Survivor

by Tom Hoyle

  Reg was missing. ‘Reg?’ I shouted. ‘Reg!’

  There was another noise, the same urgency, but much quieter and closer. Desperate.

  I sprinted, and there was Reg, face down on the ground, hands tied behind his back. He had thrown up, and had something like foam coming out of his mouth. He was trying to wriggle but didn’t have the strength. I didn’t have time to think. Ignoring the mess, I leant down and started to fumble with the cord around his wrists – it was an untidy but secure knot. ‘You’re safe now,’ I said, still fighting with the knot. ‘What happened?’

  The others stood staring, doing nothing.

  Reg continued to shiver. ‘Get it away,’ he whispered, and then, quickly: ‘He-did-it.’ He was starting to shake.

  ‘Talk to me, Reg, talk to me,’ I screeched as the others gathered closer.

  The knot had come free, but Reg still didn’t move properly. He looked up, pleading in one breath: ‘Geddidout.’

  I suddenly noticed that there was something moving under his shirt and shorts. I leapt back in shock, briefly grabbing a piece of Reg’s shirt between my finger and thumb as I fell on my back and then pushed myself up in one desperate movement.

  Moving quickly and erratically, a spider scuttled free. It was black with a large bulbous abdomen, probably a funnel-web, but this is a guess, because, as you know, Reg’s body has never been found. In any case, the venom was powerful enough to kill him quickly.

  We all stepped back several paces, leaving Reg and the spider (which was now frozen next to Reg’s body) in the middle. ‘All of you, come to this side,’ said Jason.

  Cautious, transfixed, Alastair and Nick moved round in a very wide circle as the spider darted over Reg’s legs as if proud of its work. It was coming towards us until Nick, unprompted, threw a small stone which bounced into the grass a few inches from it – and it disappeared into the long grass and trees, away from us.

  We were all frozen to the spot. ‘Be careful, there may be more than one,’ said Jason. But gradually Jason, Matt and I tiptoed forward and tried to help Reg. He wasn’t yet dead, but had been bitten several times, including on his neck. We had no idea what to do and panicked, helplessly looking at each other, trying to think of a way to undo the damage – I’m not sure for how long; it felt like minutes, but could have been longer. Eventually, I laid Reg on his side and put him in a basic recovery position. I don’t know what my logic was. I even shouted for help. Stupid.

  Gradually, life left Reg: one minute there seemed some tiny hope, the next his eyes were open and blank. His breathing had stopped. I had never touched a dead body before, and never seen one for real before earlier that morning. My hands were shaking.

  Reg was rolled on to his back, mouth open. Second spider or not, I began to cry, partly out of horror at the situation, partly for Reg, but also for myself. I felt guilty. Why didn’t I look after him better? I promised that I would stay with him. I’d been stupid, so totally stupid, for not protecting Reg.

  ‘This is bloody murder,’ said Matt, also in tears. ‘Someone did this on purpose. Look!’ His foot was nudging a jar that lay in the grass. He bent down and with finger and thumb picked up a lid with tiny air holes.

  Toby’s death was like being shoved down a pit, and this was like finding that there was an even deeper and blacker place beyond that one. I was angry that I couldn’t turn back time: if only I could go back ten minutes, just a tiny little ten minutes. Or go back to before it all started.

  I was also filled with a desperate need to get to the next shelter as soon as possible and call for help. I wanted to get the bodies buried, but the longer we were out there, the more dangerous things were – the police could deal with everything later. It terrified me that Nick was standing right with us and could kill us all at any moment. I decided to keep close by him and smash him with all my strength if he tried anything. What I had heard on the radio had largely gone from my mind – I wasn’t sure if it was of any importance at all and was beginning to doubt that I had heard it correctly.

  ‘There must be someone stalking us,’ said Alastair. Again, like helpless antelope awaiting a lion’s attack, we stared at the surrounding land.

  My mind went to the girls’ group, out there, somewhere, in the distance. Were they also under attack?

  Lee interrupted my thoughts. ‘That’s not the only explanation,’ he said. ‘Take a look at one another. You may be looking at a [word deleted] killer.’

  Alastair was sweating furiously, his eyes darting around. ‘Then maybe we should scatter?’

  ‘And have some sicko killer pick us off one by one? Or get lost and eaten by crocodiles? We’re hundreds of miles from help, you stupid prick. We need to stick together and get to the next shelter,’ said Nick.

  Jason was silent.

  ‘That’s right,’ I said, glaring at Nick, prepared to thump him and hope that Jason and the others helped me out. ‘We need to stick together and keep a close eye on one another.’

  Nick didn’t miss what I was thinking. ‘If you think I did this then you’re even more shit stupid than you look. But I tell ya, if anyone tries anything on me, I’ll split their head open. And that includes you, Georgey.’

  Lee said, ‘George’s right. We need to get moving to the shelter and then get outta here.’

  There was some muttering.

  Matt stood a little closer to me.

  Jason then spoke and we all turned to face him. ‘No one is going to wander off on their own and be faced with God knows what. If we move quickly, we can radio for help and it’ll be here really quick. We should all stay together as much as possible. Safety in numbers.’ He saw us nodding in approval. ‘Come on, let’s get our stuff.’

  I went to Reg’s rucksack, took his waterproof from the side pocket, then ran back with Matt – the only person I could really trust – and draped it over Reg. I felt desperate and pathetic as I knelt next to the body. ‘I’m so sorry, Reg. I’ll be back soon.’ For a moment, the desire for revenge stirred inside me.

  Our gesture was cut short by a cry from Jason. ‘Come on, let’s go!’ Then, a few seconds later, a bellow: ‘Georgey and Matt, where are you?’

  ‘Not making a break for freedom?’ said Nick. ‘Or picking up something from the victim?’

  I gritted my teeth. It made me even more determined to stay by Nick’s side and, if need be, hit first, then ask questions later.

  ‘Guys,’ said Jason. ‘This is important.’ He was searching for something in his bag. ‘Have any of you seen my maps and compass?’

  We all shrugged. Lee caught my eye as he frowned, apparently in deep thought.

  ‘They were here,’ he said. ‘In this outside pocket. I’m certain.’ He searched all the pockets, then poured the contents of the main section on to the ground in front of us all. There was a first-aid box and a waterproof wrapped in a pouch, and one or two other useful odds and ends, but nothing remotely like a map or compass. He even checked his trouser pockets, though the maps would have been obvious there. ‘Everyone – check your rucksacks,’ he ordered.

  I checked mine thoroughly. It suddenly occurred to me that these items might have been planted on me, like the gun had been, so I had a tiny feeling of relief when there was nothing there, but this was replaced by worry when I realized that they were definitely missing. I wondered if we could find our way back to the first hut if we had to. Probably – but, once you were lost in this landscape, you would stay lost.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said Jason. ‘Not that it matters. I can remember the way: it’s that hill over there. Not far.’ He turned to Nick and me. ‘Nick, you lead the way with me and, Georgey, you bring up the rear.’

  ‘That’s about right,’ said Nick.

  The journey wasn’t quite as straightforward as Jason thought. There were a lot of points when he stopped or turned back, or looped round before carrying on, muttering to himself. I realized that I was hopelessly confused and couldn’t retrace my steps. One clearing looked very muc
h like another, and even the hills behind us were a line of sameness that disappeared into mist. The movement of the sun didn’t help, not that I had any idea how to navigate by it anyway, so north could have been anywhere in a 90-degree arc.

  Alastair probably knew the trick about pointing your watch at the sun, but I didn’t like to ask while Jason led us with purpose. And we were completely relying on him, walking in hopeful silence, thinking that each step brought us closer to escape.

  We stopped just once, briefly, when there was about an hour to go. ‘No one should leave my sight,’ said Jason. ‘Even if you want to piss.’ He tried to make contact using the walkie-talkies – ‘This is Ultimate Bushcraft calling for assistance’ – though that was a vain hope and seemed less important now that we were near to Hut 2. I flicked through the channels, but there was nothing this time, even on channel 21, though I lingered there –making sure that no one saw me.

  Soon we were off, traipsing up a slope with longer strides.

  ‘Yes!’ said Alastair as we saw the hut. ‘Thank you, Jason. Thank God.’

  Jason, Nick and Alastair ran ahead and entered within seconds of one another. It was smaller than the previous one, and made entirely of wood. Lee put his hand on my chest as I moved to overtake and reach the hut. ‘Not so fast, if I were you. In my opinion, this isn’t over yet, Georgey-boy.’ I let my rucksack fall on the grass next to the others.

  Strange thoughts fill your head at such times. I was immediately fearful of a sniper and moved to get my back to the building, but I also thought that Lee might be about to try something.

  Swearing was coming from inside. ‘What the f—’ and similar.

  ‘Quick, c’mon,’ I said, and ran in with Matt, but Lee stayed.

  The wires to the radio hadn’t been cut this time – it was far wilder than that. The radio had been smashed to bits, probably by being whacked repeatedly against the table in the middle of the room. Bits of plastic, screws and wires were scattered everywhere. It was miles beyond repair. I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach.

  ‘How the hell?’

  [Here ends the eleventh part of George’s statement]

  THE OTHER CHAPTER 11

  (SAID IN THE HOUR BEFORE):

  HIM

  Come on, then? Who helped me?

  I CAN’T HEAR YOU!

  Time is running out. You know that, don’t you? You know that you’re going to die like all the others.

  I remember that first GLORIOUS day in the wilderness. I realized that one thing leads to another.

  I know that you’re keen to understand. Admit it: you must be intrigued.

  I CAN’T HEAR YOU!

  Toby, come quickly, oh please come quickly. Peter’s outside and has fallen. Can you help me please oh please, great Toby one?

  Please come quickly. He must be hurt. He needs your stupid help.

  Look, there he is. Can’t you see him?

  Right there.

  Right THERE!

  Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

  BYE-BYE Australian Pie.

  Flatten this bush. Make it look like a fight.

  YOU WERE ALL SO STUPID.

  Then we went to the next hut.

  BIG MISTAKE.

  MASSIVE MISTAKE.

  HUMUNGOID.

  The game had begun. GAME ON!

  My revenge on YOU.

  Be in no doubt. It was all about YOU.

  If you hadn’t been so sickeningly perfect, it wouldn’t have produced an allergic reaction in me.

  YOU ARE TO BLAME.

  Reg was asking for it more than anyone. He was pathetic.

  I loved Sammy Spider. He slept nicely in a jar in my rucksack. Sneaky Spidey.

  I bet even you wouldn’t have been that brave. Would you?

  I HATE YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING SO UNLIKE ME AND YET I THINK I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU.

  THAT HAS DRIVEN ME MAD AND IT’S ALL YOUR SICK FAULT, YOU BASTARD.

  I don’t want you to die just yet.

  The map and compass? I thought a bit of confusion might come in handy, so I hid them in the most brilliant place – Reg’s stinking rucksack. There you were, within inches of the thing – if it was a spider it would have bitten you!

  I AM PERFECTION AND I BET YOU’RE JEALOUS.

  IF YOU’RE JEALOUS YOU CAN LIVE.

  Please admire me.

  And then my young apprentice . . .

  He was already in the next hut. Damn near smashed that radio to bits.

  Can you guess?

  It’s so bloody totally obvious.

  BUT I can do better than tell you.

  I CAN SHOW YOU.

  Why don’t I call him in?

  Don’t look so surprised.

  HE WILL COME RIGHT HERE!

  I love walkie-talkies. That’s why I couldn’t bear us to be without them. Boys and toys, eh?

  Right. Channel twenty-one. That’s the one.

  Can you hear me?

  Come out, come out, wherever you are.

  Come out, come out, wherever you are . . .

  EVIDENCE #3

  TRANSCRIPT OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN A MEMBER OF THE ULTIMATE BUSHCRAFT GROUP AND THE OFFICE IN CAIRNS

  At the end of Day 1 of the hike, the group checked in by satellite phone as expected. The line was bad, and the voice was incorrectly assumed to be that of Toby Jones.

  Voice: G’day. Toby Jones with the Ultimate Bushcraft group checking in from Hut 1. All is well out here.

  Cairns: Thanks, Toby, is that you? It’s a bad line but I gather that everyone is OK.

  Voice: Yep. No probs. All well. Please tell Andrea I won’t be calling – [indistinct] time to think.

  Cairns: OK, Tobes. As you want.

  Voice: But all fine. Over and out.

  Cairns: Understood. Over and out.

  Subsequent attempts to contact the group were unsuccessful. This was the last contact made. Miss Andrea Brown’s separate attempts to contact the group were also unsuccessful.

  CHAPTER 12

  (26 HOURS BEFORE):

  THE TWELFTH PART OF GEORGE’S STATEMENT

  We stared at the smashed radio. There was despair with no wailing or aggression, even from Nick. Fear’s icy hand grabbed my insides and squeezed. Despite the oppressive heat, I felt cold.

  We stood inside the hut, silent and bewildered. This was broken by a scream from Matt which gradually turned into words: ‘This-is-a-nightmare-and-I-want-it-to-end.’

  Lee was different. He was still outside, now laughing hysterically, head back, eyes shut, bellowing.

  ‘Will you both shut up?’ said Nick. ‘You’ll be heard for miles around.’

  ‘You stupid kid,’ said Lee, still chuckling, approaching the doorway. ‘There’s only one other person for miles around and he’s going to kill us all.’

  ‘No one’s gonna kill me,’ said Nick. He ground his fist into his left hand. ‘If I have to fight, I reckon I can smash anyone. No hillbilly with bad teeth and a banjo is going to make me squeal.’

  Alastair spoke barely above a whisper. ‘I think we should all get inside and close the door.’

  ‘And the difference that would make is . . . ?’ started Lee. And yet he closed the door.

  Matt was breathing deeply through tight lips. He looked to me for reassurance, not to Jason. ‘Mate, I’m just scared and confused.’ He had no humour left.

  (I had no idea what to do. If I was back there now, I’d still have no idea what to do. You can’t imagine how horrific it was. I kept on seeing Reg’s blank eyes – and that spider – and I thought of Toby – and Peter, annoying though he was, was just a kid.)

  Jason drew himself up to his full height. I thought that if he and I could stick together, we could fight off anyone, unless our opponent had a gun – but there was no evidence of a weapon, so far . . .

  ‘I don’t want anyone to panic,’ Jason started.

  Nick snorted.

  ‘I don’t want anyone to panic, but I want y
ou to know that another big problem here is lack of water.’ Jason glared at a neatly stacked collection of empty water bottles. ‘You need to go steady with what you have.’

  There was a lot of angry swearing (I remember someone’s spit landing on my cheek). Someone had poured the water away and calmly put the large plastic bottles back into a neat group. Devious and menacing. That little detail worried me almost as much as anything else. It was evidence that someone was playing a game.

  ‘Look,’ said Nick, ‘this means we’re being hunted by someone outside this group. We’re all normal.’

  ‘Possibly,’ said Lee. ‘Maybe Toby and Peter heard someone outside the first hut and were killed when they investigated. Maybe someone crept up on Reg.’

  I pushed from my mind the message that had disappeared from the table. Perhaps that was an honest mistake. Nick certainly couldn’t have gone ahead and smashed the radio. Perhaps Reg’s ‘He-did-it’ didn’t refer to anyone in the group. Perhaps . . . Perhaps . . . But what about Luke’s illness and my dodgy harness? Were they just accidents?

  I could easily imagine Nick tying Reg’s hands together and forcing a spider down his T-shirt. In fact, I thought that fingerprints or something would link him to the crimes; I’d seen on TV that it only took a tiny fibre to catch a murderer. Yet there was something about Nick’s open aggression that didn’t suggest him as a two-faced murderer – and that’s why I didn’t make a pre-emptive strike.

  ‘We’re going to have to spend the night here,’ said Jason. ‘We all need to get some sleep and there’s no way we’re going to risk the darkness. But we need to make sure someone is always awake to keep watch.’

  ‘Maybe two people should always be awake?’ Lee suggested. ‘Just to be doubly sure.’

  ‘I doubt many of us are going to sleep much, but I agree that two people should always stay awake,’ I said. ‘How about Nick and I do the first watch?’

  He grunted.

  Jason’s leadership was better than I expected. (But how we missed Toby! He would have known exactly what to do. He would have saved Reg’s life, surely.) ‘OK, I’ll stay up with Matt from two a.m. until five a.m., and then Lee and Alastair can see us through the rest of the night,’ Jason said as he pressed his hands together and pushed them to his chin, an unfamiliar gesture for him. ‘We can probably all sleep in here, rather than in tents. I’m sure none of you would be idiotic enough to wander outside the hut.’