Both Sides of the Border, page 4
“Emilio?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said as he reached for her. She hugged Emilio, then Ernesto. They were wet from swimming, but she didn’t care. They were safely across.
“What happened out there?” Ernesto asked.
“A baby fell into the water. I grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him back to the raft.”
“Oh, my goodness. That’s why we heard a lady screaming and everyone talking.” Emilio frowned.
“Yes,” she replied.
“I hope the authorities didn’t hear the woman or the baby,” Ernesto said.
“Where do we go now?” Emilio asked.
Dolores pointed and said, “We’ll follow that road. The checkpoints are on the road, and the authorities often patrol. We must walk a distance from the road.”
A tap on the shoulder startled Dolores. Alarmed, she turned, thinking it was a police officer or government military personnel. It was the mother of the baby who fell into the water.
“You frightened me,” Dolores said.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’ll say a blessing for you for saving my baby,” said the mother.
Together, Dolores and her brothers bowed their heads as the woman said a prayer. Then she turned and offered Dolores some food.
“I’ve been saving this, but my husband said we’ll get more . . . and you look hungry.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t take your food,” Dolores objected.
“Please. For me. You saved our baby. We’ll get more food.”
“Thank you. My brothers and I haven’t eaten today,” she said as she handed the rolled-up tortilla and beans to her brothers.
The mother thanked Dolores again and walked back to her family group.
Each took a bite and savored every morsel. Dolores couldn’t remember when she had last tasted such delicious beans, even if they were cold and the tortilla was a little damp from the river.
Olivia and Lola joined Dolores and her brothers. They hugged each other.
Olivia asked, “What happened on the raft? We crossed on the first raft, but I could hear screaming on the second one.”
Dolores explained the event and then asked, “Olivia and Lola, do you want to walk with me and my brothers?”
“A small group would be good. I remember how to get to the trees on the other side of the road.” Olivia nodded.
“Lead the way.” Dolores motioned her forward.
She and her brothers walked a few paces behind Olivia and Lola. The bright moon of the early evening was now behind clouds, and the view of the land was obscured. They moved without saying a word. The trees and brush were thick, and Dolores’ blouse caught on a limb. She fell behind the group and was afraid to be alone in the trees. Her brothers, paying attention to Olivia and Lola, hadn’t noticed their sister had fallen behind. She caught up to her brothers and whispered, “Every once in a while, we should check to make sure the three of us are still together. It’s dark here, and we can easily become separated.”
Her brothers agreed. She didn’t want to scold them, but she did want them to be more watchful of their surroundings and each other.
The group walked parallel to the road and through the trees. Olivia held her hand up to halt the group. Loud voices penetrated the night. Bright lights indicated a checkpoint was just ahead. Dolores’ heartbeat increased.
Olivia whispered, “We must be careful.” She motioned to the checkpoint and the lack of trees for several yards. “Let’s go, one by one, to that group of trees over there. Stay down low, behind those bushes. Don’t speak or make any noise.”
The members of the group nodded, and Olivia pointed to each one in turn to make the jaunt. One by one, the group made it past the checkpoint to the cover of trees. They walked several more yards into the deep cover of the trees and away from the road.
Three miles further, Lola stopped the group. She motioned. “Up there. We must travel closer to the road for just a few yards. The brush up ahead does not look passable, so we must get out from the cover, just up to that next clearing of the brush to those trees ahead; and then we can travel out of sight. Be careful. We will go one by one again. Agreed?”
The group nodded their heads in silence, and Lola pointed out each one in turn. Lola would be the final one to make the walk nearer to the road.
Olivia made it through and ducked behind the trees. Next, Ernesto and Emilio each ran in turn. Last, Dolores made it across. After they moved into a hidden position, Lola began her walk toward them.
From nowhere, tires loudly skidded to a screeching halt. A van stopped on the side of the road. The doors were thrown open. Three men with tattoos covering their faces jumped out and ran across the short distance of the field. They snatched Lola. One of the men grabbed her and covered her mouth. She screamed frantically when they pulled her into the van. Another man scanned the trees, looking for others to take. The group, huddled within the trees, remaining perfectly still, was not visible to the men on the other side of the road.
One of the men yelled to the driver, “Go ahead; get her to the safehouse.”
The doors slammed shut. The van sped down the road into the dark jungle.
Dolores, Olivia, Ernesto, and Emilio slowly stood up, shocked. They’d had no warning of the van. It just appeared.
Dolores’ shaking was uncontrollable. Olivia cried and tried to be quiet as she covered her face with her hands. Dolores put her arm around Olivia to calm them both.
“I know what will happen next,” Olivia said through her tears. “They will use her in a brothel or sell her to someone else who will.”
Dolores and her brothers were speechless.
Ernesto asked, “Should we try to find her and bring her back?”
Dolores felt panicked. “I don’t think so.” She knew her brother meant well, but he didn’t understand the risk involved. If the boys found Lola and attempted to retrieve her, they would be killed.
Olivia shook her head. “We can’t. They’ll take her into Tapachula or Salina Cruz or Oaxaca, and that’s where they will sell her—or use her in their own brothel. They’re part of a gang. Probably Salvadorian.”
Ernesto and Emilio didn’t grasp the horror that Lola would be suffering.
Olivia pulled herself together and advised, “We should move away from this spot and hide and get some rest. It will be light soon. Tomorrow, we’ll figure out where we’ll go to get on the train or find a truck of other travelers.”
The group agreed.
Dolores, Olivia, Ernesto, and Emilio found a hiding spot within the trees and up on a hillside. They were beginning to understand the seriousness and peril of their journey. Sitting on the hillside provided a better view of the trees, undergrowth, and fields. During the remaining few minutes of night, they witnessed other travelers quietly making their way in the obscurity. They could distinguish shadows, figures, and silhouettes moving in the midst of the woods. An occasional crackle of leaves as the travelers worked their way through the night and faint sounds of insects and moving reptiles were the only sounds they heard.
How many people must be on this journey, Dolores wondered.
“Dolores,” Emilio whispered.
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Just a little tired.” She didn’t want to worry her brother by speaking of her uneasiness.
“Me, too. Think it’ll be safer tomorrow?”
“We can pray for God to watch us.”
As each member of the group sat in silence, they felt intense apprehension. They had been across the Mexican border for only a few short hours, and a baby had almost drowned, and one of the members of their group had been kidnapped. Dolores prayed for their safety in the coming days.
Chapter Four
“GOOD MORNING,” EVA SAID TO the travel agent.
“Good morning. How can I help you?”
Eva admired the natural beauty possessed by the Hispanic woman, with her jet black hair, long eye lashes, dark eyebrows, and such beautiful skin. The travel agent was neatly dressed in a black dress with a bright pink jacket and large silver earrings. Eva focused again on her purpose for the visit.
“Oh, yes. Hi. I picked up this brochure in the grocery store yesterday and wanted to know more about this tour.”
“I can help you with that.” The agent looked at the brochure, then quickly said, “This is a tour that starts in Monterrey, Mexico. So, you’d fly or drive into Mexico. But the trip leaves in three days. Let me see if there is availability.”
Eva was optimistic. It was crucial for her to make this trip before the semester began. She needed to improve her Spanish . . . fast. Understanding Spanish would give her an advantage in assimilating to her new city and her university position. She was a quick learner and was confident her skills would improve in a week of intense language immersion.
The agent made a call to the tour director, and Eva listened closely, hoping it was not too late to join the tour.
“I see. Okay, yes. Hold on.” The agent covered the phone and asked Eva, “Are you ready to make a deposit today? They’ll hold your spot. Or you can pay in full today rather than when you arrive in Monterrey.”
“Oh, sure. Today is great. Credit card will work?” Eva grinned.
“Yes.” The agent took the card and gave the tour director the necessary information.
The agent handed the card back as she said, “Okay, you’re set. I can access the details about the hotels and stops online for you and give you the complete itinerary.”
“Oh, perfect. And is there another option to get to Monterrey?” Eva didn’t want to risk getting lost in Mexico and miss the tour. “I don’t want to drive, since I’ve never been to Mexico.”
“Never?” The agent had a surprised look. “Sure, you can catch the bus from the bus station downtown. I’ll give you that information, and you can purchase your ticket right now if you like.”
“Excellent.” Eva smiled. This seems too easy, she thought. A vacation! And a learning experience! A double treat.
“Oh, look at this. Here’s a lower-priced ticket for the bus trip to Monterrey. It can save you a little money,” she said.
“Saving money is always good,” Eva said.
“Now, I think I can get you the pass from the city bus station to the travel agency. You’ll only need to find the bus line and board the bus without having to buy the pass in Monterrey.”
The agent printed off the itinerary and the passes and went over the details with Eva.
“The trip is billed as an historic tour which leaves on Saturday and lasts for one week. It includes several states in Mexico and goes south all the way to Veracruz, making stops along the way in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Morelia, San Miguel Del Allende, some of the attractions in Michoacán, and Puebla on the way back to Monterrey. It goes around Mexico City, so that is one city not included on this tour.”
Eva looked at the pictures. The cities in Mexico looked enchanting.
“It is a semi-inclusive package with some meals and all hotels prearranged. The hotels are rated as five stars in Mexico, which can be the equivalent of three to four stars here. There are some optional excursions available. You can sign up for those with your tour guide.”
Eva reviewed the plans in her mind. She would ride a bus from Brownsville to Monterrey. She didn’t think that would be difficult. In fact, it would be fun to let someone else drive. Then she would meet up with the tour group. It sounds simple.
The agent added, “Your bus from Brownsville first travels to Reynosa, another large border city west of here, and then to Monterrey. Don’t get off of the bus in Reynosa. It’s not very safe in that part of the city, and you’re on the same bus all the way to Monterrey. Monterrey is a busy city of over one million people and sits in the mountains of Mexico. You’ll go into the large Monterrey central bus station and find the correct city bus that is shown on your pass to make a connection to the other travel agency located across town.”
“Okay,” Eva said.
The agent continued, “There, you will meet your travel guide and other fellow travelers. The other tourists are from Mexico. You’ll meet them there and depart for the actual tour. It will take you most of the day to get from Brownsville to the other travel agency location. Any questions?”
“Do you know if any of the other tourists speak English?” Eva asked.
“Most will speak only Spanish. I know your guide personally, and he speaks English as a second language.”
Eva had only begun to study Spanish. What better way to get immersed in the language? she thought.
“Now, you do understand there are some safety risks associated with this trip?”
Eva was thinking there might be some challenges, but she was eager to go.
“I thought there might be. You mean like the hiking?”
“Well, that does pose some risk. But be prepared for a high level of security officers, Mexican federal police, military, and such.”
“Oh. Is it that dangerous? I’ve heard about people traveling in caravans through Mexico from Central America to enter the U.S.”
“Not dangerous when the security officers are present with the tour group. You’ll probably not travel to the same areas as the caravans. Just pay attention. We also know there may be cartels operating in the larger cities, so you should stay with your group at all times.”
Eva’s face gave away the squeamishness she felt as she listened to the agent.
“And don’t worry. You’ll be traveling under the tour company’s visa, so you can’t be anywhere without the group or the tour guide. Don’t be concerned. This tour takes place every couple of months, and we haven’t had any incidents reported.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“Remember to take your credit card, your passport, spending money, and driver’s license. There is a checklist here on the back of the tour itinerary that tells you what you need. Don’t take too much money. You can exchange your dollars at the Cambio stand near the bus station. Keep your documents and money on your person at all times. It might be helpful to get one of those small passport purses you can wear inside a jacket or blouse. Keep your documents on you, but out of sight. Be sure you read all of the precautionary information on the back of the itinerary.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“And . . . there’s a number on the back of the brochure if you need to reach the other tour agent before you leave . . . you know, in case you change your mind about going. Just be sure to dial the country code listed there before the actual phone number.”
You obviously don’t know me. Of course, I’m not going to cancel. I can do this. Eva gathered up her brochures, tickets, and itinerary and thanked the agent. She felt a perfect mix of excitement and anxiety about her travel plans.
That evening, Eva’s mother called to see how the move-in was going. After Eva told her about the drive down to Brownsville, the apartment, and the grocery store, she found the courage to tell her mother about the upcoming trip.
“You’re doing what?! Have you lost your mind? A single woman traveling to Mexico, in Mexico, for a week with people you don’t know? With people you can’t even talk to?”
“Well, Mother, that’s the point of the trip. I have to learn to speak Spanish.”
“You are crazier than your crazy uncle Fred. Now, he was crazy, certifiable. But you are downright insane! Don’t you know it’s dangerous there? You don’t have any legal rights or protections there. Oh, my goodness, I may have a stroke.”
“Well, Mother, I need to learn Spanish as quickly as possible—”
“Buy one of those computer language programs. I’ve seen them on TV. Rosetta Stone I think it’s called—”
“Mom, it won’t be the same as being in the country and being forced to speak the language. Besides, you know I’m independent and can do this. I can make it on my own. I always have.”
Nothing Eva said put her mother at ease. Eva had never heard her mother talk so hysterically. But she had to admit, she, too, was a tiny bit apprehensive about traveling alone in Mexico, but she was not going to let that stop her.
“Mom, I’ll call you in a couple of days from Mexico.”
“Mexico. I never . . . ”
“It’ll be fine,” Eva said, trying to reassure her mother.
“I’ll be watching the news for problems that are happening in Mexico,” her mother said, emphasizing the words “in Mexico.”
“Okay, Mom. I’ll talk to you soon.”
* * *
Two days was not very much time to get ready for the trip. Eva selected her clothing carefully so she would take just the right amount and her suitcase wouldn’t be too heavy. “I can always buy clothes there if I need to,” Eva whispered to herself. She checked her bag several times, then went to the bank. She got a little cash to change at the Cambio stand downtown by the bus station.
The morning of the trip, Eva called a taxi to take her to the bus station in Brownsville. The bus station was a combination of people in a hurry and people asleep on the benches. Many of the people arriving in Brownsville crossed the border every day to work. Trucks and vans parked outside, waiting in the fumes and heat, ready to pick up the workers. Eva watched as the people scampered from the bus terminal to the vehicles that would take them to their employer for the day.
Eva’s excitement covered her face. Might be better to not be so noticeable, so obviously a tourist, she thought. I’ll try to blend in. She laughed to herself, realizing she was the only Anglo in the entire bus station. Blend in. Right.
She checked the clock and the boarding time for the bus. As usual, she was early. She sat in one of the few vacant orange plastic chairs in the lobby of the bus station and watched the people for nearly an hour. The air conditioning wasn’t quite enough to cool the lobby area stuffed with so many people. Parents hushed their busy children, who were not fans of the waiting process. Others greeted incoming family members, speaking rapid Spanish with great bravado and tightly squeezing the arrivals with prolonged hugs. It wasn’t uncommon to see multiple members of extended families, three or four generations worth, picking up a single relative.
