Scene 26

Jungle Outpost in the Guyana Highlands

We tracked the patrol that had captured Ms. Hawk back to the clearing. I ordered the others to stay out of sight while Ms. Crane and I crept forward to examine the small settlement there.

The compound consisted of seven barrack-sized buildings arranged in a semi-circle surrounding an open space next to the mountainside. A few guards were patrolling the perimeter outside the buildings. Because the buildings were blocking our view, we couldn’t see the clearing inside the semi-circle well, but we did see guards stationed there as well. A small open structure was set against the side of the mountain, covering an opening into the mountainside.

As we watched, a man came out of the opening carrying a heavy basket on his back. As we watched the man carried the basket out of sight. After a few minutes, the man returned to the opening with the basket now empty and walked inside. The man was watched at all times by another guard.

“A mining operation?” Ms. Crane quietly asked me.

“That’s what it looks like,” I answered. “And that man didn’t look like he was working willingly.”

“Slaves?”

“That goes with what the soldier described. It seems we’ve found their operation. Let’s circle around and see if we can get a better view.”

We moved until we could get another view between the buildings into the clearing. Sitting near the opening into the mountain was a small wagon, filled with stones.

“I wonder what they’re mining?” I mused.

Ms. Crane got my attention and pointed up the side of the mountain. When I looked where she was pointing, I noticed a trail leading partway up the side to an overhang. Sitting on the overhang was a small building. Two guards were stationed at its door.

As we watched, a small group of four soldiers walked up the trail to the building. After a short conversation with the guards, the soldiers entered the building. After a few moments, the soldiers came out of the building with two women and led them down the trail.

As they came down the trail, it was obvious the women were weak. They occasionally stumbled and leaned on one another.

They reached the ground and started across the clearing. I took the opportunity to examine the women better.

The first was a blonde teenage girl, probably fourteen or fifteen. The other was someone much more familiar.

The second woman was Ms. Stork.