The Quest for Paradise

The muted color of my clothes and backpack didn't stand out overly and now without my white face glowing in the darkness of this jungle environment I felt far more comfortable at not being detected. I moved on then deeper into the jungle as quietly as I could.

An hour later I thought I heard the faint sound of surf again and so I made an abrupt turn and headed in the opposing direction. I wanted nothing to do with the coast and the flashing lasers of its denizens.

*****

Out of breath from a hard climb upwards I bent over at the waist to take the pressure off my lungs. As my breathing stilled I heard sounds over my breaths for air and without hesitation I fell to my face and did my best to disappear.

Reaching my arm out I pulled the large leaves of a plant close by even closer in the hopes that it would better conceal my head and backpack. Seconds went by and then feet tromped so close that I could feel the vibrations of them off the ground beneath my cheek.

Soldiers, but whose?

Daring a glance I confirmed that they were indeed soldiers, but they weren't American soldiers. The best that I could make out was that they were Indian.

The sudden crunch of a foot landing beside me and my concealing vegetation being pushed away from me confirmed for me that my days of freedom were over. Slowly I got to my feet and turned to face the Israeli soldiers who held their guns leveled off at my midsection.

Their faces reflected a seriousness that was only to intent to shoot me if they saw the need for it. I didn't move a muscle for fear of one of them being trigger-happy.

A voice rang out behind me in heavily accented English, "An American. One of the few left alive I wager. Shoot her."

My panic increased to a fever's pitch as I subconsciously felt the pain of soon to be felt hot lead as it ripped through me.

"No, delay that. She might prove useful. Cuff her and bring her along." Came another voice that I attributed to an Israeli officer.

"Useful for an evening's diversion maybe!" Rang out the Indian commander's voice in broken English as both he and the men at his back laughed.

The Israeli soldiers did not laugh however and perhaps for good reason as several of their number were female. Female soldiers who looked more interested in the moment in pulling the trigger on their allies than they did on me.

One such female soldier pulled my hands behind my back and then I felt the metallic feel of cuffs close over them. Her action brought me into view of the Israeli officer who had in effect saved my life.