Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors

by Piers Paul Read

‘Carlitos? Is that you?’ It was Colonel Morel. ‘Yes, it’s me,’ said Páez Vilaró, in a tone of mild irritation. ‘And I appreciate you calling me like this to say good-bye, but the plane is waiting for me … I’ll see you after Christmas.’ ‘Okay,’ said Morel. ‘I’m sorry to keep you. It’s just that I thought that since you’ve been looking for those boys of yours for so long, you might like to come and see them.’ Páez Vilaró said nothing. The puppy fell to the floor. ‘You could also help me with this note,’ Morel went on. ‘It might be a fake, but I don’t think so. It says, “I come from a plane that fell in the mountains. I am Uruguayan”.’ Blinded by tears, Páez Vilaró rushed from the police station out onto the tarmac. The engines of the plane had already started; they were only waiting for him to climb the steps before pulling them away. ‘Rulo, Rulo!’ Páez Vilaró yelled. ‘They found them! I’m staying.’ In a moment Rodríguez Escalada was at his side, and the two weeping Uruguayans fell into each other’s arms, shouting to the skies, ‘They’re alive, they’re alive!’ Then together they rushed back through the customs and passport control, shouting and weeping and causing some consternation among the various officials and fellow passengers.