Jungle Jeep Ride

It was daybreak by the time Jasmine regained consciousness, thanks to the noisy rooster that was cock-a-doodling outside the healer's doorway.

The first thing she saw was the kindly face of the healer woman who immediately took the opportunity to force down a vile tasting dark liquid down her throat.

Jasmine gagged but managed to swallow most of the stuff and then leaned back against the straw cushion that the woman provide for her.

She had no idea where she was but it was a far sight better than the abusive journey astride the buffalo in the horrid jungle.

The woman continued to wipe down her face and body with a strong alcoholic brown liquid which stained her skin and smelled to high heaven, but left her body chilled and did a wonderful job in numbing her aches and pains.

Then she fed Jasmin a light broth and once breakfast was done, she covered her with a straw mat.

"Sleep as much as you can before your man comes and takes you back on the journey."

Jasmine vaguely wanted to tell the healer that the horrid man was not 'her man', but the accumulated effects of medicines and exhaustion pulled her back into its dark maws.

As Jasmine slept, she dreamed about horned beasts and gods with strange markings and hooves, and all the while, she could not be sure that she was not one herself.

Several hours later, the healer woke her up and led her over to a wooden tub where she was bathed with oils from some jungle fruit that smelled like citrus.

It took the dark stain off her skin and replaced the astringent medicinal smell with a much more pleasant fruity citrus scent.

The woman washed her hair with something that lathered into a nice lush foam and rinsed it out with clean water. Then she rubbed more of the citrus-scented oil into her hair, leaving it shiny and clean.

She was sitting on the pallet eating a piece of wild fruit when Anh Hai came in through the open partition that served as the doorway. He spoke a few words to the woman and then turned to Jasmine.

"You are looking much better. How are you feeling?"

"Lousy, thanks to you." She ignored his gaze and continued to chew on her fruit.

"Finish your fruit. We will be moving out within the hour. My other men were able to locate us and have brought their jeeps that will carry us across the rough terrain."

"Jeeps?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Yes," he nodded. "We are still fairly deep within the jungle but these vehicles can make it into these area to pick us up."

Jasmine nodded. A bouncy jouncy ride on a jeep was still better than sitting astride on a bouncy jouncy buffalo.

"You will be a bit more comfortable. There is adequate space so that you can sit or even lie down in relative comfort."

"What about the buffalo and the ponies?"

"I gifted them to the villagers as a token of our thanks for taking care of you so well. They will find the animals very useful in working their lands and drawing their loads."

By noon, three jeeps had arrived at the village amidst much shouting and commotion by the villagers. They had gotten used to Anh Hai and his men and were no longer hesitant and shy around them.

Jasmine stuck her head out the doorway and saw the three covered jeeps standing in the middle of the courtyard and breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the rains had subsided, the air was still heavy with moisture. She had no doubt it would start up again as soon as they were back on the road. Riding inside the vehicle would provide much needed relief from the pounding rain.

Before leaving, Jasmine was made to drink another draught of the bitter black brew and was given a root wrapped in banana leaves to take with her which she was supposed to chew on for the rest of the day until it was gone.

She thanked the healer woman as best she could and, lacking anything else, took off her gold neck chain and pressed it into the woman's unwilling hands.

One of the six black-clad men escorted her into the back of the largest Jeep and then got into the driver's side. Anh Hai sat up in front, on the passenger side waiting. As soon as Jasmine had settled into her seat, they were on their way.

"There are cushions and a light blanket prepared for you. I'll turn the air condition on for a bit so you can get away from this damp sauna heat for a bit."

As the air conditioner dehumidified the inside of the jeep, Jasmine took a deep appreciative breath and took up the entire cushioned bench seat as she settled onto the large fat cushions.

"This is so much more comfortable than the buffalo."

"Hmmm, yes." Anh Hai agreed. "But the buffalo could get us through the wet mucky areas without getting stuck, and we needed to head out as quickly as possible. We're in a bit of a time crunch."

Jasmine shook her head.

"I don't understand. What is the time crunch about, and what are you going to do with me?" She held his gaze. There it was. The million-dollar question had been asked.

Anh Hai closed his eyes without saying anything. Jasmine thought he hadn't heard her questions but finally, he turned back to her.

"What do you know about yourself?"

Jasmine gasped. She wasn't expecting him to say anything, let alone ask her such a strange question.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Other than the usual likes and dislikes, what do you know about your history and background and your spiritual journey?"

Jasmine cleared her throat. Was there anything deep and meaningful she was supposed to gather from this conversation? Was he proselytizing some sort of religion at her?

"Umm. Well, my mother is Vietnamese and my father is American, and…what???" She asked as he began rolling his eyes.

"Why would I ask you something that mundane? Anyone with half a brain and looking at you would know you are a biracial female."

"Okay, so tell me exactly what it is you're trying to fish out of me."

"I don't really need to find out anything about you."

"So you know all about me, huh?" She asked sarcastically.

"More than you do, apparently."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She glared at him.

"If I told you, you'd be scared out of your mind."

"Try me."