Diana Palmer Long Tall Texans 47 Courageous

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Unnecessary, but thank you, Clarisse said with a smile. Dr. Carvajal from Manaus treated me. He
had to go back to the city for an emergency, she added.
A good man, Reverend Harvey said, sipping more of the soup from the ceramic bowl in his
hands. He came to the village a few weeks ago to help a young woman in labor with her first child. A
boy, he added. Fat and healthy and beautiful.
We have heard of you, Maria told the reverend. They say you walked into bullets when the men
from the Sapara government tried to take the land from the Yamami, she added, naming the tribe for
only the second time in Peg s hearing. Later she would learn that they were an offshoot of another
tribe, the Yanomamo. This splinter, largely family, group, and another offshoot of it where
Machado s scouts were staying, had moved away from the main body of the tribe and set up
housekeeping in Barrera two generations past. They still had trade with other native tribes, but they
lived mostly to themselves. They preserved the ancient traditions of the forest people and resisted the
attempts of modern industrialists to move them off their land in order to use it for oil extraction.
Sapara had threatened to destroy Maria s entire tribe if they continued to resist. It was one more
reason for Machado to get the usurper out of office.
Peg knew that Ritter Oil Corporation would never agree to the destruction of native people to bring
about the oil development. So she told Maddie and Maddie told O Bailey how to get in touch with
Ritter s head of security, Colby Lane, in Houston. That process was underway. Once Mr. Ritter knew
what was going on in Barrera, regardless of the outcome of the attempt to unseat Sapara, there would
be no danger to Maria s tribe.
* * *
Meanwhile, Grange, Machado, Rourke and the natives approached the outskirts of Medina quietly and
under cover of darkness, through the jungle, to a makeshift camp with a large tent under heavy
camouflage. There they met up with the missing scouts, two worn-looking men in camouflage gear.
They were accompanied by what looked like twenty Yamami natives, all carrying extremely long
bows and arrows, and painted for war.
Budding commandos, one of the scouts said with a wide grin, indicating the natives. They know
the jungle intimately. We appealed to them for aid when we escaped from the city and they brought us
here the long way around to throw Sapara s men off the scent. They say there s a tunnel nearby
leading back into the city, but it has some sort of electronic lock on it.
Machado chuckled. Indeed it does. I placed it there. The tunnel was built by my predecessor as
president, and it s how I entered the city the first time to overthrow him. I never told Sapara about it. I
kept it as one of my top military secrets. Only Domingo Lopez knows that it even exists.
That s a stroke of luck, Grange said.
A stroke of luck, indeed, Machado said grimly. Because if we can get inside the city, to Sapara s
office undetected, we can seize the government without having to fire a single shot.
Well, maybe one or two shots, Rourke piped in as he joined them.
This will work, Grange said. I m sure of it.
My friend, Machado replied, I am also sure of it. Now if the rain will just hold off for a few
minutes&
Even as he spoke, the rain started coming down in bucketfuls all over again. Machado laughed.
Everyone ran inside to avoid being drenched.
* * *
The hut where Maria and the three women were eating had a huge pole in the center holding up the
roof, which was thatched with some sort of palm leaves. Peg had been fascinated with its intricate
construction, and more fascinated with the fact that the women built a cooking fire on the dirt floor
right inside the hut. It did get a bit smoky, but it was efficient and rather charming. Another native
woman had a loom near the center pole, and she was working quickly and efficiently at a beautifully
colored blanket.
You look worried, Clarisse said, noting Peg s frown.
It s my dad, she replied. I told him I d be away for a couple of days. He ll be worried.
We ll talk to O Bailey, Clarisse promised her. He s a whiz with computers. He ll get word to
your father.
Okay!
O Bailey was sitting in front of his computer, which was powered by a small portable generator.
He grinned at the women. Wouldn t dare use this any closer to the command post. Sound carries in
the jungle. Even two men talking in a whisper can give away a position. He indicated the computer
screen. I m just waiting for the general to give the word, and Sapara won t be able to talk to
anybody.
Good man, Clarisse stated. We re wondering if you can get a message to somebody in
Jacobsville, Texas, for Peg. She thinks her father will be worrying, since he doesn t know where she
is.
In fact, I know a ham operator in Jacobsville. Grange used him to send a message to Peg once, I
believe.
Yes! Peg exclaimed. I d forgotten. I never knew who the man was, but he told me that Winslow
was safe and missed me. She laughed out loud. Could you get in touch with him and have him tell
my father that I m all right and I ll be home soon?
I can do that. In fact, I ll do it right now while I don t have anything else to monitor.
He set up his equipment, made the call on scramble and told the man at the other end to contact
Peg s father. He ll be glad to do it, he said, he told Peg when he finished. He grinned. Good thing [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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