"That was nothing," Zachary said. "I can show you a large group of them. Wanna see?"
"Mark the position, and we'll take a look the next time through. Tonight's our getting-oriented venture."
They walked in silence for nearly two miles on ground that was largely level, rose only slightly toward a forest draw, then abruptly fell away to a steep grade.
Zachary whispered something about prehistoric volcanic action. "Whatever it was," he said, "look what it set up for us." He and Carter removed their infrared scopes and peered down the draw.
Below them were three small buildings, made of adobe and the thick Belezian timbers, with thatched roofs. They were small but substantial, with a number of shuttered windows. Several vehicles were parked nearby: at least two Jeeps, a troop transport, and a six-by-four truck. There was a well-made fire pit much like the one Carter had seen earlier. A cheery fire smoldered in the night. The camp security was not great. One man sat sleeping, his head resting on his knees; another man read a comic book by the light of the fire.
"You've been pretty good with your educated guesses," Zachary said with admiration. "Now I've got a hunch of my own. There are about three guys down there who'd be very happy for some sushi right now — three investment banker types."
Carter was genuinely growing to enjoy Zachary. "That's no guess, Sam. You had some time and you were down there and you saw them firsthand."
"You got me," Zachary admitted. "That's just what I did. Those people are so relaxed and sure of themselves that we could go in and take the Japanese out of there right now."
Noting the time, Carter said, "It's worth the risk. We've got to try for it."
Carter set up the operation in segments.
He went down first, and took out the guard who was reading the comic book. He pushed heavily on the man's carotid artery, and when the guard had passed out, he trussed him with his belts.
The guard who'd been asleep came awake with the beginnings of a yell, Carter had to put Hugo to work, right through the throat. Bloody, but fast.
He gave Zachary the signal and the CIA man began taking all the vehicles out of commission except the Jeep that had the fullest tank.
Carter went through the weapons he'd taken from the guards, settled on two .45s, and put those in the Jeep. They'd be insurance for the investment bankers.
To Zachary he said, "See if you can do a quick sort and find a map that will get these guys out of here and back to Belize City."
The CIA man smiled. "Already on the driver's seat. What next?"
"I'm going to hit the house. Check to see if you can find any phone lines, alarm systems, or radio devices. Take care of them."
Checking Wilhelmina's action, Carter moved on the house. In the back room, two more guards were playing cards for American dollars, a combination of gin and draw poker.
They looked up at Carter with bewilderment. "I know it looks tacky, our playing cards, sir," one of them said. "But we've got the place well secured."
"Really," the other said.
"How wrong you are!" Carter leveled two blasts at them. Their card-playing days were over.
A tangy odor reached Carter and he realized what a break he'd had. There was someone else in the house, cooking a meal for the prisoners. Probably someone who knew Japanese cooking. That could have been trouble.
She was young and small, and looked to be in her early twenties. There were strong traces of the Orient in her delicate cheeks and brow. She was probably a mixture of Filipino and Japanese, with maybe a few other touches. She had the kitchen going with boiling water and things sizzling on a brazier. In a white smock that was a bit too small for her, she was quite an eyeful — enough to make any man stop and turn.
Carter hit the door fast and advanced on her, Wilhelmina in hand.
"No!" she cried. "Please! No!" She shook her head, trying to indicate she'd do nothing to raise an alarm.
She was frightened but made no move to go on the attack. There was a sudden weariness in her face. Men had seen her and wanted things. Her small, sharp breasts. Her tiny waist and graceful hips. A beautiful, poor woman, used to having no control over her one asset. Her almond eyes sought his, pleading for no violence.
"Take off your stockings," Carter directed.
She looked at him and began to whimper.
"It isn't what you think," he said softly. "I have to tie you."
She sat, removed her shoes, and began to cry. "Ah, God," she said, "it always happens this way."
Carter noticed that she wore a handwoven Indian sash around her waist. He motioned her to the floor, turned her on her stomach, drew her wrists together, and secured them with one stocking. Then he went to work on her ankles with the other. With the sash, he tied wrists and ankles together.
"I'm not making the knots tight," Carter said. "I can't take the chance that you'll follow or call out for help. I need time."
She was not going to be particularly comfortable, but she wasn't going to suffer.
He shredded a towel to make a gag. She began whimpering.
Before he could place the gag, Zachary signaled that the outside was secure. "I'm going to circle the place just in case we missed anything," he said.
Carter nodded and hit the door, both hands on Wilhelmina.
The Japanese bankers were in a state of lethargy from their ordeal. At first they sprang to attention, caught by the sudden adrenaline, but as Carter went from door to door, room to room, protecting himself, looking for any other guards, they came to regard him as merely another crazy Westerner.
"Do any of you speak English?" he asked in Japanese.
They all nodded. They were in their forties, wearing the fine custom-tailored suits they'd had on at the time they'd been taken. Their experience made them jumpy, resigned.
"How often do the guards come to check?" Carter asked.
The only one of the three who did not wear glasses spoke. "The longest they leave us is two hours. They are nearly due. A girl nearby cooks for us."
Carter went into the next room, hefted the young woman, and brought her back inside. "Is she the one or is she a substitute?"
All three shook their heads. "She was the only one. She was good to us."
"Do any of you drive an automobile?"
One nodded.
"A Jeep. Four-wheel drive?"
There was a silence. The bankers looked at one another nervously. "Automatic. Chrysler Imperial."
Zachary knocked on the outside wall. "All clear at the moment."
Carter moved to the window. "They say we can expect some inspection at any time now. I think we've got to get them in the Jeep and get them going right now. You and I stick it out for the inspection team. Buy these guys as much time as possible."
"I'll do one more circle and meet you by the Jeep." Zachary said.
"There's just one problem," Carter said. "Only one of these guys drives and he can't handle a stick shift much less four-wheel drive."
"There's a shift diagram right over the lever," Zachary said. "He'll have to learn fast."
"I can drive four-wheel," the woman said timidly.
"You're sure?"
She nodded.
"That's it. This operation's blessed," Zachary said. He pounded the side of the building and was gone.
By now it was beginning to dawn on the Japanese that they were being rescued. "You are brave to do this."
"What did your captors tell you?" Carter said. He quickly began to untie the young woman.
"After we are brought here, we meet a stocky man…"
"…with short blond hair…"
"…yes, and he wears wire glasses. Afrikaner. Man named…"
"Bezeidenhout?" Carter prompted.
All three Japanese nodded.
"What did he tell you?"
"He said he had picked us carefully. That we were part of a big venture. Bigger than any multinational or offshore capital venture the world has ever known. We would bring him millions of Japanese yen."