Deep In The Jungle

by Gerry Griffiths

  Wanda glared at her daughter. “Boy, sometimes...”

  “It’s okay,” Frank said, putting his arm around Wanda’s shoulder to calm her down. “You two can sort that out later. Right now, we have to make some phone calls. Don’t worry, the authorities will find him.”

  19

  Ryan stood on the bank and yelled out Jackie’s name a number of times. When he didn’t get a reply, he called for Ben, but still no answer from either one of them. He kept swatting away gnats; they wouldn’t leave him alone. The tiny pests were in his ears, flying up his nostrils, and doing everything in their power to make him as miserable as possible.

  A couple mosquitoes joined in but Ryan squashed them when they landed on his mud-caked arm. That’s when he realized the only part of him not covered in mud was his face. He bent down and scooped up a handful of mud and smeared it all over his face and the back of his neck, even in and around his ears.

  Soon the gnats lost interest and went on their merry way. Though it hadn’t been intentional, Ryan had discovered the perfect insect deterrent, which was lucky for him as he didn’t have bug repellent. The only things he possessed at the moment were the clothes on his back, his pocketknife, and a cell phone he doubted was much good as it had been submerged in water and was probably a goner. He checked the phone anyway and confirmed his suspicion as the glass face was fogged up and the device wouldn’t respond.

  He glanced around to assess his situation, which couldn’t have been any bleaker if he had been stranded on the moon. He couldn’t see farther downstream because of the bend in the river. The shoreline across the river was made up of a vast system of tree roots, strangler vines, and no proper beaches. The tightly clustered trees towered over one hundred feet over the water and the vegetation was so thick the face of the jungle looked like one giant, green wall.

  Ryan turned and looked inland. The rainforest on his side looked just as inaccessible. He knew it would be wiser to follow the river rather than to venture into the jungle, but he knew the thickness of the vegetation made that impossible on foot. He thought about trying to swim downstream, but that seemed too dangerous. Maybe he could float on a log, but he didn’t see anything that might keep him afloat. Or he could spend eternity cutting down a tree with his pocketknife, whittling out a hull, and eventually canoe down.

  No matter what option he chose, as ridiculous as they all were, the idea of going down the rapids was pure ludicrous as he would just end up dying going over the falls.

  Ryan cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “Jackie! Can you hear me?”

  The only thing he heard was the drone of the katydids along with birdcalls and an eerie screeching somewhere in the trees around the bend.

  That’s when Ryan realized it was Jackie, screaming for her life.

  20

  The lobby sounded like a customer service call center with everyone speaking loudly into their phones as James, Kathy, and Macky had returned and were pitching in to launch a rescue effort.

  James put down his phone in disgust. “I was on hold for twenty minutes and no one ever came back to me.”

  Kathy finally gave up. “I can’t get through.”

  “The lines are all tied up,” Ignacio said.

  “My phone’s useless,” Macky confessed.

  “It’s a national emergency,” Frank said. “I doubt very seriously if we will be able to get anyone to help us.”

  “What are we going to do?” Wanda asked.

  “I really don’t know.”

  Ally got up from the settee and came over to her mother. “Mom, I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to be a brat.”

  Wanda gave her daughter a smile. “We’re all a little stressed right now. I wasn’t being sneaky.”

  “I know. What kind of sheriff would you be if you didn’t know where your own kids were?”

  “I just worry about you guys.”

  “So what do we do now?”

  “That’s a good question.”

  “Could you make it by boat?” Ignacio asked Frank.

  “Well, let me see,” Frank said, and spent a moment using his finger to trace a route from the resort to where he thought Ryan might be. “Yes, I believe so, but where are we going to get a boat?”

  “We have one here.”

  “All I’ve seen are canoes,” Frank said.

  “No, we have a proper boat back in the cove,” Ignacio said. “We sometimes use it to take guests back to the city. I can take you to find your son.”

  “But that might take days.”

  “Our boat is fast and well equipped. We have lights to run at night.”

  Frank looked at Wanda. “This could be our only chance.”

  “Then we should go.”

  “We?”

  “I’m going, too.”

  “It’s a lot different out there in the jungle than it is here at the resort.”

  “I’m still going,” Wanda said stubbornly.

  “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Frank, I’m a sheriff, for crying out loud.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “We’re going as well,” James said.

  “Oh, I don’t know if—”

  “Remember our friends are out there, too,” Kathy said after interrupting Frank.

  Frank turned to Ignacio. “Is there enough room for all of us?”

  “There is,” Ignacio said. “But no more.”

  “What about Dillon and me?” Ally said.

  “I’ll need you both to stay here,” Wanda said.

  “But Mom—”

  “Well, if you have a full crew, looks like I’m also staying,” Macky said then looked at Ally. “That is, if you don’t mind the company?”

  “Thanks, Macky.”

  “Then I suggest everyone grab what you need,” Frank said. “We’re leaving in an hour.”

  21

  Ryan fought his way through the dense foliage wishing he had a machete or a hatchet, anything that would cut through the entanglement instead of only a silly pocketknife. He pushed through the heavy vegetation, tripping over roots and vines, until he came out of the trees on the other side of the bend.

  He cupped his hand around his mouth and yelled, “Jackie! Where are you?”

  That’s when he heard Jackie shout, “I’m over here. Hurry!”

  Ryan looked over in the direction he had heard her voice, but he couldn’t see her. All he saw was the torrential river and a catchall cove with driftwood and debris stacked high in the water.

  As he approached the water’s edge, a hand shot up from under a leafy branch. “I’m down here!”

  Wading into the water, Ryan cut a path through the flotsam until he reached Jackie, who was pinned under a large bough, her face barely above water.

  “Hold on, I’m going to get you out,” Ryan shouted over the roar of the turbulent rapids. He started yanking off smaller branches to clear room so he could lift the thick timber that was holding Jackie down. On dry land, it would have been impossible for him to get it off the ground, but half-floating in the water, he knew he had a chance of moving it enough so Jackie could slip free.

  “When I say when, I want you to slide toward me,” Ryan said, looking down at Jackie’s face. “Got it?”

  “Got it,” Jackie said, gulping in a mouthful of water and spitting it out.

  Ryan wrapped his arms around the bough and bent his knees. “When!” He stood and raised the heavy tree branch. Jackie ducked her head under the water and pushed her body toward Ryan. As soon as she was clear, Ryan dropped the bough before straining his back.

  He grabbed her by the hands and pulled her up out of the water onto her feet. “Are you okay?”

  “I thought for sure I was going to die...” And then she collapsed into him.

  Ryan held her in his arms.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

  22

  Ignacio and Enzo had already prepared the b
oat with enough supplies to last a week. Ten five-gallon gasoline cans had been brought on board as added fuel for the long voyage and were strapped down at the stern in front of the two 65-horsepower Chrysler outboard engines mounted on the transom. A permanent three-foot wide rubber bumper wrapped all the way around the vessel’s hull, which had a flat bottom for navigating shallow waters.

  It was almost twilight when Frank and Wanda came down the pier, carrying their bags. The sun behind them was setting behind the trees on the opposite bank, casting a pink hue over the river.

  Wanda handed Frank her bag and climbed aboard the rescue boat. Frank tossed both bags up on the narrow deck, which ran around a pilothouse. He stepped up and opened the rear door.

  Ignacio sat at the helm and was checking to make sure everything operated correctly. He threw some toggle switches, one after the other. The outside spotlights and floodlights came on briefly then turned off.

  Frank and Wanda stepped inside. There were bench seats on either side with room underneath so they could stow their bags.

  “Do you have any firearms onboard?” Wanda asked.

  Ignacio turned around in his seat. “Yes, we do.” He pounded on the window to get Enzo’s attention, who was standing outside at the bull-nosed bow next to the mooring cleat.

  Enzo hurried down the side of the pilothouse and came in.

  Ignacio pointed at a long locker against the bulkhead.

  Digging in his pocket, Enzo pulled out a small ring of keys. He went over to the footlocker, found the corresponding key, and opened the padlock. He lifted the lid back.

  “Well, I wasn’t expecting all that,” Frank said, staring down at the assortment of guns and the well-stocked boxes of ammunition. He turned to Ignacio. “Were you expecting trouble?”

  “Always.”

  Wanda reached in and pulled out a holster with a nine-millimeter pistol. “It’s a Browning, just like my service weapon.”

  “That’s actually mine, but you can use it if you like,” Ignacio said.

  “Well, thank you.” Wanda coiled the belt and laid the holster on the bench seat where she would be sitting.

  Frank lifted one of the short barrel shotguns out of the locker. It was a good bush gun for short range. He opened the breech and stared down the twin tubes. He snapped it closed and laid it back in the box next to three other shotguns lying in precut foam along with a couple of hunting rifles with scopes. There were three small caliber revolvers in a small box without a lid, an assortment of different length knives in sheaths, and half a dozen machetes with looped lanyards for slipping over the wrist.

  James and Kathy ran down the pier and scampered aboard the boat.

  “Sorry,” Kathy apologized as she rushed in and sat down. James shoved his bag under the seat. He glanced over and saw the weapons in the footlocker. “That’s quite the arsenal.”

  “I’m not really much of a gun person,” Kathy said.

  “That’s perfectly okay,” Wanda said. She nodded to Enzo and he closed the lid of the weapons locker and replaced the padlock.

  “We’re ready to go,” Ignacio said. He started the electrical ignition and the two powerful outboards roared. Enzo went on deck and cast off the mooring lines forward and aft.

  The rescue boat pulled away from the pier.

  Frank and Wanda stepped out of the pilothouse and stood on the stern.

  Ally, Dillon, Macky, and Murilo had gathered on the beach and were yelling goodbye and waving. Frank and Wanda waved back.

  The lights came on and the boat started to pick up speed.

  Wanda kept waving even though she could no longer see Ally and Dillon.

  “We better go in before we fall overboard,” Frank said and they went inside.

  23

  Ryan and Jackie’s voices were getting hoarse from yelling so they finally gave up.

  “It’s no use,” Ryan said. “He’s not hearing us.”

  “You don’t think he got swept over the falls?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Raindrops started coming down.

  Ryan looked up at the battleship-gray clouds. “Oh, isn’t this great. As if we’re not wet enough, now it has to rain.”

  And then the deluge unleashed. So heavy, Ryan and Jackie dashed for the trees to seek shelter.

  “Oh my God,” Jackie squealed. “It’s coming down buckets!”

  Running under the canopy, the rainstorm was even louder as the downpour pelted the rainforest. It smelled musty under the wet, glistening foliage. Nightfall was only minutes away as they stood in the shadowy gloom.

  Jackie’s light-colored blouse clung to her like a second skin. Ryan could see her black bra through the damp fabric.

  “What’s that?” he asked and pointed at her stomach area.

  Jackie looked down and lifted up her blouse.

  “It’s a leech!”

  Ryan unbuttoned his shirt and took it off.

  “Oh Ryan, they’re all over you.”

  They stripped out of their clothes, even out of their socks and boots.

  “They’re so disgusting,” Jackie said. “You do me, I’ll do you.” She began plucking off the black slug-like parasites attached to Ryan’s chest and abdomen while he worked on her stomach and shoulders, which after being removed left red, oval-shaped teeth marks. Jackie turned around so Ryan could work on her back and the backs of her legs. Once he was done, he turned and let Jackie remove the rest of the leeches still clinging to his flesh.

  Ryan opened the waistband of his briefs and looked down and was thankful he didn’t see any leeches.

  Watching Ryan, Jackie turned around and checked herself.

  “Wait,” Ryan said. He reached over and removed a leech from her right butt cheek. “Okay, you’re good.”

  “Well, that was fun,” Jackie said, facing Ryan.

  “More like a weird date.”

  Jackie let out a little laugh. “Better check your clothes good before putting them back on.”

  “I will,” Ryan said but he couldn’t stop grinning.

  “Okay, you saw my junk, I saw yours.”

  Ryan burst out laughing. “I wouldn’t exactly call it junk.”

  “Shut up.” Jackie gave him a hip check as he was trying to step into his jeans. He hopped on one foot trying his best not to fall down.

  Once they were fully dressed, Ryan reached in his pocket and took out his cell phone.

  “Oh my God, you have your phone.”

  “Don’t you?” Ryan asked.

  “Like a stooge, I left it in my daypack.”

  “Well, I doubt if it even works.”

  “Sure, it should. Aren’t they all waterproof?”

  “Apparently, not this one.” Ryan tried turning it on anyway. After waiting a few seconds, he was surprised to see the screen light up. “Well, I’ll be.”

  They stared at the only source of light, as it was already dark. Ryan switched to the flashlight app.

  “We need to find somewhere to hold up for the night,” Jackie said. “Preferably off the ground.”

  “What, like in a tree?”

  “That would be the safest place, yes.”

  Ryan could hear tiny creatures scuttling and slithering in the underbrush. “We better hurry up.”

  Holding his phone out in front of him, Ryan and Jackie traipsed through the wet jungle. They soon discovered an enormous tree, which appeared to be actually four trees that had grown together into one. One of the trunks sloped down and looked easy to scale.

  Ryan held the cell phone light for Jackie so she could shimmy up.

  “This is perfect,” Jackie said, after she’d climbed up twenty feet. “It’s roomy enough for us to sleep.”

  Ryan ascended the trunk to their hidey-hole, which was a hollow formed during the growth of the tightly grouped trees.

  “Have you tried making a call?” Jackie asked, looking at Ryan’s cell phone in his hand.

  “I sent a text just before we crashed,” Ryan said.
r />   “To who?”

  “My mom.”

  “What did she say?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t checked my messages.”

  “Oh my God, what are you waiting for? Maybe they’re sending help.”

  Ryan looked down at the lit screen just as the image flickered and went black.

  “Damn. There goes my battery.”

  24

  Despite the recent torrential downpour, Ben was able to collect enough dry tinder and get a fire going. He’d found a good spot under a cover of elephant-ear fronds, which allowed the smoke to filter up through the trees but also deflected the heat and warmed him up.

  He had laid out some of the contents of his rucksack: flashlight, a packet of trail mix, a first aid kit, and a pair of dry socks. He’d lost his cell phone as it had been in a side pouch that had been torn away. Not only had the waterproof daypack been essential in preventing his stuff from getting waterlogged, its buoyancy had saved his life. The moment he had exited the plane, he’d been swept downstream; clinging onto his bag like it was a life preserver.

  It had been a constant struggle to keep his head up out of the water as the swift current carried him barreling down the choppy river. He’d used his pack to cushion each time he was plowed into a partially submerged boulder. He’d tried to grab on but the surfaces were always too slimy and his fingers would slip off.

  He remembered the rising mist and the loud roar of the falls.

  By some miracle, he had latched onto a piece of wood wedged between two rocks and he was finally able to pull himself up out of the water. Stepping onto the rocky beach, he’d glanced back and saw a distant cove on the opposite shore.

  When the damaged floatplane had drifted by and plummeted over the falls, he wished there could have been something he could have done to save Jackie and Ryan.

  Being the sole survivor didn’t seem like much of a consolation, especially when he had to live with the thought his friends had gone to a watery grave.