If only Martin were here!
His old Scotland Yard partner, Detective Inspector Martin Chaney, had trained to be a doctor and would be perfect in this situation, but alas he was not. In fact it had been months since he had heard from the man whom he had considered one of his best friends.
No one had heard from him.
And it had him very worried.
He had seen him that night in Venice along with Acton and Laura, but he had then vanished without a trace, having filed an indefinite leave of absence before he had even arrived in Venice.
He knew he wouldn’t be returning.
He had been shot and in a coma for months before waking just prior to their final mission for the Triarii, a two-thousand year old organization descendent from the Roman Empire’s Thirteenth Legion. They had assumed it would be over for them, but with Chaney a member of the Triarii, he knew his involvement would continue, their mission to protect humanity from the perceived power of the crystal skulls never ending.
Reading prayed his friend was merely on some top secret mission for the organization, and would resurface one day as if nothing had happened.
I miss you, old friend.
Fabricio knelt down on the other side and began to expertly wrap the now cleaned wounds, first spreading a disinfectant powder causing Acton to wince.
“Laura?”
Reading slowly shook his head. “Nothing yet. We’re here to try and get these people to help us.” He patted his friend on the shoulder. “At least now we’re only looking for one.”
Fabricio began to wrap Acton’s ankles when he spoke. “The Chief has agreed to help us look for your wife, Senhor Acton.”
Acton grabbed Reading by the arm, relief on his face. “Did you get my last message?”
“The one with the coordinates? Yes.”
“We’ll start there.” He struggled to get up when Reading pushed him back down.
“You’re in no condition to go anywhere.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No, you’ll just end up slowing us down.”
Fabricio tied off the final bandage. “It no matter. They won’t leave until tomorrow morning.”
“Why?” cried both Reading and Acton.
“Today is a festival day. They no help today. But tomorrow, they all help.”
Reading and Acton exchanged frowns. “I’m not sure what else we can do,” said Reading, knowing Acton wouldn’t be happy.
Acton struggled to his feet, failing, then glared at Reading. “Either help me or get out of my way.”
Reading grabbed his friend by the arm and pulled him to his feet. Acton grabbed his head then immediately collapsed in Reading’s arms. He was quickly surrounded by a group of natives who helped carry him into one of the communal lodges and lay him on a bed. They propped him up on piles of furs and brought him water and soup as Reading sat by his side.
Acton looked over at Reading. “Sorry for snapping at you.”
Reading batted the words away with a flick of the wrist. “Nothing doing. I would have decked you if I was in your position.”
“No doubt.” He peered out the door. “What time is it?”
Reading looked at his watch. “Coming up on two in the afternoon. We’ve already lost half the day. Rest up, heal up, eat and drink lots, and you’ll probably be able to come with us.”
Acton nodded, then winced. “Can you check if we’ve got any Tylenol on the boat?”
Reading rose. “Be right back.”
As he left a group of giggling girls rushed into the lodge and began to tend to Acton. “Have fun, Jim, just remember you’re a married man now.”
“Not a word of this to Laura!”
Reading roared with laughter as he quickly covered his mouth in case his teeth were overexposed. Suddenly he felt someone grab his arm. He looked down and it was the girl from earlier. She was smiling up at him, her expression suggesting to him she wanted a good shagging. Someone else gripped his other arm and the suddenly intimidating thought of a threesome flashed across his mind. He tore his smile away to look at what other beauty was also expressing an interest and nearly shite when he saw the gay man from earlier, smiling at him, his expression suggesting to him he too wanted a good shagging.
God help me.
One Day’s Travel from Rio Negro, Northern Amazon, Brazil
Tuk was pleased. They had made very good time, Lau-ra cooperating with him and keeping a good pace. He had chatted with her the entire time, hoping that she would learn to understand his language. Perhaps it would come back to her, since in her previous life she must have been able to speak. He had even tried several of the other dialects from neighboring tribes, but had garnered no reaction other than smiles and motions.
Communication was progressing, however. Several hand motions had been established between them for such things as water, food, relieving oneself, and for having a rest. It was working quite well, and when they would rest, she would ask him for the names of various things around them such as the sky, trees, ground and the river. She already knew more words than he could count, and he was pleased that he was learning her way of saying things too. Surprisingly he found it much easier to learn her words than she did his, but then again he was always very smart, and this one may not be as gifted as he. By no means was she stupid, he could tell, there no dull look behind those eyes he had seen on some people, but perhaps languages were not her thing.
He had tried to teach her his full name, something she would need to know for the bonding ceremony, but she had failed. He had learned hers however. Lau-ra-pal-mer.
It was a three day journey to his village, but they had covered some ground last night, and were up at the crack of dawn this morning with few delays and a rushed pace to put distance between them and the Spirit People, so he was optimistic that by tomorrow morning they would be at her final destination, at least until the Cleansing Ritual was complete.
Then she’d be free to join him in the village.
It would be arduous, torturous even, but she was strong, and he was certain she’d survive it. Many didn’t, but they were willing to accept their fate in order to be accepted back in the tribe, the Cleansing Ritual a way to purge the body of the evil that it had been exposed to, to allow the individual time to reflect on their misdeeds, and to prove their worthiness in the Mother’s eyes. If at the end of the isolation they were still alive, then all was forgiven and forgotten, the Mother having found them worthy to remain amongst the living.
But should they die during their isolation with no food or water other than what the Mother provided them, they would be mourned for having tried, and buried with dignity. And should they have escaped somehow?
No second chances were given.
He wasn’t sure how he’d convey what was expected of her to Lau-ra, but if she was of the Spirit People, surely she remembered the ways of the living? But then she didn’t remember the languages of the living.
Unless she’s from very far away, and it is a language I haven’t heard before!
The thought excited him. He knew the river was long, so long no one had ever reached the mouth of it, or if they had, they had not been able to return.
But the Spirit People seemed to travel the river with ease, which might mean she was from many days journey away, where her language might be the norm.
It gave him hope that she might know what was expected of her.
Unless they have different ways of cleansing the shamed.
He was certain that when they arrived, much of what was expected would become self-evident, but she also needed hope. If she had no way of knowing how long she needed to survive, she might try to escape and be forever damned.
He looked up at the sky. There was less than an hour of sunlight left so they would have to find a place to spend the night. He bent over and picked up a bunch of small rocks, determined to teach the Woman of Light how to count before they went to sleep.
It’s essential she understands how long
she needs to survive.
Laura Palmer watched curiously as Tuk bent over and began to pick up small rocks. After he had found half a dozen on his own, she decided to help him, yet a further gesture of her being cooperative, and another opportunity for them to bond so he might have second thoughts about killing her at the end of their journey, no matter how certain she was that this was no longer his motivation.
But what if someone else decided to?
She knew some of the tribes in the Amazon demanded that the males find a mate from outside of the tribe and bring them back. This helped diversify the bloodlines and genome, and also proved the man capable of winning a mate. With his slight features, Tuk would probably have had an extremely hard time finding a mate which had her more convinced than ever that he was bringing her home to Mom.
And what if Mom rejected her?
Would she then face death? The stronger the bond she created with Tuk now, the less likely he might follow out any order to kill her should she be rejected by his family group.
She handed him several stones and he smiled, taking them and putting them in his bag. They then pressed on for several minutes before finding another perch off the ground and in a large tree quite similar to last night’s accommodations. A bed for her was quickly made, along with a screen woven once again from the materials available to him. His mastery of surviving the forest was clear, skills she thought she had, but realized how without her modern tools to assist, she would be almost helpless.
Tuk disappeared for a few minutes, leaving her to debate making a break for it, but she knew she wouldn’t get far and it would destroy any trust and bond she might have been able to forge to this point. Instead, she smoothed out her bed, again in an alcove in the massive tree, and took a moment to run her fingers through her knotted hair.
Something hissed above her and her head jerked back as she made eye contact with her visitor.
And screamed.
Tuk’s head spun toward the tree, his eyes focusing on the branch where he had left Lau-ra. They bulged. A massive green yakumama snake uncoiled from her resting place on the branch above. It had apparently found a place exposed to the warm sun earlier in the day and was now either making its way back down, or had been disturbed by Lau-ra.
Either way it appeared to be at least ten arms lengths long, easily big enough to crush his future mate then devour her, most likely still alive.
He sprang forward, pulling his pipe with several poison, sharpened darts from his bag, blowing them in quick succession, each embedding themselves in the body of the massive snake. It hissed in anger, turning toward him, mouth opened wide as it spat its response, then turned back to its prey, the tiny darts not affecting it. Lau-ra continued to scream, the jungle around them now alive with every creature within earshot joining in. As the creature’s enormous head continued to stare at Lau-ra, its body slowly lowered to the branch she was on, trapping her in the alcove he had left her in.
He readied his spear and threw it as hard as he could, which he knew wouldn’t be enough. His aim was true, as he had expected, and the tip pierced the thick skin of the snake, as he hadn’t expected. It continued through the body and the tip came through the other side, his hardest throw ever.
If only Father were here to see this!
The snake hissed in pain, its body writhing on the branch, its massive head thrashing back and forth, Lau-ra curled into a ball, her hands covering her head from the occasional impact with the head, easily the size of her torso. He raced toward the trunk of the tree, launching himself at it, his right foot expertly finding a hold then pushing off, hurling himself toward the body of the huge reptile.
“Tuk!” cried Lau-ra as he whipped a stone blade at her, its tip embedding itself in the wood just above her right shoulder. His right hand caught the spear and he swung himself up on the back of the writhing creature as Lau-ra yanked the knife free and began to jab it forward at the head of the creature, every second or third thrust making contact, angering the beast even further. He knew it was barely weakened, and their only hope was to get it out of the tree. He gripped the other end of his spear, then rocked his entire body to the right, pulling with all his might, his legs gripping the creature tightly.
He fell to the side, a few arm lengths on either side of the spear coming with him, but not enough. He saw the tail begin to coil around the branch and knew he had only moments before the mighty creature secured itself. Jerking his body back and forth, he let go of the snake with his left leg and pushed against the tree, bouncing as hard as he could and felt several more lengths begin to lose the grip on the branch. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lau-ra sink the blade into the creature’s eye, it hissing in pain, jerking back and sending even more of its body over the edge, gravity taking over.
The huge beast fell from the tree, falling almost the height of two men, with Tuk under it. He twisted, trying to move himself out of the way, but failed, smacking hard against the ground, crying out in pain. He tried to scramble away but couldn’t, his legs stuck under the stunned beast. He grabbed the end of the spear and pulled with all his might, the long shaft slowly freed of the thick skin and body, easily the thickness of the great warrior Bruk.
The spear free, he jabbed at the body, hoping the yakumama would spasm and free his legs, but instead he felt it begin to wrap itself around him and he knew he wouldn’t be long for this world once it began to squeeze. He continued jabbing as hard and as fast as he could, blood from the snake spurting out with each blow, but not enough it seemed to slow it down.
Suddenly he heard a cry. It was Lau-ra jumping through the air, the blade gripped tightly in both hands. She landed on the body, then plunged the knife deep, pulling it toward her as she scrambled backward, slicing the creature wide open. It hissed in agony, forgetting him, flipping over on its back, freeing his legs. As Lau-ra continued to slice, the creature’s head swung around swiftly, knocking her to the ground, but it had given Tuk the moment of distraction he needed.
He shoved up with the spear, puncturing the beast’s head, the spear going completely through. He shoved forward, twisting the head upside down and impaling it on the ground. Lau-ra jumped to his side, plunging the blade into its neck, slicing across as deep as she could. Tuk, satisfied the spear was holding the head in place, took the knife and hacked at the neck, slowly severing it until the beast finally stopped hissing and thrashing.
He dropped to the ground, flat on his back, exhausted. Lau-ra collapsed beside him, both of them gasping for air. He rolled over and looked at her, a smile on his face realizing he and his future mate had together taken down one of the mightiest beasts of the jungle, alone.
And that together they would be a match for certain to be blessed by the great Mother.
Barasana Village on the Rio Negro, Northern Amazon, Brazil
One day before the attack
Acton rubbed his eyes to find sunlight just beginning to pour into the clearing containing the communal lodges of the villagers. At least a couple of dozen were still asleep in his particular lodge, including one Hugh Reading who was at the far end, under a blanket with a particularly gorgeous native girl who seemed to have a ravenous sexual appetite, their love making having gone on half the night.
Way to go old man!
He sat up and found his headache to be gone. Gingerly testing his arms and legs, he winced as he rotated his still raw wrists and ankles. He stood, stretched carefully, then fully, and stepped outside. It had been one hell of a party from his vantage point. He hadn’t been alone a single second, attended to by native women who had a hard time understanding the concept of a monogamous marriage, he finally having to roll over and feign sleep before he was left alone.
He had quickly told Reading to enjoy himself, the poor man so confused as to what to do, it was almost cute. It was just too bad he wouldn’t be able to take her back with him, this truly a one night stand with no further risk of commitment.
Acton hoped his friend had used some sort of
protection. The last thing the poor girl needed was a half-white baby, or he catching some STD Western-medicine had no cure for.
Some sort of brew had made the rounds, the entire crew of the Juliana passed out around the camp, some spooning women, other alone, and one with the gay man who had had his eyes on Reading for most of the night.
That could prove awkward if he’s straight.
Acton chuckled, thankful he hadn’t partaken in the drinking. He boarded the boat and found Milton asleep in his cabin, the satellite phone still gripped in his hand. He gently pried it loose, his friend grumbling in protest, then rolling over, falling back to sleep.
There were no messages, but there had been an incoming call that had been answered. He looked at his watch and realized he had to begin waking people up, daylight already burning away.
He gently shook Milton’s shoulder. “Greg, wake up,” he said, quietly at first.
A moan of protest.
A slightly harder shake, and a slightly louder demand had his friend turning toward him, pushing himself up on his elbows. “Wh-what did I miss?” he asked, still trying to get his bearings.
“Just a big drunken party from what I can tell.” He stepped back as Milton swung his legs out from the bed, wincing as he suddenly grabbed his back. “Are you okay?” asked Acton, immediately concerned.
“My back is acting up.” Milton extended a hand and Acton pulled him to his feet. “I think this trip was a mistake.”
Acton felt a pit in his stomach form as guilt racked him. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pushed you—”
“Oh piss off, you know it’s not your fault. I wanted to come as much as anyone, and there was no telling me it wasn’t a good idea.”
“Let me guess, your wife said you shouldn’t.”
“Wrong.”
“Really? And here I thought she was a smart woman.”
“Ha ha. Pain in my ass sometimes her always being right, but she was wrong this time. Both of us were. Seeing the World Cup wasn’t a problem—she and Niskha had a fantastic time though I think soccer will never be her thing—it was this boat trip. They were wise to not come. The bed is just too uncomfortable. My back muscles never get a chance to rest properly.”
Amazon Burning (A James Acton Thriller, #10) Page 8
