Sara argued once more but kept quiet when Zeb held a finger up.
He resumed his slow progress, passing underneath vegetation where possible, rising and skirting larger growth.
Cesar was right. This place is unapproachable without making noise.
He was sure the cartel boss had heard their arrival.
He will wait, however. He won’t come after us.
He is down to three men. He can’t risk more losses.
There was one spot that looked likely.
About fifteen square feet. Firs and ponderosas surrounding it.
He surveyed it critically. Looked around.
Nope.
Started crawling.
Didn’t miss her eye roll.
Stifled a grin, and continued.
He found a better location at the far end of the pond, almost opposite to where they had arrived.
An open space similarly sized to the first.
In shadow, under the canopy of tall trees.
Dead leaves and sticks under their feet.
There were several fallen trees just beyond, and the pond was a five-minute walk away.
He shouldered the HK and inspected the logs.
A few were too large for his purpose, but there was a smaller one, half-buried in the earth.
He heaved at it and motioned the girl to stay back when she came forward to help.
‘Keep watch.’
She watched, the AK in her hand, her eyes alternating between him and their surroundings.
‘I have never fired a weapon.’
‘They don’t know that.’
‘He could come any minute.’
‘Nope. He will be wondering what we are doing. He will see if he can outwait us.’
He rolled the log to the center of the clearing.
Removed the length of rope from the backpack and looked up.
She gasped when she got his intent.
‘You’re—’
‘Yeah.’
He fastened the length to the fallen tree and tossed the free end to her.
‘Climb.’
Zeb was making a small fire when heard a twig crack.
He dived away, whirling, drawing his Glock, when two men came into the clearing.
Both carried AKs. Both weapons were pointed at him.
‘Try it. You will die,’ one of them barked.
He’s right.
‘At last,’ Joachim Tavez stepped out from behind them.
He rubbed his hands and looked Zeb up and down.
‘Who are you, gringo?’ he asked, as Zeb got to his feet and tossed his handgun to the ground.
‘The others, too,’ Tavez warned him.
Zeb considered his options.
The cartel men were well spread out.
Sara was behind him, to his left, at the edge of the clearing.
He himself was at a side, under the shade of a giant tree.
‘I won’t kill you,’ Tavez promised. There was no mirth in his eyes. They were flat, hard, and cold. ‘Not right away.’
‘You,’ he turned to the girl. ‘Get over here.’
She didn’t move.
‘You heard me?’ He raised his voice.
‘COME HERE.’
Sara fidgeted. Threw a scared look in Zeb’s direction, but didn’t leave her spot.
One of the shooters swore. He covered her with his weapon.
Strode forward impatiently.
Keeping well away from his fellow hitter’s line of fire.
And tripped over the hidden rope.