by David Wood
“Naw, I’m good. We all got some sleep on the raft.”
Maddock knew it was pointless to argue, so they set off. The going was excruciatingly slow as they hacked their way through the tangled undergrowth. If any non-flying creature lived here, it would have to be one that either slithered on the ground or swung through the trees.
“My kingdom for a machete,” Matt grumbled as he hacked away with his knife. “Why didn’t I grab them when I broke into Mago’s quarters?”
“Hush!” Tam waved a hand at Matt. “What’s that sound?”
A high pitched sound, somewhere between a squeak and a chirp, rang out above the sounds of the jungle. “It’s over there. Take my pack.” She slipped off her pack, shoved it into Willis’s arms, dropped to the ground, and crawled into the underbrush.
“Seriously?” Bones shook his head. “Just crawl around down there with the creepy critters. We’ll wait for you.”
Tam returned a minute later clutching something small, white, and fluffy to her chest. “It’s a baby harpy eagle. It was nuzzled up against its dead mother. Must have tried to fly to her and fell.”
“I’ve never heard of it.” Bones leaned down for a closer look.
“It’s the largest eagle in the world, and they’re nearly extinct in some parts of the world. Deforestation is wiping them out.” A grim expression fell across her face. “Something else wiped out this one’s mother. She was nearly torn in half.”
“Wonder what did that to her?” Maddock was suddenly wondering if there was something to the mapinguari legend after all. “Say, have any of you ever heard of the mapinguari?”
“Hell yeah!” Bones fist pumped. “It’s like Bigfoot meets the giant sloth.”
“How do you know about it?” Tam asked as she took her pack from Willis and set about making a comfortable place for the baby eagle to rest. Apparently they now had a mascot. “You don’t seem the scholarly type.”
“Bones only studies things that are, umm…” Kaylin began.
“Controversial,” Bones finished.
“Bullcrap is more like it,” Willis said.
“Hey, somebody’s got to know about Bigfoot and Nessie and all that good stuff. That somebody is me.”
Tam finished making a nest for the bird inside her backpack, and put it on backward, like a baby carrier. Bones took the lead as they resumed their trek, happily carrying on about the mapinguari.
“There are all kinds of stories about it. The far-fetched ones say it has caiman skin, backward feet, and a mouth in its belly.”
“The ‘far-fetched’ stories?” Kaylin smirked.
“We just discovered a two thousand year-old Punic city in the middle of the Amazon. Do you really want to take a tone with me?”
“Fair enough,” Kaylin said. “Go on. We’re all ears.’
“Anyway, it seems most likely that it’s a descendant of Mylodon, an ancient, ground-dwelling sloth. It was ten feet tall.” Bones slashed at a low-hanging limb and dodged as it sprang back at his face. “Supposedly, the mapinguari is a carnivore, and it can move in total silence through the thickest vegetation. Then again, some people think it’s not a ground sloth, and can swing through the trees, as long as the limbs are strong enough to hold it.”
“What else?” Maddock found himself searching the upper reaches of the kapok trees, keeping an eye out for the legendary beast.
“It’s hard to kill because of its thick skull, and sturdy bones. And it’s got a tough hide and this coarse, matted fur that arrows bounce off of if you don’t hit it just right. It hates the scent of a human, and people get dizzy when they look at it, but that’s probably because of its strong odor…” His words trailed away and he stopped and turned to face Maddock. “Just out of curiosity, why do you ask?”
“Oh, it’s no big deal, really. According to Fawcett, this canyon is where it, or they, supposedly live, and it’s supposed to be death to pass through here.”
Five seconds of stunned silence hung in the air as everyone stopped and stared at him.
“Why are you just now telling us this?” Matt sounded uncannily like Maddock’s father, back when Maddock was a child and had neglected to mention something important, usually a failing grade or a paper that needed signing.
“What would have been the point? We didn’t have any other choices. Besides, it’s probably just a legend, anyway.”
“And if someone asked you if the chupacabra was real?” Bones arched an eyebrow.
“Fine! I get the point. Let’s just get the hell out of this canyon.” He brushed past Bones, who, unlike the others who were still staring at him in disbelief, was looking crestfallen.
“What’s wrong with you?” Maddock frowned.
“We came all the way to the home of the mapinguari, and I don’t have a camera.”
Kennedy knelt in the shadow of a kapok tree, chewing on a Brazil nut and letting the humid air bathe his frozen body. It had been child’s play to use his clothing as a flotation device as he rode the river, but the frigid water had nearly been the death of him. He’d scarcely been able to pull himself out of the water before what would have been a certain fall to his death over the waterfall. His body temperature had fallen, too, and he found himself feeling sluggish and confused as he made his way out of the underground cavern.
He would be all right, though. He’d been through worse in the service. Already, his senses were sharpening. He’d immediately spotted tracks left by Maddock and his party, and followed them to where they had cut a trail through the undergrowth.
He grinned. Nice of them to clear him a path. It would take him minutes to cover distances that had taken them hours to hack their way through. Best of all, he doubted they had any idea he was on their trail.
Chapter 33
“Did you hear that?” It was about the third time Matt had asked the question, but this time, Maddock did hear something. It was a rustling somewhere in the distance, and it was coming closer.
“Can’t be the mapinguari. It’s silent, but deadly.” Maddock could tell Bones was trying to sound more positive than he felt.
“Smells like a silent but deadly.” Willis grimaced.
He was right. Borne on a gentle breeze, the same foul odor that was evident in the underground cavern now assaulted Maddock’s nostrils. He drew his Walther, regretting the lost backpack with his reloads. He had four bullets left in this clip. “Bones, do you have any more wisdom to share about this thing?” The rustling grew closer and the stench was almost overpowering.
“They’re afraid of water. Won’t cross it.” Bones said, tapping the handle of his Glock. Unlike the others, who were visibly nervous, Bones was as calm as ever. Then again, perhaps he was just crazy. “I’ll bet there’s a stream or something running across the end of this box canyon. That would explain why they haven’t expanded their territory.”
“All right, everyone. If we get separated, make for the end of the canyon as fast as you can. We’ll meet up at the lagoon.”
The rustling sound ceased. They all turned and looked in the direction from which the unseen thing had been approaching. What was it doing? From inside Tam’s backpack, the little harpy eagle sounded a shrill cry, and then, all was bedlam.
The attack came from behind. With an unearthly roar, a monstrosity of tangled reddish-orange fur dropped down in the midst of their group. It swiped at Matt with a clawed hand, cutting him across the chest. Maddock whirled and fired, catching the moving beast in the head. It roared again and vanished in a flash, scrambling on all fours into the jungle.
It wasn’t over.
Another of the creatures, probably the one they’d heard stalking them, burst from the tangled forest, knocking Bones to the ground. Maddock aimed for the gut this time, but the mapinguari was fast, and his bullet caught it in the thigh as it sprang toward him.
Maddock dropped and rolled as the beast flew past him. It rounded on him. It had a long snout, beady, black eyes, and a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Its body was c
overed in red-orange fur, like that of an orangutan, except its belly, which was leathery, dark red flesh. Moving faster than Maddock would have thought possible, it attacked, but Matt, Bones, and Willis were ready. They all opened fire. There was no telling how much damage the bullets actually did to the strange beast, but it fled, leaving a trail of blood behind.
“Whew!” Bones said. “That was freakin’ crazy.”
Just then, the jungle behind them came alive with the cries of angry mapinguari.
Bones looked at Maddock. “What now?”
“Now we run!”
“What the hell?” Kennedy stopped short, looking all around. Up ahead he heard the cry of an animal like none he’d ever heard before, followed by gunshots, people shouting, and more roars. The outburst only lasted for a matter of seconds, and then silence…
…followed by bedlam.
They were in the trees and in the jungle all around him. Big, furry, orange things swinging toward the sound of the gunshots. He didn’t know what they were and he didn’t care. He just wanted to get out of there.
The jungle seemed to grab at him as he ran, as though nature itself was working in concert with the unseen creatures. Gunshots occasionally broke through the din of bestial roars. He didn’t know whether to hope Maddock’s men were killing these creatures, whatever they were, or if he should root for the beasts. Then again, he had to have the seed. He had to have it.
One of the monsters broke through the foliage to his left and came for him. He saw a flash of white teeth and long, razor-sharp claws. He hit the ground and rolled under it, stabbing up into its exposed gut as it flew past him. His KA-BAR dragged across the tough hide, but didn’t pierce the flesh.
He came to his feet, knife at the ready. The creature turned, circling him warily. He didn’t understand why. He certainly hadn’t done it any damage. Snarling, the beast struck at him with its wicked claws.
Kennedy leapt back, breaking through a tangle of brush, and nearly falling into a twenty foot gorge. He teetered on the edge, staring down at the swift-moving stream that tumbled over and around jagged boulders. Righting himself, he turned to face the monster. Its head broke through the foliage and it froze. It sniffed the air, roared, and turned and ran.
What had just happened? Why had it not finished him?
There was no time to contemplate this turn of events, because just then, he looked around and spotted Maddock helping the blonde, Kaylin Maxwell, up onto a fallen tree that spanned the gorge. On the opposite side he saw figures vanishing into the forest. The others had already crossed. He was almost too late.
Maddock stood with his back to Kennedy, watching the girl. Perfect. Kennedy drew his KA-BAR and attacked.
Maddock heard the approach of his attacker only an instant before the man was upon him. He whirled around, barely dodging the knife thrust. It was Kennedy. How had he caught up with them? It didn’t matter now.
Maddock drew his Recon knife just as Kennedy rolled to his feet and came at him again. Maddock wished he had even one bullet left in his Walther, but he had expended them all fighting off the mapinguari, which, just as Bones had said, did not seem to want to come anywhere near the water.
Kennedy feinted and Maddock stepped to the side, flicking his knife at Kennedy’s eyes. The man moved his head just enough to avoid the blow, and slashed at Maddock’s knee. Maddock shifted his feet and made the man pay with a quick slash that missed his throat, but opened a gash in his cheek. Now he’d have another scar to match his first one.
Kennedy, baring his teeth, crouched, looking for an opening. They circled one another in silence. Maddock could see Kaylin out of the corner of his eye. She was more than halfway across, and must not have heard the attack over the sound of the rushing water far below her. That was fine with him. She didn’t have any bullets left either, and even if she did, he wouldn’t want her involved. He wanted her to get to safety with the others.
“Just give me the seed and I won’t kill you,” Kennedy growled.
“What do you want it for?” Maddock kept his voice conversational, though his every nerve was charged.
“I don’t want it, but those whom I serve want it very badly.”
“Those you ‘serve’? What kind of talk is that for a tough guy? ScanoGen must pay you pretty well if you’ll grovel like that for them.”
Kennedy barked a laugh. “You’re as ignorant as I thought. ScanoGen pays me well, but I only work for them. I serve the Dominion. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?”
The words caught Maddock totally by surprise, and Kennedy used the moment of shock to make a quick thrust at Maddock’s midsection, one which he barely avoided.
“I don’t know what you did in Utah, Maddock, but rest assured, the Dominion knows your name, and they know Bonebrake. When I make my report, you’re both dead men. If you give me the seed, though, I’ll ask them to spare the lives of your friends Barnaby, Sanders, Dean, and Maxwell.” His confidence was growing as he spoke. “I know your type, Maddock. You don’t want their blood on your hands. Not that I think you’re noble, I think you just don’t like feeling guilty.”
“Thanks for the therapy session. My copay’s in the mail.” Maddock made a feint of his own and Kennedy danced back out of reach. So he wasn’t so caught up in his little speech that he could be taken unaware. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have the seed.”
“Liar! That guy, Brian, gave it to you. He told me himself. He even described the pouch he put it in!”
“True, but I gave it to Tam Broderick. You remember her,” Maddock taunted. “By the way, she’s F.B.I. Did you know that? She’s got the seed, and she’s already on the other side of the river.” He hoped Kennedy could not see that the pouch still hung around Maddock’s neck. “You can go after her, but you’re going to have to get through me first, and then she’s got all those friends of mine you mentioned to protect her. Good luck with that.”
Kennedy’s eyes flitted across the river for a split-second, and then he attacked. He thrust for Maddock’s midsection, but changed his direction at the last second. Maddock felt the blade slice across his thigh. It would hurt later, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins dulled the pain.
Maddock lashed out, cracking Kennedy across the forehead with the butt of his knife, and slicing back down at an angle, opening a gash over his collarbone. Kennedy’s return stroke was not quick enough to catch Maddock’s throat, but it sliced open his shirt and left a shallow cut across the breastbone. Maddock had been ready for the strike, though, and as Kennedy’s knife hand swept past him, he struck him with a vicious backhand swipe that nearly severed Kennedy’s wrist.
Kennedy roared in pain and leapt at Maddock, his good hand clutching at Maddock’s throat. Kennedy’s shout had finally caught Kaylin’s attention, and she screamed Maddock’s name as he was borne backward by the heavier man. Maddock plunged his knife into Kennedy’s exposed midsection, but it seemed the man was as far beyond feeling pain as Maddock was. They were now only inches from a fifty foot fall to the rocks below.
“Ready to die?” Kennedy growled, his eyes afire with madness as he pushed Maddock backward. Then his gaze fell on the grass pouch hanging from Maddock’s neck, and understanding dawned on his face. “The seed!” He released Maddock’s throat and ripped the pouch free.
The moment of distraction was all Maddock needed. Free from Kennedy’s controlling grasp, he pivoted to the side and shoved Kennedy to the edge of the gorge. As Kennedy staggered and caught himself just at the edge, the small pouch holding the sacred seed slipped free from his grasp.
“No!” Kennedy cried as it fluttered down and was swept away by the fast-moving water. Roaring like an angry bear, he turned on Maddock, who was ready for him.
Maddock drove the heel of his palm up into Kennedy’s chin with all of his might. Kennedy’s eyes rolled back in his head and he wobbled, out on his feet.
“I think we’re done here.” Maddock placed his index finger on Kennedy’s chest and push
ed. Like a felled tree, Kennedy tumbled to the rocks below. Maddock watched as his lifeless body was swept away. With a deep sigh, he turned away.
Kaylin waited on the other side of the river, her face buried in her hands.
Maddock made his way across to her, and she fell into his arms. This time, it felt… different, like the comfort shared with an old friend. Whatever he had felt for her, or thought he had felt, was gone. He searched his heart, like a tongue probing the empty socket of a lost tooth, but he found nothing there.
“Are you all right?” he whispered.
“No,” she sobbed. “I just can’t take this anymore. I’m not like you, Maddock.”
“I know. I think I finally get it. You’re a tough girl, and you can handle yourself, but that doesn’t mean it feeds your soul to go traipsing through the jungle risking life and limb. I saw the look on your face when Thomas asked you to stay. I don’t even think you wanted to stay with him so much as you loved the idea of the life he was describing.” He held her at arm’s length and looked down into her teary eyes. “You’re a beautiful woman, a talented artist, and you love beauty. It’s not your fault your father also made you a badass.”
She laughed a little. “Not badass, exactly, but I guess I can take care of myself.”
Hand in hand, they headed off through the jungle in the direction in which their friends had gone.
“Exactly, but just because you can do something doesn’t mean that’s what you’re meant for.”
“Kind of like us? We’re not bad together, but maybe we aren’t meant for each other.”
“Could be,” Maddock agreed. “Of course, I wouldn’t say no to being friends with benefits.” He fixed her with a roguish grin and she smacked his chest. “Ow! Did you forget my lovely knife wound?”
“I’m sorry!” she gasped. “I’ll tell you what.” Now she was the one who looked like she had something up her sleeve. “Get me somewhere where I can get a hot meal and an even hotter shower, and I’ll make it up to you.”
