‘Then your mother was Noami De La Castillo?’
‘Yes she was. How would you know that?’
‘I will tell you soon, for now we need to move further into the cave, have any of you got torches?’
As he said it three torches came on, Kevin holding one, but still shaking with adrenaline.
Osvaldo Rodrigo led them into the cave; Jacob’s torch illuminated the interior, a neatly carved tunnel, lined with smooth black stone that did not reflect any of the light. The tunnel lasted for about twenty feet before opening into another room with the sound of flowing water. Osvaldo Rodrigo touched a nearby wall with his necklace, and a large blue glow began to emit from the roof above, coating the room in a pale light.
‘This is the entrance to el complejo, or the complex as you would say.’
Kevin looked around, saw no entrance, but a stone trough of water entered from the outside wall, passed by them and out through the other wall. It was ten feet wide, perhaps six feet deep and flowed very fast, the finished stone was in sections but cut so precisely there were no obvious leaks. He cast a piece of wood from the floor into it, and it raced away through the wall in seconds. ‘How do we get out? There is no entrance, and our exit just collapsed!’
‘Kevin, patience you do not have your sisters composure.’
‘How did you know Katherine was my sister?’
‘I know many things, and some I will share with you soon.’
‘Okay I am pissed off with this enigmatic bullshit, get us out this room!’
Jacob put a hand on Kevin’s shoulder and looked towards Osvaldo Rodrigo, ‘Look, we are all tired, just show us the entrance. I am sure everyone will relax when they get out of this confined space.’
Osvaldo Rodrigo nodded in agreement, and moved to the inside wall, placing his hand on a stone block, and pushing it in. The block did not appear different to all those surrounding it, but it moved into the wall. Vibrations of something moving could be felt beneath their feet. Then silence, the water in the trough stopped flowing, quickly drained, and on the interior wall they could see the white glare of daylight.
‘Now Kevin, how would you like the best ride in the park?’
TWENTY TWO
Enzi attacked the campsite just after nine, the sun had been up since six thirty. After the information on the experience of Jacob Mathias, Enzi was cautious that he not tip the situation to his disadvantage. As expected there was no phone coverage or operational radios in the area, even his would not respond. However this was irrelevant as all his men had instructions and maps of the camp, updated following Jones’ reconnaissance the previous night.
They left the boats downriver, two men on each; the remaining twenty encircled the camp, securing all the possible exits. Enzi announced himself from his boat in the river, ‘people of this camp, you are requested to line up outside your dining hall, please do so quickly and compliantly or you will be dealt with most severely.’
People came out hesitantly, seeing men with guns, many retreated back into the dining room, some shouting and screaming could be heard. Enzi anticipated this and waited, ‘You will not be harmed if you come out voluntarily, however I cannot guarantee your safety should you resist.’
Some people gingerly ventured out, the gunmen gestured to line up on the walkway. Some people including Michael and Evelyn were more savvy and waited.
‘My name is Chui Enzi, and I just require some information you have, if you could come out Evelyn that would be most helpful.’
The group of people were stunned, how did he know their names? Evelyn came out, Michael standing at her side.
‘What do you want Mr Enzi.’
‘Chui please, all I require is all the information and artefacts from the Chinese junk you have found.’
‘That is a lot of information.’
‘Oh I have time.’
‘We have some others upriver, they will be back soon.’
Enzi admired Evelyn guile trying to throw him off guard, but with a half-smile he quashed her gamble.
‘My dear Evelyn, if you refer to Jacob and Laurent then I am afraid they will not be returning.’
With a gesture of his hand a small team of five men lead by Mr Jones, clambered into one of the powerboats and sped off upriver, a substantial wake washing the banks.
‘Now Evelyn, the information or do I have to be more persuasive?’
‘No you do not, come up here.’
As Enzi stepped off his boat and onto the short pier, a shot hit the man behind him, his throat exploding in a spray of crimson, Enzi dodged concerned about his suit. The man fell back into the boat clutching his wound, the volume of blood showing he would die soon.
Enzi did not need to gesture to his henchmen, they had already seen the muzzle flash give away the shooter’s position, by the dining room window. He was shot in the head, his corpse falling back into the room, the men and women in the group shaken, some crying.
‘If anyone else is tempted to get creative, then let me be clear. For every one person you shoot, I will shoot two!’
With that they shot a second man, he was not a threat, just standing next to Evelyn, one of the local workmen at the dig. He fell back, a single hole in his forehead, black with blood.
Enzi moved confidently up the ramp, the people moved aside without hesitation, repulsed at his presence. He stood in front of Evelyn, he was a good foot taller than her, and used his height to intimidate her.
‘You may be polite Mr Enzi, but you are no gentlemen.’
‘I am sorry you think that, now the information.’
Enzi spent the next three hours checking the information and his men removing and stowing some selective artefacts on their boat, giving Jones time to get upriver and get everything else they needed.
Teddy Steenberger was still working on The Wasp when Enzi had arrived. He has spent his time observing the tragic events. He kept quiet and assessed the size of the force, and their reaction to anyone resisting them. He decided to play the waiting game, let them get what they came for and move off. Teddy’s main concern was further loss of life, as for Jacob upstream, he knew the big man could look after himself, but he was still worried.
Archer had rowed upriver during the night, stowed his boat and managed to get some sleep in it despite the jungle noises. He awoke naturally with the sunrise at six thirty a.m. had a ration pack breakfast and proceeded on foot towards camp, arriving a few minutes after Enzi. He was wearing full combat fatigues and face paint, his M4 with day optics and suppressor would allow him to view and take out targets without giving away his position.
He circled around the camp and came into the area by the generators, some distance from camp and secluded from view. Enzi had ignored this area, Jones informing him it was unmanned and of no real threat. Of course he had not seen the green tarpaulin covering The Wasp, in the night it was virtually invisible beneath it. Archer could see Teddy crouched behind the tarp, his eyes glued to a small pair of green binoculars; he walked up behind him and sat down waiting for him to become aware. When Teddy relaxed his stare and turned to rest his back he saw Archer sitting six feet away, his white eyes glaring out from his face paint.
‘Jesus! Don’t creep up on a man of my years like that. Is that you Archer?’
‘Yes Teddy. How did you know?’
‘Same eyes as your mother.’
Archer seemed wounded by the mention of her name, and Teddy continued to whisper. ‘You know your father is up river and these bastards are going after him too?’
‘I tried to get here to warn him, but my transportation was not as reliable as I am used to.’
‘Yes, I know what you mean, miss the efficiency of the army do you?’