Dead Man's Land by Jack Patterson (digital e reader .txt) 📕

In the corner, Isabel wiggled her bottom back and forth, dancing with one of her dolls. “Papi!” she said, dropping the doll and toddling toward him.

He scooped her up and hugged her. Finding the song’s rhythm, Prado danced around with Isabel. He thought he saw a faint smile spread across Liliana’s face out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked at her directly, she put her head down and continued mixing.

Prado put Isabel down and walked into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter and stared at Liliana. He barely blinked as he watched her for the better part of a minute.

Liliana grabbed a hand towel and swatted him with it. “Stop staring at me. It’s creepy.”

“I have to tell you something very important,” he said.

She stopped mixing and glanced at Isabel now sitting on the floor near his feet and playing with a toy. She looked back up at him. “What is it?”

“First, I need to know if I can I trust you?”

“I hope so—I’m raising your daughter.”

“Our daughter.”

“Whatever. Just ask me what you want to ask me and get on with it.”

He moved closer and gently took her hand. “I might be leaving tomorrow.”

She withdrew her hand and continued mixing. “Are you going overseas to play in some tournament?”

“No, the playoffs are still going on. I’m talking about leaving—for good.”

The words hung in the air for a moment before Liliana froze. She slowly turned and looked up at him. “You’re going to defect?”

He nodded. “If I can. I know I can make it in the United States. All I need is a chance.”

She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. “And you’re going to leave me all alone with Isabel?”

“Not for long. I plan on making sure both of you get out as well as soon as I get the money.”

“And what makes you think I want to leave?”

He scanned the government housing Liliana called home. Wires protruded from the wall. Paint flaked off onto the floor. One of her windows was broken. The screen door only sufficed to keep Isabel in the house, failing to keep bugs out.

With a wide sweeping gesture, he asked, “Why would you want to stay? We both need a fresh start.”

She put her hands on her hips. “If I were to go, it doesn’t mean we’d be together.”

“We can discuss that later—but I have a dream. And it can’t come true here on this island.”

“I’m not making any promises, but it does sound exciting,” she said, a smile creeping across her face. “You better not let me down though. The second you can get us out of here, you better do it.”

He nodded furiously, his face breaking out into a grin. “You have my word.”

Without hesitating, he hugged her before rushing over to Isabel and picking her up again and twirling her around. “I love you!” He squeezed her tight and paused a moment to star into her glistening brown eyes. “I’ll see you soon.” Then he put her down and headed toward the door.

“Where are you going? You just got here,” Liliana protested.

“I have a long journey ahead—and I have to get ready.” He darted out the door, almost skipping along the street as he went.

He’d long held out hope that he and Liliana could be a family with Isabel one day, despite Liliana’s adamant statements to the contrary.

Possible en Los Estados Unidos.

He took a deep breath and thought through the implications of his impending actions once more. If he left, he could never come back—not to play baseball, at least. And if he couldn’t play baseball, leaving the island wouldn’t be worth it. Never seeing Isabel or Liliana again wouldn’t be worth it either. But if he made it? It’d all be worth it. The options for staying appeared just as dire: never get together again with Liliana and barely survive playing amateur baseball. The game was tied, the bases were loaded, and a full-count pitching was coming toward home plate—something had to give.

***

LATER THAT NIGHT after his roommates had gone to bed, Prado stole downstairs with his knapsack slung over his shoulder. It was light because he was told it had to be. Beyond his cleats and glove, he’d only stuffed one change of clothes inside along with his toothbrush. He stopped in the kitchen and grabbed a couple of pictures—one of Isabel and one of Liliana.

I can always make room for these.

He kissed the photos and slipped them into his bag.

To avoid awaking his roommates, he exited through the backdoor and shimmied down the narrow alley between his house and the one next door. He scanned the street for his friend.

He didn’t see anyone, but looked down to see a lizard scurrying in front of him. On edge, he leapt backward and gasped before he put his hand over his own mouth. He froze and looked around. The street still looked empty. When it came to Prado’s top ten fears, lizards fought hard for the first spot.

Pssst.

Prado jumped again as Yunel Menendez popped up from behind a set of bushes. “Don’t do that to me,” Prado whispered. “You know I’m already jumpy.”

Yunel grinned and punched Prado in the arm. “Did you see another lizard?”

Prado glared at him and didn’t say a word.

“Better get it together then because it’s going to be a long night. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

Prado nodded. “I can’t turn back now.”

“Good. I promise no more lizard jokes. Now let’s go.”

Prado followed Yunel down to the docks. There wasn’t another person Prado trusted like his cousin, who’d hatched the plan to escape four months ago. Ultimately, Prado needed to get to Mexico, where he could defect and then become a free agent allowing him to play in the United States—and play for the team willing to pay him the most money. The plan Yunel devised was equal parts genius, simple and brazen. Genius in that no one would suspect them concocting such a scheme.