Arrival

The van carrying us drove around in what I am convinced were unnecessary loops, guaranteeing that it wasn’t being followed from where we were being kept. When we finally reached our destination, Garotinha and I were in what appeared to be an underground entrance to some structure. I turned around and caught a glimpse of the sunlight shining downing a long paved ramp.

Before I could try to pick out any landmarks or clues as to where I was, six unfamiliar guards shuffled us into a cargo elevator and, to my surprise, we descended further underground.

We passed two floors before the elevator stopped and we got out. As we were led down a nondescript cement walkway, I began to worry about the team’s ability to monitor anything four stories underground.

After a series of twists and turns that I carefully memorized, in case I needed to get out, we were brought to a room marked “Vestidor” and ushered inside while two of our guards waited just inside the door and the others took up positions outside.

The voice that greeted us was nasally and clearly comfortable speaking English as it said, “Fuck-ing Hell! Could they paw-ssibly send me more mangy ragamuffins?”