by Tara Ellis
“Why are you pointing that at me?” Jess demanded, her expression changing from a happy greeting to alarm. “I’m just showing my friend the Libi Nati. He’s never seen a hot spring. Can you believe that?”
“You aren’t welcome here,” Maya said evenly, though the rifle lowered slightly to her right as she studied the two teens.
“Why not?” Jess pressed. “My dad is here! I used to come out to the resort all the time, and I miss it. I miss a lot of things, Maya. Don’t you? Where are your parents?”
Jason was even more impressed with his daughter’s ability to engage the other girl, while still being acutely aware of what was about to happen. She had nerves of steel, no matter her age.
“Shut up!” Maya yelled, showing an unusual display of emotion for one of Davies followers. “Go home, Jessica. There’s nothing here for you. I’m taking care of the Libi Nati now, and I heard about your new “friends”. They’re supposed to be leaving, not sneaking through the jungle with you. Dr. Davies is going to be very unhappy about this.”
Devon was far enough. Not quite behind Maya, but it was a good angle that would provide the needed distraction. Jason crept as close to her through the undergrowth as he dared, shouldered the rifle, and then lifted his right hand into a fist. When he locked eyes with Devon, he fanned his fingers and waved him forward urgently. He hoped Devon would understand. He was a smart guy, so Jason figured he’d get it.
The sound of a two-hundred-pound man weighted down with a pack and rifle barreling though the rainforest would have been enough to get anyone’s attention. But Devon went all-out and yelled at the same time. It was perfect.
As Maya swung around in alarm, fumbling with the rifle, Jason charged. It was a long distance to cover in a short amount of time, and she became aware of him before he reached her. But the small woman was no match for him and Jason easily dodged her arms and then came up under them, grabbing hold of the rifle and slamming her to the ground at the same time.
The wind was knocked from her lungs, so he had the weapon ripped from her hands and thrown aside before she’d taken her first ragged breath. Pinning her with one knee and his left hand, Jason then slapped his right hand firmly over Maya’s mouth to prevent her from screaming.
“That was totally cool,” Tyler gasped as he jogged up to them.
Jess looked nervously up the trail as Devon and Mavi joined them. “I don’t see anyone else yet.”
“There’ll be others,” Jason said gruffly, as he unclipped a braided piece of paracord from his pack. Tossing it to Devon to untwist, he then looked at Tyler. “Find something to tie around her mouth. We’ve got to keep her quiet.”
Tyler dug a buff out of Devon’s pack, and as he wrapped it around Maya’s face, Jason rolled her over and bound her wrists and ankles, effectively shackling her. He didn’t like it, but it was much better than the alternative.
Maya didn’t struggle, and whether it was because she was shaken up, or realized there was no point to it, he couldn’t tell. It was likely that given her lack of emotions, she was biding her time and would attempt to cry out or get loose once they gave her an opportunity.
“You’re going to stay here and watch her,” Jason said to Jess. Hauling the woman up by the arms, Mavi helped to lean her against a tree just off the trail. Once Maya was positioned, he turned to Tyler. “I’d like you to hang back, too. Make sure we don’t have anyone come up behind us. We don’t know when or from what direction they might come looking for her.”
To Jason’s surprise, Tyler didn’t argue with him, but instead nodded without any hesitation. “Sure. I’ll whistle loud if I see anything. How much further is it to the hot spring?” Tyler asked, turning to Jess.
“Just around that bend,” she said, pointing. “You’ll see it right away, except the whole thing isn’t surrounded by the jungle. One side is open, and there’s a boardwalk and everything for the resort.”
“I know,” Jason said, nodding. “Akuba described it all in detail.” Turning to Devon, he unslung the rifle. “Be ready to start grabbing whatever the hell it is you need.”
Devon offered a mock salute and hefted the bag onto his back. “Lead the way.”
Jess was right, and the hot spring came into full view less than a minute up the overgrown path. Crouching behind some trees, he eyed the area before giving Devon the all-clear.
Devon unslung his pack and tossed a couple of glass jars at Mavi. “Fill those,” he ordered, while pulling out several other more technical-looking items.
As the two men got to work and scurried around the pool of steaming water, Jason surveyed the boardwalk one more time before taking it all in. The Libi Nati was at least thirty feet across, and while he could see the muddy bottom along the shallow edge, it dropped off within a couple of feet to what looked like a bottomless pit. He’d visited Yellowstone before, and it reminded him of some of those springs, though it was a lot murkier.
The smell of sulfur was nearly overpowering, and the already-high humidity of the Amazon doubled when they got to within twenty feet of the steaming water. Akuba mentioned the damage from the geyser, and Jason could clearly see where most of the trees around it had lost a serious amount of branches and foliage. Swaths of undergrowth had turned brown and was dying, and he didn’t see hardly any vegetation at all growing along the edge, where Jess had said they collected the stuff for the Libi Prani tea.
“Maya, come in!” A man’s voice from nearby rang out, making Devon jump and almost drop a glass tube he’d just filled with mud.
Jason didn’t need to give any direction, as both Mavi and Devon sprang for cover. Sliding back into the concealment of the trees, Jason watched as two men rapidly approached on the boardwalk, one of them talking into a radio. Jason removed his own and shielded his mouth with his other hand as he whispered into it. “Peta. We’ve reached the checkpoint but we have company and could really use that distraction right about now.”
“Gotcha covered,” Peta’s voice came back almost instantly.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Jason settled in to wait and see how things played out. They couldn’t be certain the radios would reach, so that was the first thing to go right. Now, he’d have to hope that Peta and Eddy could pull the attention back the other way, without taking it too far.
It didn’t take long.
“Raja, do you copy?” The same man’s radio squawked just as he was about to head out on the trail where Tyler and Jess were.
“Go ahead,” Raja answered, stopping.
“Davies wants you back here. We…have a situation with those scientists.”
“Kenan!” Raja shouted to the other man behind him. “They need you back at the resort. I’ll track down Maya by myself.”
Jason warily scrutinized Raja, taking in the guy’s build and the way he held his weapon, which was much different from Maya. The indigenous man may have never been a soldier, but he was strong, and the way he moved gave Jason the impression that the guy knew how to handle himself.
As Kenan jogged away and Raja continued into the jungle, Jason weighed his options. He was acutely aware of the precarious situation Eddy and Peta were in. If they started shooting now, all hell would break loose and they might not be able to retreat before it reached them.
Securing the AR by synching up the strap across his chest, Jason unsheathed his knife and moved stealthily toward the other man, who was almost abreast of his location. They were a close match, physically, but Jason would have to rely upon his advanced training and the element of surprise to give him enough of an advantage.
Jason had almost reached the trail when he became aware of a strange vibration in his feet, that quickly spread to the rest of his body. If he hadn’t been so focused on his adversary, he may have perceived what it was right away. But it wasn’t until Jason landed on the trail with knife raised, and Raja was pivoting to face him, that he realized it was another earthquake.
Raja’s eyes widened at the sight of him and the knife, and he reacted
with a quickness that Jason wasn’t prepared for. Distracted by the rumbling that was growing to fill the space around them, he dodged the other man’s move a fraction too late.
Instead of evading his charge, Jason only deflected it and, in the process, lost the knife. The two large men hit the ground with a bone-jarring impact, with Jason on the bottom. His training kicked in, and he immediately pushed off and reversed their positions, attempting to get an arm locked around Raja’s neck.
The ground shook beneath them, and branches began falling, adding to the confusion as Raja got his arm up to break the hold. It was then that Jason saw the knife. His knife, that the other man must have somehow managed to pick up.
A new level of abandon kicked in, and gone from his mind were Jess, Peta, and the earthquake. In that moment, the world was reduced to only Jason and the other man he had to kill, or else be killed. His free arm flew to the second knife he kept strapped to his leg, but as Jason moved to come up beneath the other man and land the fatal strike…a shot rang out.
Jason registered the sound, but continued to follow-through, only to find Raja was already falling. As his body hit the ground, Jason saw that Devon was standing on the trail, holding the Glock out in front of him with a wide stance and a look of stunned horror on his face.
It was time to leave.
Jason stepped over the body and grabbed for his radio at the same time, barely acknowledging Devon with a curt nod. Before he could key up the handheld, he realized he wasn’t only hearing the earthquake, but something he couldn’t quite place.
“The geyser!” Mavi shouted. “It’s erupting!”
Tyler and Jess rounded the bend in the trail, running toward them with weapons drawn. Jess’s eyes widened and her mouth formed an O as she took in the body on the trail, and the water of the geyser rising up from the pool behind them.
The rumbling was decreasing, but the size of the geyser was growing. Drops of Scalding water burned Jason’s arms and the back of his neck, emphasizing the heat and power involved in the eruption.
“Run!” Jason shouted, though it wasn’t necessary. Pressing the button to create three rapid clicks for their pre-arranged “bail” signal, he then ran over to Devon. He hadn’t moved except to lower the weapon, and Jason pulled at his arm, leading him away from the hot spring.
“Grab Maya, Tyler!” Jason ordered. “She’s coming with us.”
Chapter 16
PETA
Amazon Jungle near Kumalu, Suriname
Libi Nati Resort
“Gotcha covered,” Peta said into the radio, and then looked over expectantly at Paul in the passenger seat. He had the AR tucked on the floor of the truck, out of sight but ready for easy access. Twisting to glance at Eddy in the backseat, she smiled nervously. “Here we go.”
The simple act of coming down the road and pulling into the parking lot of the resort should provide a decent distraction all on its own. As they drove into the graveled area, Peta counted the vehicles and noted there was one less than had been at the preserve that morning. Hopefully it meant that they weren’t all there. They were about to find out.
“Company,” Paul barked, gesturing with his head toward two men armed with rifles, walking across the wide expanse of manicured grounds. Although they were clearly observing them, they weren’t moving with any great urgency and seemed curious rather than threatening.
“Stay here like we planned, and watch our backs,” Peta instructed, handing the radio to Paul. “We’ll stay outside. Call to us if you get the signal from Jason.”
“Be sure you stay outside,” Paul advised. “We’re assuming I’ve got the heaviest firepower, but it won’t do us any good if you get yourselves in a position where I can’t protect you.”
Nodding, Peta swallowed and worked on keeping her expression neutral as she stepped out of the truck. She trusted Paul and his vast experience as a police officer, but he was right. He was only one person and no matter how they played it, she and Eddy would be in a precarious situation.
Fortunately, it turned out they didn’t have to worry about being invited inside. Peta hadn’t even made it halfway up the long walkway leading to a large, sweeping veranda, before Eric Davies stepped outside. He was closely followed by what must have been a constant entourage of three serious-looking men. They were all indigenous, large, and likely to have guns on them.
Eddy tugged at her elbow, stopping her forward motion. “Let them come to us,” he whispered.
Hesitating, Peta looked around at the resort. It was as Akuba and Amisha had described it. The parking lot faced the main building, and was bordered by several other smaller structures which were apparently bungalows that were rented out. The park behind it was comprised of several acres with gently rolling hills intersected with wooden boardwalks, and spotted with various clumps of vegetation.
Amisha explained how it was set up like an outdoor exhibit, and the tourists were absolutely fascinated by it. At the back of the property was the main feature; the Libi Nati hot springs. The largest pool was in the furthest corner and had its own viewing platform where guests could observe the Lokono rituals. For an extra fee they were allowed to soak in the water and take advantage of its professed healing powers.
Taking it all in, Peta could understand Dr. Davies decades-long fight to protect it, and how Akuba’s tribe was torn between abandoning their heritage or submitting to the requests of the resort owner. All the political and moral atrocities of stealing their land aside, it went beyond that for the Lokono. It was about following honored traditions and obligations. At least, it was for the elders who still practiced the old ways, according to Akuba.
“Dr. Kelly,” Davies said, stopping a few feet away. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked first at her, then Eddy, and out at the truck where Paul sat half-in, half-out of the passenger seat. “What’s the meaning of this? You weren’t invited and you aren’t welcome. I thought I was quite clear this morning.”
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” Peta said, “But I wanted to—” Peta froze, her voice fading, as a familiar sensation began to spread from the ground and through her body.
Another earthquake. The rumbling intensified, and Peta’s anxiety ramped up enough to make her breath come in sharp gasps. The situation was bad enough without an earthquake thrown in, and she was doing her best to shrug off the feeling that some greater power was involved.
Eric threw his arms out to steady himself, though the ground wasn’t really moving. He yelled at them over the noise. “Leave. Now!”
“If you want to live your life this way, that’s fine!” Peta shouted back, refusing to back down. “But you can’t make that decision for the rest of the world. You like to talk about logic, but nothing you’re doing makes much sense, Dr. Davies. Please. I’ll leave, just give me any documentation you have on the Lokono tribe, or anything about their—”
Something that sounded an awful lot like a gunshot echoed through the preserve. It was a short report in contrast to the fading sounds of the rebellious Earth. The men with Eric all flinched and began looking around, while Davies himself did nothing more than make a small grimace. Removing a radio from a pocket of his khakis, he raised a hand and made a circular motion at the two guys holding rifles in the distance. “Kenan, Raja! Determine where that came from and report back to me.”
Davies looked at the man beside him before nodding toward Peta and Eddy. “Take them.”
Peta had already been reaching for the Glock hidden under her shirt at the small of her back, but she wasn’t fast enough. She’d allowed herself to get too close to them, and the nearest of the men lunged, grabbing at her arms. She dodged, but a strong hand latched onto her right arm and spun her around before they both crashed to the ground.
Another shot rang out, that time much closer. It was followed by a short burst of automatic weapons-fire, and Peta managed to twist around in time to see Paul sliding to the gravel, next to the truck.
Kicking out, Peta thrashed against the
man’s chest as he wrapped her up, and dug her heels into the grass, pushing back against her assailant. She wasn’t a small woman and Peta prided herself on being strong, but she was no match for him. He seemed to effortlessly drag her to her feet. Lifting her off the ground, he turned her to face Davies and the other two men that were restraining Eddy.
Unlike Peta, Eddy was being rather compliant and looked composed. “You’ll find that the shot likely came from the area of the Libi Nati,” he said to Davies.
“Eddy!” Peta shouted, confused.
Davies only response was to lift an eyebrow.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you’ve said,” Eddy continued, ignoring Peta. “There isn’t anything left for me, and I’d prefer to stay and explore what you’re proposing. There are some interesting medical aspects to the theory.”
Peta resisted the urge to scream at Eddy, unsure of what he was doing. It had to be another attempt at a diversion. It had to be.
Looking over at where Paul was trying to get into the truck, she saw that his return fire had found its mark. Both of the other men were lying in the grass, unmoving. If she could regain some control, they might still be able to get out of there.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t accept what you’re saying as fact,” Davies said to Eddy as he stepped closer to him. “Although I do look forward to ferreting out the potential of working together.”
“Of course,” Eddy agreed. “I expect to have to prove myself. I’d like to, if you’ll give me the opportunity.”
Peta’s mind was reeling. Was Eddy even capable of acting in his condition? Either way, it didn’t matter. She had to escape. Her adrenaline surging, Peta weighed the grip on her arms, and looked around wildly for some sort of opening. A way to reach her gun…
“Dr. Davies, come in!”
Davies stepped back from Eddy and spoke into the radio. “What is it, Kenan?”