The eventual stop came some hours into nightfall and as the Land Rover I was in came to a halt I heard a secondary vehicle to the rear also stop. I’d been right to assume we were not alone. My escape attempt seemed remote, I waited anxiously. The front doors of the Land Rover I occupied opened and slammed shut I heard footsteps moving around to the rear of the vehicle I listened tentatively still hoping for an opportunity to break free. I inhaled, poised ready as the footsteps came to a stop outside the back door. A latch was unlocked and the doors creaked open slowly. My eyes strained under the illumination of the head lamps of the vehicle behind us. I lowered my head to avoid them as my eyes pained to adjust to the blinding light. I could barely make out two shadows that offered a little protection from the light. A rush of cold night air entered the back of the Land Rover and an involuntary shiver took me as the hairs on the back of my neck stood and the shock of it hit. Two men jumped into the back with me, the powerful head lights prevented me from looking up to see them clearly but I heard and saw their heavy combat boots moving towards me. I could talk now I was no longer gagged but decided against the idea I didn’t think I would get much joy out of these soldiers more likely I’d end up taking a closer look at those boots. One of the soldiers moved around to the rear of me and grabbed me by the collar of the black boiler type suit I was now wearing. He pushed his knee hard against the middle of my spine securing me in place while the other released me from my cuffs and chains that secured my feet. I scanned him over quickly looking for weapons of any kind, he didn’t seem to be carrying one. he then rose and stood to his feet still bent slightly because of the restricted head space. The one behind me unceremoniously lifted me to my feet also. The other one grabbed my arm as they both manoeuvred me to the doorway. We bundled out of the rear and as I took in my new surroundings I was shocked to see I wasn’t in the arid landscape I’d pictured but was surrounded by lush green vegetation and huge trees that rose to the stars all around and pressed tight against the dirt road I now stood on, the undulating stones set in it pushing unevenly against the soles of my bare feet. Another soldier blackened to a shadow by the vehicles headlights to the rear of us approached. He got to within a few feet before throwing some boots at my feet, their heavy hard soles crashing against the top of my feet. I winced as he forcefully instructed me to put them on. I paused too long and the soldier behind me kicked at the back of my knee making my legs give way. I winced again as my knees met the hard stones set in the road. Rifles were cocked giving me the impetus to quickly reach for the boots and put them on. I didn’t have chance to stand before a bag was put over my head. I immediately recognised its uncomfortable texture, bog standard army issue hessian I hated it instantly it was like having my head wrapped in loft insulation only the weave was looser so I could at least breath easily.
Arms reached under my armpits and I was pulled to my feet, my hands were then put behind my back and as the engine of the other vehicle was turned off I recognised the zip sound as a tie wrap was pulled tight against the already tender flesh of my wrists securing them both together something like a belt was then secured around my waist and I felt it pull at my front as I was instructed to walk.
I could see nothing through the hessian bag even though it was loosely woven as we were some hours into nightfall, the trail we were walking along was shielded from any illumination available from the night sky by the dense jungle canopy that covered us. I saw only the occasional flicker from torch light at my feet. I felt extremely uneasy because of my lack of vision. My hearing was acute. I could hear everything. The jungle teemed with life, each species competing to be heard, each new sound piercing my imagination like a splinter as my mind raced to recognise them. My instincts felt like they had been cast back to a time long forgotten when man walked naturally in this environment. Even held prisoner my fight or flight response was primed for action. There was a leopard somewhere on this trail just waiting to devour me I listened tentatively trying to distinguish his call above the rest.
We’d been walking for what seemed like a couple of hours now and I was sweating profusely unable to wipe my brow my eyes stung as it found its way into them the pain was matched and then surpassed as the salty sweat ran into my cut up wrists. My captors hardly spoke only the occasional mumblings nothing distinguishable coming from some distance to the front and the sporadic command to stop as I was guided over obstacles that crossed our path and the relief of the one syllable order “drink” as a bottle was pressed to my to my mouth. The only comfort apart from the relief from my parched throat I took from this was that my captors, at least the ones I’d heard talk were definitely English. A couple of hours further along the trail we seemed to arrive at what felt like an opening. The sun was beginning to rise and the break in the canopy alowed some light to break through to my eyes. It didn’t help much but I felt more secure I could make out the placement of the ground I was walking on and the shadows of men in front of me. I was halted as we grouped together and I heard the movement and breathing of several men some of them taking the opportunity to drink hungrily I too was given a minimal gulp of the good stuff, which tasted blissfully crisp against my dry tongue even though I had to drink through the hideous hessian bag I was wearing. Before I had chance to sigh at the relief I felt the needle jabbed into my upper arm. I tried in vane to pull away but it was hopeless.
I woke up yet again in a strange environment feeling fresher and more alert than on previous occasions. I was getting used to the trauma of my situation and the constant sedation as disconcerting as it was. I laid in the middle of a circular room. some sort of primitive but well structured shack with a large wooden pole about twelve inches in diameter reaching out from the hard dirt floor I laid upon up to the center of the roof at its highest point. It reminded me of the moveable dwellings the indigenous people erect on the plains of Mongolia. The building was sparse and completely empty about six metres in diameter. Above me skirting the pole about five feet up was some sort of shelf that wrapped the pole and seemed to be emitting the soft light that was making my surroundings visible. My feet were chained to the bottom of the pole so I shuffled and stretched my body out flat to see what the light was on top of the shelf. There were large candles circling the shelf. As I moved back towards the pole something moved behind me. I hadn’t checked behind me so far and as I did I saw a small boy jump to his feet. He made an energetic pronouncement before turning and hastily moving a curtained doorway aside as he ran out of the room. He looked southern Asian in appearance possibly Indian the accent matched, he couldn’t have been any older than twelve at the most.
I waited apprehensively for whatever returned, the boy had obviously gone to tell someone that I was awake. I didn’t know what to make of my new captor did a small boy bode well for me compared to armed soldiers? I waited to see. A few minutes later the boy returned with an old man stooped with a huge grey beard and wearing nothing but a bright orange Gandhi type nappy affair. He looked at me smiling through his long grey hair ranted some indistinguishable words before approaching me. He carried a decrepit looking bowl and tumbler that looked like they had been fashioned out of wood, still laughing he placed them at my feet and gestured as he rose for me to tuck in. I smiled back and bowed a thank you. Pleased by my response his smile widened to reveal his tombstone yellow teeth which seemed to be missing every second one. He reached across to the young boy ruffled his hair and muttered something inaudible before they turned and headed out of my new humble abode. I reached for my food the bowl contained rice with some small bits of meat which I couldn’t make out its origin from tasting but it was pleasant enough. The tumbler on the other hand was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow it contained goats milk freshly acquired I’d had it before and it was a favourite of mine I gulped it down greedily licking my lips as I did so and giving the obligatory sighed exhalation of pleasure as I announced bloody gorgeous to the empty room.
The short lived satisfaction of the meal soon melted away as I began to think about what was happening to me and more importantly my Wife and Daughter. I couldn’t shake the constantly repeating question in my head could they really still be alive? Up to now whether able or not I’d done nothing proactive to find out and that had to change and it had to change fast.
