by Scott Bergin
When Alex brought his gaze back down to the ground, a large fern was waving back and forth. Some large animal had undoubtedly just been there. Alex was instantly panic stricken. The thought that a predator had just been within fifty feet of him overwhelmed him. He suddenly felt naked, without any means of defending himself. Quickly, he bent over and picked up a sizable stick. At the very least, he could probably keep an animal at bay with it. Realistically, he knew that he would have to escape the animal, not fight it. Alex sensed that the trees were not havens, that's why the animals up there were being so quiet. They were aware that any noise could attract the predator's attention. Alex turned around when he heard rustling in the bushes behind him. He saw nothing, except moving ferns to mark where the animal had been. Then Alex thought of what had drew the animal to him. Though, Alex now wondered if there was more than one animal. The stench from the dead guard's arm was what the animals found so appealing. They must have thought there was a wounded monkey around. Alex heard more rustling in the bushes. He was afraid to turn around, because that's what they were counting on, disorienting him. Without a second thought, Alex start running down the middle of the stream. Not only was the water the only clearing around, but it might also be the safest place to run. As the streams flowed together, the water deepened. Alex waded through the waist high water, and wondered if the unseen predator could swim. He guessed that there would be leaches in the water, but leaches were a lot better than whatever land predator was hunting him. As the water started to rise again, Alex decided to get out. His paranoid delusions had won again. This time the fears were of diseases, and piranhas. On land, Alex thought he might have a chance of outrunning a pursuer. In the water, he knew he had no hope of out swimming one. Alex slowly walked out onto the river's right bank. Putting a hand to his chest, to feel his heart, he felt something else. In his shirt pocket rested the canister of undeveloped film. If he had continued much further into the river, it would have been destroyed.
Alex heard no rustling, and hoped that the water had scared the animals off. Deep down, he knew that it hadn't. Alex walked briskly along the water's edge. If he could spot the animal before it attacked, he could jump into the water. Though he hoped that he wouldn't have to ruin the film, it was not worth his life. Moments later, Alex heard the foliage behind him being trampled. When he turned around, the noise was gone, and no animal was in sight. Alex was not only scared, he was pissed off. Whatever the animal was, it seemed to anticipate his movements. There were so many places for the creature to hid, but none for him. The arm would give him away, no matter where he tried to hide. Alex picked up his pace. He glanced out at the water to his left. For an instant, he thought of jumping in. Something told him that he stood no chance on land, only in the water. Alex paid no attention. When he looked at the water, all he could think of was the possibility of piranhas. Alex heard no rustling, but turned around anyway. In doing so, he caught a small glimpse of something in the bushes. It was not enough to figure out what kind of animal it was. The animal was too fast for Alex to get a good look. All he had seen was a small patch of dark brown, with other colors mixed in. Alex thought he had seen dark green and dark blue, as well as the brown. It didn't matter what the strange animal was. It existed, that was the important fact.
Alex started running, staying beside the water. He still felt as if the water provided some protection. Even if he didn't jump in, the water prevented the creatures from surrounding him. As he ran, Alex looked to his right. He was sure that he could see two animals running parallel with him. They were at least two hundred fifty feet off to his right. They were very low to the ground, and very hard to see. Alex could only glance over for a second, but he could see that the animals were faster than him. The two dark beasts were only waist high, and they had to be four legged to run so fast. Winded, Alex was forced to slow his pace back down to a fast walk. He knew the animals had him surrounded. At least two of them had gotten in front of him, and plenty more were probably behind him. Alex knew about all sorts of wildlife, but he could not think of any four legged brown pack hunters that lived in the jungle. Alex stopped moving. He didn't know how far ahead the two animals had gone, but he wasn't going to risk an ambush. These animals were apparently very adapted to hiding, and Alex was afraid of walking right into one, or two. Somehow, he felt compelled to stay near the water. Even though it might be dangerous. It the back of his mind, Alex realized that the water was his only weapon. Whatever monster was waiting for him, feared the water. Maybe he could throw the beast into the water as it tried to attack. Alex believed that the idea was just as good as fighting the pack off with a stick. A sudden thought hit Alex. He quickly gathered some dried leaves, and stuffed them into a crack at the far end of the stick. Alex took out the lighter, and lit the leaves. Once it was burning, he put the lighter back into his pocket. Few animals were dumb enough to attack a torch. If these creatures were that stupid, then they were about to be taught a valuable lesson. Now Alex realized that the water was his enemy, and also his protection. The animals would not attack from the water, but if he had to jump in, Alex would lose his only weapon. After realizing this, Alex took a couple of steps away from the water. As soon as he did, the ferns on three sides of him began to move. Alex looked around, frantically. He could not protect himself from all sides at once. What he needed was more natural protection, like a peninsula out into the river. He looked around, and saw that there was nowhere for him to run, or hide, or protect himself. The bushes rustled even more. The animals were smart enough to make him panic, without even showing themselves. They were counting on Alex making the first move. Until he attacked, they would just continue to surround, and intimidate him.
Alex saw an eye peering at him from behind one of the ferns. He lunged at it with the torch. Poking the torch into the fern, Alex saw nothing. The animal had been ready for that. These creatures were so damn smart, that they gave Alex the creeps just thinking about it. Alex looked back toward the river. In lunging at the bush, he gave up his only natural protection. There was now a patch of ferns between him and the river, and it was swaying back and forth. Alex was completely surrounded. That was what the creatures had been striving for. They were so afraid of water that they would not have attacked him while he was near it. Now he was vulnerable, though he still possessed a weapon. Alex could see the ferns all around him moving, and he knew he would have a hard battle ahead of him. He lunged at several shaking bushes, but he hit nothing. Even more frustrating, he saw nothing either. Then, Alex felt all the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He could sense that something was making its presence known, and it was right behind him. Alex whipped around. What he saw startled him more than any other animal. A small black man was staring at him. The man's face was all painted up, in dark green and dark blue. The man was holding a long tube up to his mouth, and pointing the other end at Alex. Suddenly, Alex felt the dart from the blowgun strike his neck. His body went limp instantly. As he fell to the ground, Alex saw five more short men come out from the bushes. He was also aware of the torch landing on him, though he felt no pain as it burned him. Alex lay on the ground, staring at the canopy for only a few seconds. Then, as his eyes were closing, the strange little men appeared again. As Alex slipped out of consciousness, his last thought was of what had just taken place. He had fallen victim to the most ruthless hunter the world has ever known, man.
Chapter 24
April 13
4:05 p.m.
Yaoundé, Cameroon
After another day of collecting photographs from around the city, Gabrielle headed back to the concert hall. She had taken enough photographs of the devastation. Not just enough for herself, but enough to satisfy a second photographer. Now, she was headed to find that second photographer. Gabrielle thought about heading off the new arrivals at the airport, but decided against it. The new photographers would want to see the city as soon as possible. She didn't want it to look like she was trying to stop them. They needed time to find out that t
hey were not allowed to film much. Gabrielle hoped that four hours of finding nothing would be enough to make some of them give up for the day. She hoped to go back to the concert hall and find disgruntled photographers. Ones who had gotten excellent shots of the lake, but who were distraught about the limitations set on them by the officials in the city. Gabrielle continued to walk, and hope.
Within ten minutes, she arrived at the concert hall. A guard started to give her supplies, but she waved him off. Before another speech could be given, she explained that she had been there the night before. She stepped inside. It was several hours until curfew, and the place was barren. There were only four people in the main hall. Two of which looked as if they were too out of shape to go on with anything that lasted more than four hours. They had obviously given up due to laziness. The third person seemed to be a citizen, one who had lost everything. He didn't appear to be in a pleasant mood. Gabrielle looked to the last person. It was a homely looking man who appeared disappointed in the day's findings. Though he was all the way across the room, Gabrielle got the sense that he hadn't showered in days. He was turned slightly away from her, and she couldn't see his face. He also kept tipping his head back, repeatedly. Gabrielle slowly walked around him, to get a better view before approaching. When she was fifty feet to the side of him, she saw what he was doing. He kept tipping his head back and taking a swig from a bottle. The man was dead drunk. Clearly, this was not what Gabrielle was hoping for. She slumped her head down, and headed back toward her blanket and pillow.
Part way back to her blanket, she looked up to see how much further it was. In doing so, she saw something that totally didn't fit. Coming out of the bathroom was a man in a suit. He was clean shaven, and his suit was well pressed. He looked like a diplomat, except for the camera that hung from around his neck. Gabrielle could tell that the man looked disappointed, but not upset. This was the man she was hoping to find. Before she knew it, Gabrielle had walked right past her blanket. She was drawn to the man. Not only was he well dressed, but he was tall and handsome as well. Gabrielle found herself walking right up to him.
"Can I help you?" The man asked.
"I can take that sad look right off your face." Gabrielle said.
"I'm not really interesting in that." The man replied, glancing up and down her once. "But thanks for the offer."
"Hey," Gabrielle began. "I didn't mean it that way."
"Sorry." The man said, though he didn't sound apologetic.
"What's your name?" Gabrielle asked.
"What's yours?" The man asked in return.
"Gabrielle Chambers." She replied.
"I'm Robert Mason." He said. "Now what can I do for you?"
"You're a photographer, right?" Gabrielle asked.
"Brilliant deduction." Robert replied, waving the camera at her.
"Well so I'm I." She replied.
"I'm really happy for you." Robert said sarcastically.
"I'll bet you were rather unhappy when you found out what you were not allowed to film." Gabrielle said.
"Correct again." Robert replied, though the sarcasm lifted. He could tell that Gabrielle had something to offer him, and he was always willing to listen to any offer.
"I've got some fantastic shots of the city." She admitted.
"And?" Robert asked, egging her on.
"And I would be happy to trade them for the pictures you took up at the lake." She replied.
"Oh, you think I've been up there." Robert said.
"Haven't you?" Gabrielle asked. She had assumed that he had come on the transport four hours ago, but now she was not so sure.
"I'm only teasing you." Robert confessed. "You know, you really do have to lighten up."
"You had me worried for a minute there." Gabrielle told him, then jumped back with. "So, what do you think?"
"Well, let's see what you've got." Robert said.
"We can't." Gabrielle explained. "My film has yet to be developed."
"Oh, but you still want to see what I've got." Robert protested.
"If you can get my film developed, you're more than welcome to see what's on it." Gabrielle insisted.
"So it's nothing that great then?" Robert asked.
"Well, there are quite a few illegal shots among them." Gabrielle admitted.
"How about you tell me about your shots, and I show you mine?" Robert asked.
"That would be perfect." Gabrielle said enthusiastically.
"No way." Robert said.
"Why not?" She asked.
"Because." Robert replied.
"Just, because." That's not an answer, Gabrielle demanded.
"Let me finish." Robert replied. "Because I don't know if I can trust you."
"Of course you can trust me." Gabrielle replied.
"And if I couldn't trust you, I supposed you'd admit that to me?" Robert asked.
"Sure." Gabrielle said. Even as the words were escaping from her mouth, she realized how stupid they sounded. She grinned to try and cover it up, but the grin only made her appear more air headed than the comment.
"Well, what do you need to know about me to trust me?" Gabrielle asked.
"It's not knowledge, so much as time." Robert replied.
"Ah, but it is still knowledge to some extent." She said.
"To some extent." He admitted.
"Then go ahead and ask me anything." Gabrielle said. "Because time is a luxury we do not have."
"Anything?" Robert asked.
"Anything." She replied adamantly. "And I promise to tell the truth."
"But how will I know you are telling the truth?" Robert asked.
"You'll just have to trust me." Gabrielle said.
"Trust someone I don't even know." He replied.
"I see your point." She said. "We're right back to square one. Ask anyway."
The two of the walked back to Gabrielle's blanket and supplies, and sat. Robert sat on the foot of her blanket. He removed his shoes before putting his feet on her blanket. Gabrielle sat on her pillow, at the head of her blanket. Robert began to take her up on her offer.
"What does your father do?" He asked.
"Why do you want to know that?" Gabrielle asked.
"Because a tree is partly defined by its roots, and because you said I could ask you anything." Robert replied.
"Cardinal." She said. "Or, at least he was. He died a couple of years ago."
"I didn't think they were allowed to marry, let alone have kids." Robert said, staring at her.
She laughed. "No. Not that kind. He worked for the football team."
"Besides, how religious do you think I am?" Gabrielle asked.
"You just caught me off guard." He admitted.
"No problem." She assured him.
"Well, at least you didn't try to tell me he was a saint." He said. "Because, I doubt if I would have believed you."
"Actually, he was the kindest man I've ever known." Gabrielle confessed. All traces of her laughter had vanished in an instant.
"That's not what I meant." Robert replied.
"I know." Gabrielle said softly, then just sat silently.
"Who do you work for?" Robert asked, breaking the silence.
"I doubt you'd know her." She replied.
"I didn't mean who specifically." He explained. "I meant what paper."
"World Portraits." She replied. "And who do you work for?"
Robert was stunned. She had stolen his lie. He was all set to say that he worked for World Portraits. The chances of her mention that magazine were so remote, Robert couldn't believe that she had really said it. He would never have even heard of the magazine, if his wife wasn't a subscriber. Now, he was stuck without a lie.
"I can't tell you." Robert finally said.
"What, I'm supposed to tell you everything while you tell me nothing?" She asked.
"I never agreed to answer any questions." Robert replied.
"Fair enough." Gabrielle said. "So long as you know I'm telling the truth. The magazi
ne does exist."
"I know." Robert said. "It's British. My wife has a subscription."
"That's rare." She replied. "We don't get many subscriptions. What's your wife's name?"
"Dana Mason." He said.
"Nope, never heard of her." Gabrielle admitted.