Watching the End of the World – 17

Then Caleb said, ���Is that what I think it is?���

Akila looked at him. ���What do you think it is?���

���I think it���s heroin. But what is this much heroin doing in Africa? Heroin doesn���t come from Africa.���

���Maybe it���s not heroin,��� Jordynn said.

���I saw something on CNN about this,��� Jenna said. ���They said with all the pressure on the heroin trade in Afghanistan that more and more of it was being produced in Africa.���

���That���s a lot of heroin,��� Tamara said, her eyes getting big. ���I���ve never seen that much at once before.��� Caleb gave her a look but didn���t say anything.

���Hijo de la Madre,��� Santiago swore. ���If that���s heroin we got real problems.���

���I don���t understand,��� Jordynn said quietly.

���This must be a transfer point for a drug operation,��� Akila said. ���That���s why this airstrip is here in the middle of nowhere. The money from the drugs is probably being used to finance one of the rebel armies fighting to overthrow the government.���

���She means we are in a very bad situation,��� Santiago said.

���They���re going to come back,��� Tamara said. ���No one leaves this much drugs behind. They���re going to kill us all.���

���What are we going to do?��� Nate asked.

���Maybe we could just put it outside,��� Jordynn said. ���Maybe they���ll take it and leave us alone.���

���It doesn���t work that way,��� Santiago snapped. ���Not with drug dealers.���

���What if we just leave? Get out of here before they get back?��� Tamara asked.

���Really?��� Santiago said. ���Are you stupid? We���re in a middle of a fucking jungle. How long do you think we���ll last out there?���

���You don���t have to yell at me! I���m just trying to help.��� Tears ran down Tamara���s face, smearing her makeup. She turned to Caleb. ���Why are you letting him talk to me like that?���

���Just ease off, mate,��� Caleb said. ���We���re all a little tense.���

���We have to fight,��� Santiago said, ignoring Caleb.

���Fight?��� Jenna asked. ���How are we going to fight them? They have guns in case you hadn���t noticed.���

Santiago looked around the warehouse. ���They must have some guns stashed here somewhere. All we have to do is find them.���

Excerpt from��Watching the End of the World