The taxi dropped me off near the entrance of the city, and bypassing the poor neighborhood, I reached the edge of the forest in which I immersed myself, guided by my sense of smell and headed towards the camp where the hostages were.
The six hostages were kept in different barracks, all monitored by representatives of the resistance who communicated with each other by walkie talkie. But where was mine? The sun was setting on the horizon, and its rays illuminated even the corners. I crept behind a bush that was near the fence and I studied the surroundings.
The first barrack was on the left and held three hostages. I had to wait for nightfall to approach, considering there was no way to hide. The second was in the middle and a little further back than the first. Outside the entrance, a guard was sprawled on a chair that had lost one of its legs, while another guard stood before him, a weapon at his shoulder, making conversation. A fuel tank was located fifty feet away and weapons were concealed inside a depot, on the left. The last barrack, the general command, seemed far away and unoccupied.
Night fell quickly. It was the right time. I slipped between the tree trunks and jumped nimbly over the grid. The stash of weapons offered me the first hideout and, passing near the recruit barracks, I approached the barracks where the prisoners were kept. I pressed up to the bars on the window across the yard to inspect the interior. Three women were lying inside; each on a bed with their faces turned towards the door. I fell back quietly on tiptoe, sinking into the sandy soil and proceeded to the second barracks. It was built the same: with only a small opening - an iron grid - which served as a window and let in the scorching heat of the day. Inside, there were three people. A 20-Watt bulb poorly lighted the faces of three men and prevented them from being recognized.
None of them looked like the picture! Unless—
I took the photo from my pocket and rubbed it gently with my thumb. The rubbing action removed a tiny film from the surface and I discovered another face that I was not expecting. I walked away. Passing close to the recruit barracks, I heard loud voices and I lingered, spying.
"The truck should be here any minute," said a hoarse voice belonging to a man. He took a bottle, poured himself some beer and swallowed it quickly.
"Yes! The new recruits! That's right." continued another with a chuckle.
"I heard," uttered a faint voice, interrupted by coughing "there would be women among them!"
"No," said the man hoarsely. "I didn't hear that. The commander said nothing to me about—"
"Just because he didn't tell you doesn't mean it's not true!" said the one with the weak voice.
"He tells me everything! I know everything - me!" he raged, tapping the bottle on the wooden table.
"Shut up!" uttered an upset woman.
"Since we can't mess around with the hostages," continued the man hoarsely as he approached the woman "hopefully, these new recruits will be good then. It's true, right?"
"Stop it!" protested the woman.
"I know, I know, only the commander has the right to touch you! Do not worry! I was just having a little fun."
The discussion annoyed me and I left their camp and ran the other way, hurrying to catch the truck before it arrived. Listening to their exchange, an idea crossed my mind. I continued my run on the sandy path at a speed unattainable to a human and after ten minutes I heard the truck engine. It was stopped at the roadside and a dozen soldiers were trying to get it out of the rut where it was stuck.
"Let's take a break! I can't stand it!" A woman was talking and they all stopped and sat at the roadside. "I'll be right back!" continued the woman and she walked away, disappearing into the forest.
I followed the path she took, joined her in silence and eliminated her. I carried her body over my shoulder, and I went back to the camp. I put the body in the forest near the camp, and I approached the barracks and entered without being spotted.
The three women were sleeping and no one woke up when I put my palm over the mouth of one of them and took her, holding her body tightly. I passed to the other side of the grid. As soon as I placed her next to the body that was lying on the ground, the woman opened her eyes, wide and frightened, and looked at me without crying. She understood that her survival depended on her silence.
"Take off your clothes! Exchange them with her! I have to take the body."
Everything in her attitude indicated revolt. Her eyes went from me to the stiff body that was at her feet. She clasped her arms around her chest and shook her head from side to side.
"H—how?" she stammered.
"What did I tell you?" I spit through my teeth with hate.
With trembling hands, the woman began to undress and put on the dead woman's clothes as I held them out to her. When it was over, I took the body and threw it over my shoulder.
"Wait for me here. I'll be right back. And hide yourself! A truck is coming."
I took one last look before running off to camp and I jumped the barbed wire. I entered the barracks with determination and threw the body on the bed as if the woman had never left. Her face was well deformed now, an effect of the poison that I had inoculated her with. It had left her almost unrecognizable.
I had barely jumped the barbed wire and walked away into the forest when the truck arrived near the camp entrance. The kidnapper's barrack door flew open and a man came out shouting: "A truck is approaching!"
"Ah! The new recruits!" a hoarse voice said, expressing pleasure. I saw the man push aside the newcomer to get out into the yard.
"How did you do that? What they will say? She does not look like me at all! And - who are you?" the frightened and suspicious woman asked me when I returned.
"Shhh! No questions unless they are absolutely necessary."