Page 6 of Factory Controller

As I turn back to retrace my steps, I try not to think that I’m discarding Aberto just the same.

Coming around the corner, I freeze. Isabella stands in the darkness outside the kitchen, speaking with a large figure whose features I can’t see. But even before I can make out what they’re saying, I know I’m in trouble.

“…leave dealing with our new arrival in your capable hands,” Isabella says in English. Her eyes are hard as ice as she speaks. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal,” replies a deep male voice with a heavy accent. “You want to send a message, or just, how do you say…poof, gone?”

Isabella chuckles coldly. “Poof gone is fine. Better than fine, in fact.”

My heart thuds in my chest. I feel like I can’t breathe. When she says ‘new arrival,’ there’s no doubt in my mind she’s talking about me. The certainty of it cuts clean through my ribs and makes my spine prickle with fear.

Poof. Gone. And, down here in the Amazon would be an easy place for a woman like me to vanish. The local authorities wouldn’t bat an eyelash. This place isn’t safe.

I thought I was okay, but now I understand she’s desperate enough to make me vanish. It won’t solve her problem, but it will give her time to get better organized.

I watch the two of them go to a beat-up minivan and drive away toward Ipixuna. My head is swimming, and I’m momentarily grateful that they’ve headed off. If the big fella had headed straight for where I’m supposed to be lodged, there’d be no time for…what? What the hell am I going to do?

I need to get out of here. Fast.

I turn around, half surprised to see Aberto has followed me like a lost puppy. If I can’t stay here, he might be my way out. But out where? I’m not sure but, I need out of the rainforest.

“When do these abductions normally happen?”

“At night, mostly. Used to happen to people who lived by the water more, so we moved the families closer to our village. It didn’t help any. In fact, it is getting worser.”

“Worse,” I say, on reflex. I dig out my phone and turn on the screen. “Do you know what this is?”

“It’s an iPhone X with extra-wide screen, it’s got a lot of memory storage,” Aberto says icily. “I’m not stupid, and I know things.”

“Sorry.”

What have I become? One of those Americans traveling the world as if they own it, always underestimating the natives. Come on, Heather, check yourself.

“I was thinking I can use it to take pictures of these men you spoke of, then we just might get Anderson Cooper or the equivalent to take notice.”

Aberto cocks an eyebrow. “It’s a mile’s walk to my village, through the jungle.”

I suppress a shudder. I don’t like creepy crawlies, and the jungle swarms with them. “I’ll do what I must, Aberto. Can someone in your village give me a ride back to Macapá?”

Aberto nods. “Yeah, my cousin has a motorboat. It won’t be a nice ride, not as nice as the ferry, but he will take you—if you can help us.”

“I can help you, Aberto. We’ll get your proof.”

And I’ll get safely back to Macapá before I go ‘poof, gone.’

“Give me ten minutes to get changed. I’m not traipsing about in the jungle wearing heels and a skirt.”

I head into the office, close the door and unzip my suitcase on Isabella’s desk. I slip out of my clothes and into jungle gear: cargo pants and a tank top, with lace-up boots to protect my feet from forest brambles.

I bring along my backpack as well. This bag weighs a ton, but it’s stuffed with basic survival gear and a personal mosquito-netting hammock.

On a whim as I walk out of Isabella’s office, I check the groundskeeper’s shed and find a machete. There’s dried mud clinging to the blade. After knocking it as clean as I can against my boot, I sheathe it across the small of my back, and return to Aberto.

“Ha, you look like Indiana Jones,” Aberto says. “I see you have a machete. You got a gun, too?”

“No.”

“Too bad. A gun is better. We could use one.”

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