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Back Jungle Up Save as PDF
Chapters (63)
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  63. Author’s Note

“Dude, you need to pull it together,” I told Andy. “You’re embarrassing me.”

This was like the time I sat next to Brett Lentz in the high school cafeteria. I was trying to be nice—you know, sit next to the kid who always eats alone. I thought maybe we could be like Zack Morris and Screech, but then Brett took his shirt off and started rubbing his burrito against his nipples before each bite. And next thing you know, Jessica Morris (my #1), Courtney Yonder (my backup), and Heather Richter (my last resort) all “really don’t feel like doing the whole homecoming thing this year.”

“What’s your favorite video game?” I asked.

One of Andy’s eyes peeked open. “What?”

“You’re wearing that stupid shirt. You’re obviously a gamer. So, tell me, What is your favorite video game?”

The plane rocked and both of Andy’s eyes instantly snapped shut.

“Come on,” I prodded. “Donkey Kong? Space Invaders? Grand Theft whatever?

“Auto,” he said, adjusting his seat upright a few clicks. “Grand Theft Auto.”

“Right.”

“GTA’s not bad, but I mostly play Red Dead Redemption.”

“What’s that?”

He brought his seat fully upright and said, “Oh, it’s great.” He started telling me all about the game.

A few minutes later, there was a soft thud, and the pilot came over the intercom, “Welcome to La Paz, folks.”

8

8

aeropuerto internacional el alto
august 13, 4:27 p.m.
days since abduction: 8

Exiting the plane, two things were immediately evident: the air was much cooler than it had been in Miami, and there was a lot less oxygen in it.

I knew from my research that La Paz rested on a natural plateau in the Andes Mountains and, at an elevation of almost twelve thousand feet, it was the highest capital city in the entire world. It was located in the far western center of Bolivia, twenty miles from the Peruvian border. Though if you want to get technical, we weren’t in La Paz, we were at the El Alto International Airport, eight miles from the Bolivian capital.

La Paz was visible in the distance, a Lego city set against a background of sprawling, white-capped mountains. It was one of the more beautiful views I’d ever seen, but hopefully it wasn’t one I would get to enjoy for long.

As I descended the jet’s airstairs, I gave the blue duffel bag in my right hand a few small lifts. It felt the same as it had before, though I wouldn’t know for certain if Molly snuck out a few bundles while I was asleep until I took the time to count it, which didn’t seem like the best idea to do on the tarmac with two airport officials in yellow vests fast approaching.