Payback

106

Babin put his hand on the back of the plastic chair in the waiting area at the Manta airport, waiting for their flight to begin boarding. They had driven much of the night and nearly all the day to get to Manta, in the northeastern comer of Ecuador, but Babin thought it far safer than Quito or any of the smaller airports in the south. The police here seemed to take little notice of them. He was not so sure it would have been the same near the capital.

Túcume sat in the next row, stony eyed and tired. But at least he had not deteriorated any further.

The girl was to thank for that. She had proven useful, not only in buying food and then tickets, but also at the bank a few hours before, where with the help of a new dress she had posed as Babin’s secretary as he arranged the final money transfers and a sizable withdrawal.

He had decided not to kill her for several reasons, all practical. She was what some people called simple and lacked the mental capability to betray them. More important, he did not think the general could withstand the shock. Here was a man who had probably killed hundreds during his military career, and yet he had been trembling after the taxi driver was executed.

As the attendant moved to the desk to announce the flight, Babin took up his crutches and went over to the girl.

“Calvina, here,” he said, taking the ticket for Quito from his pocket. “Your flight leaves in two hours. Go back into the terminal, past the shop with the shawls. Match the number of the gate to this number here. That is where you should go.”

She nodded as she took it.

“Why don’t you come with us?” said Túcume, looking up from his seat.

“I—”

“You want to go to the North, don’t you?”

“I’m not sure that would be the best for all of us,” said Babin.

“I think she should come. You had to buy a ticket for her to get to the gate area,” added the general. “It’s no more of an expense.”

“Money has nothing to do with it,” said Babin.

“I don’t know if I can,” said Calvina.

“You’re scared of the men who gave you the passport?” asked Túcume.

“Might I suggest we discuss this nearer to the aisle, where there are no ears to listen in?” said Babin.

Túcume got up and walked to the opposite end of the waiting area. By the time Babin reached them, tears were slipping from the girl’s eyes.

“Now what?” he asked Túcume.

“She was supposed to bring drugs to the United States. I told her what would happen in the North, when she arrived.”

Though she hadn’t said, Babin had easily guessed why she wanted to go to Quito. The general must have as well.

“Of course,” said Babin.

“She didn’t understand everything.”

There was little time to argue.

“Won’t they kill her family if she doesn’t go?” said Babin.

“Not if she hasn’t taken money from them. They are cowards.”

Túcume’s voice was forceful — not its old self but a shadow of it at least.

“Why not?” said Babin, hearing their aisle called behind him. “We’ll keep her with us, and perhaps she’ll be of some use.”

Calvina looked out the window of the airplane. Señor Oroya said they were nearing Mexico, but all she could see were the tufted gray tops of clouds — a wondrous, incredible sight, the sight angels would see when they looked down at earth.

Señor Oroya — she believed that was not his real name, though it fit him — had proven very kind. He and the other man, the one with the crutches called Stephan, had asked her to do almost nothing, and in return had fed her and bought her clothes, been so very kind. She felt she could trust Señor with her life. He seemed like a protector, a true godfather.

He told her the men who had given her the passport were evil. Not because of the drugs but because of what they did to souls.

Calvina believed him. He was the sort of man who knew many things and could make much happen. He was rich and wise, and if they came for her now, he would protect her.

Calvina’s thoughts went back to the school and the man with the balloons. And then she thought of the Chinawoman, the apparition that had appeared, talking in many tongues so Calvina could understand.

Like an angel would.

Just a woman. A kind woman.

Sent by the Blessed Virgin, perhaps. To find out how to help. Nothing occurred by accident.

Calvina continued to gaze at the clouds, wondering what the future would bring.