Page 87 of Fear No Evil

She must have fallen asleep, for she was kicked awake a while later by Igor‍—and subsequently every hour on the hour, even after nightfall, when he shone a flashlight into her eyes.

Recognizing the awakenings as psychological torture and dismissing them, Maggie fell right back to sleep with each stirring, embracing the vivid dreams that claimed her.

In one such dream, she was floating shoulder-deep in clear aqua-blue waters in Jake’s embrace. The gentle rise and fall of the warm water cradled them. They were in Phuket on their honeymoon. White sand clung to Jake’s dark hair. He smiled at her with so much love in his gentle blue eyes that contentment brimmed in her.

I’ve never been this happy. We should have married years ago. Laying a hand on his smooth shoulder, she put her nose to his neck, inhaling the scent of a spring rain shower. This had to be real.

But hadn’t she seen him plummet to his death into the churning river, due to Gallo’s treachery?

Querying the reality of her dream, Maggie roused to consciousness. Hunger and frigid cold hit her like the flat edge of a two-by-four, knocking the joy clean out of her.

In desperation, she grasped for the words that had comforted her before, surrendering herself to their promise because there was no other choice: “I will fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

But the words rang hollow. Evil alone ruled this place. It was as if God had never even set foot here.

The squeak of hinges roused Jake from a light slumber. He lay face down on damp soil.Where am I?The vision of a hen pecking his outflung arm brought it all back‍—how he’d spied on Rebel Central for hours the day before, even skulked around its perimeter and nearly grabbed a rebel to lead him to wherever Lena might have been taken. But the guards stood in pairs, and Jake only wanted one informant. And then he’d remembered: low-ranking rebels had no idea where captives were kept. He needed someone who knew something.

Giving up, he’d turned his back onKi-kirr-zikisand hiked all the way up and around the mountain toCecaot-Jicobo, that familiar camp where his joy at spending time with Lena had overridden all discomforts. As he’d hiked like an automaton, the rain had beaten down on him. It felt as if the entire world were weeping with him. Memories flowed through him of his and Lena’s first hike up El Castillo, her defiance in the face of fear while crossing the river in a wooden box strung from cables.Fire with fire.

He loved her so much that his chest hurt.Stay strong, Beautiful. Don’t give up on me.

Finally, just as darkness descended on his second day of searching, he arrived at the familiar camp. Exhausted, wet, and leery of sleeping with the creepy crawlies in the woods, he’dtaken refuge under the bungalow, right beneath his and Lena’s old cubicle. Memories of her sleeping with her head on his shoulder lulled him into a deep and restful sleep.

But now it was dawn, and Gallo had just stepped out of the officers’ quarters, his door slamming shut behind him, which meant whoever was sleeping in the bungalow overhead‍—most likely Venezuelan soldiers‍—were bound to awaken soon with the blared recording of“¡Despiértense todos. Arriba y Ándale!”

As Jake pushed to his knees, the pack on his back‍—THUMP‍—struck the underside of the bungalow. A male voice mumbled in protest right above him, causing Jake to count the beats of his heart as he prayed for the man to fall back asleep. Finally, rewarded by the sound of a low snore, he scuttled backward, keeping low. Then he darted into the forest, just as he and Lena had done so many times before. Birdsong and monkey chatter muffled his footsteps as he charged downhill, retreating to a safe distance to strategize.

The best person to capture and question was Gallo, of course. Having whisked Lena away from the valley and back up the mountain, Gallo most definitely knew where she was taken. Jake just had to capture him, then make themondoan offer he couldn’t refuse: His life for Lena’s safe return.

But the rest of the rebels and their Venezuelan counterparts would notice Gallo’s absence and come looking for him. Some of them were bound to be good trackers. Jake’s boots might not leave tread marks, but nothing could disguise the depressions his soles left in the soft earth.

Rethinking his strategy, he headed toward the garcinia tree and was pleased to find two of the prickly fruits intact and on the ground, as yet unnoticed by the active monkeys leaping in the branches overhead.

With his back to the tree, Jake tore off the protective outer layer and popped the first succulent ball into his mouth. Hewas just starting to peel the second ball when David walked soundlessly past the tree, his eyes fastened on the soil. Jake froze. With a furrowed brow, David turned, following Jake’s barely discernable tracks. His head came up and his eyes flew wide. As he fumbled to aim the rifle that he carried everywhere, Jake threw his hands up.

“Soy yo,David!Tranquilo, tranquilo.No me fusiles.”Don’t shoot me.

His jaw hanging open, the squad leader lowered his weapon. “Jacques,estás vivo!”

“Sí,I’m alive.” Jake extended the second ball of fruit as a peace offering, but David waved it off. His light-brown gaze trekked over Jake’s military attire and his many weapons.

“Are you JUNGLA?”

“No, no.” Jake took a small step closer and pitched his voice lower. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I’ve come for my…my wife. Where is Lena, David? Do you know?”

The fear in David’s expression gave way to cautious relief. He sent a worried glance toward camp, then gestured for Jake to follow him.

Led deeper into the forest, Jake was just beginning to question David’s intentions when they came across a plant covered in dark purple berries. David began plucking berries and dropping them into a leather pouch tied to his vest. He flicked Jake a dry glance. “Your Spanish is much better.”

Jake had to laugh at the remark. Dressed as an operator, he’d forgotten to speak painstakingly as Jacques would have done. Remembering his objective, he sobered. “Do you know where Lena is?”

The young man hesitated, plucking several more berries and feeding them into his pouch before pulling on the strings that closed it.“Arriba.”He jerked his chin in the direction of the falls.“She is hurt, but I’m permitted to tend to her. I will visit her later today.”

Hope surged into Jake’s chest. “Will you take me to her? That’s all I ask. Take me to her and tell no one. I’m not sure how to get there. Is it past thecascadas?”

Thoughts flickered in David’s eyes, but he said not a word.

Desperation thrummed in Jake. “No one will ever know you helped me, David, I promise. I will take Lena from here and, God willing, you will never see me again.”

---