Chapter 1

The helicopter gunship’s swooshing blades reverberated around the high altiplano in the heart of the Bolivian highlands. The dawn sunrise was spectacular and the air was still. Any sound carried far across this barren arid landscape with its snow-capped mountain ranges and its dry, high plains.

The 4X4s on the ground comprising an ageing mix of Toyotas & Nissans skidded to a halt. The salt crystals under their wheels flew across the Sal de Uyuni, a vast expanse of salt lake close to the tourist centres of Potosi, and Sucre. These towns were more commonly known as gateways to the Andes, and provided access to this vast untouched environment.

The driver of the lead vehicle had been grounding the coco leaves around his gums, desperate to stay awake until the dawn. His two passengers had succumbed to the need for sleep, as foreigners to the altiplano they were unaccustomed to having half the oxygen that each took for granted at sea level.

Scrambling for his CB radio, the driver spun the vehicle and pressed the accelerator to the floor. It was soon to be fully light, and the white camouflaged vehicles hurriedly snaking their way across the salt plain were now visibly noticeable from the skies.

On the horizon, one of the many cactus covered brown ‘islands’ in this desert wilderness rose up from the white salt plain and provided a stark contrast to the flat & featureless landscape.

The island started to edge closer as the wasp like humming of the helicopter’s blades became not such a distant din, audibly rattling towards the escaping convoy like a cobra preparing to unleash its deadly load.

The sun had edged above the horizon, allowing the island to cast long shadows across the salt hexagon pavement. The exposed vehicle train was hurriedly carving the distance to their safe area.

‘Boom!’ The second vehicle in the convoy skewed to the right, the inside tyre fragmenting. The occupants – driver and passenger looked up in horror as a dark low shape appeared on the skyline. The three vehicles behind did not stop. The 4X4s tyre had blown and driver & passenger were in trouble. The driver had pulled out an old fashioned pistol and his colleague scrambled out of the passenger door.

The helicopter crew had long been watching for any sign of movement across this section of the altiplano. It had been a normal, uneventful shift. The machine was soon to turn back – at such heights fuel did not last long. A glimmer on the endless salt plain attracted the observer’s attention. There were lakes that glimmered – but this was too small for a lake. He signed to the pilot and the gunship descended in the direction of the Sal de Uyuni.

The first vehicle had hidden itself behind the island. The huge white tarpaulin disguised its shape. It also provided cover for the remaining three vehicles. All members of the convoy helped with the last loops of the tarpaulin. There was a deathly hush.

The driver of the second vehicle realised that his pistol was no match for a helicopter gunship. He raised his arms in the air, signalling the eponymous vision of surrender.

The helicopter had become a roar above the salt plain – the shape of the craft creating a shadow flying along the brown side of the <placew:ston>Andes mountain range. The observer identified the stranded vehicle and the pilot twitched the joystick accordingly. The helicopter screeched & groaned as it banked across the sky – the passenger was running across the salt flat – the cold was stopping him from sweating – but his face had drained of blood and started to mirror the colour of the ground below him.

The pilot depressed a switch on the side of the joystick. Three seconds later the driver and vehicle on the high altiplano had been obliterated. Flames curled upwards to the light blue sky. The shocked passenger continued to run for his life, scrambling off the salt flat, desperately looking for cover, but there was none.

The observer opened up the barrel of the sidewinder. It only took twenty seconds to hone the accuracy of the helicopter’s formidable weaponry. An eerie quiet descended on the Sal de Uyuni as the sound of the swooshing blades slowly faded away.