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MARCHING POWDER

about getting caught. I simply paid Tito as an extra precaution. He always put my suitcases on the plane for me so that I didn't have to check them in or even touch them. And if ever anything were to go wrong, he would have sorted it out for me. However, this time Tito scared me with his talk of the yanquis and by refusing to accept my money. After what he had said, I was convinced that inside help wasn't, merely an extra precaution; it was an absolute necessity.

'I very sorry, my friend,' Tito repeated. 'Is too dangerous for both of us. The Americans catch a lot of people with their new drug law Mil Ocho.'

When he saw my expression, I knew he felt bad for me. He took a long sip of his beer. Tito always did that when he was trying to decide on something. Then he nodded slowly to himself and put down the beer. I knew he had made a decision. 'OK, wait. There could be solution. But you must go to La Paz.'

I waited for Tito to continue.

'I have a good contacto for you there. He is colonel in airport security in El Alto Airport. Good amigo. We make business together many times. I can call to him. He will help you. Is good, no?'

I hesitated before answering. As a rule, I never worked with people I didn't know. It's too risky. Also, I didn't know the layout of the airport at La Paz. In fact, I'd never even been to La Paz. However, I had no choice, really. If there were US agents everywhere, I couldn't do anything without inside help.

'How much would I need to pay him?'

'Is better you decide yourself. That way to avoid the problems.'

Eventually, I nodded my agreement. Tito patted me on the back when he saw that I was still anxious.

'Tranquilo, Thomas,' he said, writing down the colonel's number on the back of one of his business cards. He ran a car dealership on the side with his brother. 'I am ringing him tonight. He will expect you when you have arrived.'

Tito had never let me down before and it was a good sign that he knew the colonel's number by heart, but I was still uncertain. He continued to reassure me. 'No problem, Thomas. No pasa nada. This is Bolivia. OK?'