Dragonfly Dreams, Part Five

It didn’t take long for something to happen. It was merely seconds between Chuck letting the monkey (which only moments before had been just a tattoo on his arm) out the door and the screaming to begin. Frank was still slightly in shock about seeing the monkey come to life. Of course, when you have seen your boss floating in the air, nothing keeps you in shock too long. He decided that he would just file that image away in a little place in his mind that he had recently labeled “True but Unbelievable.” It was just easier not to think too much about these events.

It sounded like a war had broken out in the airport. There were screams and the sound of running feet. Frank flinched when a gunshot rang out followed by the sharp, crisp scream of a woman. Chuck stuck his head out the door, apparently not concerned if he was going to be shot or not. He motioned for Frank to follow him as he slipped out the door.

If the sounds had been bad, the actual scene was even worse. People were running and screaming. Frank saw some of the nuns from earlier kneeling next to the women’s bathroom and praying. Perhaps they were praying for salvation. Perhaps they had eaten a bad burrito. Frank didn’t care. Another gun shot rang out. The place was totally wiped. Had one little monkey caused all of this commotion?

As he ran behind Chuck, trying to keep up with the slightly younger but definitely more athletic man, he saw the cop who looked like George Lopez go running past. The cop didn’t see him. He couldn’t see him. There was a monkey on top of face, clinging and screeching like a rabid beast.

Moments later, he was free of the hot, stale air of the airport and running in the hot, sticky air of a typical Brazilian summer day. Chuck stopped just in front of him and whistled for a taxi. After a quick negotiation which Frank couldn’t hear or understand, they piled into the back of the broken down little car and were on their way.

Frank took a moment to get his bearings. He was in the back of a taxi (if you could call it that) and was barreling down a crowded street in Brazil. He didn’t even know what city he was in. And the taxi....my God, Frank thought….it was covered with little pictures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. There were a set of rosary beads hanging from the rearview mirror.

“You a religious man Frank?” Chuck asked.

Frank didn’t say anything….just shook his head. He had gone to church pretty regularly at one time in his life…but that had been many years ago. In another life….in another time.

“Yeah…well…by the time this is all over,” Chuck rubbed the place on his arm where the tattoo of the monkey had been, “You just might find salvation.”

Frank decided that he was just going to play mum. He would go along with this freak for the moment until he could find some time to get away….get off to himself….find some time to think. Everything was happening too fast. He needed to call home…to check in with the company. He needed to know what he was supposed to be doing.

Chuck reached in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to Frank.

“Just in case you don’t believe me,” he mumbled.

Frank looked down at the paper which was slightly damp and very wrinkled from being in Chuck’s pocket. He was surprised to see a picture of himself! Underneath it was a message which at one time had been neatly typed. Now it was smudged and hard to read. Swerving from side to side in the rocking taxi, Frank deciphered the note.

Find Frank Mason. Take him to the village. Let him meet the old woman.
He MUST meet the old woman. She knows the way. She has seen it before!
Above all else, protect Frank Mason. He is a Finder.


Frank was amazed to see that it was written on the company’s own letterhead. He guessed that it could have been forged….a copy….but he doubted it. Why would someone go to so much trouble. But then….there had been Martha Miller….or was it Janet Jones? He wondered what was so important that someone would try to get him arrested….make him attack the very person who was sent to meet him? His head started to swim. Partly it was from the crazy driving and the heat….partly it was from all of the things that were happening.

“Who is the old woman?” Frank finally asked, handing the note back to Chuck who waved it away. Apparently he didn’t need it anymore.

“I’ve only met her once myself,” Chuck said, “But that was over a year ago. All that I know for sure is that the company is after something…amazing. It is something that is lost somewhere in the Brazilian jungle….and that place is pretty freaking huge! But this woman…her name is Irza….has seen it.”

“But what is it that we are supposed to be finding?” Frank asked, his curiosity peaking.

Chuck just smiled and his face lit up, “I can’t really say. I don’t really know. I just know that it is something…FANTASTIC. The locals talk about it though. They say that in the jungle…if you look hard enough….you can find the face of God!”

Frank just stared at Chuck. If it had been a few months earlier, he would have considered Chuck to be just another loony. Now….well, now….he wasn’t so sure. Was he supposed to find the face of God? Just what exactly did that mean anyway?

A loud honking sound pulled him out of his thoughts. Another taxi was careening toward them from the left side. Frank saw movement in the back seat. It was a woman…a very familiar woman….Janet Jones! She was leaning out the window….she was holding something in her hand.

“Get down you fool!” Chuck yelled, pulling Frank down into the floor so quickly that he didn’t have time to register the fact that a loud bang had filled the air. Glass was falling all around him. They were being shot at….and by the looks of things, Janet Jones was not out to just get them arrested. She was out for blood!

“What do you know?” Chuck smirked, “Stuck in this cab….and I’m fresh out of tattoos!”