by Nick Thacker
Where Captain Garcia had been only moments before, a twisting, tumbling shadow danced halfway out of the water. She forced her eyes to focus, blinking twice. The shadow became two shadows, a man — Captain Garcia — and a…
A monster .
She saw the flicking of a massive tail, clawed feet scrambling for purchase on the man it was attacking, and an elongated, bumpy snout. The creature had wrestled Garcia to the water and was now rolling over and over again, slowly and methodically making its way back to deeper water.
“Ben! The packs!” she heard Reggie shout. “Grab my pistol!”
Ben was already behind her, grabbing the two backpacks floating behind him. He ripped open the top of the first pack and began rummaging through it.
Julie’s voice returned, and she screamed. It wasn’t any louder than Garcia’s, but hers wasn’t punctuated by alternating seconds of being underwater and above water. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Reggie launch himself forward and into the water, but she had no idea what the man was planning to do.
Ben was at her side again, but he didn’t stop moving. He ran forward, making slow progress in the water, and tossed the gun toward Reggie.
Ben, unbelievably, was still moving toward Reggie and the wrestling match taking place mere feet in front of her. What is he planning to do? Julie wondered.
She watched Reggie working with the pistol, but was shocked when she saw what else Ben had retrieved from the pack.
He lifted the machete over his head and waited for a moment to strike downward.
“Ben — don’t!” Julie yelled. It was too late.
The water was unnervingly silent. Tiny ripples left on the surface were the only telltale signs of the onslaught, and the caiman didn’t resurface.
Neither did the captain.
The group watched, no one daring to move, for almost an entire minute. Julie began sobbing, both from the adrenaline high as well as the emotional impact of what she had just seen, but she didn’t care what anyone thought. Ben was next to her again, his arm around her, and he was gently pulling her along the rest of the distance to the shoreline, where the others now stood, waiting.
She felt a moment of relief as her feet fell on the soft, damp mud closest to the river, and she allowed Ben to lift her completely out of the water and onto dry land.
Her relief was only short-lived, however, as she realized that they would spend the remainder of their journey traveling through the forest on foot.
Chapter 33
Valère reached into his pocket and grabbed the cellphone. He hadn’t even made it across the parking lot to his car before the phone began to vibrate. His appointment had gone well — nothing had changed, but nothing had grown worse, either. His doctor prescribed the same pills as always, and told him to rest and relax as often as possible.
The thought of taking time to rest or relax seemed like a joke to Valère.
He had a job to do, one that no one else in the world was fit to do. He had the skills, the contacts, and the resources needed to pull off the greatest feat of engineering anyone had ever heard of, and the Company was very close to achieving their goal, thanks to him.
Even if it kills me, it will all be worth it.
He held the cellphone up to his ear and accepted the call. ”Yes?”
There was a two-second delay before the voice on the other end, crackling through a miserable connection and hard to understand, responded. “Valère. — Have been — so far. No update on — but will keep — posted.”
Valère waited until the connection improved.
“— behind the girl and her group, moving forward as planned.”
This is good news .
“Mission parameters remain unchanged, though the — has proven to be more resilient than initially assumed. — additional support?”
Valère frowned. “I was under the impression that you would require only a few men to accomplish this task. We have doubled your support already.”
“Understood, except — faster with additional —“
Valère nearly cursed out loud at the horrible connection. “Negative, our resources are currently wearing thin for this project.” It was a lie, but it was much quicker than explaining the truth. His ‘resources’ were more than enough to provide some additional support, but there would be no way to get the men in position this late in the game. Even if it was possible, Valère was already working on the next phase of this project.
The final phase of this project.
Valère could almost taste success. His plans in Antarctica had been going well, both the parts that the Company knew about and the parts that were known only to him. This small hiccup in Brazil was just that — a minor setback that, with or without Dr. Meron’s research, would not interfere with his ultimate plan.
His phone crackled, and the connection died. He wasn’t sure if his contact in Brazil had said anything else, but it sounded to him like their conversation had ended before it had even begun. No, there were no additional men he could send to Brazil, and no, there were no additional resources he would appropriate to their cause.
He replaced the phone to his pocket, and grabbed the bottle of pills out of his other pocket. Reading the label, he twisted off the cap. Do not exceed one pill per every six hours . He had just taken one before leaving the office, and he placed another one on his tongue now and swallowed.
Even if it kills me, it will all be worth it .
Chapter 34
The path that led out of the water and into the jungle was only a few strides long, a natural opening between two large bushes, likely made more prominent by the animals that used it as an access point to the river.
Ben tried to slow his breath down, hoping his heart rate would follow. It wouldn’t be helpful to Julie — or anyone else — if he was still on edge and ready to snap. The caiman, a large adolescent, had come out of nowhere and taken Captain Garcia, kicking and screaming, to his watery grave. It was unreal, unnatural, and insanely terrifying to Ben, but he said nothing.
No one spoke, actually, until they’d been walking for five minutes into the densest forest Ben had ever seen. No pictures, movies, or books could do it justice. He was completely out of his element, surrounded by an alien world that hid both danger and beauty together behind every rock and tree.
“Okay, let’s pause here,” Reggie said. He turned around and addressed the group. “We have to keep moving, at least for now, but I wanted to take a quick breather. We’ll take some time a little later to catch up on sleep, but we need to get away from the river as much as possible.” Reggie fumbled around with one of the packs and pulled out a compass. He opened the clasp on the device and held it up, waiting for it to balance. He took a few seconds to check their direction and match it in his head with the destination they had decided upon. Satisfied he was leading them in the right direction, he closed the device again and put it back into the pack.
No one spoke. Ben looked around at the rest of the group. Archie and Paulinho wore blank expressions, while Amanda looked upset, even angry. Julie looked as terrified as Ben felt, and Carlo seemed disinterested in the whole ordeal.
“Anyone want to say anything?” Reggie asked.
“What are we supposed to say?” Amanda shot back.
Reggie shrugged. “He was a good man, great things, stuff like that?”
“Are you kidding?” Julie was almost yelling. “He died , right in front of our eyes. You don’t even care ?”
Reggie paused, looked at the ground — a carpet of bright green mosses — then back up at Julie. He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice.
“Of course I care,” he said. “He was one of us, just by virtue of being here with us. Now he’s not here. I didn’t know him, and neither did you. Doesn’t mean we can’t make something up, or ask Carlo.”
This was an idea Ben hadn’t considered, and Paulinho was already hobbling over to Carlo and whispering. Carlo nodded, slowly, then looked up at everyone.
“Good captain,” he said in English. He said more in Portuguese, Paulinho translating aloud. “Good father, good husband, loved job.”
It seemed like Carlo was finished, but Reggie waited another few seconds to be sure. “Well, I guess that does it. Anything else before we go?”
“Yeah,” Paulinho said. “Where are we going?”
“The field hospital isn’t more than a few miles away, I think,” he answered. “Like I said before, it’s off the river a bit, but considering we’re no longer traveling by way of river, I’d say it just became a worthy destination for this next leg. ”
Ben nodded. “They’ll have supplies there?”
“Not really, aside from a few tools to fix him up.” Reggie motioned at Paulinho. “But it’ll be a good enough place to rest, assuming they’ve got the space.”
He turned around and began marching through the jungle, using the machete Ben had grabbed to hack his way through the denser vegetation. “Come on, let’s see if we can get inland, farther away from the river. We don’t want to be around here come breakfast time. We’ll hike for a bit, then catch some shuteye for a couple hours. I’d like to get to the hospital and research station before daybreak.”
Ben couldn’t believe how detached the man seemed, especially at a time like this, but he was glad Reggie had the gall to step forward and admit it, all while keeping them focused on the next goal. Ben himself had been trying to figure out what their plan should be, but knew Reggie was right to choose the hospital as their next destination. They would need time to regroup, to plan out the next leg of their journey, and there was no sense focusing on any of that if they didn’t have a safe place to do it.
He allowed Julie to walk in front of him, taking up the rear position as they followed Reggie’s cutout path through the trees and brush.
I just hope it’s a safe place, he thought.
Chapter 35
Julie was amazed by the level of humidity and heat that still plagued the jungle, even in the dead of night. Every large leaf she passed seemed to be a soaking wet towel, warmed by the day’s sunlight and now releasing every drop of wetness it had collected back into the air. The humidity was trapped by the canopy far above their heads, the heavier air settling back down closer to earth and causing an effect not unlike that of a steam room.
They had been walking for two hours, drawn forward by the relentless forward progress of Reggie. He seemed to never tire, constantly hacking away at the thick strands of vines and brush that obstructed his target path. She wasn’t sure how he knew where he was going, navigating only with a tiny compass he had attached to his pants. She hoped it wasn’t an act of bravado and that he wasn’t, in fact, just leading them farther from the river, their only hope of being rescued.
She picked up her pace and tried to walk alongside Reggie. It was difficult, as most of the time the path he was cutting was only wide enough for one person, that there were stretches of land between outcrops of trees that allowed them to walk side-by-side.
“So, what’s your deal?” She hadn’t meant the words to sound so harsh, but she knew there was nothing she could do to retract them now. She winced, waiting for Reggie’s response .
Reggie simply smiled and looked at her. “I take it you’re still pissed at me?” he asked.
“Why would I be pissed?”
“Your tone, for one,” he answered, still grinning. “But you didn’t seem to be too excited about our decision earlier, about not going to the hospital for Paulinho.”
“It doesn’t really matter anymore, I guess,” she said. “That’s where we’re headed now, right?”
“It is, and it shouldn’t be much longer.”
Julie nodded, even though she knew Reggie couldn’t see it. “Sorry — that’s not what I meant though.” She paused, trying to articulate her words. “I mean, you… what’s your story?”
Reggie audibly laughed, scoffing as he chopped another section of thick vines away. “My story ? Really?”
“Well, yeah. You’re ex-Army, right?”
“Sniper, yeah. Did my time, but it seems like you never really leave it.”
“You make it sound like a prison sentence.”
“I didn’t mind being deployed,” he said. “Loved it most of the time, actually. I guess you could say it was the ‘office politics’ that finally changed my mind.”
Reggie started struggling with a section of weeds and branches, and Ben suddenly appeared on his other side and grabbed the machete from his hands.
“Take a break,” Ben said. “I’ll take it for an hour or so.”
Reggie didn’t argue, falling back behind Ben next to Julie.
“Didn’t really get along with people you worked with?” She asked.
“People I worked for, mostly. ”
Julie knew he was being purposefully vague, which only made her want more information. She had always been stubborn, but she wasn’t gossipy. She was interested in the man’s past, but she didn’t feel an overwhelming need to pry, so she let it be. Reggie seemed like a man of few words, except when he was making a wisecrack. His silence about his past did not concern Julie; so far Reggie was trustworthy enough, and he seemed to be the kind of man who wasn’t interested in sharing his own background with strangers.
Reggie didn’t wait for her to ask another question. He walked up to Ben and waited at his side as he finished the machete work. Ben hacked away another handful of branches, revealing a small opening between the trees. Reggie held out his arm, stopping Ben before he could continue onward. Both men turned around and looked at the group behind them.
“Let’s stop here for a few hours and try to get some sleep,” Reggie said. “I’ll check that we’re still heading in the right direction, but either way I think we are far enough from the river now. Ben, want to help me with those packs?”
Ben swung the pack he was carrying over his shoulder and onto the ground. Reggie opened up his own pack and retrieved two large, zippered green bags. He unzipped one and dumped out the contents inside. He turned the large roll of nylon over in his hands a few times, looking for a corner. Satisfied, he grabbed a corner of the material in his fist and tossed the bundle outward in front of him.
Julie watched as the flattened shape of a triangular tent unfolded from the bundle. Ben and Archie attempted to roll out the tent from Ben’s pack in a similarly practiced fashion, but lacked the flourish of Reggie’s throw. Eventually, all three tents were laid out on the ground in the small clearing. The bags each had two small poles inside, and Julie helped assemble one of them for Ben. Reggie was busy tying a section of climbing rope to a tree he had found at the edge of their clearing.
“These are brand new,” he said. “They are hanging tents, sort of a combination of hammocks and tents. They’re a little heavier than I prefer, and a bit big, but they’re pretty spacey inside, enough to cram four adults in each if you have to. They’re expensive, too, so I expect that you will take good care of them.”
Ben and Archie looked at Reggie incredulously. Julie herself was a little surprised by the statement, and she found herself eyeing the tents suspiciously. Carlo, who hadn’t said a word since his captain had been eaten, didn’t seem fazed by Reggie’s statement, but then again, Julie wasn’t even sure if he’d understood what he’d said.
“They’re called Stingrays,” Reggie said, completely oblivious to the stares he was getting from the group. “Tentsile makes them. Great company, and a fine product. I sell these back home — they’re a huge hit.”
“I’ve never slept in a hammock before,” Ben said.
“Well, you’re missing out,” Reggie said. “And these aren’t just hammocks, mind you — they’re like a little piece of insulated utopia. Protection from bugs and insects, not to mention weather.”
“And you think they’ll hold all of us?”
“I know they will,” Reggie answered. “Here, help me with this.” He stretched out a corner of the three-cornered tent and carried it to a tree across
the clearing, then tied the end to another section of rope. Ben grabbed the third corner and walked toward another tree on the other side. “Each one can hold plenty of human weight, plus gear. I’ve stacked five of these babies up, one on top of the other, before. Fifteen people sleeping in a little tent tower in the middle of the jungle.”
Julie listened to Reggie and watched as he tied the knots to secure the corners of the tent to the tree. The man lit up as he talked about his equipment; he was clearly in his element. He wore the same characteristic smile as he tied and secured all three corners, showing Ben how to use the clasps. When all three corners were fastened, he tightened the tent’s lines and the first tent lifted off the ground.
Julie was impressed. The apple-green floor of the tent was about four feet off the jungle floor, safely out of reach of any of the unwelcome visitors she imagined might want to visit them at night. It looked very secure, and the ratchet-tightened lines seemed more than strong enough to hold them all. She watched as Reggie jumped onto one of the lines, holding onto the trunk of the tree it was fastened around, and threw the line of a second tent around it, five or so feet higher. He continued this process for the other two corners, and the second tent rose, suspended in midair above the first tent.
“It’s really cool and all,” Julie said, “but how do we get in?”
Reggie tightrope-walked across one of the lines and dove into the top tent. He reappeared a moment later and threw down to the ground a ladder made of nylon. Satisfied, he stepped out of the tent feet-first and descended the ladder.
“Any other questions?” He asked.
Julie shook her head. She couldn’t help but smile. It was really lucky we found you, she thought. She glanced over at Ben, who was leaning against one of the trees, looking at Julie. To anyone else, his face was unreadable. To Julie, it was judgment. She imagined what he was thinking right now.
