by Tara Ellis
“I don’t know if I understand what you’re saying,” Peta said, deciding that honesty was the only way they’d ever figure each other out. “It seems to be a contradiction.”
“My whole village is immune,” Akuba said bluntly, sitting back with a grunt of pain. “Over three-hundred people.”
Jason dropped the papers onto the floor and looked at Peta. “How is that possible?”
“It shouldn’t be, statistically,” Peta confirmed. “I’ll need to speak with them, and examine them to whatever extent we can. Maybe there’s another clinic somewhere that has basic lab equipment we could use.”
“That isn’t possible,” Akuba said. “They left for Tan Presi Rutu soon after the infection began. It’s a secluded, ancient site where our people originated from thousands of years ago, and where previous battles against the Kra Puru played out. My cousin recently left with another man to go find them and my mother, and I’m waiting for their return.”
“Wait,” Peta said, lifting a hand to stop her. “Earlier, you mentioned something about your beliefs, and that you’re certain this illness has been here before?” Peta had spent years involved in various forms of fieldwork. Most of it consisted of exploring the oceans, but she’d also been exposed to enough foreign cultures to appreciate the intricacy of how their history and religions often blended with the present. To write off any local legends or doctrines as nothing more than stories would be a mistake. Perhaps that was what Akuba had meant.
The other woman was watching her closely. “I know we’re asking for a lot,” Peta said, standing and walking to within a few feet of the desk. “We’re asking you to trust us based on nothing more than a few hours of interaction, and I guess what you could chalk up to some sort of cosmic roadmap or divine destiny bringing us all together. There’s clearly something greater at work here, that involves your people and this region, surrounding the Libi Nati. I have to believe that’s why we’re here. And that hidden in there somewhere is the key to stopping it again. It could very well be the reason why your village is and has been immune to The Ku--, the Kra Puru. If we put that together with our science, we can work together to defeat this.”
Akuba relaxed and actually grinned at Peta, gesturing for her to sit back down. “I knew we were meant to fight this together as soon as I realized Jason was Jessica’s father. But the Amazon has its own parameters, and you’ll have to accept that in order to work within them.”
“I don’t think we’d be here if that weren’t the case,” Jason said. “Tell us what you can about your village, Akuba. What makes them so unique?”
Peta sat back in the chair, feeling some relief. She was trying not to show how excited she was, but the news of what amounted to a large, group immunity was incredible. It was so much more than she’d hoped for, and to her surprise, she couldn’t wait to tell Eddy to see what his reaction was.
“In summary, our tribe is from a long succession of Lokono tasked with being the keepers of the Libi Nati,” Akuba explained. “We fled our ancient site after the Dutch invaded, in order to protect the source of the water.”
Peta grabbed at the arms of her chair. “The source? I thought that was at the resort.”
Akuba shook her head. “As far as anyone knows, the main pool at the resort is the original Libi Nati, but that is a false assumption. It is only one of a much larger system, though none of my own people had been back to Tan Presi Rutu and its caves for nearly a generation. We’d become comfortable with the charade and forgotten our true obligation.”
“Which is?” Jason asked.
“The elders have performed daily, monthly, and yearly rituals and ceremonies to bless the healing waters and give thanks,” Akuba continued. “We’ve maintained the jungle surrounding it to keep it accessible, and cleaned the waters of debris and vegetation. More recently, due to an agreement reached between Dr. Davies and the resort, my people have collected the change tossed into the water by tourists as a means of income, though I and others took offense to it and the implications behind it.”
Peta was absorbing the information and mulling it over. “We need to go to the spring at the resort immediately,” she said with an urgency that was hard to control. “Now. As soon as Eddy gets back. I have to get samples, and then we need to go find your people.”
“I wish it were that simple,” Akuba said, looking at Jason. “It’s too dangerous.”
Jason frowned, and then pointed at the jar of water. “What, because of Dr. Davies? Look, I understand how and why Jess and Amisha could have perceived things the way they did, but maybe there’s another explanation for what they saw. He’s a man of science, too, and is probably just trying to work the problem his own way.”
“I have had interactions with him and his followers,” Akuba stated, her voice rising. “It’s more than that, I can assure you. Jess is right, in that he is promoting the belief that those touched by the Kra Puru are now superior in some way, and are meant to lead a new race of people. It’s just as our ancient prophecies predicted. We are being treated like their servants. If we don’t provide a sufficient amount of food when they return tomorrow, our removal from the preserve was threatened. Or worse.” Akuba struggled to her feet and limped around to lean against the front of the desk. “Mr. Van was a loyal employee, and after his wife and child died, he continued to follow Mr. Davies out of that loyalty. I believe that once he realized what was happening, he tried to stop it, and was killed for it.”
Peta didn’t doubt anything the other woman was saying. She was obviously intelligent, and they’d witnessed enough odd behavior on their way there that they couldn’t deny some other element was at work. Call it the whole human nature argument Eddy had tried to make. Either way, they’d have to deal with it.
Turning to Jason, Peta drew her brows together and accepted that his particular skillset was the most valuable asset they had at the moment. “What do you think we should do?”
With a barely perceptible nod to acknowledge the extension of faith, he looked over at Akuba. “The best way to find out Dr. Davies intentions, is to ask him. So, when he comes tomorrow, we’ll all be waiting for him and we’ll have a nice, long discussion. But before that happens, I’d like to make some preparations, and we’ll need to find a radio. It’s critical that we establish contact with our guy at the CDC, so that once we accomplish our mission here, we have somewhere to send the information.”
“We had a ham radio, but Dr. Davies took it,” Akuba said. “I’m not sure where else we could look; our resources out here are limited.”
“I know where,” Jess said from the doorway.
They all turned to look at the girl, and Peta was again struck with the impression of a small girl who possessed more poise and strength than should have been possible.
“I used the radio last week,” she explained, grinning with determination at Jason. “We can get one at the police station. I’ll take you there but first, you owe me an explanation. Tell me why you’re here, and why you think you’re my dad.”
Chapter 5
JASON
Amazon Jungle near Kumalu, Suriname
The Libi Nati Preserve
Jason struggled to form the words he wanted to say. He’d been thinking about seeing and talking with Jess for so long that it had become too big in his own mind, and he was feeling overwhelmed now that the moment had arrived. The pounding headache he’d been fighting since the car accident, and the mild concussion he was ignoring certainly didn’t help.
“Now might not be the best time for this conversation,” Akuba cautioned, reaching out for Jess.
“Then when?” Jess demanded, shrugging away from Akuba and looking pointedly at Jason. She didn’t appear angry, but was understandably frustrated.
Jason winced, and decided he’d track down some pain killers later. “No, she’s right,” he said, stopping Akuba from trying to shut her down. He turned to Jess, but didn’t get up, so that they’d be closer to the same level. “You deserve an answer. I
wish I had more to tell you, but there really isn’t much to say.”
Jason was acutely aware of Peta seated next to him, but it was best for both her and Akuba to be in the room. The last thing he wanted was for Jess to feel intimidated, or like she was on her own and pitted against him.
“I met your mom when I was just twenty-three,” he began, clasping his hands together in a neutral position. “I was still fairly new to the Marines, and on leave from my first deployment. We knew each other for a short time, but she was an amazing woman and I did care about her.” Grimacing, he looked away from Jess and then down at his hands. “I tried to get in contact with her later on, when I was between deployments, but she didn’t answer me so I figured she didn’t feel the same way. It was several years later when I found out about…you.”
Lifting his eyes back up to meet Jess’s, Jason was relieved to see nothing more than a deep interest, rather than open contempt. “I eventually tracked her to here, and that was when I spoke with your dad and found out she’d died. He admitted to me that I was your biological father, but refused to even consider allowing me to see you without a court battle. This life here,” he said, gesturing to the house and preserve around them. “It was all you knew. He obviously loved you very much, and to be honest with you, at that point in my life I couldn’t have given you even a fraction of what he could. So, I did what he asked and backed off, but I’ve always kept track of you. After the prion outbreak, I knew I had to come find you.”
Turning to Peta, Jason gave her a crooked grin. “That’s when I crossed paths with this motley crew at the CDC lab in California, and found out we were all trying to get to the same place. Well, pretty much the same place. So, we worked together to make it happen and I’ve got to say,” he added, facing Jess again. “I won’t even try to understand how we’ve all managed to end up here, but regardless of who or what I am to you, I’m dedicated to helping both Peta and you.”
Jason’s stomach knotted up as he watched with heavy anticipation while Jess chewed at her lip, her eyes and nose scrunched together like she was working a hard math problem. Then, her features relaxed and she walked across the room to lift down a small, framed picture from one of the massive bookshelves.
With her back to him, she took a large breath and held the photo to her chest. “Thank you for coming,” she said, turning around. “When do you want to get the radio?”
“We’ve got a radio?” Eddy asked loudly as he strode into the office. He’d left the AR behind, but was still wearing his shoes and had left a trail of fresh dirt in his wake.
Jason noticed that Akuba glanced warily at the floor before making her way back to the desk chair. Sitting down, she rubbed at her thigh before pointing at Jess. “It’s not here, but Jess knows where you can get one.”
Jason stared questioningly at Jess, certain that she had to have more questions for him. But he saw the emotional strain it was having, and the way her knuckles were turning white from gripping the picture too tightly. She’d heard enough. They could talk more later. “And you’re sure it’s a ham radio?” he asked, allowing the other conversation to drop.
She looked relieved. “Yes. Dad had one for years, and he taught me how to use it. There’s a couple of local stations, but the police would be the closest. I can show you.”
“Are you sure it’s safe?” Peta interjected, speaking to Akuba. “We were attacked last night on our way here, not far from the preserve. We don’t know who it was, and it’s possible that if they were part of the group at the resort, there’ll be more waiting for us if we try to leave.”
“Yes, Paul told me about it when he helped me to my room this morning,” Akuba said. “And we both agreed that it couldn’t have been The Cured.”
“I also discussed it with Paul,” Eddy offered, casually leaning against the doorjamb. “He believes they were part of a group of Immune’s that have banded together and are likely targeting the preserve for its supplies. It’s doubtful they’ll be back after our encounter last night. If there are even any left.”
Jason noticed how at ease Eddy appeared since coming to the preserve. He needed to sit down with the guy and discuss some stuff as soon as possible.
“Did he tell you about Akuba’s village?” Peta pressed, sounding excited. “How they’re all immune?”
Eddy nodded and his lips turned up in the faintest of smiles. “Fascinating, isn’t it? Clearly, we have to speak with Dr. Davies and encourage him to cooperate with our investigation. Depending on where that leads to, we may need to track down the lost Lokono village.”
“You’re different,” Jess said, stepping away from the bookcase.
Jason looked back and forth between Eddy and Jess, his eyes narrowed. He couldn’t blame her if she didn’t trust Eddy, considering what had happened with her dad. But maybe it was more than that. “How?” Jason asked, leaning forward. “How is he different?”
Jess set the picture on the desk as she walked past it, revealing it was an image of her with her dad, from when she was much younger. “You have more…personality,” she tried to explain. Approaching Eddy, she crossed her arms and looked up at him. “And, you pet the dog.”
Eddy raised an eyebrow at her. “Marty?”
Nodding, Jess turned to Peta. “I don’t think my dad would have any interest in petting a dog. He doesn’t even care about what happens to me. Eddy’s different than the other people around here who were sick.”
Akuba shifted in the chair, looking uncomfortable. “I don’t see how that—”
“She might have a valid point,” Peta interrupted. “Along with the different survival rates we’ve been seeing, I’ve also suspected the severity of the illness and resulting effects could also vary.”
“How is that possible?” Akuba asked, looking skeptically at Eddy.
“The animals,” Jason offered. When everyone focused on him, he tried his best to break it down. “The jaguars around here aren’t the only animals being changed. We noticed some really odd behavior in some, uh—house cats, too.”
“I think my monkey got infected,” Jess agreed. “And a group of them attacked the chickens.”
“A monkey,” Peta muttered, tapping her fingers against her thigh. Jason watched as she and Eddy exchanged a knowing look. “When was that?” she asked Jess.
“Goldie?” Jess frowned. “Right away. The second or third day, I think.”
Jason was stunned. If the prions made a species jump that quickly down in the Amazon, it had to be mutating at an alarming rate.
“Cross-species transmission is a strong indicator of rapid mutation,” Eddy said, pushing away from the door. Going to the bookcase, he took down a globe and set it on the desk. Touching a finger to the South American continent, he then spun it to show the states, thousands of miles away. “I would imagine they are seeing similar traits in other animals by now, in the United States and elsewhere.”
“How long did it take for your dad to get sick, and anyone else who was next to the geyser when it erupted?” Jason asked, doing his best to remember what he’d read about prion disease and its known variations of illness and modes of transmission.
“My dad got sick the next day, but it was faster for Mr. Sandwood,” Jess said. “He was the owner of the resort,” she added. “He died really fast, too. Like…two days, I think.”
Eddy tsked and shook his head. “The exponential spread of the disease, change in infection rate, time of illness, and the species jump all point to a continuing mutation.”
“But it isn’t a virus,” Akuba said, sounding more anxious. “And I don’t see what difference that makes when it comes to finding the source.”
“This is where what I know comes into play,” Peta offered. “I believe you’re right, Akuba. That this prion infection is ancient and comes from a source normally sealed off. What makes this prion so dangerous and deadly, is that it’s now in combination with a primal form of bacterial vector and DNA sequencer, called a thermophile. My colleague found this
novel thermophile in the MOHO layer, before the eruption. Together with the prion, it’s acting as the vector to deliver it to its human hosts.”
“It has to also be interacting with the environment to compel its on-going mutations,” Eddy theorized as he spun the globe.
“Does knowing all of that help you to figure out a way to stop it?” Jess asked. “Does it mean there’s a way to undo what it did to my dad?”
Jason winced, wishing they’d waited to talk about the specifics until Jess was occupied with something else. The last thing he wanted to do was get her hopes up, or expose how things were even worse on a world-wide scale.
“If we can determine what’s given Akuba’s village immunity, then I believe it’s possible we could come up with a way to stop it,” Peta answered, surprising Jason. He turned to study her, hoping she wasn’t just trying to appease Jess. However, she looked very confident. Even excited. She glanced over and caught him looking, and seemed slightly embarrassed. “Well, I guess I should say that it would most likely involve getting samples and our observations back to the lab in California.” Her excitement quickly faded as her initial enthusiasm ebbed. “It would be a long-shot, at best, but it’s certainly better than nothing.”
“At least it’s something,” Akuba agreed, offering Jess a smile. “It is more hope than we had yesterday.”
Hope.
Jason looked around the office, taking in the unlikely group of people he found himself with, and how each of them offered a specific and unique insight into what was happening. Together, they might have a chance of finding the necessary pieces to the puzzle.
And Akuba was right.
Jason smiled at the man who against all odds was still his friend, and then the woman beside him who’s intelligence and strength buoyed his own. Finally, he looked at the girl he never thought he’d meet. The upwelling in his chest was something Jason doubted he’d ever be able to experience again, after what he’d gone through at the hospital in Seattle.