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SNOWING IN BALI

everything gone to hell, then my friend calls me and says, ‘You have to get out of the country now, quickly, or they’re gonna catch you.’ I say, ‘Don’t say that! Why?’ ‘Man, you were stupid; you went to buy the ticket with the horse. They have cameras everywhere, big surveillance.’ I was depressed, desperate, waiting, thinking any minute now somebody’s coming to catch me. It was the worst time in my career.

– Rafael

Rafael booked a flight and raced to Rio de Janeiro airport with only hand luggage.

I was on the run. I didn’t bring anything to make it easy. I throw away many things, clothes, even the laptop I leave in my friend’s house because of all the communication, emails and everything.

– Rafael

At the airport things went perfectly. He checked in, sailed through immigration and sat down in his tail-end economy seat, breathing a sigh of relief. Now, to hit the safety of the skies . . . But his instincts for trouble were sharp and something was wrong; his pulse started racing. Passengers were all seated and the plane wasn’t moving. The captain announced, ‘I’m sorry we have a problem . . .’ Rafael tuned out; he didn’t need to hear any more words. Two Federal police officers were walking towards him – a black guy and a blonde woman, wearing suits with shiny Policia Federal badges slashed across their shoulders. They were checking the seat numbers above the passengers’ heads.

Was like slow motion for me . . . they come, they come . . . three seats to come, then the guy looks in my eyes, I look in his eyes. My heart beat

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