Out of Captivity : Surviving 1,967 Days in the Colombian Jungle

388 OUT OF CAPTIVITYit, too—the pus and ooze coming out Lucho’s foot was as rank as anythingI’d ever smelled. I didn’t know how he kept going. Soon we cameto an old camp, one of the first ones we’d stayed in with Enrique, whichlooked a lot like it did when we left it.As we got settled in, we noticed that Enrique and several other FARCwere talking to Lucho, who looked very agitated. He came over to us,and for a guy who always wore his heart on his sleeve, it was easy to tellthat he’d gotten some bad news.“They are taking me out of the group, gentlemen. I regret to say thatI know no more than that. This may be farewell. I may no longer beresiding in the Plenitude.”Marc and I both laughed at his use of the nickname that we’d comeup with for the retirement home/hooch that Lucho shared with Tom.“Well, those of us in the snake pit will miss your presence.” I fedLucho a straight line about the name he and Tom had come up with forthe hooch I shared with Marc. He didn’t take it.Instead he said, “I wish you well. Tom, if it is possible to say sucha thing under the circumstances, it has been a pleasure. To think thatchains can bring us together and keep us apart.” Lucho was clearlystruggling with his emotions. Marc and I stepped back to let Tom andLucho have a private moment.When Lucho was led away, Tom stood next to us and watched himleave. I could sense that Tom was working on something internally.He stood rubbing the back of his neck with his hands, almost as if hewasn’t aware that he was doing it.Marc asked him if he was okay.Tom pursed his lips and exhaled. “I didn’t expect that. I hope he isheaded to freedom.” None of us expected it, but then again, uncertaintyhad become our lives. We all shared Tom’s hope.A couple of days later, we were shocked to see Lucho back, this timejoined by the two groups that had been following us. The guards kept ussegregated in our marching groups. We could wave and say hello, but