“Bandits?” Jack asked.
“One in particular. Carlos has been terrorizing the mountainside, robbing the pack trains and making travel most precarious.”
“You are not afraid to make the journey, Ma’am?”
Mrs. Rhodes returned Jack’s steady gaze. “No, I have no fear,” she responded briefly. “I have lived many years in Colombia.”
“What takes you to the mine?” War asked rather abruptly. “Your husband isn’t there any more, is he?”
The question plainly annoyed Mrs. Rhodes. She dropped the banana leaf and moved quickly to the shed door.
“The train is coming now,” she announced. “After the bananas are loaded, we can ride to the main gate. I should imagine that you will find the rest of your party waiting there.”
Jack and War made no further attempt to question the woman. During the loading of the car, she moved some distance away, coldly ignoring them.
“I thought she’d make more effort to try to convince us we shouldn’t go on to the mine,” War remarked as they watched the last of the loading. “I guess she realizes it’s useless.”
“Don’t be too sure of that,” Jack said grimly. “Mrs. Rhodes is a clever woman. She’ll try again.”