that lady is selling over there.” Everyone glanced over at a brightly dressed native woman who was holding a plastic bag filled with green leaves.

“Now what?” Jack asked.

“Someone’s supposed to meet us,” I said.

“Who?”

“No idea.”

“Anyone speak Spanish?” I asked.

“Yo hablo español,” Ostin said.

“Besides you, Ostin.”

“I know a little,” Abigail said. “My uncle is Mexican. He used to teach me words. But it’s been a few years.” “Beautiful and bilingual,” Zeus said.

“Suck-up,” Jack said under his breath.

“But you can still speak some?” I asked hopefully.

“A little,” Abigail said. “And I can understand a lot of it.” “So it’s Ostin and Abi,” I said.

Just then a man walked up to me. He was poorly dressed and held out his hand. “Tiene dinero?” “What did he say?” I asked Ostin.

“He wants money,” Ostin said.

I took a dollar out of my pocket and handed it to him. “I only have American dollars.” Ostin translated. “Yo tengo sólo dinero americano.” The man nodded. “Gracias, Señor Michael.” I looked at him. “Did you say . . . ?” “Sí,” the man said. “Mr. Michael, the bus is for you and your friends.” He cocked his head toward a medium-size tour bus that was parked next to the curb. The bus had dark tinted windows. When I turned back the man was already walking away.

“Guys,” I said. “Over here.”

We started toward the bus.

“What do you think?” I asked Ian.

“It looks clean,” he said. “The driver has a gun, but nothing you, Taylor, or Zeus couldn’t take out if you had to.” “I expect him to be armed,” I said. “Where we’re going, he probably needs it.” The bus shook as its engine started up, and the doors opened as we approached. From the curb I looked inside. The driver was a Peruvian man, stocky, and at least twice my age. He watched us carefully as we climbed aboard, counting or mumbling something as each of us got on. The moment we were all inside, the driver shut the door and pulled away from the curb, clearly in a hurry.

Taylor and I sat together about four rows from the front. Everyone else was behind us.

“He kind of reminds me of my grade school bus driver,” Taylor said. “About as friendly, too.” “Do you think he speaks English?” I asked.

She shrugged. “No idea.”

I walked up to the front, crouching down in the aisle next to the driver. “Excuse me,” I said. “What’s your name?” He kept his eyes fixed on the dark road. “It is not important,” he said with a thick accent.

“Where are you taking us?”

“Chaspi,” he said.

“Chaspi?”

“You will see.”

“How far are we from Puerto Maldonado?” “Far,” he said. “Far.”

I guessed he was being purposely vague, so I went back to my seat.

“What did he say?” Taylor asked.

“As little as he could,” I replied. I looked out the window. We were traveling away from the city lights into dark, forested hills.

“Do we even know where we’re going?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said. “To the Elgen.”

Elgen. The name filled me with dread. In spite of how hard we had worked to get here, I was still having a difficult time controlling my fear. My tics were going crazy.

When we were in the middle of nowhere, the driver lifted the microphone. “Amigos. We are going off the highway up ahead onto a small side road so you can sleep. There are many trees overhead so the helicopters or satellites cannot see us. We cannot take the chance of staying at a hotel. The Elgen are very careful to know who is coming near them. This bus has a bathroom and there is food for you. The seats lean back most of the way, and there is a pillow and blankets above you. I am sorry it is not a real bed, but I know where you are going and it will be the best bed you will have for some time.

“You will start your journey in a few hours. We will hike a small distance to the river, where there is a boat waiting for you.” Zeus was already asleep, which I was glad about. I didn’t think he’d like the idea of being in a boat.

“Can’t we just take the road?” I asked.

“No. The road is not safe. The Elgen make many roadblocks and checkpoints. You will ride the boat up the Río Madres de Dios, a tributary of the Amazon River, and will be let out in the jungle near the Elgen compound. You will arrive a little before morning. There you will be on your own. So please, get what sleep you can.”