by John Sneeden
Tilting his head back, the Brazilian took his third and final drink. Then he screwed the cap back on the flask and stowed it away.
As he slung his pack over his back, his gaze fell on a pod of ferns at the edge of the clearing. Some of the fronds waved back and forth as though something was moving underneath. He took a few steps closer, a frown spreading across his face.
Maybe it’s the whiskey, he thought.
Suddenly, he saw something in the shadows near the bottom. He took several steps closer and squinted. As the details came into focus, he froze. A black face stared at him from the darkness.
His heart racing, Artur flipped the rifle off his shoulder and raised it with both hands. A second later, he lowered it. The face was gone now, but some of the fronds were moving again.
A twig snapped to his right. Pivoting in that direction, Artur saw a shadow flash across an opening in the trees.
His heart thumping wildly in his chest, he slung his pack over a shoulder and backstepped across the bridge, swinging his gun back and forth. He heard more movement in the jungle, but each time he turned, there was nothing there.
A few steps later, he felt soil under his feet, and relief swept over him. After taking one last look, he turned and raced up the hill.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
THE LAST RAYS of afternoon sunlight filtered down through the canopy as the group filed up the hill. Zane wiped sweat out of his eyes and glanced ahead. Osak stood in the middle of the trail about fifty yards away. He said something then waved them on.
“He says we’re almost there,” Max said.
Bennett looked at Zane. “I’ll go up and clear things at the top.”
Zane nodded, and the soldier sprinted off.
“I hope we’re there.” Katiya rubbed her thigh with a hand. “My legs feel like linguine.”
“I think we could all use a rest soon,” Brett said.
A few minutes later, the path leveled off, and the trees and undergrowth began to thin out.
“All clear, sir,” Bennett shouted from just ahead.
Shortly thereafter, the group spilled out of the trees into a clearing. Zane’s eyes widened as he took in the view.
“Good heavens,” Katiya whispered.
A short mountain rose up in front of them. Its steep slope was covered with a tangled mass of vines, ferns, and bushes. The vegetation was so thick that most of the mountain itself couldn’t be seen, save for a few patches of rock here and there.
Brett looked up. “No wonder this didn’t show up on any satellite photos. Even though it rises above the canopy, it looks just like the surrounding jungle.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Amanda said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zane noticed the precipice rose at a sharp angle before transitioning to a flat crown about four hundred feet up. He looked to the right then to the left. The base seemed to cover a large area. What the mountain lacked in height, it made up in circumference.
“It looks like we’re standing on some sort of buffer,” Bennett said, tapping the ground with his rifle.
Zane looked around. He was right. A barren strip of land seemed to run around the circumference of the mountain, at least as far as he could see.
“I think this is the winding strip you saw in the satellite photos,” Zane said.
Brett nodded. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
As the group began to fan out, Zane asked the two Green Berets to take up positions along the buffer, one to the east and the other to the west. Now was not the time to let down their guard. If anything, they needed to be more cautious.
Katiya kicked at one of the rocks. “It’s almost like someone came through here with a jumbo bottle of Roundup.” She squatted and looked at a very lonely-looking weed that had sprouted up through a crack in the hard soil.
Zane looked at her. “Any ideas why nothing seems to grow here?”
Katiya rose, placing her hands on her hips. “It’s hard to say. Perhaps the soil quality is poor.”
“Why would the soil be fine in the jungle and fine on the mountain but not on this fifty-foot strip?” Brett asked.
Zane walked toward the mountain base. He stopped and tilted his head back. “It’s hard to tell from this angle, but it looks like our mountain has a flat top.”
Brett and Amanda walked over and looked up. “Obviously that’s where I’d want to be if I were going to transmit a signal.”
Zane nodded slowly. “We need to find a way up there.”
Brett set down his pack then retrieved a pair of binoculars from one of the pockets. He trained them on the slope. “I hope you’re not thinking about climbing up.” He lowered them and looked at Zane. “That would be pure suicide without the appropriate gear.”
“It might not be as hard as you think.” Amanda pointed at the vines. “It has its own built-in climbing ropes.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” Brett said. “One snap, and you’re done.”
“She may actually be on to something.” Zane squatted and grasped one of the cordons. “These things appear to be pretty strong. I’m thinking they’d hold pretty well.” He stood and looked up. “The slope is steep, but it isn’t anywhere close to ninety degrees. That means a group of us could probably get to the top if we took our time.”
Amanda wandered off to join Katiya, who was examining a flower on one of the vines. Brett turned to Zane. “I’m not sold on attempting a climb. I’d like to find a flatter slope than the one here.”
“I agree with you that climbing up is not our best option.” He glanced at the jungle. “After seeing that bridge, I’m convinced some ancient culture lived here. I’m also convinced that they either lived in or on that mountain. That being said, we need to—”
Zane was cut off by the sound of Jorge’s approach. The Brazilian’s brow was furrowed with concern.
“You don’t look too happy,” Zane said.
Jorge nodded at Max and Osak, who were standing about fifty yards down the buffer. “Take it for what it’s worth, but our little friend doesn’t like this place at all. He feels we need to turn back.”
Zane frowned. “You know that’s not an option. Did he say why?”
“He kept talking about bad spirits living on this mountain.” He pointed at the ground. “He said it’s why nothing will grow here. Even the jungle keeps its distance.”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Perhaps.” Jorge pulled a cigar from his shirt pocket. After lighting it, he said, “Like I said, take it for what it’s worth. I would simply remind you that he’s been pretty reliable so far.”
Zane looked down. “I still think Katiya’s theory is the right one. The soil just seems bad here.”
Jorge nodded toward the mountain. “The boy also said something else… he said that the vines have a voice.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t say, but he didn’t seem to like whatever they were saying.”
Zane did have to admit the plants seemed odd, particularly their white flowers the size of dinner plates. He made a mental note to ask Katiya about it later.
“I wonder if Osak knows how to get up the mountain,” Brett said.
“He’s never been here before, so I doubt it,” Jorge said. “But as long as we can convince him to stay, I’m sure he can help us find a way.”
Zane turned and looked west. The last tiny sliver of sun sat on the horizon, deepening the shadows along the buffer. “Speaking of which, we need to get moving. We don’t have much daylight left.”
“Shouldn’t we just set up camp here?” Brett asked. “Everyone is exhausted, and it would give me time to work on the sat phone.”
He was right. The group was exhausted. But Zane knew now was not the time to stop, with one or even two hostile groups pressing them from the rear. If there was something here to find, then they needed to find it first.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of stopping right
now,” Zane said. “I want to at least find a way in or up before nightfall. Besides, it will be easier to travel on the buffer.”
Brett nodded, although Zane could tell he was disappointed.
Zane glanced at his watch. “We still have an hour or two left. Let’s split into two teams. We travel and search in opposite directions along the base.” He looked at Jorge. “Sound good?”
The Brazilian was staring out at the jungle through narrowed eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think you’re right.” He broke his stare and looked at Zane. “We need to do as much as we can now. If the night was bad in the crater, then it will be even worse here.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
AFTER CALLING EVERYONE together, Zane divided the group into two teams. He, Jorge, Brett, and Artur would search east along the base of the mountain. Bennett and Tocchet would lead the others to the west. The thought of separating concerned him, but it would allow them to cover more ground. It would be dark soon, and he was determined to find a way up the mountain before stopping to set up camp.
He watched Amanda and Katiya gather their belongings. He wouldn’t like them being out of sight but took comfort in the fact that they’d be under the protection of heavily armed Green Berets.
And what about the mole? He still had no idea who it might be, and at this point, he still couldn’t rule out either of the remaining soldiers. For that matter, he couldn’t rule out Wilson. Maybe he had wandered off and joined the people he’d been working with. Although Zane found that hard to believe, it would certainly explain a lot of what had happened.
He pushed all the concerns aside as he addressed the group. “Each team will continue searching until we find something.”
“And if we don’t?” Max asked.
“Assuming this buffer extends around the mountain, we’ll meet on the other side.”
Amanda lifted her hand. “I’m sorry, but what exactly are we supposed to be looking for?”
“Good question,” Zane said. “It’s reasonable to assume that the signal was transmitted from this mountain. It matches the location given by NASA, and it would give the sender an elevated and remote position. So what are we looking for? A way up or a way in.”
Amanda frowned. “A way in?”
“Mountains are made largely of rock, therefore we need to be looking for tunnel openings, shafts, ravines, or anything that might provide a way to reach the top,” Zane said. “We’ve already seen a stone bridge, so let’s also watch for other man-made structures, particularly any that might give us access to the summit.”
“Watch the slope as well,” Jorge said. “If it flattens enough, we might be able to make the climb.”
“So what happens if we don’t find anything and we do end up meeting on the other side?” Katiya asked. “What then?”
“Then we’ll find a secure place to make camp. That’s another benefit of doing it this way—if nothing turns up, then at least we’ll be farther away from whoever is coming up behind us.”
Katiya nodded.
“Any other questions?” he asked. Several shook their heads.
As Zane bent over to gather his belongings, he felt a hand on his arm. He looked up to find Katiya standing next to him. “I just want you to know how much I appreciate your leadership.” She nodded toward the others. “It can’t be easy trying to herd such a large group of opinionated people.”
“I appreciate that.” Zane stood and slung his pack over a shoulder. “I want you to run point on your team. I’ll feel better if you’re calling the shots.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Let me know the minute you find something.”
Zane held her gaze for a moment before shouldering his rifle and turning away.
“Want us to leave you two alone for a while?” Brett asked as the two walked off.
“You’re a regular riot,” Zane said. “So I guess I’m not supposed to give the other team some last-minute encouragement?”
“If she were any more encouraged, she might have undone her ponytail.”
“I didn’t realize you were analyzing my every move now. If you spent as much time on that sat phone, we’d probably have an extraction team on the way by now.”
Brett smiled and took a swig from his canteen.
They spent the next few minutes walking in silence. Despite the need to find a way up the mountain, Zane found his eyes repeatedly drawn back to the jungle. Who was lurking out there? Were they hiding just out of sight, waiting for the opportunity to spring another attack? He’d seen no sign of their approach, which hopefully meant they were still some distance off.
Brett looked over at the slope. “My fear is that if there is an opening, it will be almost impossible to see underneath the tangle of vines, particularly this late in the day.”
“Just keep your eyes open. As Jorge said, perhaps the slope will flatten out at some point.”
Brett elbowed Zane then pointed. Jorge and Artur had stopped and were looking at something just down the buffer.
“Got something?” Zane asked as they arrived.
“Artur thinks he saw someone,” Jorge replied.
“No, I know I saw someone,” Artur said.
Zane stopped, a frown spreading over his face. “You saw someone? Where? What did they look like?”
Artur pointed at two boulders in the distance. “There was a little girl, standing next to one of the rocks. When I looked at her… she just disappeared.”
Zane’s eyes narrowed. That wasn’t what he’d expected to hear.
“What did she look like?” Brett asked.
Artur shrugged. “She was an Indian girl… that’s all I could tell. Very young. Maybe three or four at most.”
“Maybe she lives here on the mountain,” Brett said. “And if she does, then it’s possible we’re near an entrance.”
“Possibly,” Zane whispered. Something bothered him about the sighting, but for now he tucked it away. He pulled his rifle off his shoulder. “Let’s go have a look.”
The boulders were about four feet tall, just high enough for someone to crouch behind. Zane approached slowly, not because the little girl posed a threat, but because of who might be with her. Zane lifted his rifle as he came around the rocks. No one was there.
After the others joined him, Jorge squatted and stared at something on the ground. “There was someone here.” He pointed at a faint impression in the hard-packed soil. “And the footprint seems to be about the size of a small child’s.”
Zane scanned the area. The buffer seemed to narrow just ahead, with the jungle a mere thirty feet or so from the escarpment. That was likely the direction she’d fled, although she could have ducked off into the woods too.
“Let’s keep going,” Brett said. “I believe she may be the key to getting up the mountain.”
Zane felt a pinch in his gut. Something still bothered him, although he wasn’t sure what. “You may be right, but let’s keep our eyes and ears open.”
They moved forward in the growing darkness. Not only were the jungle trees closer here, but as they traveled to the northeast, the sun was becoming blocked by the mountain.
Suddenly Jorge stopped and grabbed Zane’s arm. “Look!”
Zane stared ahead. At first he couldn’t see anything, but as his eyes adjusted, he made out a tiny figure standing about fifty yards ahead. The girl.
Brett lifted his binoculars. “She looks scared.”
“I think she’s lost,” Jorge said.
“Maybe,” Zane whispered.
“We need to help her,” Artur said.
Zane used the scope on his rifle to view the girl. She was clad in the typical garb of an Indian tribe, with animal skin clothing and a clump of necklaces looped around her neck. Brett was right, there was a look of concern on her face. Zane felt another pinch in his gut.
Zane rose to his feet. “Let’s see if she’ll let us get close.”
The four proceeded slowly. In addition to watching the girl, Zane took an
occasional glance toward the trees on their right.
“She’s moving,” Jorge said.
Zane looked up just in time to see her disappear around a bend.
“Let’s go,” Zane shouted.
They sprinted the remaining distance. After making the turn, they came to an abrupt halt. The buffer had widened again, and they found themselves in a large clearing about the size of a football field. Zane frowned. The girl was nowhere to be seen.
Brett turned in several different directions. “Where is she? There’s no way she could’ve made it to the other end. An Olympic sprinter couldn’t have made it that far.”
Jorge pointed toward some scattered boulders on the left. “What about over there? That seems like the only place she could’ve made it to.”
Zane led them over to the boulders, but once again they came up empty. Jorge walked over to the base of the mountain and pushed aside some of the vines with his rifle. After looking around for a few seconds, he looked at Zane and shook his head.
Brett stared at the jungle, hands on his hips. “It’s like she vanished into thin air.”
Jorge got down on one knee and examined the ground behind the boulders. “I see signs that people have been here, but it’s hard to tell how recent the prints are.”
Zane clenched his jaw as they stood in silence. Where had she gone? The only possibility was into the jungle. But if that was true, then why hadn’t she simply run there to begin with?
Artur cleared his throat. “I need to tell all of you something.”
Jorge stood and stared at him with a frown.
After a long pause, Artur said, “Something happened back at the bridge.”
“What are you talking about?” Jorge asked.
“I stayed behind to gather my things… and… and I saw something in the bushes.”
Something lurched in the pit of Zane’s stomach. He sensed he was about to learn why he’d felt the pinch in his gut.
Jorge nodded that he should continue.
The Brazilian let out a sigh. “As I got ready to leave, I saw something in the shadows. At first I didn’t know what it was, but then I realized someone was looking at me.”
