“Okay. I can see where that would be under everyone’s radar but what does that have to do with us?” a puzzled Hugo asked. “Or do you think Dana and Randall are victims as well?”
“Well, on the surface I would say no,” explained Dane. “But here’s where it gets interesting. On the first hand, thirty or so folks disappearing in the Amazon jungle are a drop in the bucket. The Amazon jungle is not the place where any dumbass can walk in and think everything is beautiful. There are animals and, for that matter, natives that will kill you and eat you. No traces left. You are simply gone. But there is one bit of info that has been dismissed. There have been several instances where men dressed in black have been mentioned. Not in all reports but many more than just a few.”
“Whoa, you don’t think… ”
Dane looked back out of the window and across the vibrant green jungle below. “I can’t say but it does make me wonder especially after hearing Nathan Nader’s story. Let’s say some Nazi nutcase has created his own little world out there and doesn’t want to be bothered. So much that he kills anyone that is unlucky enough to discover them.”
“Sounds a bit far-fetched but I guess that’s possible,” said Hugo, not totally convinced. “It seems to me that it would be harder and harder to stay undiscovered especially these days with satellites and stuff.”
“Well, that’s what I thought until I dug deeper and found that many of these disappearances have occurred in one general area.”
“The same area that Dana and Randall disappeared… ” said Hugo, catching on to Dane’s idea.
“Bingo,” said Dane. “It’s also the same area that Nathan says his father mentioned.”
“Damn. So you think Dana and Randall did run across these Nazis out in the jungle and were captured?” questioned Hugo.
“I can’t prove it, but it does fit with the whole gold, Amazon and Nazi story.”
“Still loosely, my friend,” said Hugo. “But without anything else to go on I think it’s as good a theory to run with as any.”
“So when we get to the base camp I don’t want to share this info with Ben or anyone else, at least yet. But here’s what I think we need to pull together when we get there.” Dane pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and handed it to Hugo. “I hope Ben or one of his buddies can give us a hand with this stuff.”
Hugo studied the list intently. “Hmm, looks like you want to go in hot,” he said, looking over the list that included many firearms and other military equipment. “You think they can get this stuff for us?”
“I certainly hope so. Unless you packed away something I was not aware of.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, I did bring along some extra cash.” Hugo grinned at Dane. “I figured we would be in procurement mode. Especially for let’s say items that are not normally standard fare for Princeton University doctors who are in town to look for artifacts.”
Dane laughed and looked back out of the window again. “Hugo, I can’t ask you to foot the bill for this.”
“Ah, hell, Dane, it’s only money,” Hugo said with another big grin. “Besides, I would probably spend it on women and booze anyway.”
“No, man, I’m serious. This is going to cost a pretty penny before it’s over. I have some savings that I will dip into.”
Hugo’s face turned serious. “Listen to me, Dane. You are the only family I have on this earth. You and I have been through a lot both at home and over there in the Mideast. We have saved each other’s asses many times. I consider Dana and Randall my family as well. I want you to know that whatever I have is yours and that’s no bullshit.”
“Damn, you’re gonna make me cry,” Dane said smiling. “Thanks, man. I really mean it. But you and I are not rich men. I’m not sure how I’m going to swing this one. I guess I could borrow the cash I need.”
Hugo sat quietly for a few minutes. “There’s something I should tell you that I’ve never told anyone about my family.”
“What do you mean? You’ve told me about your parents back in Texas,” said Dane.
“Yes, I have but not the whole story.”
“Which is?”
“When my parents were killed, I inherited a rather large sum of money,” Hugo explained, looking sheepishly.
“I thought your dad was a mechanic in a garage,” asked Dane.
“Yeah, he was. But he also invested in a few wildcat oil ventures. My uncle was one of those Texas oil tycoons you read about that ran around Texas buying up small oil fields and drilling for oil. Most of the wells were busts but several wells netted Dad and his brother quite a large amount of money.”
Dane looked at Hugo. “I normally would not ask someone this question, but how much money are we talking about here?”
Hugo paused for a few seconds and then answered quietly, “Let’s just say tens of millions.”
“Tens of millions?” exclaimed Dane, turning to Hugo totally astonished. “Hugo, are you serious?”
Hugo grinned. “Yeah, millions and millions. At my parents’ death I inherited it all as well as their share in the oil fields back home. Some of those fields are still money-makers. They give me a pretty good income from the wells alone.”
Dane was stunned. He had no idea Hugo was a rich man. “Why in the world didn’t you tell me about this? What the hell are you doing working as a lifeguard?”
Hugo looked down at his feet, embarrassed. “Dane, I wanted to tell someone, especially you, but I was scared to death it would change my relationship with you and my friends. I mean, I had finally achieved the life that I wanted. I didn’t want money to get in the way,” he explained.
Dane sat there for a few seconds. “I guess I understand that point of view. It’s your life, your money, and you have to do whatever you think is right, but damn, what a surprise.”
“Well, anyway, let’s agree we have a nice bankroll for this rescue mission. I can’t think of any better way to spend some of this stash.”
“Wow,” Dane said, shaking his head. “Wow!”
“So I think we can agree that we shouldn’t have any problems getting what we need to get Dana and Randall back,” stated Hugo. “No problems.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The doctor had come and gone. A nurse cleaned and attended to their wounds. They showered and were issued a pair of gray overalls which they happily donned. They both felt much better after the cleanup. Dana and Randall were able to get some sleep after a few pain shots. Randall looked over at Dana, who was just waking up.
“Hey, babe, how ya feeling?” he asked quietly as to not startle her. He tried to run his hand through her hair but it dried a bit tangled after her shower.
She tried to sit up, grimacing and holding her stomach and side as she arose.
“Whoa now, let’s not have you moving around so much. You took a really bad beating,” said Randall in a soothing voice as he sat up and eased her back down. Randall bit his lip trying to hide the intense pain of his own injuries.
Dana looked at Randall. “Who the hell are these people? Why are we here?” she asked. “Are you all right?”
“I’m a bit beat up but I’m okay. How do you feel?”
“Everything hurts,” replied Dana. “My God, I’ve lost teeth!” Dana was suddenly realizing some of her injuries. “And my face hurts like hell.”