by Tara Ellis
It turned out the apology was unnecessary, as she wasn’t the only one to freak out. Mavi was standing in the middle of the road, arms sticking straight out as he turned around in a circle, staring in horror at the jungle, the ground, and then the sky.
“It was an earthquake,” Eddy said pointedly. “I would estimate nothing more than a five or six on the Richter scale, depending on how far away and its depth.”
“I, uh, don’t think they get much out this way,” Paul said, as he took Mavi by one of his arms and led him back to the car.
Mavi shook his head, and blinked his eyes several times. “Once. Only one time in my life, and that was two weeks ago when the Libi Nati erupted. But it was much smaller than this. Only a small tremor in the ground.”
Peta frowned and looked at Jason. She didn’t like having new variables. Especially not now.
Still holding the radio, Jason helped Peta to her feet and then gestured at everyone to get back in their car. “We need to go.”
Glancing up at the sky that was still swirling with birds, Peta tried to hold on to her previous optimism. She’d never believed in omens before, and even less in fate and destiny. But as they began driving back toward the preserve, she couldn’t shake the feeling that another piece had just been moved on the board, and they were getting close to checkmate.
Chapter 9
JASON
Amazon Jungle near Kumalu, Suriname
The Libi Nati Preserve
The leather chair squeaked as Jason stretched his back and then leaned toward the radio on the desk. Pressing the button on the mic, he winced in anticipation at the burst of static. He’d been at it for nearly two hours, and the constant noise was starting to get to him. He’d need to hunt down some more Advil for his headache. “Sierra Uniform Two Alpha Team. Listening,” he said mechanically, after the squelch died away and he had an open channel. It wasn’t a usual call-sign, but it was the one given to him by Garrett so they’d be easily recognized.
It was dark outside the window of the office, and it was a clear reminder that they were running out of time. He’d managed to get the radio working shortly after getting back, with the help of some new wiring and then rigging it up to the pre-existing antennae Davies already had in place. But Jason couldn’t control whoever was on the other end. After a half-hour of breathless anticipation initially went unanswered, everyone split up to finish the last of the daily chores and get dinner before starting an organized patrol of the property.
Kamal had taken the first watch at the radio, while Jason helped secure the vehicles and then went over Paul’s plan for guarding the preserve throughout the night. While the minor earthquake hadn’t caused any noticeable damage, it definitely put them all further on edge. It was a harsh reminder that the prion infection wasn’t the only element they were up against.
Jason checked his watch as the silence dragged out. It was coming up on eleven at night, which made it close to six in southern California. It was two in the afternoon there when they first started trying to hail them, which made it hard to write it off as a time issue. They could just be busy. Except, Jason knew better. The installation was being overseen by the military. If there were enough people left alive, they would have been monitoring the radio around-the-clock.
He set his lips in a firm line and pressed the button again. Static. Clicks, and then silence. “Sierra Uniform Two Alpha Team. Listening.”
Jason absently studied the paper set out in front of the radio, with the hand-written frequency and band-width instructions from Garrett. He was relying on the belief that the guy knew what he was doing, and that his voice wasn’t being sent out into useless space somewhere.
“How’s it going in here?” Devon asked. Jason looked up to see that he was helping Akuba limp into the room.
Frowning at Devon, he tapped at the paper. “Nothing so far. I’m hoping this information Garrett gave us is accurate, but we have no way to confirm it. I thought I ordered both of you to non-weight-bearing activities,” he added, pointing at Devon.
“Yes, sir!” Devon snapped with a mock salute. “We were obediently playing yet another intense game of chess, when Akuba mentioned how her leg felt hot. I’m not a doc, but I’m thinking it looks kind of angry. I thought you’d want to check it out?”
Eager for a distraction, Jason stood and waved both of them over to the two other chairs in the room. While he wasn’t too concerned that Devon’s foot was anything more than a bruise or at worst a small fracture, an infection in the animal-caused wound could quickly turn more serious than he was equipped to deal with.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Akuba insisted as Devon helped position her in the chair. “I don’t need to be fussed over.”
Jason noticed how she smiled up at Devon while complaining, and that he held her arm a moment longer than was necessary. Akuba was an exotically beautiful woman, and around the same age as Devon. He would have been surprised if the two of them weren’t drawn to each other.
“How’s the foot?” Jason asked Devon casually as he moved in to peel back the gauze from Akuba’s leg.
“Better,” Devon answered quickly. “You were right. Once I put it up with some ice for a couple of hours, the swelling went down a lot, and it already hurts less. I’ll just have to baby it for a day or two and I’ll be good to go. You know, it’s the little things like ice during a power outage that make you appreciate generators and some basic ingenuity.”
Grunting in agreement, Jason brought his face to within a few inches of the ragged gashes that ran half the length of Akuba’s right thigh. There were three, with the longest about five inches long. He’d done a fairly decent job with the stitching, considering it was fishing line, but had intentionally left some gaps to allow for drainage. He wasn’t sure how jaguar scratches compared to house cats, which were highly susceptible to infection.
The skin surrounding the wound was red and swollen, but not any more than Jason would expect. After holding a hand close to it to determine the level of heat, he sniffed it.
“Ew,” Devon scoffed. “That’s disgusting.”
Raising an eyebrow at him, Jason stood and offered Akuba a reassuring smile. “It’s actually looking better than I thought it would. I don’t see any signs of infection, but be sure to keep up on the antibiotics.”
The sound of the back door opening and someone moving around in the kitchen drew Devon away. It was about time for the next group to swap out. They were running four-hour shifts, and Jason’s would start at three in the morning. He’d have to try and get some sleep at some point.
He planned it so he’d be on watch when the sun came up. He’d stay outside then, and keep an eye out for their expected visitors from the resort. Jess had managed to oversee organizing the required supplies for her dad, and Akuba assured him that the boxes stacked by the back door should be enough to appease Davies and his followers.
Jason’s strategy was simple. Akuba would give the guy what he wanted before Peta and Eddy introduced themselves and explained why they were there, while Jason and the rest of the crew would make a silent show of force in the background. It should be enough to let the other man know he couldn’t strong-arm the people at the preserve anymore, while not being overtly confrontational. There was a risk of Davies recognizing Jason, though it had been over ten years since they’d seen each other the one time. While he personally didn’t care if the guy knew he was there to look out for Jess, they couldn’t take a chance of that knowledge jeopardizing their quest for a cure. As much as Jason wanted to be up front and center on the meet, he’d instead hang back and keep a low profile.
“Look who I found,” Devon said, as he walked into the office with Peta. She was holding two plates of food and looked rather worn out.
“I didn’t see you at dinner,” she said, handing one of the plates to Jason.
Jason’s stomach grumbled as he took the food. He didn’t realize how hungry he was. “Thanks,” he said with a smile. “I was out touring th
e back buildings with Paul. I’m sure you’ve found out how big this place is.”
Nodding, Peta leaned against the desk and began eating the warmed-up hamburger. “Too big. I think the decision to put three of us up in the second story windows of the barn and outbuilding was good. Except, I don’t really envy the guy that ends up on the roof of this house. I’d feel a little too exposed.”
Jason shrugged as he sat back down at the desk. “Not ideal, but it’s the best we can do. At least for now.”
“I’m assuming you haven’t heard anything?” Peta asked, gesturing at the radio with a french-fry.
In response, Jason grimaced and keyed up the mic. “Sierra Uniform Two Alpha Team. Listening.”
Setting the plate down, Peta pulled a map from her back pocket and spread it out on the desk before turning to Akuba. “I’m glad you’re up. I was hoping you could show me on this map where that ancient village and cave are located.”
Rising slowly, Akuba limped over while fixing Peta with an expression that was hard for Jason to read. While not exactly unfriendly, she certainly wasn’t looking warm and fuzzy. Setting a hand over a region to the south of their current location, she then ran it back and forth across the map. “I’m afraid you will have to wait for my cousin, Kavish, and Slaider to return. I only know the general area. I have never been there. Its location is protected and is not recorded anywhere.”
Peta frowned, glancing briefly at Jason. “You understand how vital it is that we be taken there once we’ve finished at the resort, don’t you? What’s at stake here?”
Her jaw clenching, Akuba showed the first obvious signs of irritation. “I can assure you that I am fully aware. If I felt a need to keep the village from you, I would say so directly.”
Peta looked nonplussed and Jason was actually relieved to see that she was falling back into her more academic approach to things. It was what they’d need from her in the next few days. “Okay, that leaves us with the resort as our only option for now. And since you’re the lone member of your tribe available for study, I’d like to perform a more thorough medical exam and draw some blood, if you’re feeling up to it. Do you think we could get hold of the necessary supplies for that?” she asked, without waiting for a reply.
“There are some basic medical supplies, as well as research equipment you may be able to use for other purposes, out in the storage building,” Akuba answered, still sounding troubled. “The science students often brought newer microscopes and gear for various types of sponsored studies. If you don’t find what you need, there is a small clinic in the next town that Mavi could take you to.”
“But?” Jason asked, watching Akuba and her body language. While it sounded like she was agreeing to help, she didn’t look happy about it.
Akuba turned away and went to sit next to Devon again before answering. “We all want the same thing. I will do whatever I can to protect Jess, this preserve, and the Libi Nati, which I believe is how I am meant to help you. We are all exactly where we are meant to be. But I’m afraid you are still underestimating Dr. Davies by simplifying his role.”
Jason pulled upon his training to stop and take a hard look at the bigger picture. Was she right? Was he missing something by being too narrow-sighted? He’d already fought against their initial instinct to simply storm the resort and push their way through to the hot spring. He was one man with a few brain-damaged people believing the BS he was feeding them. They couldn’t waste any more time by holding hands with the guy. “Underestimating him in what way?”
Akuba reached over and took Devon’s hand. Squeezing it first, she then released him and pointed emphatically at Peta and Jason. “This is a war! One that has been waged several times in the past, and always with the same outcome. Whether you believe that or not doesn’t matter. But unless you approach Dr. Davies as the enemy, and the Libi Nati as the prize, you will lose.”
Jason carefully considered her words. Staring into her intense, troubled eyes, the realization that she could be right was overpowering. He was approaching the meeting tomorrow as if they were trying to prevent a skirmish, not like they were already in the middle of war. It was based on an arrogance that he was familiar with the jungle and beliefs of the people who’d lived there for thousands of years. In reality, he had no idea what they were walking into.
Scowling, he glanced at Peta and saw that she was likely coming to the same conclusions. “So, keeping in mind that our primary goal is to gain access to the Libi Nati, we need to try and reason with Davies without tipping our hand,” he said to Peta, before turning to Akuba and Devon.
“His knowledge of the hot springs and this region is too valuable not to try,” Peta said. “It isn’t that we don’t believe you,” she added with a smile to Akuba. “But we’ve been able to get through to Eddy to a certain degree, and we think he might even be improving since he first recovered. If it’s even possible that Dr. Davies could be persuaded to see things differently, I think it’s worth the risk.”
“I agree,” Akuba said, surprising Jason. “I would want nothing more than to have him return. For Jess to have even a small part of her father back. And regardless of what I or my ancestors believe the disease to be, perhaps modern science can intervene this time. Dr. Davies is an extremely intelligent man. He might listen to reason from someone who speaks the same language,” she added, smiling back at Peta.
Feeling back on more solid ground, Jason finished sifting the final details around in his mind before keying up the radio. Instead of trying to intimidate Davies under the assumption they had the additional fire-power, they’d allow him to continue to believe the preserve was at his mercy, while learning more about him and the resort. The only question was what story to give him, that would allow Peta and Eddy to talk to him without raising too much suspicion. As the static settled, he spoke into the microphone for what felt like the hundredth time. “Sierra Uniform Two Alpha Team. Listening.”
Peta snapped her fingers and pushed away from the desk. “I think I know how to approach him. You’re sure he doesn’t know where the ancient site is?” she asked Akuba.
Akuba didn’t hesitate. “No, he can’t possibly know.”
“Kilo Six Charlie Delta Charlie. Go ahead.”
They all jumped at the unexpected transmission and stared first at the radio, and then at each other.
Jason was the first to react as Devon ran from the room. “Garrett! Is that you?” Jason yelled into the microphone, not giving radio protocol a second thought.
“Affirmative, Alpha Team. It’s good to hear your voice, Jason.”
Rubbing a hand over his face, Jason cleared his throat as he tried to gather his thoughts. Yanking a pad of paper over, he ran a finger over a list of questions they’d written out earlier. “We’ve made it to our check-point and are still working on getting you the data. Things are…not what we expected. What’s your status?”
There was a long pause as a spurt of interference crackled from the speaker, and Jason was afraid they were going to lose him.
“It’s a mixed bag. With some more modifications, the cocktail is working better at suppressing symptoms, but it’s in no way a cure. People are still dying, just a lot slower.”
Peta moved around the desk and knelt down next to Jason so she could speak into the radio. “Have you managed to isolate any of those proteins? How is the sequencing going?”
Jason pushed the chair away as the conversation dove into realms he wasn’t as interested in. Although he was a doctor, he was happy to leave the biology and physiology to Peta and Eddy. As soon as he’d left the hospital in Washington, his role had switched, and it seemed that soldiering was continuing to be his calling in Suriname.
“What’d he say?” Tyler shouted as he ran into the room, with Marty close to his feet. He was wearing a pair of sweats and had obviously been sound asleep. Wiping at his eyes, he then reached for the radio.
“Nothing yet,” Peta said, moving out of his way and taking hold of Marty’s collar. �
��We didn’t ask, Tyler. We were waiting for you.”
Tyler’s hand hesitated over the microphone for a moment as he took a deep, shuddering breath. Pressing down the button, he glanced at Devon for reassurance before leaning forward. “Um…Garrett. Can you hear me? This is Tyler. I, uh…I.” he licked his lips and tried again. “My dad. Is he…is he—alive?”
The click of the button being depressed seemed louder than it should have been as Tyler stepped away. Jason put a hand on his shoulder and then squeezed as they heard the burst of static that signified an incoming response.
“He’s alive.”
Tyler dropped to his knees and threw his arms around Marty, and Jason looked over his head at Peta. She smiled at him, and it marked a shift of atmosphere in the room, as they all enjoyed the brief moment of good news.
It didn’t last long.
More static squelched before Garrett continued. “He’s alive, Tyler, but there isn’t much more I can do for him. For him and a couple-hundred others trapped down here. I’ve distributed the information for the treatment to installations and hospitals around the world that are still operating at any kind of capacity, but—we’re running out of time.”
Time.
Jason gathered himself for another long night.
Chapter 10
MADELINE
Matagorda Bay, Port Lavaca, Texas
Near Peninsula Park
The windshield of the Hummer exploded into a spiderweb of intricate patterns at the same time that Madeline heard the first gunshots. Ducking, she yanked on the wheel and the vehicle responded by jerking sharply to the right before she could correct the motion, barely staying on the road.
Another bullet ricocheted off the back of the boxy, tank-like SUV, and Madeline’s mouth curved in a sort of sick smile as she realized the shooters were all behind her. Removing the Mossberg from its holster, she smashed the butt against the ruined glass in front of her face, creating a hole. Re-holstering, she then used her bare hand to yank chunks of the fine shards still attached to the laminate, until she had an opening wide enough to see through. Wiping the blood on the thigh of her jeans, Madeline ignored the insignificant injuries to her fingers.