Finally, Jenna decided to turn off the flashlight and look for any rays of sunshine. Even the slightest sunbeam would be enough to direct her. While she let her eyes adjust to the darkness, she began thinking about a plan of action once she made it out of here. She’d been clever enough to scrape together a bag of pebbles on “the other side”, where she’d begun. It was something she’d remembered from her Girl Scout days as a kid: find something to mark the way so you can retrace your steps. And if things didn’t work out in the past, she’d need to retrace her steps to get home.
“So now what?” she asked out loud to the darkness. After considerable thinking, Jenna thought that maybe by assimilating herself into the mainstream of people she could get an idea of how to behave. But her Spanish wasn’t up to par. And without money or means of identification, who knows what problems could develop? Perhaps if she moved about at night, snatched some food here and there and watched people by day, she could survive a few days until she found Diego. Or she could pretend to be a beggar. Or pretend she couldn’t speak.
Well at least she had some possibilities to think about. Not having spied any light at all, Jenna switched the flashlight back on. She formed an arrow out of a few pebbles, turned, and looked for a path to take. This was seriously getting on her nerves. If she didn’t get out of here soon, she’d turn around and go home.
Every few feet, she’d mark her path, check for light, and decide on a route. When she decided enough was enough, she checked one more cavern. There she finally saw a ray of hope. Jenna caught the pun and laughed to herself. She quickly marked the ground, and continued in the direction of light.
Finally, Jenna was stepping out into daylight. What a relief! Much longer, she thought, and she’d have become claustrophobic. She inhaled deeply. Fresh, unpolluted air! This was an experience! She looked around and, of course, didn’t see anything remotely resembling a city skyline. This was so unbelievable! Just a walk through a tunnel in a mountain and life as Jenna knew it no longer existed. She took in another deep breath and decided it was time to put this adventure into gear. She pulled out the clothes from her backpack that she and Eva had scrounged up. Time appropriate. So she was about to dress the part of a poor peasant girl. And Jenna decided to at least play the part of a beggar. That would at least get her a few coins here and there. Even the part of a mute seemed the best bet. At least her broken Spanish wouldn’t be questioned.
Re-dressed, now, Jenna pulled out her water bottle and a couple of granola bars, found a place to hide her backpack, and started on her way. Coming out of the hills, she looked around to see if she could find a road or see anything. She didn’t think that she might possibly be faced with a desert. Luckily that wasn’t the case. But which way was “old” Los Angeles, she pondered. She thought about where it stood in reference to where she’d begun this stint. She didn’t expect anything to look the same, of course.
She spied a road not too far off. Would it correspond to the paved road Eva had pulled in from to bring her to the caves? Jenna decided it was worth a try and headed in that direction. She also noted the sun’s position. But she’d driven east, normally, to come for her mineral bath in the cave. It was late afternoon. So Jenna decided to go in the same direction as the sun. Keeping her CD player concealed in her underwear beneath the voluminous clothes, she listened to some Ricky Martin. That should get her in a Spanish mind-set, she thought!
As it began to get darker, Jenna couldn’t decide whether to try and start a campfire or to keep pushing for Los Angeles. Having left her flashlight in the cave in her backpack, she was just coming to a decision about gathering some brush and twigs, when she felt a vibration in her feet. She quickly took out the earplug headphones and listened. She heard hoofbeats. Lots of them, in fact. She looked behind where she’d come from and saw men in uniform headed in her direction. One of them was a heavy…no way, this guy was fat! She remembered to keep quiet and waved her arms animatedly. The group of soldiers slowed down as the chunk up front shouted an order, having seen her.
“Buenas tardes, Senorita!” he said in a friendly way. Jenna remembered Diego’s banter about a fat sergeant. This had to be him. She timidly waved, and nodded her head in affirmation. “Why are you out so late and alone, Senorita?” the Sergeant asked, concerned.
Jenna raised her eyebrows and began gesturing to him that she was on her way to…how was she going to let him know she needed to clarify ‘Los Angeles’? The Sergeant frowned.
“You cannot speak, little one? That is very interesting. You are the second person I have met who cannot speak. At least you can hear, can you not?” he asked. Jenna nodded enthusiastically, then began gesturing again that she was going in their direction.
The sergeant spoke again, but with authority. “I am Sergeant Dimitrio Lopez Garcia of the King’s army of the pueblo de Los Angeles, and…”
Jenna pointed a finger and nodded at the ‘Los Angeles’ and then at herself that that was where she wanted to go too. The Sergeant frowned again. One of the other soldiers spoke up.
“I think she is trying to tell us she wants to go to Los Angeles, Sergeant,” the soldier said.
“Of course she does, baboso! Corporal Reyes, do you think I am stupid?” bellowed Sgt. Garcia.
“I don’t think I should answer that, Sergeant,” Reyes answered, cautiously. To Jenna, neither one of them struck her as having the highest I.Q. But she sensed no fear in their presence.
“Senorita, may we offer you a ride to the pueblo? You are a stranger here, are you not? I will have to see your papers. But we can do that after we arrive.” The Sergeant dismounted and, in the manners of the highest class of gentlemen, offered to help her on to his own horse. “If you please, Senorita. This way.”
Jenna acted the timid, helpless woman this man probably thought she was. She walked in a humble manner, head bowed slightly, and around to Sgt. Garcia’s horse. He helped her up. And she swung right into the saddle, not behind. Sergeant Garcia was smiling the whole time, but was surprised when Jenna sat herself down.
“Please, Senorita. Where shall I sit?” he asked defeatedly. Suddenly there was snickering coming from Cpl. Reyes. Almost snorting like a pig! The Sergeant looked at him in offense and irritation. “Corporal Reyes, diiiissssmount!” he ordered.
The corporal snapped to attention and did as he was instructed. “Now what, Sergeant?” he asked meekly.
“Corporal Reyes, you can either ride behind one of the others, or walk back to town.” Garcia told him.
Jenna thought it was funny, but not really fair. She began waving her arms for the Sergeant’s attention. Paying heed to her, she shook her head and pointed at Reyes. Then she gestured that he and she could ride tandem. At first the fat Sergeant seemed unwilling, for Corporal Reyes’ insubordination. But Jenna looked at him with a pout and a pleading look, which seemed to break down Garcia’s defenses.
“Very well, Senorita. But let us hurry so we get back to the cuartel soon. The new comandante is expected tomorrow and I am to ride out to meet him.”
Soon the garrison of soldiers, along with Jenna, were headed to Los Angeles. Jenna couldn’t have asked for more. Except if Diego had come along. Or a Lamborghini. But this would do. Now she just had to figure out how to get out of showing any papers.
Think fast, missy, she thought. You could be headed for trouble.
