by Ellis, Tara
Akuba was to move into the Captain role of her village the next year, and Jess would be left alone there on the plantation, without any other female influences. Her dad was worried about her lack of social skills, and that she’d never be what he called a “proper young woman”. If being proper meant never running through the jungle, swimming in the springs, and playing with wild animals, then Jess wanted nothing to do with it.
“I will be back in the morning, after breakfast,” Akuba promised, running her fingers through Jess’s loose curls. “I will bring some more mango and we will call for the monkey.”
Jess finished chewing her mouthful of pie and smiled. “Thanks, Akuba. But you don’t have to. I know your mom needs you.”
Akuba clasped her by the shoulders and then turned her around to face her after Jess stood. “You are my family, too. I will be here in the morning.”
Jess threw her arms around Akuba and embraced her, holding on tight. She’d been so much more to Jess than anything she could ever describe. Like a mom, sister, aunt, and best friend all rolled into one. With her face buried in Akuba’s shoulder, Jess took a shuddering breath and finally allowed herself to admit how she felt. Leaning back, she looked up into the face of the kind, gentle woman that had always been there for her and whispered. “I’m scared.”
Akuba brushed a red curl from Jess’s forehead and smiled reassuringly. “I know, Jess. We all are. We would be fools not to fear what we do not understand. The most important thing is to not let it control you. Let it guide you, instead. Listen to it, like you do the things that make you feel happy or safe. If you do, rather than paralyzing you, it will give you strength.”
Jess wiped at her nose. “I don’t feel very strong.”
Akuba laughed. “That’s because you are tired! Come. Let’s go say goodnight to your father and I will see you off to bed before I leave.”
Gathering up the plates from the table, Jess followed Akuba inside. She immediately heard her father’s raised voice from down the hall and rolled her eyes. She couldn’t believe Kofi and Mr. Sandwood were still there. The two men, as well as Ash and his parents, had joined them for a big dinner she’d helped Akuba prepare. The resort owner had been more irritable than normal, and didn’t even have the decency to wait until they were done before he started quarreling with her dad. She had no idea why he’d even come over if he was just going to be a pain.
Ash’s mom was smart and insisted her family leave as soon as they were done eating. However, her dad invited Kofi and Mr. Sandwood into his office for “further discussions” about everything that was going on. One thing Jess learned during the meal was that the earthquakes in the states had continued to spread along the coast, and the gas plume was already partway across Africa. That was where the heated disagreements started. They each had their own ideas on why it was all happening at the same time, and none of them agreed on the responses from the various governments.
Jess was horrified to learn how very few people had been evacuated from Africa, in advance of the gas. She didn’t understand why. Her dad tried to explain to her how it was all about something called logistics, and the inability to organize a rescue fast enough. But why was it so hard to bus and fly people out? Jess had given up on trying to figure it out and decided she didn’t want to know any more about it. It was too horrible, and made her feel sick.
As they approached the office door, she was relieved to hear her dad saying something about the Libi Nati. Now that she was interested in. As she turned the corner, he stopped mid-sentence, and she saw he was pointing at Mr. Sandwood, who was sitting in his office chair.
“Kendal, are you sure you’re okay? I swear you’ve lost two more shades of color since we finished supper.”
Kofi was shaking his head at him. “Eric’s right. You look like crap.”
Jess paused, not wanting to interrupt. Kofi’s description was pretty accurate. She’d noticed how jumpy the older man was during dinner, and he didn’t eat hardly anything. He’d dropped his fork twice and then complained how his hands were greasy. She remembered that he had a headache earlier in the day, and she wondered if that was part of the problem.
Her dad was rubbing the back of his own neck and he looked concerned, glancing sideways nervously at Kofi. “Maybe we should call the doctor,” he suggested.
“I’m fine!” Mr. Sandwood spat, his words slurring. He was attempting to button up his jacket in preparation to leave, but he was fumbling with the buttons. Giving up, he tried to stand and had to use the desk to brace himself. “I’m done trying to talk sense into you two idiots, anyway.” As he went to take a step toward the door where Jess and Akuba stood, he staggered sideways. His legs seemed to buckle out from under him and he collapsed in a rather frightening heap.
Kofi was closest and rushed to catch him, but was too late. The older man fell hard to the ground, and his head smacked the hardwood floor with a sickening thud.
Jess jumped at the sound and let out an involuntary scream. Slapping her hands over her mouth, she took a step back, bumping into Akuba.
Kofi and her father rushed to the fallen man’s side. He was conscious, but unable to speak. He’d landed on his side, and he reached up with one arm toward the two men while moving his mouth and making a gurgling sound.
“Do you think he had a stroke?” Kofi asked, taking Mr. Sandwood’s flailing hand in his.
Jess watched her dad hesitate before lightly touching the other man’s head. His frown deepened. “I don’t think so, Kofi. He’s burning up with a fever, and is cold and clammy. I know he hasn’t been well all day, and mentioned he was dizzy before supper.” He looked up then and spotted Jess and Akuba in the doorway. Jumping to his feet, he pointed at them. “Jess, stay back! Akuba, get her out of here!”
As Akuba pulled her out of the room, Jess remembered how her dad had complained of his own headache earlier. Had he looked pale?
Stumbling down the hallway, she fled after Akuba and neither of them stopped until they’d crossed the patio and were standing in the grass of the expansive lawn. The jungle was hushed again, and the same tense feeling of pent-up energy was back, stronger than before.
Akuba and Jess stood staring at each other, both of them feeling it. Jess was the first to speak, her voice catching. “What’s happening?”
Akuba put an arm around Jess, pulling her close. “This is not the first time the land has moved or the waters stirred,” she whispered. Together, they turned to look out at the darkening Amazon and Jess leaned into Akuba. “We must be strong, Lobiwan. This is only the beginning.”
EXTINCTION Book 2
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