Chapter 20 #2
“Come on,” said Manuel, walking down the steps. He brought his gun with him. Why, God, why? I scampered after him, trying to decide what to do. He stepped onto a dirt path. “Let’s go look at the fields.”
“Can we make it quick?” I asked, looking at my watch.
“I’m very sorry, but I got here a little later than anticipated, and I want to get back to San José before dark.
And I know Suzanne wants to make a stop here on the trip, so seeing the fields is a formality.
I just need to take a few pictures for her promotional materials. ”
“Of course,” said Manuel. “I’ll take you to the east fields. They’re right here.” Manuel veered to his right.
The forest closed in around us like dark green curtains, and my dread intensified. I felt the trees pressing against us, smothering. The only things alleviating the gloom were stigmata plants, with their green leaves and red centers. It looked like they were bleeding.
“We’re very isolated here,” said Manuel, walking more slowly. “Sometimes I feel like we’re at the end of the world. Like anything could happen here, and no one would ever know. You know what I’m talking about?” I nodded. You can kill me with impunity.
We both heard a rustling sound.
“What was that?” I asked.
Manuel held a finger to his lips. He raised his shotgun and scanned the area. I turned my back to him and looked into the forest. There, peeking out from behind a large bush, was the tip of a tennis shoe. Tomás . Jesus Christ, he was following us.
“I see something!” I turned and pointed in the opposite direction. “There! A quetzal!” Manuel followed the trajectory of my finger. But behind me, Tomás rustled again. Manuel turned back around.
“That didn’t sound like a bird.” He lifted his gun and pointed it in Tomás’s direction.
Panic flooded me again. His finger released the trigger before I could stop him.
A loud boom filled the air, then something heavy thudded to the ground with a short cry.
My body shrieked in protest. Without thinking, I ran to where Manuel had aimed.
When I saw a furry tail, I sank to my knees. A capuchin monkey.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I’ve never seen anything shot before,” I said, sobbing. I put my head in my hands. Grateful Tomás was alive. Gutted for the monkey. Way out of my depth.
“You know what?” said Manuel, unnerved. Apparently even evil men hate to see women cry.
“Why don’t we just go back to the community center?
You tell Suzanne you saw the fields, and I’ll send you some photos.
It will be our little secret, okay?” I nodded, wiping tears and snot from my face.
“Come.” Manuel put his gun down and helped me off the forest floor.
Then he picked up the gun and walked me to the soccer field.
I was still shaking. Where was Tomás? Was he still following us?
Manuel turned to me when we got to the path that led to the highway. “Let me walk you to your car.”
A fresh wave of panic rolled over me. The Jeep was hidden behind ferns with the Professor at the wheel. How would I explain that?
“I’ll be okay,” I said.
“I can see you’re shook up. I’m sorry for killing the monkey. I was just concerned that it might be the organizer. I wanted to scare him off.” I started shaking uncontrollably all over again. “Where’s your car?”
“I’m fine, really. Thank you so much for the tour.”
“I’m accompanying you to your car. These are dangerous times. Who knows who’s out there.” Manuel started walking with me down the path. What the hell was I going to do? Should I walk in a different direction and pretend the car had been stolen?
“Is this yours?” he asked. I wrenched my head up. I had been so tormented I wasn’t even seeing what was in front of me. There, parked next to the gate, was the Jeep. Not where we had left it hidden thirty feet down the road. Not with the Professor in it.
“Yes,” I said, trying to hide my confusion. Manuel opened the front door and I slid into the driver’s seat. The keys were in the ignition. Where were Tomás and the Professor?
“You shouldn’t leave your keys in the car,” he said.
“I know. Terrible habit.” I started the engine. It was a stick! How was I going to drive it?! “Thanks, Don Manuel. I’m sorry I came unannounced.”
He nodded. “Just remember what I said. You shouldn’t be walking around these places unaccompanied. It’s too dangerous. God knows what would’ve happened if I hadn’t recognized your voice.”
I nodded, then pressed down on the clutch because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do. The gears squealed. “See you Wednesday.”
“Looking forward to it,” he said, backing up. “And Dee—” He made very intentional eye contact. “Don’t go looking for trouble.”
I gulped, then pressed the gas, and after a terrible crunching sound, the Jeep lurched forward. Manuel shook his head at my driving and turned back down the path.
Once he was out of sight, I resumed breathing.
I drove slowly on the highway, looking for Tomás and the Professor.
No sign of them. So I lurched back toward the gate in bursts and stops.
On my third circuit, Tomás and the Professor leaped out of the bushes.
The Professor opened my door and motioned for me to move to the passenger seat and Tomás hopped into the back.
In less than ten seconds, the Professor was racing the Jeep down the open highway.
“Didn’t need me to come, huh?” the Professor said.
“Where’d you learn to drive, macha ?” asked Tomás. “School for the blind?”
I burst into tears. Both immediately tried to comfort me. “I was kidding about the blindness!” said Tomás.
“Also kidding!” said the Professor. “You would’ve been fine without me.”
“Actually, it was you who saved me,” said Tomás. “If you hadn’t distracted Manuel, he would’ve found me for sure.”
“I forgot the documents!” I wailed, too caught up in the post-adrenaline crash to be embarrassed.
“ Tranquila ,” said the Professor, opening the glove box and revealing several manila folders. “I was following you the whole time.”
“You were?” I asked, barely intelligible through my sobs. “Even in the forest?”
“Of course. You think I was going to let you go alone into the forest with some maniac with a shotgun?” I blinked away tears. “It’s okay, Comefuego . You did great.” He looked at me fondly. “Remember: Revolution is a team sport.”
* * *
By the time I got home, I wasn’t hysterical anymore.
We had gotten the interviews and most of the documents!
The only thing we didn’t have was physical proof that Bavaria was selling surplus coffee to Alegre—they did a good job hiding things in their shell business, Fuerte.
Also, much of the terror had been washed away by the Imperial beers we consumed at a dive bar on the outskirts of San José.
There, in the dim light of flickering candles and mosquito lamps, the Professor, Tomás, and I had taken turns rendering our own versions of the adventure.
Each time we retold it, the dangers multiplied, and the heroism was magnified.
We hadn’t merely broken into Café Alegre and stolen evidence; we had pulled off the greatest caper of all time.
What would Matías think of it?
I shivered in a light cotton shirt at my desk, even though the night was still humid and warm.
I had been repressing my feelings the whole way through and now they were threatening to erupt.
I never knew what I wanted until I was so far-gone reason wasn’t invited to the party.
I opened the flask the Professor had given me and took a sip.
Whiskey. Of course. With a burning sensation coursing through my stomach, I opened my laptop.
As I had hoped and feared and expected, there was a message from Matías.
I took a long swig from my flask and opened my eyes to this:
TO: Dee Blum
FROM: Matías Khalil
SUBJECT: ramblings
It’s very late at night or very early in the morning and I’ve just come back from a celebration with too many bottles of wine and a sky full of lights so you must excuse me if I ramble, but I needed to say goodnight to you before I could sleep.
I can’t believe we are finally going to have our reunion because I know that sometime somewhere someplace we’ve already met.
Will you be the same person I’ve always known?
And do you understand my strange words because you are feeling them too?
Sweet dreams,
Matías
I didn’t know if it was the whiskey or his words that had gone to my head, but I felt woozy. My hands shook over the keyboard as I responded.
TO: Matías Khalil
FROM: Dee Blum
SUBJECT: the same ramblings
It’s late here too and I am wondering if you are still awake. I understand your thoughts perfectly because they are mine as well. Thank you for your wishes of sweet dreams. I will be sure to have them now and I anxiously await our reunion because I think I missed you.
I hit send and lay sleeplessly in my bed, staring at the mysterious swirls of plaster on my ceiling. Matías liked me. I liked Matías. These two facts were so unbelievable.