Chapter 31 - The Kidnap

Time passed slowly, it did not seem to want to go dark. The kidnap gang were talking quietly amongst themselves. The weather was getting warmer and more humid.

Gammelnok suggested they show him the place where they intended to hold the Mayor's son captive. So off they trundled, the leader in front, his two lieutenants close behind and the girls with Gammelnok between then bringing up the rear.

The girls were apprehensive and had great doubts about the scheme, but they were used to follow the leader. Gammelnok also had his doubts and was beginning to regret that he had fallen in with this group of kids. He was curious though to see the storm drain they had chosen as a hiding place.

Not far from the town, a narrow road led over a cut in a hillside. Below was the storm drain, well hidden by shrubs and trees. Looking up the hillside, a shallow indent extended a few hundred meters into the distant hills. Looking downwards, the cut extended deeply towards the distant river. During the rainy season this would be a raging torrent with water draining into the river in great volumes and at great speed.

Luckily, the rainy season was still months away and the storm drain was nice and dry.

Scrambling down the bank on the upside of their hiding place they all crept inside. Nice and cool but dark. It was evident the group came here often. A group of building blocks for seats were placed around an indentation that obviously had been used to as a fireplace for cooking. Ashes were covered with some half burned twigs. Empty water bottles and crumpled crisp packets were scattered on the ground.

The afternoon passed slowly, the group chatting, arguing and fun fighting amongst themselves. Gammelnok decided to explore the surrounding hillsides. Uphill, the terrain seemed to funnel towards the hideout from several hills. Supposedly that was why the storm drain was placed where it was. Downhill the drain-off was steep, in places narrowing and dropping several meters before eventually widening into a wider rock strewn arroyo extending to the river far away. From there anything washed down the hillside would eventually flow into the Atlantic and disappear forever.

As evening approached, the leader of the group asked Gammelnok to stay behind and write the initial ransom note to be delivered by the girls once the Mayor's son was successfully abducted and hidden in the culvert. That note would instruct the Mayor to go to a specific stall in the market at noon the following day, Saturday, to get the written ransom demands.

Time passed slowly for Gammelnok while the others went about their tasks. The two notes had been written, one for the Mayor and one for the friend of their leader. As decided, the girls would sneak up on the Mayor at the evening festivities, place the note in his hand and rush back to their hiding place. Once they had returned, the leader would seek out his friend and hand him the second note only to be given to the Mayor in person the following day.

Then there was a loud stomping of feet outside and a young boy was shoved into the drain followed by the group of five abductors. Candles were lit and revealed a sulking dark haired obese boy of about ten years of age. Hands bound behind his back, he was forced to sit on the ground with his back to the curving wall and told to keep his mouth shut.

The two girls now hurried back to the Feria ground, trying to locate the unsuspecting Mayor and press the ransom note into his hand before disappearing into the crowd.

They soon returned, out of breath, but glowing from the excitement. All had gone to plan so far.

The leader took off to deliver the ransom demand to his market friend and then they just had to wait.