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

Freedom 421I wasn’t completely convinced. I asked Daniel as he was busy tyingKeith’s wrists, “Is this for our freedom?” Daniel didn’t look up; he wastoo intent on getting Keith’s ties done.Then he yanked one end of the strap, pulled up his sunglasses for asecond, and said, “Trust me. Trust me.”He stood up, and as the helo’s motor began to wind up, he looked atKeith and me and said loud enough to be heard over the noise, “Do youunderstand what I am trying to tell you? Trust me.”I stood there, adrenaline pounding through my veins, as he cinchedthe plastic bands around my wrists. Keith was just ahead of me andthe rest of the hostages were already seated in the aircraft along eachsidewall. I could see that Keith had already worked his way out of theties. I couldn’t believe he’d told me to let myself get tied up and hehad already broken out of his. He was holding his wrists together tomake it look like he was restrained, but the bands were gone. I spedup a bit and got past Keith, turning to see from his expression if therewas something else we should be doing besides boarding. He mouthedwords, but in all the noise and confusion, I couldn’t make them out.Walking up the ramp to the helo, I had no idea what to think. I sawan open seat, and the next thing I knew, someone had lifted me up andtossed me into it. A darker-skinned guy wearing a Che T-shirt yankedmy boots off and flung them to the other side of the helo. This is whathumanitarian aid workers do?I was stunned and yelled at him, “Calm down. Stop it.”I looked toward the middle of the craft and saw Keith about to sitdown next to Tom. The next thing I knew, one of the other aid workerspicked Keith up and threw him down in the back of the helo. He rippedoff Keith’s boots and then tie-wrapped his feet. I could hear the pull ofthe plastic strap as it ratcheted along the teeth. Keith had a confusedlook on his face, and when the aid worker turned around, I could seewhy. The guy had on a Che Guevara shirt just like we’d seen so many