Unity and Destiny Pt. 09

Esther nodded, sending him her agreement. She hadn't asked too carefully who these drivers were, but she suspected they were involved in smuggling of one sort or another. Lukas had told them to give away absolutely nothing.

When the first unmarked vehicle pulled up, she piled in with Mark, Nicola, Lukas, Oscar, and Frederick. They were much closer to the Mexican now, and Esther needed to be very cautious in shielding their group of Changed from his gaze. She'd prefer Lukas as well, but he was good enough at evasion that she considered him probably safe at this distance, along with Selena.

The strange non-place shimmered in her head, and she resisted the urge to look closer. It would be just like the last time. She would wait until she was closer to get a proper look.

It was humid here, almost sticky despite the comfortable night temperature. They drove in silence, their driver obviously uncomfortable with this trip. They weren't carrying much luggage, so maybe he assumed they had drugs hidden. 'Mules', Javier called them. That would put them on the side of the cartels, and on the wrong side of the Americans.

They highway twisted and climbed into the hills, humid forest alternated with broader cultivated areas and small cities. The driver sped up, and the old van rocked uncomfortably around the curves. Soon they would have to decide among the alternative crossing points. Esther closed her eyes, sending her vision into her structured simplification of otherspace, flying through the geography along the Mexican border.

As expected, there were Americans at the easier bridge crossings farther south, and the major crossings up here in the highlands. But there were other routes, and Esther chose one of the ones Lukas had suggested. It would mean driving through some rural villages who would certainly notice their presence. But Javier had told her the Guatemalans weren't feeling very kind towards American actions in Mexico, and they were used to looking away when various smuggling organizations came through. She messaged Lukas, a mile behind in the second van, and then began to instruct the driver.

If he was surprised by getting directions in stilted Spanish from a young woman, he didn't show it particularly. Maybe it was no stranger than the rest of this assignment. Lukas must be paying him very well. In any case, he knew these hills well enough to suggest alternate routes a few times. The roads were much worse than she'd expected, so it was just as well they had a local driver.

She finally located the vehicles on the other side of the border, rushing to catch them. She told the driver he could slow, but he shook his head, grimly racing towards the drop-off point. Finally he pulled over, hopping out of the van and opening doors, helping them unnecessarily with their bags.

"Vaya con Dios," he muttered to her quietly.

Before she could think of a reply, he was back in the van, speeding off the way they'd come.

Oscar and Frederick herded them off the road, to hide behind some vegetation on the steep hillside. They'd have to scramble down that to the valley, then up to the road on the other side. Just a half mile or so, but not a particularly easy path. It was chilly enough that some of the others were pulling extra layers from their bags.

"The other van is just a few minutes away," Esther said quietly. "But we will have a longer wait for the ones meeting us."

Oscar nodded. "The plan never goes as easily as you expect. But Lukas is a master at staying flexible."

Sure enough, when the others arrived and unloaded, Lukas didn't seem discomfited.

"About an hour's wait?" he asked, and Esther nodded. Maybe he'd been able to reach them again by phone or radio, though these mountains made it unlikely. More probably he'd just guessed well in his particular fashion.

"We will go in two groups," he said. "This side is a safer place to wait, but there is a difficult scramble, down and back up. About a half mile, but it may take a good part of an hour for the slowest, so the first group should go soon. Listen to your radio in case anything changes."

"Glad I packed light," Kat said, squinting into the darkness. Probably she couldn't see the path they were taking at all.

"Mark, Nicola, Kat, Raj, Grace, and me," said Esther. "Mark, can you see the spot we're going to? That place the road dips briefly below the ridge?"

He nodded, and they slowly started down. It was a black night, stars twinkling through a few hazy clouds. Mark knew exactly what to do, of course, choosing the path carefully, winding back and forth to avoid the thickest vegetation and the steepest slides, keeping right with Kat and taking her arm for the harder portions. He was already carrying two extra bags, slung carefully across his back.

Esther and Nicola did what they could for the others, who would be nearly blind. Though the scramble was physically challenging for Esther, she could see every detail perfectly, and copy Mark's footsteps. Kat and Raj were both having difficulty by the last stretch up. Neither complained, even when Raj missed a step and slid dangerously backwards, until Nicola grabbed him and helped him upright. He was scratched and bleeding.

"I'm all right," he said quietly, wincing as he continued on.

The other group caught up to them near the top, and they spread out below the road, hidden as best as they could, sitting on the rocky slope. Javier checked on Raj, but the mathematician was all right, and anyway there wasn't much they could do. Their luggage was just a few changes of clothes and other essentials.

Esther motioned to Lukas and his men to come closer. "I might as well tell you all now where we're going. It is in the mountains north of Oaxaca, only about fifteen miles from the city. Near nine thousand feet elevation. When we are closer I will be able to tell more. The danger of him detecting my probes is larger, but I am increasingly sure that despite his other strengths, I greatly exceed him in sensitivity."

Lukas looked at her, puzzled. "That close to Oaxaca? No, that can't be right. While I wasn't absolutely certain, everything about the pattern has been pointing farther east, to Chiapas. And I have also looked at satellite photos of that entire region. I remember every large structure, and there are only a few isolated missions in those hills. Are you saying he's using one of them for cover?"

"No," Esther said. "I don't think so. I do think the structure is large, but it is well hidden by the dense forest. And I'm afraid you may have been influenced by the Mexican, in the way I warned before. Not in a personal fashion, but as part of his very subtle efforts to hide his base. We will likely all feel the effects of it by the time we reach Oaxaca. I may even have to remind you of his location."

Lukas nodded slowly. "It is a remarkable power, if he is capable of fooling me in such a fashion. We will need to watch each other for signs of his influence. Are you positive you will remain free of it?"

"Nearly so," said Esther. "I can't replicate it myself, though perhaps I could with enough practice. But I do understand how he does it, and I will attempt to mitigate it for the rest of you."

Oscar spoke up. "If what you're saying is true, I suppose I understand why you said it wouldn't work to tell the military about him. I thought, if he's capable of distracting pilots, just send a cruise missile from a great distance. Nothing for a missile to get confused about. But you're saying that the order would get lost somewhere along the line. That it would never actually happen."

"That's my suspicion," said Esther. In truth, she wasn't sure he was as powerful as that. But she would never allow such a thing. She decided to change the subject, as the vehicles were approaching.

"A large white cargo van and a small car," she said. "Those are what you expected?"

He nodded, and walked up to the road with Oscar and Felipe.

There was a brief conversation, which didn't go as Lukas intended. Apparently these men were also spooked, and they refused to travel further with the group. They would take the small car, leaving them only the single cargo van, which already contained all the supplies and equipment Lukas had arranged.

They piled into the big van, which fortunately had more than enough seating. Frederick took the wheel, turning the vehicle around cautiously on the narrow road while the other little car sped off. Esther found herself squeezed between Javier and Mark. A nice spot to be. She sighed, letting herself linger just a moment on a particularly erotic memory. But it was short-lived.

"They say the Zapatistas are very active the last day or two," said Lukas. "And the Americans are probably here in part as a result. Interacting with the Americans would slow us, but the Zapatistas could be deadly. Far better to avoid both."

Frederick drove quickly, faster than Esther would have dared. The van was old enough that it didn't handle this treatment well, and her seat belt was broken. She held on to Mark and Javier, listening carefully, looking for anyone else on the road, while Lukas directed.

When they turned onto a slightly better dirt road, there was a bit more traffic. Esther sensed a pickup truck some miles behind them. Perhaps a farmer out early. She looked more carefully, and saw three men. But in the bed of the truck—

"There are rebels behind us," she said quickly. "But we are moving faster." Carefully she described the truck, along with the weapons in back. Lukas and his men nodded.

"Probably Zapatistas," he said. "Or perhaps another local militia. Be on the lookout for any others they may be meeting ahead. Is there anyone else on the road before the highway?"

She spread her vision farther. She should have done this already, but it was challenging while she was working so hard to hide them from the Mexican.

"No vehicles on this road," she said. "But there is a pair of American military trucks coming south on the highway we're aiming for. We'll beat them to the intersection, but I believe the truck behind us would, as well. I'm afraid they're speeding up. And there are other vehicles on the highway, heading north. I don't see any obvious signs they are Zapatista. No heavy weapons. But I don't know what to look for."

Lukas was silent, gaze distant. Finally he focused again. "I'm afraid there is a high probability the northbound vehicles are also Zapatistas. We don't want to be trapped between them, but there aren't any detours. What about places to hide off the road?"

She shook her head. There was a guard rail on one side, a steep forested hill above. There were a few spots ahead that were just off the road, but nowhere to drive a van like this any farther into the forest. It was no better on the small section of highway they would have available, and the dawn twilight was already making the sides of the road easy to see.

"Nowhere far enough off road," she said. "I could try to hide us, but with cars passing so close, I can't be very confident."

Lukas nodded. "Very well. The best option is the Americans, then. The earlier we catch them, the better, so we can be away before they encounter the locals."

"Then we need to hurry," Esther said. "The truck behind us is starting to close the distance as well."

Frederick nodded, gripping the wheel and speeding up, but just seconds later he hit a pothole, hard enough to throw her against the seat. The van seemed all right, though.

"For God's sake, let me drive," Nicola said.

"Are you kidding?" Frederick asked, gunning the truck faster. "We can't stop."

"Better than going off the fucking road," Nicola said.

Lukas glanced at Esther, and she nodded. She'd never seen anyone drive the way Nicola could.

"Frederick, switch off with her," Lukas said. "As fast as you can."

To his credit, Frederick accepted this, screeching to a halt and squeezing aside to let Nicola take over. Before he'd gotten settled behind, she roared ahead.

"Get ready to meet the Americans," Lukas said. Esther didn't know what that meant, but in the back seat, Felipe and Berthold began pulling open packages, handing equipment and clothing forward. Esther reached for an impressive-looking nylon vest, but Oscar shook his head.

"Let us handle the military," he said. "Best if the rest of you stay out of sight."

They hit the highway with time to spare, and Esther began to breathe more easily. It was narrow, winding, and poorly paved, but Nicola increased her speed further, using the whole road, tires squealing around turns. But Esther was distracted by something odd, between them and the Americans. She should have seen it before, but she was so focused on the road.

"Lukas," she said quickly, "There are some men in the forest above the road, four miles ahead. Well hidden."

He went blank, even more than usual.

"An ambush," he said. "Not meant for us, but it won't matter. Watch the road, Esther. There may be a mine or a bomb hidden. Is there truly no chance of hiding us?"

"No," she admitted. "Not a good enough one, with all the vehicles coming."

"Can we slow enough to let the Americans trigger the ambush?"

She shook her head miserably. "I thought so. They're just a mile beyond the ambush, but now they're slowing down for some reason."

There was a sudden hush.

"Esther," Oscar said, voice strained. "Check the sky. Can you eavesdrop on the Americans from here?"

She closed her eyes and launched into otherspace, feeling Javier's grip on her hand. And it all came together too quickly in her head, what she should have looked for in the first place, if she hadn't been so willfully ignorant about warfare. Her mind raced through the possibilities.

"Spy plane far overhead," she said. "And two fighters very low, at high speed. How is the roadside bomb triggered?"

Lukas didn't hesitate. "Either a simple pressure plate mine, or more likely a radio control from those on the hill. Esther, you understand we're in danger of being targeted from above? Are you suggesting we drive through the ambush?"

"As fast as you can, Nicola," she said, because she'd found the bomb, and now it was all a question of time and concentration.

* * *

Javier held on to Esther, trying to keep her from being jostled too badly. He imagined he could hear the fighters screaming overhead, but of course it was nothing. They weren't here yet.

"Get the sidearms, Felipe," said Frederick nervously. "Maybe we can ambush the truck behind us. It's safer than risking that ambush."

"We are in extreme danger from the American fighters unless we reach those on the ground sooner," said Lukas. "And the Zapatistas are now convinced we are working with the Americans. If we stop, they will open fire on us, attempting to kill or take hostages."

Javier stared at Lukas, but no one could argue when he made a pronouncement like that.

"Quiet, everyone," said Selena. "Esther is our only chance, and she is capable of solving this."

The others went quiet. Lukas's men got themselves ready to get out of the van fast. Javier hoped they knew how to calm the American military down quickly.

The back of the van was windowless, and right now it was giving Javier a terrible sense of claustrophobia. He'd been trying to keep track of distances, and surely at this breakneck pace they must be nearly to the ambush. Suddenly he heard an immense crashing boom, and he flinched. But it was from behind them. An instant later, the roar of the aircraft rumbled over them. But then—nothing. No bombs, or missiles, or whatever had struck the vehicles following them. He heard what sounded like gunfire closer by, and then a small explosion on the road behind them. But then silence.

Esther suddenly relaxed, and took a breath.

"We're past," she said. "Americans a half mile ahead."

"I see them," Nicola said an instant later. "Can I slow?"

"Yes," Esther said. "The men in the hills are scattering now. The fighter planes are coming back, but not for another three minutes."

"By God," Berthold said, letting out a huge breath. "So there wasn't a bomb, after all? Or was that it, after we passed"

"I thought it was an RPG," said Felipe.

"I don't know what that is, but maybe. I worked hard to distract the rebels as we went by, hoping they wouldn't trigger the bomb. And I distracted the pilots as well, enough to leave them confused by the directions from the spy plane, when it came to our van. I wish I could have done more."

Javier winced, knowing that Esther was upset she hadn't been able to do anything about those who had probably been killed behind them. It didn't matter to her which side they were on.

"Jesus," Frederick said, but that was all he had time for. Nicola rolled to a stop, shutting off the van and raising her arms from the steering wheel. Javier crouched down with Esther and the others, letting Lukas, Frederick, and Oscar step out of the vehicle together. The start of the conversation was loud enough for him to hear just fine.

"Identify yourselves!"

Lukas gave his fake name and some title that sounded vaguely like a CIA thing. Probably that was exactly what it sounded like to the scared guys holding the guns out there. Guys who might be even younger than him.

Presumably they were examining Lukas's credentials now. "I don't recognize any of this," said a second man. "What the hell are you doing here? Who else is in the truck?"

"Sergeant? Is there a Captain John Riverton with you?"

After that the conversation drifted further away, and Javier couldn't make it out.

"Lukas is convincing the Captain that they met briefly during the Gulf War," Esther whispered in his ear. "I think it's working."

Finally he heard them coming back. This time the conversation was more jovial.

"I don't know how the fuck you guys got in the middle of that shitstorm, but it's a miracle you didn't get taken out by the friendlies. Not to mention the fucking Zaps."

"It's a hazard," Frederick said. "You'd think they could pay us more than the guys back in Virginia. At least it looks good on the résumé."

All the men laughed. "Godspeed, then," said one. "Tell your driver that she's a lot better looking than Alfie."

"I wouldn't say that too loud," said Frederick. "I think she can disable strong men with her glare."

Then they all squeezed in, and somehow they were moving again, past the trucks. Javier and the others sat back up, while Frederick apologized to Nicola. "It just popped out of my mouth."

"No problem, really. I like to think I'm pretty good at glaring."

Lukas ignored their banter. "I don't believe the Captain will report the incident up in the chain of command. It's likely that all parties will be grateful for a reason to ignore the mishap."

"Did they know about the ambush?"

"No," said Lukas. "I said I didn't know where the RPG came from, and they weren't intending to search the woods. The vehicles were the target of the air strike."

"I'm so sorry," Esther said. "I should have looked for an ambush like that. I was too focused on the road. And it never occurred to me to look for planes. It should have."

"How about instead we thank you for saving all our lives?" Oscar said. "I could never hope to understand how you did what you just did."

"Yeah," said Felipe. "I'm starting to feel a lot better about our chances against the Mexican."

* * *

Esther was relieved when they began to see more ordinary traffic, and she tried to get a little sleep. But she kept waking with a start, trying to forget the images of burned skin and severed limbs. And all the while, the Mexican's oppressive presence loomed.

Other Changed weren't likely to perceive it that way. The patterns were simply part of the environment here, shaping one's attention naturally away from a particularly difficult-to-reach mountain valley, which was private land anyway. It was almost like an ancient place, and Esther had to admit that would explain part of the Mexican's strength. But it didn't feel like that in otherspace. Each ancient place was different, but the three she'd sensed had a similar class of convoluted geometry in otherspace, one that she was almost able to understand now.