Dane stood up to address the visitors. “Folks, I wish I had better news but we now know that Dana and Randall are in the hands of a neo-Nazi group based in the Amazon. We believe they are still alive but frankly… well, you know.”
The group looked stunned. “Nazis, like Germans?” asked Nance.
“Yes, that is exactly what I mean,” explained Dane as he sat down opening his Twinkie, “and just as dangerous.” Nance looked puzzled. The entire Princeton group was speechless. There was a quick gasp from Nell Weeks. Dothan was quiet but his eyes were like slits. This was not good, he thought.
“What do you mean?” asked Dr. Nance after a few seconds. “Nazis, are you certain? You must be wrong… ”
“I’m afraid he’s right,” said Hugo stepping forward, exchanging a glance with Dane. “Here’s what we know.” Hugo and Dane spent the next hour and a half explaining the situation to the Princeton group. But they deftly left out the gold production part. The group sat quietly taking in the entire story. They were clearly amazed.
“I had no idea,” exclaimed Dr. Nance. “What in God’s name are we to do? What does our government say about all of this?”
“We haven’t told them,” said Dane, looking directly into Dr. Nance’s eyes. “And we don’t plan to until we get Dana and Randall out of there.”
“What do you mean? We have to let the authorities know,” Dr. Nance said, his voice rising.
“Yeah, but not yet,” said Hugo, leaning over the maps on the table. “All the Brazilian government or ours will do is slow us down. Both Dane and I believe that if we don’t get Dana and Randall out of there damn quick they won’t have a chance.”
“But… ” started Nance.
“No buts about it, Doc,” Dane interrupted. “I’m afraid that is the way it is. We don’t know a lot about the people that have Dana and Randall. But what we do know is that they are seriously evil. It looks like they already killed four or five people already in Dana and Randall’s party. We considered all of our options and made up our mind. It is done. Hugo and I will return to the Fortress and get Dana and Randall out. After that you can notify anyone you want. It’s a done deal; nothing to be negotiated. ”
Tim Dothan, the Princeton guide, stepped up to the table. He was standing in the background taking in all of the conversation. He turned toward Dr. Nance. “Doctor, after hearing all of this, I strongly agree with Dane and Hugo here. We’ve heard rumors of some weird things going on back in the jungle in this area for years. The natives know to stay away. Several people braved the rumors and went into the jungle. They disappeared. The Brazilian government writes the disappearances off to natural causes, meaning they aren’t going to lift a finger to investigate. Actually, I wonder if the government doesn’t know exactly what is going on, at least some of the government… those being paid off by this illegal group. This is some deep shit. Pardon my French, ladies.”
Dane looked at Dothan, thinking this guy was pretty level-headed. At least he was no namby-pamby educator. Hugo smiled as if reading Dane’s mind. Dane actually liked him.
“In fact, in my mind, I think what Dane and Hugo are talking about is the only way to go. If we wait, Dana and Randall will — well, enough said.” Dothan’s voice trailed off.
A strange silence engulfed the group. It was as if each person in the room suddenly came to grips with what must be done. This will be a very dangerous operation.
“Do you realize what you are saying?” asked Nance. “If these people are as evil as you believe, you’re talking about taking the law into your own hands. Someone could be killed.”
“That is exactly right, Dr. Nance,” said Dane sternly. “Some of our people have already been killed. That’s a fact. Now I want to make certain that Dana and Randall get out alive. Frankly, if these bastards are like we believe they are, it is certain some of them will die. Maybe even some of us as well.”
“As bad as it sounds, if it is between some neo-Nazi guys and Dana and Randall, I vote to save the Finleys and screw the Nazis,” Dr. Weeks said without emotion. “I have read about these kinds of people. If they are, as you said, Dane, descendants of the World War II Nazis, we have no choice but to get the Finleys out now. We can’t wait.”
Hugo leaned over to Dane. “Now, she’s my type of girl,” he whispered. Dane gave Hugo one of his shut-up looks.
“All right, all right,” said Dr. Nance, seeing that he was vastly outnumbered and frankly way out of his comfort zone. “I understand. What do you need us to do to help? That is unofficially, of course. I cannot get the university involved, but what they don’t know won’t hurt them.” He looked around the table at the other Princeton folks. “Nothing, and I do mean nothing can ever be spoken about what we are about to do. Does everyone understand?”
The group nodded their acknowledgement, each taking their vow seriously.
“Great. Now that we have an understanding, Hugo and I already have a plan. Any help you can give us would be appreciated,” said Dane, standing up.
“I’d like to help if I could,” said Dothan. “I have experience in military ops.”
“What kind of experience?” asked Hugo.
“I spent ten years in the Army,” said Dothan, “Green Berets. Did some covert stuff and saw some pretty nasty action that I can’t talk about. You understand. I know my weapons and can handle myself in a fight.”
“Sweet,” smiled Hugo, bumping fists with Tim. “You may be able to help big time. Gotta love those Greenies.”
“Ready when you are,” grinned Tim. “In this case I’m glad to help out.”
“So the way I see it, we have Hugo and I, Ben and Tim here. That’s a great start. But I want you all to know that this is real. These guys we are going up against play for keeps. I guarantee people will die,” warned Dane. “It’s our job to make sure it is them and not us. Is everyone clear about this? I want to make sure you know what you are getting into. If you don’t feel good about going, we can use your help back here. Nothing bad will be said.”
They all looked at each other with sober eyes, each letting the seriousness of the situation sink in.
“Looks like we are going to war,” Tim Dothan said quietly. “So be it.”
Hugo grinned. “Damn, this is like old times,” said Hugo, glancing at Dane.
“Well, let’s get cracking on the plan,” said Dane as he pulled up a chair to the table. “I want to take off at dawn. That does not give us a lot of time. Here’s what we had in mind; a little piece of hell on earth for the Nazis.”
As the light of day began to fade, the group hunkered down to refine the plan to rescue Dana and Randall. Lee and Nell would stay back at base camp with Dr. Nance monitoring the radio in case things went to hell. Dane, Hugo, Ben and Tim would go to the Fortress with Tecal and several of his men. Once they got there, Dane and Hugo would go into the Fortress and get the Finleys out. The others would create a diversion to keep the Nazis at bay until Dane and Hugo could complete the rescue. The plan sounded simple. That’s the way they wanted it. But even simple plans have ways of exploding in your face.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Captain Jorgen Maas asked to see the Führer just before lunch. He was given an appointment for 7:00 p.m. That delay infuriated him. That damned bitch, he thought. She had no time to see him about such an important issue? What the hell was more important than their collective survival?
Maas sat in the Führer’s waiting room. He heard her loud voice behind the large polished mahogany door. He wondered what she was raging about now. It seemed she was always mad at someone and leveled that anger at all levels of her command. It was not like this in the old days, he thought. When her father was the Führer, he had a more workmanlike demeanor. It was true her father ruled with an iron hand and was as cruel to offenders as ever, but his daughter left much to be desired in Maas’ eyes. Maybe it was because she was a woman. In Maas’ opinion women were to be ruled and taken by men, owned by men. The Third Reich was gone but in Maas’ mind the “Fatherland” was so named to be ruled by men. Women were soft and not meant to rule over men. Maas’ fury over the kidnapping issue was spilling into his deepest thoughts; thoughts that could have him executed. He decided he must guard those thoughts well or risk death.