“Okay, Boss, we got trouble,” he said nearly out of breath.
“We got signs of folks in the bush and not our folks.
I was able to pick up a trail beside the main trail; two maybe three people traveling light.
Recon, I would guess.
It looks like someone is expecting to see us.”
Ben looked at Dane.
“You were right.
But these guys are way out from where I would have expected them.”
“Yeah, that makes sense to me.
It’s exactly what I would do.
They are very careful.
That makes them very dangerous,” said Dane quietly.
“Hugo, how far out are they?”
“It’s hard to say.
I was about ten to twelve klicks out when I picked them up.
It was hard to tell if they were headed this way or back.”
“Okay.
We assume they are headed this way.
Ben, get Tecal to bring his men in.
But bring them in very quietly.
It looks like these men in black are hunting us,” said Dane.
“I want to turn that around now.”
Dane’s mind was clicking through his options.
He needed to find these guys and find them fast.
As Tecal was rounding up his men, Ben, Dane and Hugo discussed their next move.
“The last thing we want is for these guys to make contact with us,” explained Dane.
“So, Ben, I want you and Tecal to go back to the stream we passed about two hours back.
Wait there.
That should put you out of the way of these guys but assume that you are under surveillance at all times.
No fires and keep a tight watch.
Meanwhile Hugo and I are going to press on and try to flank them.
Hopefully we can follow them back to their base.
Then we will see if they have Dana and Randall.”
“Can do,” answered Ben.
“How long do you think you will be gone?”
“Hard to say,” answered Dane.
“It depends on how fast we find these guys, how long they are out on patrol and how far away from their camp.
It could be several days.
If we are not back in four days, assume we are captured or dead.”
Ben stared at Dane for a second, then gathered his backpack and handed Dane and Hugo each a 9mm Glock automatic pistol and four clips of ammo.
“This should help out,” said Ben.
“You both have a 15.
Do you need more ammo?”
Hugo checked his pack and Dane checked his.
“Looks like we are okay, Ben,” answered Hugo.
“Good.
Then we are going to head out right now while it is dark.
We should be in position by dawn,” said Ben.
“Why don’t you keep the GPS and we will keep the radio.
That way I can follow you.”
“Good idea,” said Dane, looking at the GPS, turning it off and stuffing it in his knapsack.
“I’ll turn it on every now and then.
I don’t want to give away our position if they are monitoring the GPS signal as well.”
Ben nodded his head and shook hands with both of them.
“Good Luck!”
“Thanks.
We may need it,” smiled Dane.
With that, Ben and Tecal and his men trotted back down the trail.
Dane looked at Hugo.
Without saying a word they both reached down and got a small handful of jungle mud and smeared it on each other’s face to camouflage their white faces.
“Well, it seems like we have been here before, Boss,” said Hugo.
“Yeah, ain’t it sweet?” smiled Dane as he patted Hugo on the shoulder and trotted into the jungle avoiding the path.
“Hey, wait for me,” said Hugo.
“I’m the one who knows where we are going.”
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Fortress Alpha;
11:00 a.m.
The world had changed drastically for the Finleys since Kaete Grimme’s visit yesterday.
They were told they would receive medical attention twice a day.
At 7:00 a.m. this morning they were awakened by a doctor and nurse who came in, redressed their wounds, gave them both shots and prescribed pills.
Dana and Randall were told they would be seeing a dentist before tomorrow.
At 8:00 a.m. the couple was delivered a very nice breakfast of eggs, pancakes, coffee and milk.
After breakfast, they were led down the hall to a shower room where they took another shower.
Fresh, clean clothes were also found in the shower room.
Both were given khaki pants, white shirts and slippers.
Not extremely fashionable but at least they were not in overalls.
They were happy but still on their guard with the new way that they were being cared for.
When the couple was escorted back to their cell, there was a lady waiting.
“Hello.
I am Mrs. Sankt.
I am here to move you to another part of our complex.”
Randall asked, “I don’t understand.
Are we still prisoners?”
Mrs. Sankt managed a grim smile.
“I am sorry for all you have been through.
But it was necessary.”
“Necessary?” Dana said raising her voice.
“You killed Manolo and beat us half to death.
Why the hell is this necessary?”
Dana was not taking any of this lying down.
She was pissed.
Randall reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder to calm her.
He saw the two guards standing outside the door.
One turned to see what was going on.
He definitely did not want to go down that road again.
Mrs. Sankt did not react at all.
Her stoic figure stood there, either not realizing Dana’s tirade was directed at her or not caring.
“If you would follow me, we can go now.”
Randall stepped around Dana and reached back to take her hand as Sankt turned to lead them down the hall.
They followed.
The two guards followed them.
Randall figured out quickly they were still prisoners.
But he was also paying particular attention to where they were and where they were being led.
The halls were made of concrete block and painted a pale yellow color.
The floor was linoleum.
It reminded Randall of a military base although it had a particular smell.
It smelled like a hospital.
As they walked they passed several doors, some marked, some not.
The first door they passed had a small sign,
Lagerraum 8-213
.
They continued down the hall.
Randall saw several more doors ahead.
Medizinisches Labor 8-214
was the door sign.
He realized the signs were in German.
Across the hall was a door with the sign
Apotheke 8-215
.
That sign he figured out, a pharmacy.
He was right; this was a medical center of some sort.
The group continued past two other doors with a like naming convention,
8-216
and
8-217,
and came upon an elevator.
As they stood there waiting for the elevator, Mrs. Sankt turned to Randall.
“We have ten levels in this complex.
You will be housed on Level Six in a guest area.”
She was interrupted by the elevator doors opening.
As they stepped in, Randall paid particular attention to its buttons.
The number
Acht
– eight was lit.
There was a total of ten numbers, one through ten, ten levels.
At least the lady was telling them the truth, Randall thought.
He tried to make a mental map of where they were, hoping to figure out a way to get out.
He watched as Sankt pressed the number
Sechs
- six.
The number eight on the elevator panel was still lit while the doors were open.
Randall remembered the pharmacy room number was
8-215,
level eight, room 215.
There could be more than 215 rooms on this level alone.
If there were ten levels with 215 rooms, there could be more than 2,150 rooms in this complex!
He began to get a feel for the enormity of the complex but still had no idea where they were.
Had they been flown out of Brazil or were they still near the area they were captured?
He had to find out.
The elevator doors closed and went up to Level Six.
When the door opened Randall was amazed.
This level looked exactly like a five-star hotel.
The floor was covered with a rich burgundy, white and red design carpet.
The walls were fine wood which looked exotic.
Randall recognized the wood.
It was a type that came from the jungles of Brazil.
Maybe they were still in Brazil, he thought.
The room smelled of furniture polish.
The group stepped out into the hall.
Dana was also amazed.
“Is this where we will be housed?” she asked.
“Yes, it is,” answered Sankt in a quiet voice.
Two men were walking toward the small party moving down the hall.
They had what looked like military uniforms on.
Randall noted the uniforms looked very similar to those worn by the German SS during World War II.
They were black with a silver piping.
The men were also wearing one-piece tall leather boots as well.
Randall soaked in the information for use later.
The group passed about eight fine mahogany doors with small brass room number plates.
They stopped in front of
Guest Suite
6-208
.
“Here we are,” smiled Sankt.
One of the guards stepped around them and produced a small metal card about half the size of a credit card.
He pushed it into an almost invisible slot in the door frame and opened the door.
Again Randall noted the electric locks.
The group stepped in the door.
The guards came in, closed the door and stood beside it, one on each side.
Mrs. Sankt led them into a large, well appointed living area.
Dana was amazed as she dragged her hand across the back of a leather chair.
“I hope this will do nicely,” Sankt said.
“Beyond that door is a bedroom.
The bath is off of the bedroom.
If you have any needs, please do not hesitate to pick up the telephone and press the white button.
Someone will come and assist you.
I do apologize; the door must be locked at all times.”
She pointed to one wall of the room.
“There are many books and journals you may be interested in reading.
Please make yourself at home.”
Dana and Randall were standing in the center of the room stunned.
“Oh, lunch and dinner will be served in your room, lunch in twenty minutes and dinner at 7:00 p.m.,” added Sankt as she walked toward the door.
“Goodbye.”
Sankt left and the two guards left with her.
The door was closed and locked.