“Do as they say, John.”
“Holy Jesus, Joseph, and Mary!” Sereida says behind me. “This is bad.”
John stops the car; the men aim their guns at us.
Brother, don’t risk your life; let me handle them.
They are here to kill, Sister. They will not bargain. Hold John back, for they will be able to see him. Please guard John’s life now.
I’ll look after him. Be careful, my brother.
I thank you, Sereida. I will.
John stops the car and speaks to the men; they laugh at him since they speak no English and understand nothing of what John says. Sereida puts both her hands on John’s shoulders. They cannot see her; I have made sure they do not.
I get out of the car and make myself visible. They point their guns at me now and speak in Spanish to me.
“Well, well, where do you think you are going, you little shit?”
“I see your minds are set on killing. But it is my obligation to give you a final warning: You are about to lose your lives if you do not leave this place now.”
They look at each other and laugh. Two of them come closer to my vehicle; the other one is still by John’s side.
“I don’t have all day, gringo; we want all the money and everything else you have … clothes and car included.… You! Get out of the damn car…,” they yell out to John.
“Put the weapons down and leave in peace. I do not wish to take your lives.”
John wants to get out of the car, but Sereida holds him back; she is mighty strong under her disguise of an old, helpless woman. The man next to John wants to shoot him. I move my hand toward the hostile man and compressed air sends him flying back. I now turn to the other two; bullets have been already fired in my direction.
I make the bullets stop; they fall on the ground.
I send compressed air to the other two men. One of them gets up and takes a knife out; he wants to hurt this vehicle. I hear John screaming but I know he is fine; he is just scared.
I have no choice but to deal with the one that holds the knife; his friends are getting more weapons, which were concealed under their clothing, to attack me. Reasoning with them is over.
I shall take their lives now.
