Escape Through the Andes by Thomas M. Daniel

Author:Thomas M. Daniel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: suspense novel, Andes, Bolivia, Peru, CIA
ISBN: 978-1-56474-602-3
Publisher: SCB Distributors
Published: 2017-11-04T04:00:00+00:00

19

The next morning I found an empty park bench in the plaza next to Rosemary’s apartment building. The plaza was full of families with children playing games I did not really understand. Rosemary soon came walking toward me. She was wearing tight-fitting jeans, loafers, and yet another alpaca poncho. A very attractive young woman, I once again thought to myself. She sat on the bench beside me. “Do you understand everything? Do you have questions?”

“Yes, I think so. And yes, lots of questions.”

“Well, I guess questions are appropriate. But I don’t have answers, I expect.”

“No, of course not.”

“Bottom line is that Gonzalo has to be in Salaverry in ten days. How he gets there—how you get him there—is totally up to you. And whatever you now think you might do is probably wrong. You know Peru well enough to keep moving in the right direction.”

“Yes,” I interjected. “I have traveled much of the route. But a long time ago.” I paused, then added, “I’m sure we can make it. Well, pretty sure.”

“And I’m sure, and the CIA is sure. Most of all, Gonzalo is sure. Well yes, pretty sure for all of those, including Gonzalo and me. Pretty sure is all we can ask for, I guess.

“You should know,” Rosemary added, “that our information is that ANSEB plans to arrest Gonzalo tonight. Things are unrolling quickly. It’s time to get Gonzalo out of here.

“Now, then, go!” We stood. “God be with you. Go!” She strode away.

I took the bus down to Valley of the Moon. Gonzalo was sitting on a rock ledge when I arrived. We greeted each other warmly, exchanged hugs. “Gonzalo, you look great. Especially for a man on the run!”

“Well, I hope I stay that way—looking great—and on the run! But first, how’s Susan, and how are Alice and Eric?”

“All well. They would have sent you greetings, but in fact, only Susan knows I am here, and she does, of course—send greetings, that is.”

I set down the lunch basket. “Look at the cantutas,” Gonzalo said. “Bolivia’s national flower. I will miss them. In fact, there is much here in Bolivia that I will miss. I probably will never, ever be able to return to my homeland—to here, to Bolivia.”

“Yes, I know. I’m sure it is sad for you.”

“It is, but…”

“Over there,” Gonzalo cocked his head toward two men. “They are the ANSEB men following me. These days a pair of them is never far away.” The two men indicated by Gonzalo were sitting on a ledge about seventy-five yards away and obviously watching us. They were dressed casually, wearing sweaters. Both had lluchus (knit hats with ear flaps typical of the Andean region) on their heads; one had a fedora on top of the lluchu.

“Do you think they are armed?” I asked.

“Probably. In fact, almost certainly. Even though they know I can’t run or go anywhere. But guns are very macho.”

“Ah, but you can run—and are about to.”

“So Rosa Maria told me, but you’ll have to fill me in on that.

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