Free Manus Xingue by Jack Challis Page B

parliament,’ announces Kane, ignoring the two troopers’ concerns about Indian Joe. ‘We have lost time and need to catch up with Chevez tomorrow.’
    ‘It could work in our favour,’ says Dublin. ‘Chevez will think he has shaken us off and relax – we can catch him around his camp-fire tomorrow night.’
    ‘It’s our only chance,’ agrees Kane. ‘He is now heading east, leading us into the malarial swamps of Boa Santos – same as he did the Yanks.’
    ‘He’s a tricky bastard all right,’ adds Dublin. ‘I have never come across the snake booby-trap before – remember, he mixes with the Kier Verde, and has picked up some of their tricks.’
    ‘We have to finish it tomorrow night,’ says Kane. ‘The longer the chase goes on, the more dangerous it will become!’

    Three miles away to the north, Chevez and the three Kier Verde indians sit around a small fire, smoking.
    ‘I will be happy when we cross the Japari River into our land – then our magic power will return,’ comments Yuma.
    ‘We can then become the Invisible People again,’ adds Rondo.
    ‘Your power is jungle knowledge,’ says Chevez. ‘You cannot lose it!’
    ‘You do not understand, Chevez,’ says Yuma. ‘Once we cross the Japari River, our power leaves us. Our green masks cannot make us the Invisible People!’ Chevez smiles at the Kier Verde superstitions and shakes his head.
    ‘I wonder if the long-nosed, white soldiers are still following us?’ Apari asks. ‘The jungle animals have given no sign, of us being followed,’ replies Yuma. ‘These soldiers are different from the Americanos,’ says Chevez. ‘They travel light and move quickly and quietly.’
    ‘Yes – at the hut,’ agrees Rondo, ‘they avoided the mantrap and moved silently – I smelt them first!’
    ‘They must have been near the hut all night,’ remarks Chevez, cleaning his beloved rifle. ‘We must be extra careful tonight,’ warns Apari, ‘for we are now deep in the territory of the evil, Cat-spirit who craves man-meat.’
    Chevez smiles. ‘It’s just a jaguar that has found out man is weak. My rifle will kill the Cat-spirit, amigos!’
    ‘If it was just a jaguar, we would have killed it ourselves,’ argues Apari, ‘It is a devil, and killed over a hundred people. Only magic can kill the evil Cat-spirit.’
    The Catholic Chevez is unconvinced. ‘If the white soldiers are still following us tomorrow, I know a way, maybe, to kill them all! Yuma, tomorrow you go ahead – look out for the tracks of El Lobo!’ The three indians grin at the possible prospect.

CHAPTER SEVEN
JAGUARS THAT WALK ON TWO LEGS
    At dawn the next morning, the three SAS troopers make an early start in order to regain contact with Chevez.
    ‘I’m just going to pay my last respects to Taffy,’ says Dublin.
    A shout from the grave brings Kane and Lacy running.
    ‘Look – what that bastard Chevez has done to Taffy during the night!’ Dublin exclaims.
    The three SAS troopers stare at Taffy Edwards’ grave. His body had been pulled from the grave and was grimly leaning on the edge. His left arm is missing! ‘Could be an animal?’ Lacy suggests. ‘The man-eater!’
    ‘That’s no animal – that’s the work of a machete,’ observes Dublin.
    Sergeant Kane looks around for tracks. ‘Whoever, or whatever, it was has taken great care not to leave a single track. I don’t think it was Chevez, Frank. His strategy is to keep running.’
    ‘Besides,’ adds Lacy, ‘he could have easily taken one of us out. We all took turns on watch last night. That skeleton we saw yesterday had an arm missing. What do you think, Sarge?’
    ‘Now I see through a light glass darkly,’ replies the Sergeant.’
    Dublin begins to rebury Edwards. Suddenly, Indian Joe appears from nowhere and snorts a line of cocaine. The three SAS troopers study the indian: who grins back at them.
    The group moves off. A helicopter is heard in the distance. Indian Joe is the first to hear it and quickly takes