Zen's War: Captivity
Chapter 13: Pablo’s Parley

The light of the sun began to show on the horizon. As was the case many early mornings, Zen was the only one awake. Aurora slept soundly in her sleeping bag. Hectors snoring could be heard for miles around. Derek slept soundly also, as did Pablo.

After Zen woke Aurora, Derek and Hector discussed the route they would take. The problem was they didn’t really know where they were going. They could follow Interstate 10. The problem was that it was heavily patrolled by soldiers of the Mexican Revolutionary Front. They were infamous for their corruption. They were known to kidnap women as well as teenage girls and sell them as slaves. They were also known to hold people for ransom. It was easy for them to control people, because they had weapons. They were well supplied with guns and other instruments of war. For this reason it was not wise to argue with them.

“Maybe we could ask Pablo to come with us. He may be an asset to us,” Aurora suggested, still inside her sleeping bag.

“We don’t need any help. This isn’t his concern anyway. We’ll have to find Sahara on our own,” Zen responded.

“He may not be able to help us find her, but he may be useful in other ways. He knows how to find water. How can we have time to focus on finding Sahara if we are constantly trying to find water?”

Zen thought about it a second. She did have a point. “Well I guess, but we hardly know him. Aren’t you the least bit worried?”

“Trust me. Have I ever led you astray before?”Aurora said, with a smirk on her face.

“Well there was that one time―”

“Don’t answer that. Just trust me on this one. I have a sixth sense for these things. I can read people,” Aurora said.

She was the only one who could convince him to do just about anything. When she looked at him with those emerald colored eyes he almost couldn’t help but give in.

“Alright, but you’re going to have to ask him,” he responded, giving in.

Aurora didn’t say another word. She immediately emerged from her sleeping bag, stood up, and went to ask Pablo if he would come with them. He remained asleep inside of his Winnebago camper. She walked over to the camper shell and peered through its rearview window. Pablo was snoring loudly lying on top of his ancient box-spring mattress. She then wrapped on the door of the camper. Pablo stirred, rolled over from a supine position on his right side and fell back to sleep. Aurora knocked again, this time harder still.

Pablo finally woke up. “Go away you damn coyotes,” he shouted. “I don’t have any food to give you.”

“Pablo, it’s me Aurora.”

“Who?”

“Remember, we traded those quartz crystals for water last night.”

“Oh yeah, you enjoyed the jackrabbit with me,” she answered as though he had just had an epiphany.

“Yeah, it was quite delicious. Anyhow, would you mind if we had a word with you?”

“Give me a minute. I’ll be right there.”

Slowly Pablo crawled from his bed and through the dirt, eventually emerging through the camper shell’s rear window. He stood up after he had emerged. Then shaking the dirt from his jeans, he then walked over to where the rest of them stood.

“What can I do you for?” he responded, glad to be needed.

“We have a proposition for you,” Aurora answered.

“This better be good. You interrupted my dream. Her name was Charlotte. I took her out for a drink. One thing led to another then...”

“I get the point,” Zen interrupted, with no patience for games. “Back to the subject at hand. Last night I told you that my daughter has gone missing. We were wondering if you’re willing to come with us?”

Pablo’s eyes lit up. “First of all, where are you planning to go?”

“We’re not really sure. We were hoping you could come with us. Your ability to find water will be a big help. That way we can focus on looking for Sahara,” Aurora answered.

“As long as the price is right, I’ll go along with you,” Pablo responded

“Why can’t you find her on your own? Anyways, how are you going to pay me, with your good looks?”

“Whatever food or water we find, you get at least half of it.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” he said, then stopped and thought about it. “Alright, I’ll go. I’m getting sick of talking to myself anyway. I’ve been alone with only my thoughts to keep me company, for too long.”

Hector and Derek simply stood there listening to their conversation. At this moment it wouldn’t have mattered what their opinion was, Zen and Aurora wouldn’t have listened anyway.

“So, we have a deal?” Aurora asked, extending her right hand to shake Pablo’s, but Pablo did not return the gesture. Instead he kept his hand at his side. “Aren’t you going to shake my hand?”

“Forgive me if I don’t shake hands. I never have and probably never will. I guess you could say I’m set in my ways.”

“To each his own,” Aurora answered, trying to hide his annoyance. Someone who doesn’t shake hands has something to hide, Zen thought.

“We need to get going, before the day is gone. It’s already half over. We’ll never find Sahara at this rate,” Zen said with urgency.

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