Luis mendieta — his first communication to his family in five years — is among the most eloquent and painful in the letters given by the captives to clara rojas and consuelo gonzalez in a tearful parting after the rebels decided to free the two women. Venezuelan president hugo chavez brokered last weeks release and relatives of those still surrounded by barbed wire in jungle prisons pray he can help get the others out. But my physical resistance is flagging. The eight captives held with rojas and gonzalez are among hostages including three u. Ambassador william brownfield described the revelations as authentically repugnant. He describes surviving two bouts of malaria chronic chest pains and being so stricken by tropical ailments that he had to crawl on his hands and knees for about five weeks.