The Adventurers

Chapter 10

Pazzo managed to stay alive and healthy in his jungle haunts by paying close attention to his intuition, his gut and the signals supplied by all of the nature around him. This day it was his gut and the distant cries of howler monkeys that persuaded him to send a party of three men on ahead to scout the river. In two hours they were back with news that a boat with one soldier and two las Almenas natives was hiding among the tall reeds and tree roots along the river.

How did they know to watch for anybody trailing them? Pazzo wondered. He would need to be more alert; it seems that these soldiers are wiser than he anticipated. He ordered the three men to go with two more and try to capture the party, if not they were to leave no trace of anything behind.

* * *

Anson shook his head and wondered about the advisability of sitting like ducks while they waited for a glimpse of Pazzo's crew. The odds were far too heavily weighted in their favour as it stood, so he directed one of the natives to take one of his automatic weapons and go ashore and take up a post further down river but still in sight. This way he figured they could create crossfire if things ever went that far.

When the sun began to affect the light on the river, Anson was astonished to see Pazzo's boats a mere two hundred yards from his position. He used his glasses to search for the man he'd sent down river and after probing every shadow and bush he saw the native hanging from a low branch, his feet in the water and several arrows in his body Anson knew it wouldn't be long before the blood attracted the caimans and the native would become their next meal.

The native in the boat with him began to get nervous and Anson had to hold him down to keep him from jumping out. Any noise would be heard for a long way at this time of day on the water. He lifted his weapon and released the safety as the boats turned slightly toward his camouflaged blind. The first arrow skinned his cheek and buried itself in the neck of the native. There was a brief grunt and then a splash as he toppled out of the boat into the river.

Anson opened up fire with his gun and fell victim to a barrage of arrows, several finding targets in his side and legs. He yelled as loud as he could and was suddenly joined by the screeching of monkeys as he let off his entire magazine and then collapsed in the dugout.

* * *

Pazzo squatted by the wounded soldier and leisurely twisted the shafts of the arrows sticking from his body as he asked his questions. Anson kept his mouth clenched shut but the pain was taking him close to unconsciousness; he wouldn't last much longer. Finally Pazzo stood up and shouted a command sending two of his men off into the jungle at the trot. Fifteen minutes later they returned with a live, young capybara about two feet long.

They tied it to a stake driven into the ground and then beat it to make it squeal. The rodent like animal ran in short circles about the stake; its squeals at times ear splitting. Anson was dragged over to the stake and his feet were tied so that he couldn't roll away The animal ran near him and around him, sometimes clawing at him out of fear.

Anson knew his fate. The capybara was bait for an anaconda and he would be the bonus surprise for one of the most powerful snakes in the world. Pazzo stood over him and sneered at the soldier as he unfolded the tiny map taken from his prisoner.

"This was very considerate of you, soldier. It makes our task much easier. You cost me three men dead and two wounded. When he comes to eat, remember the pitiful waste of your life."

"I'll tell it my name is Pazzo and I taste like shit." Anson coughed and closed his eyes, fighting back another wave of pain as the panicked rodent slashed at his arm.

"Stupid talk." Pazzo spat and waved his men to the boats.

* * *

Le Clerque looked at the shredded body of the native lashed the tree with disgust. Frustrated caimans had bitten chunks from the legs and lower body, trying to get it down from the tree without success. The muddy water was the colour of red soup all around the ghastly sight.

"Animals." He spat. Le Clerque had nothing against killing, indiscriminate or not, he just preferred doing it himself a not using nature as his agent. He made the sign of the cross over the remains and mumbled a few short words of prayer then pushed on up river, trailing the renegade Katopis.

* * *

The fire was burning down and the party sat silently staring at the embers. They had waited the entire afternoon and now well into the night and there was still no sign of Anson. A sea of stars blanketed the blue black sky and a skimpy slice of moon hung abjectly beneath the display.

"You think something happened to them?" Jed asked, knowing it was a dumb question.

"If it did it means that Pazzo and his crew are not just content to follow and see where we go. He's making pre-emptive strikes."

"If he did capture Anson he'll have your little map." Chessery pointed out.

"She's right, Sax, we should be getting out of here as soon as possible."

"Not at night, my friend. Pazzo isn't stupid enough to travel these jungles in the dark either. We won't be any further behind if we wait until morning... early morning."

"This means you are writing your friend off?" Chessery asked.

"Anson's a soldier, he knows the risks and he knows the rules."

Sax made a gesture that ended further debate. "What I think needs to happen now is a sharing of your own secret map, Chessery If we get split up in a fight with Pazzo, nobody will benefit. I think we should choose parties now in case that happens. Jed can take Krena and her daughter and one of the natives and you and I and the other native. That gives both groups an automatic weapon and an expert in thriving in this jungle."

"Sounds acceptable."

"Then give Jed a copy of the map." Sax kept his expression flat. He knew what she was up to and while he had no intention of letting it happen, the split did make sense. Chessery balked slightly, looking from one man to the other. "It's that or we all stick together and take our slim looking chances."

"I'll draw one up right now" She went off from the fire a little way and sat down to copy her map.

"Do you trust her not to fake it?" Jed asked, watching her.

"Not really, but when I get a look at hers I'll make another just in case."

"And if you don't?"

"Let's deal with things as they are at the moment. Anson's done, I sure of it, I figured him for a better strategist. Pazzo is not far behind and his men will be faster in the jungle than we will so we get rested now and break camp tomorrow while it's still dark."

Chessery came back and handed Jed a folded piece of paper. "Don't let this go to your head." She snapped.

"Watch your own head, lady" Jed stood abruptly, snatched the paper from her hand and stalked off to his bedroll.

"Nice, Chessery Very nice." Sax rose and went to his own and hunkered down for the night. "We leave in a few hours you want your beauty sleep." She stood by the faded embers of the fire, ruing her remark and drafting an apology for the young soldier.