003. Getting To Know You

Caroline waited until Guerrero's men were out of earshot before using her normal speaking voice.

'That’s John Brady!' she said.

'Who’s John Brady?' Rex asked.

Without replying, Caroline stood and walked back to the wrecked Norseman. Rex followed her. She leaned through the open pilot’s door of the Norseman and removed some of her personal effects, including her camera and the map. She tucked the latter into the back of her slacks.

Caroline explained, 'John Brady is a small-minded weasel of a man and the owner of South America's largest independent shipping line. I know him. His motives are never political and only ever financial...'

Rex nodded and answered Caroline's earlier question: 'Jose Guerrero is the most dangerous man in this jungle. He's sadistic, well educated and the leader of Brazil's infamous Los hombres De Libertad. He is a force to be reckoned with, even without his army...'

Rex produced a compass from his satchel and consulted it briefly. Caroline became fixated with it, thinking of her original destination.

'Listen,' she said, 'Can you get me to El Lago de Meurto? It's a lake not far from here...'

Unfolding the map, she said, 'I figure it's maybe five miles northeast of here.'

Rex's voice took on a note of suspicion, 'El Lago de Meurto?'

Caroline grinned, 'The Lake of Death.'

He nodded, 'I know it. Will your associates know to meet you there?'

She replied in the affirmative and tried to summon air of confidence.

'The Amazon is a cruel beast, crueller by night,' Rex said, 'It would be best if you waited til morning...'

'Unacceptable.'

'I really must insist...'

Caroline considered her options: The lake was unreachable without a compass; Rexton was a quick draw with that Webley of his and was physically her better. And, with that companion of his, she was outnumbered two to one. She conceded defeat.

Caroline followed Rex and Mohsen along a narrow path that snaked down a gentle slope. The group crossed a small stream and pushed through the thick jungle undergrowth. As the sun set, Rex lit a paraffin lamp and, after an hour of trudging through the jungle, they halted by a large, U-shaped gum tree. Rex knelt by the foot of the tree and uncovered a small, rectangular trapdoor. He pried it open. Mohsen held the trapdoor as Rex and Caroline descended into the darkness.

'What is this place?' Caroline asked.

'A small bunker,' Rex replied, 'The Huaca use them as food stores.'

Rex lit a second paraffin lamp and the room was illuminated. It was carved out of the soil with rudimentary timber supports. Caroline thought it to be suspiciously well-built for a supposed native construction. The floor was packed down with leaves and other foliage, and two crude mattresses were set up on either side.

'Home sweet home.' Rex joked.

Mohsen pulled the trapdoor closed behind them. The three stood huddled in the centre of the room, with Caroline continuing to survey her surroundings.

'You take that corner, I'll take the opposite and Mohsen will sleep at the far end.' Rex said.

Caroline laughed, 'You're joking, right?'

He was not joking. The three unlikely companions settled down for the night. Caroline slept with her camera clutched to her chest, Rex with his Webley tucked beneath his pillow and Mohsen with a faded photograph of his parents.
Hours passed. Morning came.

Caroline awoke to find the bunker strangely vacant, light streaming through the open trapdoor. She gathered herself together and emerged into the pre-dawn gloom. She spied her "captors" down by a stream and stifled a bemused laugh. Mohsen, sitting by the riverbank, was shirtless. Though what had really caught her attention was the sight of Rex Rexton's naked backside as he bathed in the stream, oblivious to her presence outside the bunker. Caroline scurried out of view as he turned in her direction, quickly facing the opposite way and pretending to fix her hair. A few moments later Rexton appeared at her side, fully clothed.

'You should wash before we leave,' he said, 'You may not get another chance.

Caroline nodded uneasily and casually strolled down to the stream. She passed Mohsen on the way. Rex beckoned the boy to his side.

'What do you make of her, Mohsen?' Rex asked.

A man of few words, Mohsen replied, 'Strange woman.'

'Do you trust her?'

'No. And she, no trust us.'

'Hmm. I wonder why?'

Kneeling at the edge of the steam, Caroline splashed some water on her face. She turned and waved at Rex and Mohsen. The two waved back.

'Keep an eye on her.' Rex said.

After gathering together their various belongings, and enough food and water to last them the half day's trip to their destination, the three set out for El Lago de Meurto. Caroline found the travelling fairly easy; not nearly as difficult as she thought it would be. The ground beneath her feet was mostly dry river sand: firm and almost devoid of obstacle. The group paused so that Rex could consult Caroline's map.

He spoke softly, 'Beyond that ridge is El Lago de Meurto. The Lake of Death...'

Caroline scoffed, 'It's a misnomer; meaningless.'

'You’re sure?'

'I'm a young woman, formerly unarmed and unchaperoned, travelling into the wilds of the Amazon. You don't think I'm sure?'

'How foolish of me,' Rex said, unsmiling, 'Shall we then?'

'Yes,' Caroline said confidently, 'We shall...'

TO BE CONTINUED...