AveMaria22's Blog

I am a writer, and often find myself in peculiar circumstances...and, sometimes, places.  I know that others must find themselves to be much like me.  I recently related one extremely interesting incident that happened to me back in December 1990 to a friend and she asked if I had followed up the incident with reliable research.  Of course, I had not, but her words tweaked my curiosity.  I've spent the better part of a week uncovering interesting "stuff."

I was traveling through the Asuncion, Paraguay airport with my two year old son.  I carried one carry-on and had checked one bag.  The airport was jammed with people and as I chased my wayward toy car carrying son in high heels, I was rapidly wearing down....and the plane was two hours late.  There was no place to sit down.  At that time I was a smoker and found a reasonably clear space near the sand urn where my son could play safely and I could prop against a large pillar.  I noticed a man with brown-black hair salt and pepper hair, wearing a business suit, and rimless glasses smoking beside me.  He placed a paper bag onto the concrete floor...inside was a large bottle of Jim Beam and an open carton of american cigarettes.  Two packs of cigarettes were missing from the carton.  As I chased after my son, he watched my carry-on.  He noted my high heels and picked up my son and said, "Let's have a soda at the bar and you can get off your feet in those heels."  The bar was an open-air bar and it seemed safe enough to accept this man's suggestion.  Once at the bar area, I noted that it was a zoo...filled beyond capacity.  The stranger lifted his hand and the bartender raced to our side and chased away everyone seated at a large table nearby...no one asked questions...they simply scattered.  My son and I order a coke and the stranger ordered a beer.  We were treated like royalty.  Within an hour the plane began to board.  We noted the long line and the stranger suggested that we wait to board.  When the line was down to two or three people I reached for my son and rose to my feet.  The stranger threw his head back and laughed, saying "You don't really believe this plane is going to leave without us."  I laughed and said, "Yep...they surely will."  He rose to his feet, picked up my carry on and we walked slowly to the boarding gate.  Once on the plane he asked where I was sitting and I showed him our boarding passes...pretty far toward the rear of the plane.  I noted that he held seat number 2....first class.  He walked us to our seats, raised his hand in the air toward a stewardess...and she removed our neighboring passenger....the stranger took her seat.  He sat until the plane was ready for takeoff, then left us.  When the plane was in the air he returned, the stewardess brought a silver tea service and china cups...and we had tea.  We talked a bit and I learned that his name was Chuck Ramos, Venezuelan born, married with a daughter.  He was a charming, magnetic man, extremely bright, and quietly commanding.  He reached across me to touch my son and his arm brushed across my breasts...it was no accident, and I felt a white heat through my jacket.  We talked about the new president of Paraguay...Rodriguez...and of his recent coup.  Soon it was time for "lights out" as occurs on all international flights.  He returned to his seat, and my son and I settled in to sleep.  Upon arriving in Miami, my son and I were the last two off the plane.  I took him by the hand, picked up my carry-on and we found a cart.  I put my son in the kiddy portion and carry-on in the bottom.  As I approached the carousel, one bag remained...mine.  As I reached for it, a hand reached out and lifted it onto my baggage cart.  It was the stranger.  I thanked him and worried that I might have a problem with this man, here in the deserted Miami Airport, at 3:00 in the morning.  As I headed for Customs, he was right behind me.  He once again, raised his hand into the air as customs officials waived us through, checking nothing.  The stranger walked with me to the front of the airport, hailed a cab, handed me his business card, closed the door and waved goodbye.  I placed the card into my purse.  Approximately two years later I was watching TV one day, looked up to see the face of Chuck Ramos....I was very excited at seeing my friend again.  Then, I learned as I watched the program....that the man's name was Carlos Ramirez...or, "Carlos the Jackal."  I was stunned.  I watched the entire program, hanging onto every word.  I felt a strange sort of loyalty to this man, in that I never told a single soul about the event....I immediately understood that I was his cover....there is none better than a man traveling with his "wife and small son."  Even a woman sitting behind me on the plane made a chatty comment about my handsome "husband." I may still have the business card that he gave me, with a soft smile, and a knightly  "If you ever need me....you can always reach me at the number on the card that I gave you." I've often wondered why he was in Paraguay, which was not a great place to be in the late 80s and early 90s...troops were on the streets with automatic weapons and machine guns...scarey for the average citizen.  I took my friend's comments to heart and googled "Carlos the Jackal."  I learned that he is in prison in France now, with a life sentence.  He married his lawyer...she fell in love with him when their eyes met.  You see...I told you he was magnetic.  It seems he loves to read all the books that have been written about him.  In one, a book of fiction, he is called "Ramos."  That was the name he gave me and that was written on his business card...Chuck Ramos....Chuck is short for Charles, or Carlos in spanish...Carlos Ramirez is Chuck Ramos.  I studied his most recent photos and see that we are eighteen years downstream and his hair is very grey to white.  His body is the same, perfect.  His dark eyes are not accented by brown brows...they, too, are grey to white.  If this man had not taken a road that I do not understand...the road of terrorism...I would say that he is the most perfect man I've ever met.  He is truly magnetic. I cannot imagine a more frightening event than to be in the company of an international terrorist, in retrospect.  He, however, was completely in control at the time...I have never felt so safe.  I know that we all have had moments in our lives that have left us feeling separate from the rest of society.  I'd love to hear your stories....please tell me.