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

Politics and Pawns395Enrique lowered the gun and pointed it at Tom’s foot. I didn’t knowwhat to do or to say, but Tom stayed completely calm.“Do that and I can’t march.”Enrique said, “Then I’ll shoot you in the arm.”“Then you’ll give our position away. Thanks.”Enrique was on the verge of completely losing it, but he walkedaway. A minute later, Tom was double-chained. The look on the guards’faces told us everything we needed to know. We’d seen the disbeliefand resignation on the faces of Milton’s crew. The guards understoodthat Enrique was losing it—control of himself, of his guerrillas. Theyunderstood that he had crossed the line of needless and excessivecruelty. If he was crumbling under the pressure, they were next inline.One of the guards took Keith’s chain and added it to Tom’s. Wehadn’t been marching in chains to that point, except when Tom was beingpunished, and now he had double loops around his neck. We weredisgusted. Keith pulled a few things out of Tom’s backpack, includinghis tent top, and put it in his. Tom also had to discard a few things thathad once been precious commodities.Keith tried to lighten the mood. “Think of all the cigarettes you hadto trade for that shit.”Tom smiled. “With Lucho gone, it’s no fun. We had the market cornered.We were setting prices. We had everyone by the balls.”“Just be sure you don’t lose yours to fucking Enrique. The guy is notholding up well. If we play our cards right, we might be able to make itout of here. Chains aren’t going to help.”I edged closer to Keith and Tom. “There are so many friendliesaround here I can feel them. I feel like all we need is five minutes onthese guys”—I nodded toward our guards—“and we could be out ofhere. I can hardly keep my feet from taking off.”As it turned out, we were all speaking too soon. The guards cameover to us with a new chain for Keith. No more free marching. The