“Yes I have but as I have said, Nick, it won’t penetrate a thick hide and it only has one clip which means around 20 rounds and I don’t know about you but I want better odds than that!”
Amy broke their attention to each other again, “Look this is not an army or air force plane - it’s a civilian one and we should be grateful that Marcus has at least got something that might scare whatever is out there away and that might buy us enough time to get away.
William jumped up. “That’s it, we can scare them, these planes carry rafts, right?”
“Yes,” Marcus replied.
“And rafts have flares, yes?”
Marcus smiled and nodded, “Good thinking, let’s locate the rafts and take the flares.”
The group found the rafts and each took the flares from them giving them two each.
“Ok, only use these when you’re up close and personal - not from 200-feet or it might not have any effect,” Marcus told them.
Now feeling somewhat protected the group took the shovels and Steven’s body and placed them next to the door. Nick started to crank the handle. As he did the door slowly opened and William could feel himself becoming more and more uneasy. He had dreaded this moment coming even though he knew it would. There was no way he could have stayed in the safety of the aircraft from now until, well, whenever until was. At some point he would have to go back out and it might as well be now. Nick opened the door as far as necessary. Marcus pushed the shovels out of the open doorway, followed by the body. Amy scowled at him, “Bit of respect, Marcus.”
“Ok, Amy, you carry it out over your shoulder while you climb down the net!”
She just looked away. She had hated the contempt with which he had treated the body, but she knew under these circumstances it was the only way to do it.
Nick pushed the net over the side and looked at William. “You ok?” William didn’t really react; he just lowered himself over the side and started down the net. When the three men were on the ground Nick gave Amy a thumbs up and she winched the door closed again.
The men stood and looked around them; still standing under the aircraft.
“Ok, let’s get this over with, we’ll bury him over there.” Marcus pointed to a random spot around 250-feet away from the plane and they started out.
Marcus and Nick carried the body and William followed behind with the shovels and following Marcus’s instruction; each of them surveyed a different angle as they walked.
“Ok, this will do,” Marcus announced. “I’ll stand guard, you two dig. You need to be about at least 6-feet down,” said Marcus.
William agreed. Out of the three of them, Marcus had military training; which he assumed included standing guard and anybody can dig a hole, he thought. It wasn’t long before they had dug down, the ground wasn’t that hard. The thick mossy grass that covered the surface was easy enough to break through and the sharp edges of the shovels soon broke up the ground underneath.
William and Nick laid the shovels down and took each an end of the wrapped body. They took three swings with it and it dropped it into the hole, lying it almost perfectly flat.
“Do we need to say something?” William asked.
“You’re a religious man, William?” asked Nick in return.
“No, Nick, not really, but it just seems that we should.”
William had a sad tone in his voice. “It’s not as if I had the chance to say anything to him.”
“Ok,” said Nick, “a quick word, this place creeps me out.” The three of them stood around the grave looking down on the body wrapped in blue polythene sheets tied up with string. They each said whatever they could remember from the various funerals they had attended for relatives and friends over the years and then stood for a minute’s silence. As they did the sounds from this strange place became ever more apparent. The air was warm and thick. William had been outside twice now and it still felt strange, almost taking his breath. It reminded him of waiting for a tube train, standing on the small platform deep underground where the air was warm and still until the train arrived, when it pushed the air along in front of it and in turn the air pushed against you. The sounds that surrounded them from all sides were strange eerie sounds that haunted them, even in this bright daylight: cries, songs, howls and the infrequent menacing growls.
William felt as if he was being watched from all sides. None of them said anything as they piled the earth over the body. Once they had finished only the disturbed earth marked the grave. “Poor bastard,” remarked Marcus, as they turned and headed for the plane.
Chapter Seven
Bruce and Simon had made their way to Andrea’s office. As they pushed their way into the tent, the body that had met them last night was now laid on the examination table where the first three bodies had been placed after they had been discovered in site bravo.
Both men stopped and looked down on the body almost in unison. Now, out here in the bright light of the large illuminated tent, every detail of this unfortunate soul was on show.
Bruce folded his arms across his chest and stood motionless. Simon stood beside him, placing his hands on his hips. He wasn’t very comfortable like this but the only other thing he could think of doing with his hands right now was putting them in his pockets; which somehow seemed disrespectful to him, or copy Bruce, but that just felt wrong.
Bruce turned his head and glanced sideways at Simon. “Ever seen a dead body like this before?”
Simon shook his head. They had seen too many dead bodies during their time in this job, poor, ill-fated souls that had boarded the plane with no idea what was about to happen or that it would be their last day on earth, but they had never seen one like this before, not under these circumstances, not like this.
“Bruce!” He heard the voice and turned to see Susan standing in the doorway of Andrea’s makeshift office. “Over here, Bruce and bring Simon, you BOTH need to see this!”
Bruce tapped Simon on his shoulder and nodded his head in the direction of Susan. “C’mon, Simon, let’s see what the fuss is over.”
Bruce had a flippant tone, mainly because he was sure that there could be no more surprises from this plane, there could be nothing else for it to throw at them, but he was wrong and it was only a short walk before he realised it. Bruce pushed the office door open and Simon followed him through it.
“Hi, ladies,” Bruce said. Andrea looked up at them from behind her desk and turned her gaze to Susan. Bruce could tell - even through Andrea’s usual hard looks - that she was spooked, something wasn’t right.
“Shut the door, Simon,” said Susan.
“What’s up?” asked Simon.
The two women looked at each other then Susan pulled the clear plastic wallet that contained the book from her pocket. She laid it on the desk in front of them both. “We found this, this morning as we were taking him out.”
Bruce leaned forward to get a clearer view. He read the words written on the front and instantly sat back in his chair. Simon’s eyebrows lowered. “What’s up? What is it?” Susan turned the book to an angle that Simon could see better. “Shit!” Was the only exclamation that Simon could think of. Bruce looked at Susan. “You read it?” She shook her head. “No, not yet, Bruce. We waited for you two to get here.”
Bruce reached out to the book, placing his right hand on the edge of it, he pushed it slowly over to her side of the desk.
Susan reached out in return and picked the packet up. She carefully pulled the plastic seal open. A hiss filled the silent office as the ancient air escaped its incarceration. She put her hand in the bag and pulled out the little brown book . She folded the book open at the first page and they watched as her eyes scanned the page for a few seconds. Her gaze lifted from the book and back to the three of them then back to the book.
If you’re reading this then you’ve found me. I don’t know how long it has been since we crashed here. I don’t even know where here is or when this is! Sounds stupid, I know, but if you had seen what
I’ve seen, heard and had to do what I’ve had to do, it would make sense.
I’ve tried to log this as best I can. I’ve never kept a diary, never seen the point really, my life has never been interesting enough, but I hope at least to explain why we’re here and that it brings peace to someone sometime, more peace then we have found here.
After the event, that’s what the pilot, David, called it, we crashed landed. We knew it was the wrong place but none of us said anything - at least not for the first night. I think we were all too tired or relieved that we had survived whatever had hit the aircraft. At least most of us had survived. It was the next day when everything started; that was when we all knew we were in trouble and deep down we all knew we would never leave this place, never get back home and never see our families again; at least those with families. I don’t know how long we’ve been here; there are only four of us left now. I know deep down the lucky ones died quickly!
David came through to the cabin; he called us all together, told us that we couldn’t take off again and that we would have to wait for help to come but it didn’t; it never came and we knew it wouldn’t! He told us that his co-pilot, Steven, had been killed when the plane hit and one of the cabin crew, Holly, had smashed her arm during the event.
Bruce interrupted Susan, “Holly? Susan, that’s our Jane Doe and I’m guessing Steven must be John!” Susan nodded and returned her gaze to the book…
He told us when he had gone outside to look at the damage to the plane, Lynsey had been taken by something, I still don’t know what but something made a mess of her.
We buried Steven and went looking for Lynsey with David but he didn’t make it back, something got him, too!
The nights are the worst here. You can hear them walking around outside. The noises they make are awful, worse than you can imagine, whoever you are!
You can hear them sniffing around the plane. The big ones sniff at the windows but they have never figured out that they could be broken. Sometimes they scratch at the metal under the plane; prodding it, poking it, trying to get at us inside. Sleep has become a luxury: like toilet paper, soap or even food.
The days aren’t much better; the air is thick and hot, so damn hot and the smell! God, it’s putrid especially when we go into the forest. We know we’re being watched all the time something is stalking us; waiting for its chance to strike, to take one of us. There are times I wish for death, for it to come quick from behind so that I don’t feel it or see it, but it never does.
Susan stopped reading and looked up at the group, “Jesus Christ!” “What the hell were they going through?” Bruce pointed his index finger towards the book, “Carry on, Susan!”
We went hunting today. Caught the usual small lizard thing we seem to eat most days; don’t know what it’s called, no-one here does, could have done with some kind of monster expert with us really.
We killed a big one the first time we went hunting but not since. Sometimes we’re lucky we come across a big one that’s died or been killed by an even bigger one. When we do we cut as much off as we can and run before whatever did kill it comes back! We only had one vegetarian with us but that didn’t stop him becoming a meal either, I assume anyway. He left with the rest of them. We’ll never see them again.
I’ve sat and thought, I shouldn’t be here, I should be at home or at work, stuck in the traffic or watching crap on the TV. These creatures have no right to hunt us; we are at the top of the food chain…at least we were!
Susan slowly closed the book and placed it on her knee. Bruce could see her eyes watering. “Monsters?” Bruce asked. “Surely he must have recognised them as dinosaurs, I know I would have!”
Andrea replied with her usual candour, “I think if they were chasing me and making my life a living hell I would be tempted to call them monsters as well!”
Bruce smiled and nodded, “Guess you make a good point.”
“You going to read more, Susan?” Simon asked.
“In a little while, Simon,” she replied. “To be honest, I need a break from it.”
“Me too, and I need a coffee as well, why don’t we meet in my tent around eight tonight? the site will be quieter then,” Bruce added.
Bruce and Simon stood up and left the office. Susan watched them go.
“Andrea! Did you notice how Simon was acting?”
“He seemed a bit preoccupied to me,” Andrea answered her.
“Me too, you think it’s anything we should be worried about?”
“No, I think we’re all a little bemused by this whole situation and out of the four of us he is the least experienced.”
Susan looked at her in a quizzical way. “Experienced? I don’t think any of our experience has a bearing on this one, do you?”
Susan stood up, holding on tight to the little brown book, “I’ll see you at eight.”
William, Marcus and Nick reached the cargo bay door and knocked three times. It shuddered and started to open, at least far enough for the net to come down and the three of them to climb inside. Once in, William noticed a wide-eyed look about Amy. She was standing towards the back of the cargo bay. “Come see what I found, boys.” They looked at each other and headed towards her. She pointed down at a large box. Lifting her left foot she flipped off the lid, “Tada!” she sang. William bent over the box. Pulling the cover off it he could see what her excitement was about. Inside the large box was a supply of camping equipment. “Jackpot!” William said. He started to pass out the contents to Nick and Marcus. They laid it all out on the cargo deck floor, checking to see what they had.
“Ok then, we have: a tent, two torches, two lanterns, a camping stove, water flasks, blankets, a ground sheet and a pan set. Not too bad, lads!” Marcus said excitedly.
William calmed the excitement down. “I think we should keep this between us for now.”
“Keep what between you?” A loud voice came from behind them. The four of them spun round to see a group of the remaining passengers standing in the cargo bay just in front of the galley ladders. Marcus Nick and William formed a line in front of Amy and the large spread of camping gear while she stuffed it hurriedly back in to the container.
“Not much, really,” Marcus replied, “why, what’s it to you?” he asked them.
Amy noticed Marcus. He was tightening his hand around the grip of his gun that was stuck in the back of his trousers. The spokesman for the group stepped a little further forward.
“Because, since we landed here - wherever this is - we haven’t been told Jack shit!” He pointed to William, “You went off with the captain and he didn’t come back, the other stewardess has gone missing and now the water’s off, so we want answers and you four have been sneaking around here like you own the goddamn plane!” His face became redder and redder as he spoke.
Marcus pulled the gun an inch further out of his pants. As he did, Amy stepped from behind them; placing her hand on Marcus’s, stopping the gun from coming out further.
“Look, Mr…”
“John,” he interrupted her.
“Look, John,” she continued, “we don’t know much more than you. We’ve had a look around here, buried Steven and that’s about it.”
“Yeah! and what about him?” he pointed at William again.
“Where’s the captain? We need to get out of here and get home. I have to get home; my wife will be worried sick.”
William stepped forward. “David was chased by an animal, he died to save me. He pushed me over and ran and it ran after him.”
John clenched his jaw, “What ran after him? a lion, a fucking bear, what?”
William looked down at the floor and then directly into John’s eyes. “You heard what I said when it happened. A T Rex, a dinosaur; a fucking big lizard. What do you want me to tell you?”
John laughed but William knew it was a sarcastic laugh.
“A T Rex? What? you think we’re all stupid do you? You think only you four can make decisions about things? well you aren’t doi
ng it for me and the rest of us agree!”
As he spoke the other group members nodded and groaned in agreement.
“Oh, is this right? Tell me, John, what do you do for a living then?” Marcus asked.
“I’m a marketing manager, and I know how to get things done, and right now we’ve decided that walking out of here is the best thing to do!”
William stepped forward in front of Amy. “Walk out? did you not hear me explain about David? Is none of what you have been told making any sense to you?”
“Load of bullshit and we ain’t listening anymore, we’re going, but first we’re taking what we want. You four can stay here with that busted stewardess upstairs and her nurse!”
Marcus pulled the gun, pointing directly at John’s head. “You go, you take fuck all!”
John stepped back, a look of shock then fear swept across his face.
Amy moved closer to Marcus, placed her left hand on the gun barrel and pushed it down so that it faced the floor. “Look, John, you want to leave you can and anybody else that wants to. You’ve been told about David, if you don’t believe it that’s up to you, but if you go you’re not leaving us with nothing. We’ll divide it and then you can go.”
John relaxed his face and his stance. He nodded at Amy’s compromise.
Marcus gave Amy a sideways glance and put the gun back into the back of his trousers. John turned to the group behind him as if to bask in some sort of victory over them. As he did Marcus whispered in Amy’s ear, “Happy?”
She turned her back on the group so that she could talk to Marcus without being heard or seen. “Look, we’re going to need that gun of yours for something worse than that fat bastard and some cronies. Let them go, you know they won’t survive out there anyway.” Marcus took a deep breath and walked back to the large container that held the camping gear.
“Ok then, it’s decided,” John shouted back over to them.
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