"Each of my men waits for a turn, puta, and they will get it if you tell a single lie," Cesar warned, moving toward her as she continued to cough and gag.
"Your name and why were you left behind. You have disease?"
"Samantha...not left. Here... too late. Saw... them leaving." She stayed on the ground, coughing it up, and cringed when the short, stocky leader jerked her to her feet.
"Tell me," he ordered, not letting her turn away from the wind that was gusting sand at them in small clouds.
"Two ... jeeps, three vans? ...Like SWAT,…. only solid black."
"How many men?"
She shook her head, trembling. "They were leaving when I... came up 210. I only saw them go."
"She lies!" José exclaimed, stepping toward her with eyes that said her mouth hadn't been nearly enough. "They left her because she is diseased. I claim her."
Cesar watched her face, saw how fast the fire blazed in her hate-filled American eyes.
"They did not leave me! They would have loved to have me, but the dumb-ass driver never looked back!"
Cesar swung her around, forcing eye contact, "And why es it that they would love to have you, puta? What makes you so especial?"
Sam dropped her eyes and stepped through destiny's open door. "I'm a storm tracker. Who doesn't need that now?"
Cesar hid his pleasure and gave José a nod as he shoved her, tripping her so she hit the dirt. "My tent first. Show her what I expect tonight. Mañana, she does rounds of el los soldados."
Samantha's heart clenched with fear like she'd never known, unable to believe they saw no value in her. Escape! Her mind began to scream it, and she immediately began to make a plan, ignoring the dark hands now crawling inside her torn shirt.
She had gotten out a call and been answered, but the radio had gone dead before she could find out if they would come back. She couldn't count on that. She would have to save herself again. Samantha began looking around, desperately searching for anything that could help her. Crooked tents with Mexican flags and slogans were going up, the smoky breeze carrying the odors of feces, rot, blood, and death, screams echoing from the other side of the big camp…it took only a moment to understand. These men were evil, plain and simple.
She had stayed in the school because she'd been hoping the men who had gotten the others would come back, had decided to give them a full week to get here if they were coming, but now her time had run out. A piercing scream echoed, making her jump, and she stopped her light struggles as José led her roughly through one side of the unorganized camp. There were other whites here, but they were in the same boat as she was.