| We got into the taxi as usual; we were on our | | | | courage). |
| way to 'Wong's store' in the district, called, Circle, | | | | After that last shot through the window, the |
| Lima, Peru. There was no need to speak; my | | | | truth of the matter came to light, we were going |
| wife told the driver where to go. In the taxi, | | | | to be shot up in the car (the police I had seen on |
| Delilah heard a shot, I looked out the back | | | | so many occasions along this walkway, were |
| window, and someone was trailing us, flowing us | | | | gone), so I opened the door, jumped out, entirely |
| closely, too close for comfort, and the men in the | | | | out, hoping my wife would remain safe where she |
| vehicle would not give much space between them | | | | was at. I felt the velocity of a bullet go by my |
| and us, and this quickly alerted me to danger, real | | | | feet, the assailant had shot a bullet under the car |
| danger. | | | | at my legs, and then I quickly hid them behind the |
| In Lima, there are many robbers, and they can | | | | wheel. |
| be at times daring, if not foolish, yet they didn't | | | | I gave up reasoning about everyone's view point |
| know I carried a gun, for most folks in Peru do | | | | on gun control long ago, in the United States and |
| not, even though it is legal with a permit, it almost | | | | Peru, I had to worry about me, and my wife, |
| seems the robber is expected to rob without any | | | | those good folks in gun control, don't worry, they |
| inconvenience. | | | | got bodyguards, or think the robber will over look |
| I suppose they thought (the folks in the car | | | | death. I had decided long ago, I'd rather die |
| behind us), they'd scare the cab driver into | | | | fighting, and then hoping they'd not shoot me, at |
| stopping, and then dominate us, take our | | | | least I'd be a man about it. Thus, I knelt down, |
| possessions, they like robbing foreigners, children, | | | | looked under the car, and to my surprise, my |
| women, or older folks, you know, the helpless | | | | body started a light quivering dance, against the |
| ones; if not on the highways, buses, or in the | | | | sight of a silver plated pistol being aimed at me, at |
| cafés, right on the streets occasionally. | | | | once my body gave a flash of a warning, signal, |
| The taxi driver did as they expected, he stopped | | | | and I moved but an inch, and a bullet, hot and |
| his automobile, and ran like a chicken leaving us, | | | | speedy, ripped open my skin on my forehead |
| my wife and I alone in the back seat. We were | | | | (which remains a scar to this day). |
| only a half block from Wong's, and the car behind | | | | I had pulled back; I suppose my impulses were |
| us, three men jumped out, I pulled out my gun, | | | | similar to the robbers, I even had a tinge of |
| shot through the window at them, they were | | | | artificial humor run across my spine. I was sure |
| awed by the sight of my gun, and grew quick to | | | | they would not be satisfied until they got |
| make cover, and did not stay close together as | | | | something out of this deal, if they could squeeze |
| they at first had been. | | | | me like a lemon into their cup of tea, but I |
| I could smell the residue from my gun; feel the | | | | learned in Vietnam, sometimes it is better to |
| heat it made out of its barrow, a four inch | | | | stand up and shoot one bullet after the other, in |
| barrow, and a 38-Special revolver, I had tucked | | | | hopes the other will remain hiding, and thus, one |
| against my left side for a quick draw with my | | | | bullet will at least kill the enemy, or snipe, if not |
| right hand, need it come to that. | | | | have them run off like a dog chasing a rabbit. And |
| "You are dead mister," said one of the three | | | | that is what I did. I stood up, and started |
| men, as they maneuvered around their car and | | | | shooting, and all three ran. My gun was empty in a |
| one on the other side of the taxi my wife and I | | | | matter of a minute, but I always keep two bullets |
| were in. I had my wife lay flat on the floor, a few | | | | in my jacket pocket, or suite pocket, and thus, I |
| bullets whizzed through the car windows. I knew | | | | pulled both bullets out, and reloaded, but I need |
| my wife was hoping they'd leave quick, but I | | | | not have, for they were gone. |
| knew they wouldn't, not yet (and I was hoping | | | | "Darling," I said to my wife, "you can come out |
| she'd lay still so I could concentrate on the | | | | now," I reopened the taxi door, I had said that |
| situation at hand). | | | | through the car window. She responded as she |
| As for the police, it takes a while for the police to | | | | got up, and out onto the street, "How do I look?" |
| get activated in Peru (even if they are standing in | | | | "Fine I said." |
| front of you and an incident happens), if they | | | | Now the police came out from behind the bank, |
| don't just simply run and hide and wait for it to be | | | | and other stores to attempt to figure out what |
| over with; that is why I always carry a gun, if | | | | just took place. |
| one depends on them, you'd never be safe (or | | | | Note: "In the Nick of Time," a daydream, while |
| the robber would be long gone by the time they | | | | being driven home in a taxi, from 'Wong's' grocery |
| saw fit to get involved, sorry to say, but the | | | | store, in Circle, Lima Peru, written down by the |
| truth is the truth, more so in Huancayo, Peru than | | | | author at 4:15 PM), 3-8-2008, upon his arrival |
| Lima, but Lima is not far off from such lacks of | | | | home. |