"Passports please" demanded the border guard, to the Western couple. They nervously handed over their lives.
Two military men flanked the guard .Resting in their hands, machine guns, locked and loaded. Both men looked into space with a deadpan stare.
Thinking about the words he learnt in training, and the words he has never forgotten, ‘Trust no-one especially those that seem to be too clean or those from the West." This pair ticked both boxes.
'What have they got to hide?' he thought as he noticed the couple's nervousness.
"Mmm." the guard muttered as he looked at the passports.
It was a little game he would play to himself, and he was playing now, trying to make those crossing the border as uncomfortable as he could. He would look down at the passports, back up at the person, back down again, then back up at the person. Raising his eyebrows and saying nothing but "MMM"
This would make the innocent look guilty; his pleasure in their pain. It gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling.
This time, his victims, a middle aged Western couple, Tom and Rita Ryman- going by the names written on the passports. He studied the couple, intensely. Tom; bi-spectacled, slightly overweight, and neatly groomed. Rita; no enduring features, just carrying an average look, height and weight. He wondered 'he`s probably an accountant or banker and she, just your usual housewife of the decedent West.' A conclusion brought about by his love for Hollywood movies.
Trust no-one especially those from the West or those that seem to be too clean. Words that again surfaced from his memory bank. Words that have served him well, over the years.
"Hot in here, isn`t it?" said Tom as beads of perspiration began to run down his chubby cheeks.
"Umph." was the only reply as the guard eye balled him. A stare that ran
cold shivers up his spine. Looking away, like Tom did, made him appear guilty.
"Is it always hot like this?" Tom added.
"It's not my job to comment on matters like that." the short, sharp answer. Then added
"We don`t see too many people like you coming through here too often, what's the nature of your visit?"
"We`re here, as missionaries to small rural villages to give advice on health and sanitation also to give a hand to rebuild." he knew this not to be true. The look his wife gave him just might give away he was lying, but to his surprise, it went unnoticed.
After a short, uncomfortable pause came the words that gave the Ryman`s comfort.
"Enter."
Rita and Tom collectively whispered a sigh of relief.
"Ohh, one last thing, I nearly forgot...need to frisk you both."
simultaneously the Ryman`s turned to look at each other, Rita`s look showed concern.
“Don`t worry, I have it all under control.” Tom mouthed.
The rough hands of the two, silent military men began to frisk the pair.
"Must be some sort of reward for them." Tom thought as rough hands began their frisk. Rita winced as hands, belonging to a man, ran up and down her body.
"Nothin` here, boss." said one.
"Or here." said the other.
'Oh they do speak‘ Tom silently said to himself while smirking.
"Ok, you two can go." ordered the guard, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
........
Out of hearing range Rita turned to Tom and whispered,
"Where did you put the stuff?"
"I hid it up a tree."
"You just got our daughter killed."
"Don`t panic, they can come back at night to get it. If we were captured, what good would that have been to anyone?"
"Our instructions were quite clear. Your actions make me very nervous." Rita's trembling voice said while visibly shaking.
"Don`t worry, I have it all under control. If it all goes horribly wrong I`ll just tell them the truth; it was all me, you had nothing to do with it."
"I don`t think it is that simple. I`ve heard stories about this group, they make examples of people who make them look foolish, and your actions just might do that."