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CHAPTER 17 Richard Dickenson had managed not to do much work. Instead, he fiddled through maps and other writings with footnotes. Brutus was on his way back and so were the rest of the crew. Phase one of his survey was complete, but he thought to himself that he could journey to a few more spots. He had already extended further than he was supposed to, but he always put in extra effort. Brutus stopped for a moment and examined every view within sight. His eyes were strained because thick trees, vines, and other green life made viewing difficult. He suddenly heard footsteps, but from what species was unclear. It was not possible to see whatever it was, so he continued on. He had an eerie feeling, as if someone was watching him. It wasn’t a strong feeling, but it caused him to discontinue all efforts for the day. He headed back to camp baffled by feelings, which seemed unexplainable. Adam and Wesley were the first to arrive back at the campsite. They stood near the river, about fifty or so meters away, but a fair view was obtainable. Adam sneezed and Wesley said, “Hey look, there’s a boat. Let’s see what’s going on.” The two FBI agents, not realizing the passengers of the boat were a part of the crew, stormed forward. Wesley’s previously sick look changed dramatically as if boredom had been cured. Adam could only keep up, for that took enough effort. Just like his immune system, because that was being battered and bruised. Sneezes poured forth as they walked toward the water, and then more as they stood and watched Klinton and Jerry jumped out of the boat. Wesley exclaimed, “What are you doing here? This is official business!” Klinton turned and looked at Jerry in awe before replying, “What the hell is this guy talking about?” Jerry shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t have a clue. Klinton tried to proceed, but Wesley grabbed his hand to prevent him. Klinton jerked his hand and declared, “I saw your damn ass this morning and last night. What in the hell is wrong with you?” “Well I don’t remember your faces!” Adam said nothing because he didn’t appear to be capable of taking sides. “I don’t care what you remember… You better get your hands off me.” Klinton turned toward the river and demanded that Jerry help him with the boat.” Since we can’t tie the boat down, help me put in up shore somewhere.” Jerry and Klinton pulled and tugged with much effort. Wesley felt embarrassed because he was being defied. It made him so intense until his face grew red and he nearly wanted to pull his piece. Adam didn’t say a word, because he didn’t feel good. He also knew that his partner was being a jerk. They all walked towards camp, except Klinton and Jerry. They detoured to the left a bit, “Hey!” Klinton suggest, “Over there. Let’s put the boat over there.” They dumped the boat in some brush. Wesley approached Richard and said, “Hey, are these…” He was pointing hard, but Richard didn’t allow him to finish his statement. “Oh sure, they’re my workers. Of course, they work under Brutus — you met them.” “Oh! I didn’t recall.” Adam just wiped the mucous from his nose while nodding his head in discomfort. After the two placed the boat in between two trees, they were totally naïve to the fact the boat was stuck. It would take lots of effort to pull out since it was in a pit of shrubs. Nevertheless, they joined the rest of the crew. Klinton felt like speaking to no one and made sure his face represented that. Jerry stood next to Adam and Wes while Klinton paced, tired and angry with Jerry and Wesley. After that, he just stood off to himself. Jerry said to Adam, “It looks like you need to take something for that. Are you sure you didn’t eat something?” Adam looked puzzled and responded accordingly, “No!” “Well… did something bite you? Adam didn’t respond to that, but Jerry could care less. He was just being friendly. He then began to scoot away from Adam, because his allergies became unbearable. Hardly anyone in the crew could bear to observe him clearing mucous with leaves and his bare hands and wrists or his constant sneezing. Their supplies were well stocked with the small ommittance of tissue. However, Richard did keep toilet tissue within the camp’s barracks. “There’s some tissue in there,” exclaimed Richard while pointing in the appropriate direction. “I think you may need some.” “I’d say,” pronounced Jerry. Wesley looked on as if he didn’t want them pestering his pal. However, the symptoms that were being displayed kept Wesley’s lips sealed. Pam and Kyser approached the crew gingerly after enduring their simple task. “Ky! You sure are scratching your arm quite often. What is the matter? Did you rub yourself across some poison ivy or something?” “No, Dear!” Kyser blurted with a chuckle. “I think something may have bitten me.” “Oh dear, let me see.” Pam grabbed his arm and began to examine with anguish. “Oh my, its red and you need to stop scratching it. You may spread an infection with your long nails. I need to get you to the med kit as soon as we get back to camp.” Kyser tried to escape from her sympathy, but she gripped his arm and commanded the acceleration of their efforts. They got there pretty quickly thanks to Pam’s encouragement, but upon arriving within speaking distance of her comrades, she couldn’t help but say, “Oh my goodness! What is wrong with Adam? Adam! Why are you over there by yourself?” She walked over to him and noticed the odor of vomit. He sneezed aggressively in increments of three, and had not nearly enough tissue. His hands and shirt were covered to take up for the lack of paper. “Oh dear, I need to get you both in here with this med kit.” Pam sat the both of them down and began opening a supply kit. The first instrument she pulled out was a thermometer. She plugged it in Adam’s mouth, and amazingly it seemed she never turned loose of Ky’s arm. “Let me see if there’s some type of ointment cream in here,” she said, fumbling through the various different compartments. She pulled out a small tube. These flies sure are pretty big, and they keep flying around me. Did one bite you?” “I think so, that’s why I slapped myself back there in the path.” Pam was no doctor, but a woman with compassion and common sense. She observed his arm, particularly at the huge red spot, and the smaller ones that formed a circling rash. It appeared his scratching had gotten the best of him. Pam applied the substance from the tube to various spots on his arm, also administering multiple dosages to the big red spot. She turned and snatched the thermometer out of Adam’s mouth while dodging one of his sneezes. “Oh dear, you have a high fever.” Wesley’s voice could be heard outside the science barracks. “There she goes babying Adam, and the boss. We are here to do a job, not hold a clinic. You’re no doctor, nor are you a nurse. So, why bother wasting our time. If they want to get better, they should help us do the job faster, then we can get out of this blasted forest faster.” Pam’s ear’s only caught a glimpse of what Wesley was saying, but his negativity surely registered. “I don’t see you in here making sure these gentlemen are all right.” Kyser lifted himself, tending to agree with Wesley. “Yeah! I’m all right,” he said as he walked away from the medical attention. “Thanks Pam.” Adam stayed were he was, because something rendered him ill. It seemed like a bad case of the flu; however, the method of infection was unknown. The environment did not seem appropriate for a cold. The others were fairly healthy, so none of them could have passed on their misfortune. Adam always had minor sinus problems, but these symptoms occurred after arriving. Wesley and Kyser had conversations with Richard. Klinton stood off by himself, but Jerry made himself available to hear everything that was said. Klinton tossed rocks, twigs, and other jungle paraphernalia liked projectiles into the thick forest before them. He had little concern on his face, but was only thinking of being home with his girlfriend. He thought about her, and wished they could be married. Klinton began to succumb to sensitivity, believing he would propose the next time he saw her. He even wondered if she was being faithful right now, while he was away, so far away from civilization. He was distrustful because he had messed around several times. This is something she’d probably never know, unless he told her, but that would never happen because he loved her now, or at least he knew it now. He caught glimpses of the sun’s rays as some barely got through the thick masses of trees and vines, which also made it appear to be later than it really was. While Klinton appeared to meditate, he heard some crackling in the bushes. It got louder, eventually causing the others to disengage their small talk. They all looked towards the commotion with keen eyes. Directly ahead there seem to be a passageway being opened from within the brush. It was Brutus peeling back the tree limbs and thick green plants that resembled elephant ears. “Hey gentleman…” “Hey”…shouted Richard from a distance, but Brutus paid him no mind. “Hey, Klinton come with me. There’s somewhere I want to explore, and I need your help.” Klinton was eager to get away from the crew. At least Brutus didn’t ramble and was efficient when he talked. The two men cut through the obvious passageway and disappeared. While cutting themselves deeper into the brush, Brutus noticed Klinton’s dismay. “What is the problem Klinton?” He stopped in his tracks. Even the life of the vine ahead was spared for a brief moment. His long knife paused right before striking, as he awaited a response. “Oh no! Just that Wesley character! I ought a pop his ass in the mouth.” “Now! Now! Anger is not the answer. Sometimes you have to let fools be fools and geniuses be smart asses.” “What, he’s a damn fool if you ask me, far from a damn genius.” Brutus cut down a thick vine in order to proceed. “What exactly do you want me to do here?” “I want to examine the surface of this area that seems to have sunken in. It also has a steep hill to climb, so we must be careful not to fall down any slopes.” The two men began to plod their way upward until reaching the top. “It appears this sunken area is surrounded by this hill…I want you to circle one side and I the other. I want to see if we will meet on the other side.” “Wait! What are you talking about?” Brutus held up a map and blurted, “Look! Picture this through this path here. There is a hill obviously not on this map, which is here. Since we now have climbed this mysterious hill, at least at the point this path intersects…” Brutus glanced upward, appearing to be steeped in thought. “This sunken pit, it’s not very deep. It may drop, so I don’t recommend testing it. This hill encompasses this sunken pit like a circle. I wonder if this hill meets on the other side — I suspect that it does. I want you to see if on your side the lower ground is soft, hard, marsh, etc. You know what I mean, don’t you?” “Sure!” Klinton was a surveyor, and had special training in soil composition and geographical structures, and he had also had training from the meticulous Brutus Salapore. So they headed to complete the task at hand. The Newlyweds were finally on the way back to the campsite. At least sort of, but they hadn’t done any work, but rather had playfully enjoyed themselves. They kissed and hugged between two healthy trees, showing that they were in love, or lust. With them it was hard to tell the difference. Andrew lowered his arms, wrapping them around her buttocks in a grip tight. He received joy in lodging his tongue repeatedly in and out of her mouth. The Mrs. welcomed it with arms wide, and even used her very same wet tool as a clamping device. You could hear them giggle because it was kinky to make out in the middle of a jungle. There were trees all around them, and there were also eyes all around those trees. They were even all throughout the trees’ mighty umbrella. Some tended to their own natural flow of nature, but others appeared distracted by these two, who were not aware because they were to busy assuring their tongues weren’t swallowed by one another. Susie abruptly detached herself from her husband’s grip and ran off. Her giggles evoked a hide and seek game, the naughty version. Running her way through the woods, she shifted her hips and ducked around a bush. Andrew came eagerly behind her, chanting at the same pace that he tagged along. “Where are you honey? Where are you… my precious little cupcake!?” Andrew darted his eyes at everything that moved. He didn’t notice her hiding and looking at him right before his face. He even overlooked the eyes that watched the two of them. “Susie! Susie!” he shouted. “Deeeeaaarrr…Where are you?” He chuckled with the panting of her name. Andrew loved to call his wife by her first name, but he always added a little spice by dragging it along, “Soooo… Szzzzeee…, Soooo…Szzzzeee…” She giggled at his chanting, and he heard her. It caused him to now look harder, and this time he called her, “Sweety, sweety, Where are you?” His loud voice caused some of the eyes that watched him to scamper off, but others remained undeterred. They now all watched each other except for the fact that the newlyweds were keen on one another. All of a sudden, she ran off, causing crackling and clatter from the vines and brush she weaved through so ruggedly. The noise was immediately detected by Andrew and he darted towards the direction of those sounds. “Baby, Sweety, Honey! I see you.” He really didn’t see her yet, but his ears honed in on her sounds of fleeing. Laughter filtered from Andrew’s mouth, and he repeated the calling of her name. “Sooo Zeee… Sooo Zeee… Baby I’ll find you.” She giggled when sensing him before her. However, for some reason, the eyes that watched the two still went unnoticed. It may have been because of her loving fun, and she now wanted him to catch her. Ready to now indulge in that naughty children’s game, she darted through some bushes in the blink of an eye. Susie suddenly approached a huge tree. The roots of the tree were bulging out as if they had been partially dug up. It was a huge tree whose massive branches were impossible not to notice. Susie looked down at the base of the tree and noticed something half-buried inside the tree roots. She paused to get a keen glimpse of some object. When she did get a good look, it terrified her. Screams poured forth: “Ahhh, ahhh… Oh Honey help… oh my god. Ahhh ahhh…” Her voice truly echoed about the jungle. The first to hear, besides those to whom the eyes belonged that watched them, was her husband. Her screams terrified him, because he had no idea what it was that causes his baby to scream so loudly. “Honey, I’m coming. I’m coming.” Anxiety polluted Andrew’s mind, body and soul. Fear began to get the best of him and his voice crackled. “Oh baby, hang on. I’m coming.” He thought in his mind, ‘What the hell is going on?’ The first thought after the adrenaline leveled off was that she was fooling with him. However, he wanted to take no chance that his loved one was in danger. Andrew shoved his way through bushes and vines — nothing was going to stop him. He accelerated faster because his wife didn’t stop screaming. That was horrifying for Andrew, but it gave him a little reassurance. At least he knew she was still alive. Andrew hustled because he was still did not know exactly where she was, only that her horrified voice seemed just ahead. He never knew a time that he was more excited, and for all the wrong reasons. Crude fervor crept inside of him, and the shrubs and vines made things worse. “I’m coming, Dear!” Sweat poured, and his huffing and puffing acted as humidity’s ally. Luckily for him, the same vines and shrubs he fought so hard to get through also protected him. The unforgiving sun’s rays were blocked. “Oh baby, hold on! I’m coming, I’m coming.” Indeed he was, and just before him, there she stood. A blankness emerged on Andrew’s face as he watched her stand there and scream at the top of her lungs. “Oh Baby, what is it? Thank God you’re alright. What’s the matter?” He walked towards her quickly, even before all of his words could come out. Grabbing her arm quickly, he noticed a crude odor, the one that went unnoticed by his counterpart. “Oh my God”, he squealed. “Who could it be… Oh my God, we need to tell the others.” Andrew covered his nose as he tried not to puke. Holding his wife tightly, assuring she went nowhere but forward with him, he said, “We must get back to the camp.” They hustled along. “Ah!” squealed Mrs. Kemp, falling down. However, her husband picked her up quickly and helped her continue. The eyes of Wesley, Richard, Kyser, and Jerry all focused on the newlyweds as they pierced their way through the brush. They all looked at the Kemps with curiosity. Mrs. Kemp was extremely hysterical, and he husband had effort written all over him. Andrew headed straight for the small barracks to calm his wife. He sat her down. Pam instantly stopped attending to the helpless Adam. “Oh my, what’s wrong?” “Just calm her down for me!” he said as he darted out to inform the crew before they starved of wonder. “Oh dear, what’s the matter,” asked Pam? Tears ran down Susie’s face and she could barely speak. She tried but it came out like mumbo-jumbo. “Hey! What’s going on,” shouted Wesley as Andrew approached the gentlemen. They all turned to what Mr. Kemp had to say. “There’s someone dead up there, and it smells really, really bad. I suspect they’ve been there a few days, or so.” “What!? A dead body? Where?” Pam could get nothing out of the frightened Mrs. Kemp. “Are you alright now? Will you be OK if I leave you and Adam here?” Susie looked down at the sickened Adam and nodded hesitantly. Adam didn’t quite agree, because he was receiving tender treatment from Pam, which was what he needed, and the last thing he wanted was to be left alone with a hysterical nymph. Pam left anyway, barely catching the direction the men cut through the bushes. Andrew led, but she caught the tail end of the line, which was Jerry. “Hey! Where are all you going? What is wrong with her back there? She seems as if she saw a ghost!” They paid her no mind, as the possibility of action required all of their concentration. Wesley now led the pack, right along side Andrew. Kyser and Jerry followed close behind. Pam was getting no response, so she had to increase her efforts to catch up. She looked back several times, wondering about Susie and Adam, and this ultimately led to her hesitation in gaining on her comrades. Susie had finally calmed down. She was now sitting and rocking herself back and forth, with her knees tucked up against her body. Staring at Adam seemed inevitable, because she wondered why he was so sick. She hadn’t really noticed him before, but now he seemed intriguing. Sneezing away, Adam looked up at Susie. “What’s the matter, how did you get so sick? Did you eat something poisonous… or did you get bitten…” Adam said nothing, but his was a grim look. “Can I get you something,” asked Susie. However, Adam wouldn’t respond. He began to get up, slowly squatting up. His body ached, but what he had in mind would soothe that. She looked at him wondering what his pain was like. By the time Adam could stand straight up and look her in the eyes, she began to speak. Her eyes remained focused on him, and for good reason, because Adam lunged at her, attempting to put his arms around her. He tries to grip and get a tight hug. “Susie…” She scratched him and shoved the weakened Adam away. At first he had his leverage by leaning enough to make it hard for her, but eventually he was peeled from her air space and went tumbling down. He didn’t get up to pursue because he meant no harm. He just felt really bad and Pam had spoiled him. Pam was good at showing kindness, but apparently she was good at catching up as well, for she once again caught the eager crew. “Kyser! Do you mind telling me what the rush is?” “I think these men are following Andrew. He and his wife apparently discovered someone dead.” “Oh my goodness!” They all followed Andrew and Wesley through the remaining patch of the jungle before reaching the mystery. “Oh, shit man, what the fuck happened to his head?” exclaimed Wesley. Richard stood there stunned, and Kyser sensed something was amiss. He didn’t get into the FBI by accident. He was a vet, and solving crimes was in his instincts. “The first thing that alarms me is… How, or should I say why, in the heck is he half buried.” The busted head was not stunning to Kyser, although gross indeed, as was the odor. However, they all had to endure. “ Hey, stand guard, and look around for clues. What’s the matter Richard, never seen a dead body?” laughed Kyser as he scratched his arm in relief. Richard responded slowly. “No, actually I haven’t.” Kyser looks on for clues. Pam couldn’t stop looking at the dead body, and she began stepping back until she bumped into Andrew. They looked around the vicinity, searching for any clues. Pam finally got a grip and joined her FBI counterparts in the investigation. Jerry took her place in conversing with Andrew. “Hey!” Jerry whispered. “Do you see that look on Richard’s face. It looks as if he knows the damn man.” “How can he recognize him without a head.” “Shit, boy, I’d know your body without head or limbs.” “You think so?” “Let’s go ask him, shall we?” They approached quickly. “Hey, excuse me Richard! Did you know that gentlemen?” “No! Why would you ask that?” “Well, the way you’re looking,” exclaimed Andrew. Jerry also spoke openly. “Yeah, you should see the look you had on your face — creepy!” “Oh yeah, you are overreacting. I’m just shocked this is happening. I hope this isn’t something that could stop the project, because I had big plans for this piece of the Earth.” “With a look like that, I hope you succeed.” “Hey, over here,” shouted Wesley. Everyone converged on the spot where he stood. “What you got Wesley?” exclaimed Kyser. “This branch here — I think it has dried blood all over it. It may have been used to cause the head injury. Kyser bent down on his knees to get a closer view. “This is a huge branch, and it must have fallen down on him, but then his head would have been smashed inward.” Kyser stood up and looked at the tree above. The height however made it difficult to examine. They all followed Kyser to the body. He stood there looking at the body buried beneath. “I think it would be too tough to even dig him up. I mean, look at those roots that appear to have him tied up — this is weird.” “Hey, why don’t we try and dig around the body and see if we can reach his pockets.” A silence loomed and everyone had strange looks on their faces, especially Richard. Nevertheless, Pam, Kyser, and Wesley began digging with their bare hands. Richard stood there and watched — his thoughts favored termination of this procedure. However, it was in motion and Kyser was determined. It took them a while and tremendous effort, but they did get a big hole dug. Wesley reached his hand in the hole and felt around for a few minutes. Finally, he shouted, “I feel something. I think he has a wallet. Oh my God he stinks. Now I see what a coroner goes through. I got it.” Wesley pulled out the wallet and FBI agents converged to his spot. Richard watched on, and that look Andrew and Jerry noticed reappeared. Wesley began fumbling through the wallet, reading through various materials such as: receipts, business and credit cards, etc. Wesley declared his name: “ His name appears to be Joe Geshy.” “Poor Joe,” exclaimed Pam. “What happened to him?” Kyser said, “If we knew that, then we wouldn’t be all around here puzzled, would we now? Unless you know something we don’t. Is there something you want to tell us?” He was addressing Richard. “I don’t think so.” After realizing that darkness would fall soon, they decided to conclude the investigation until morning. They were all about to head back to camp when they all picked up on sounds lurking in the jungle that appeared to be close. They stopped to look around. It soon became apparent that whatever made those sounds was approaching. Wesley drew his pistol, as did Kyser just moments later. They both were now aiming directly towards where the sounds were coming from. The next thing you knew Pam gave the impression she didn’t want to be left out. Jerry and Andrew looked on in amazement, while Richard still sat there stunned from this discovery. Wesley moved in a little closer, and Kyser backed him, as did Pam, all of them moving slowly forward in a crooked line. The rattling of vines and brush got louder and the agents focused on what was approaching. “What could it be?” Pam exclaimed. “Shhhh,” followed from the two lead agents. They wouldn’t move closer because their surroundings became dim. The sun was about to set, and the trees already caused vision impairment. They waited as the rattling of the vines got louder and louder, and did the pumping of adrenaline also increase within them. The rush of danger and their mutual addiction to the feeling that came with it compelled them. Whatever was getting ready to emerge from behind those vines had better be ready. Three guns were pointing directly at the grand entrance. They could now see some vines receding backwards, and the clutching of guns sounded as they each gripped their weapons more tightly. For a moment, Andrew thought this intense moment had just surpassed the one he and his wife experienced previously. He thought that whatever killed that man might be just about to make its way up that path. This event sort of snapped Richard out of his stunned condition, because he was now curious as to what had killed his friend. He watched on and was the first to catch sight of what was behind those bushes. As soon as the men caught sight they sharpened their aims. They were indeed intense, and the decreasing visibility made things worse. The fact that someone was dead, and mysteriously, contributed severely to the tension. It looked like an accident, but the FBI wondered how an American citizen ended up here. Those were Kyser’s exact thoughts, which made him clutch his gun nearly the hardest. He fell short, however, because his itch was unforgiving, and he had to scratch his hand and arm with one hand while continuing a sharp aim. The men and women were tense and the forest’s charge was brilliant. CHAPTER 18 The daily sunset ritual was being performed somewhere in the jungle. It was a ritual common to the area, but this time a special element had to be added. The chants and praises began. The land was in danger, it knew, they knew it, and even the eyes knew it. The spirits, however, were the first ones to know it. They were angry, and it was inevitable for things to get ugly. Lost souls would especially be upset at the situation at hand. Life was all energy, and so were the spirits, and the trees, and animals. The intruders were the energy supply the spirits sought. This was ancient stuff. Magic and sorcery passed down through the generations as told by stories. The myths were now being tested. Why did the ancients call her mother earth? Is it because she is really alive and gives birth to splendid life every day? Is it because she supports life and is the sole reason we are able to exist? The ancients would answer yes to all of these questions, but the real question was: Could the spirits be called upon? The ancients probably would say yes to that as well. So the sun began to set, giving its last thirty minutes of daylight. This was important because tradition was imbued in the setting of the sun. This event was even considered a separate God in some ancient cultures, and some of these people have never been contacted by modern day civilization but are still around today. That is how vast the jungles are in which the trespassers found themselves. There are even plants, insects, and animals living here that are undiscovered and extremely rare, many different trees, plants, and vines that may or may not be dangerous to humans. The chants were now going once more, and somehow there seemed to be a deeper emotion to the chanting. They were all aware intruders were on the loose. The purpose of the chants was to assure the trees, the spirits, and all of those eyes were included in this ritual. Together, they would watch closely and defend their home from these very intruders. The situation was about to get spiritual. The spirits were all called upon, and anyone who departed prematurely might find themselves wandering the jungle for quite a while. Upset by their spiritual entrapment, they might decide to do something haunting. A thin mist better began to lift from the earth, making it even more difficult to see. Klinton and Brutus were the first to experience the worsening conditions. After climbing that hill and going their separate ways, they hoped to meet on the other side. The first task was not to fall in the middle, because just below could be a sink hole. It could even be some type of trap, and they were cautious enough not to find out. They were just about a small arc’s length from meeting, but they were unaware of this fact because visibility was not up to par. The sight of Captain Briscoe and Agent Beavers wasn’t any better. The fact that they were a little lost was the proof, and they began to get frustrated. It was funny because, just before the chants, it seemed as if they knew exactly where they were. One had even shouted, “Where the hell are we going! We’ve been walking around in this forest for a while, with no sign of anyone, but plenty signs of everything. Are we lost? I thought you were this jungle scout that rich guy hired. Don’t you know your way around?” Briscoe remained silent and continued to cut threw the massive green floristry. “I figured you’d know your way around this here jungle, after all your Richard’s right hand man, aren’t you. Ya’ll have already explored this, haven’t you? How far are we from camp? It’s gotten dark and maybe the fact that we can’t see far ahead, it why were lost. So I don’t blame you or nothing. I just want you to say something, for crying out loud. I mean, it is dark and a mist is beginning to lift — look at it. I can nearly scoop some up with my hand, it’s so thick. Hey! Is this typical for this type of climate?” Roy rambled on, but Briscoe was less talkative. He concentrated more on cutting the two a path to walk through. “Answer me. I haven’t heard any of the crew. Do you even know where you’re going!?” Roy’s peaceful ways became disrupted. The owners of the eyes that watched them made sounds Roy’s ear could not register. Those eyes were the cause for his uneasiness, and the fact that they were fixed on Roy didn’t help. The forest sounds echoed. In some area’s it was intense, as Klinton was the first to find out. He glanced up at strange birds nesting in a huge tree. They were gorgeous and could probably be found in many other trees other than the one above him. He noticed those eyes first, but then he saw there were beautiful stripes of many different colors. A true tropical symbol was in his sight, but because of the night the true elegance could not be experienced. He tried to walk forward, but what he could see of the bird had him captivated, thus making the eyes that watched him go unnoticed. He didn’t move a step forward because of this trance. Luckily so, because the spot before him was unsafe and it seemed the birds may have saved his life. On the other hand, they may have had nothing to do with anything at all. However, he continued to watch them with astonishment. He began now to notice other eyes within the trees. The dimness of light made him concentrate a little more, merely rendering him hypnotized. Even the footsteps that clattered seemed to be ignored, but Klinton’s ears were not impaired like his eyesight. He finally snapped out of his daze by looking down, away from the birds, because for a brief moment he thought he saw a buck-naked man. Klinton’s astonishment forced him to step sideways instead of forward, only to try and capture a better view of the nude man. It was hard to see, so he began to decline the slope, as if a trance made him do it. It was not easy as it seemed, because slippery was not the word. Klinton began to slide downhill fast. Soon his slide became uncontrollable, and Klinton shouted, “Shit, ohhh damn!” He had even lost interest in what started the ruckus in the first place. However, he did give some concern to the buck-naked man running loose. ‘He was of color, and I’m the only one on the trip…’ Klinton continued to ponder, ‘Well not as colorful as this! Strange, this nude man disappeared so cleverly???’ Klinton’s tumble helped stymie his awareness, ultimately making his once limited eyesight now useless. Besides, the effort it took to try and stop his freefall was tremendous. He wouldn’t recover soon enough because he had smacked himself unconscious on a huge tree stump. Blood dripped from the wound that was caused by the impact, and those eyes didn’t stop watching. Except for maybe the eyes of those lovely birds he once had watched. Brutus had reached the point where they were to meet. He looked around for his employee, but to no avail. Brutus walked on, looking all around for Klinton. He had no interest in the jungle’s beauty as Klinton had. He was more programmed to just work, and he only kept his eyes on any other eyes he noticed. He was a survivalist. He was now on Klinton’s side of the circle where he had fallen. His eyes noticed that the hill rose again about a hundred meters ahead. It proved to be very uneven ground. Brutus began to approach the small hill, and all of a sudden, he heard a whip sound and Brutus’ ankle was caught in some type of trap. It swiftly hurled him upward attached to a tree branch, leaving him upside down. “Ahhh!!!” exclaimed Brutus. He continued to yell and plead for someone to rescue him. Klinton couldn’t hear, because he was lying there half asleep. He hung there wondering how in the hell this could have happened. Many thoughts rushed through, even though he shouted continuously for help. “Goddamn, an ancient tree trap. This is ridiculous. I thought this only happened in movies. A man walking along the woods is sprung into the air and left hanging by one leg, the one who somehow managed to step on misfortune. The one who now is being strangled by the leg, with some device made of terribly tough vine, and other immediately unidentifiable accessories. Oh, and that someone had to be my dumb ass.” He thought about this momentarily while entertaining a recess to his distress calls. One thing for sure. his ankle hurt from the primitive entrapment that tore away at the skin on his ankle. It would not let go, and his weight and gravity caused the peeling of his skin. The bawling contributed to his energy depletion, along with the fact that most of his blood rushed to the top of his head. It rendered him silent for a moment, nearly fading him into unconsciousness. His eyes did remain slightly open, but that didn’t help because delusion set in. He surely could not see clearly, and the fact that he cared not to look at anything other than what could harm him did not help. That was his rationale all a long. If it wasn’t something that would increase efficiency in his work, then he figured there was no need for it. So he had paid no attention to the eyes that watched him from the forest. Of course not! Nevertheless, even though his attention to his surroundings was at a bare minimum, the eyes that watched him were all the more heedful. In fact, they were always alert and paid strict attention to anything lurking. He hung there like a sitting target, completely vulnerable and with no way to get free. The eyes registered his predicament and realized the threat was immobilized. However, one particular set already knew of Brutus and his incapacitation. They watched from around the unusually large tree from just beyond his sight. The eyes that watched Roy and Briscoe were also unnoticed because these two were to busy trying to find their way back from their far off wandering. Another contributing factor was Briscoe’s attempt to ignore Roy’s complaints, and Roy was too busy complaining to notice anything. That, and perhaps fear also, caused Roy not to want to notice anything, especially anything that could be watching him. All of a sudden Briscoe halted. “What’s wrong,” exclaimed Roy in his usually frail voice. “Nothing. I think that hill will allow access to camp. We need to go over it.” “Well? What are you waiting for? I’m ready!” The two gentlemen proceeded toward the hill. “What now!” exclaimed Roy, wondering why Briscoe had stopped again. “I think that’s a body laying up there,” declared Briscoe. “Wait a minute, a body! Can you really see something? It is kind of dim with the sun’s recent departure.” “I know! I have good eyesight, and I think that’s a body lying there.” “Oh no man, what’s a body doing lying around here? It may be one of the crew.” Briscoe ran quickly forward, briefly leaving Roy in his tracks. Roy caught up with Briscoe momentarily. “I think this is that Klinton guy. He’s just lying here. It looks like he injured his head. We need to help him.” Briscoe watched Klinton, and Roy watched Briscoe help Klinton, and the eyes watched them all. Meanwhile, Professor Julian Akbar pulled a thick elephant branch back and walked out into an open space. His eyes filled with splendor, and adrenaline and excitement filled him. His life had flashed right before his eyes and the threat was coming from three different directions. He shouted, “Hold it, Hold it, wait a minute. What’s the problem? Put those things away. What is the matter with you all? What has caused the paranoia?” The guns of the agents were put away, but no one answered him. Instead they looked over towards Joe, and Akbar instantly received the message. “Oh… my! What caused this? “No one knows. We were cautious upon your arrival because we don’t know how this happened. You could have been…” “Point taken, sir. So what is the story?” Kyser scratched his arms and neck while informing the professor, “Well, there is something very strange about this man’s death.” “What do you mean?” “It appears to be a trap, and this branch is apparently part of it, but just doesn’t add up.” “Hey! We’re not here to investigate.” “Yeah, I agree. Let’s head back to camp.” The group began to leave the area and head back to camp. Pam stood there as she now became the obvious one to trail the group. She couldn’t keep her eyes off of Joe. It seemed as if Joe was trying to tell her something, or that he was delaying her for some reason. It was possibly just captivation that caused her idle stare. That same type of stare was on Brutus, as those eyes watched him. He hung there, just about to shut his eyes, for his entrance into the unconscious state was imminent. The eyes of a non-civilized being approached and stood right in front of Brutus with an incomprehensible stare and long spear in his left hand. The paint of summoning was decorated over his body, but primarily his face. Walking around Brutus, the misunderstood one began to dance primitively around him. He began to chant an undetermined phrase that produced sounds of harmonizing parallel to the chants and praises that echoed deep within the forest. These noises awakened Brutus, but only from being unconscious. His eyes slowly began to open and he noticed this buck-naked man dancing around him. This caused terror within because Brutus now confirmed his previous thoughts. His thoughts began to rush again. “Oh shit… I’ve been captured by some cannibalistic tribe.” He thought he was surely dead as well. “Help! Oh shit! Help! Help!” he grunted and moaned now from the struggle to get free. Fear had now compromised his vocal chords, causing distortion. Nevertheless, he screamed frantically, “Oh no, get the fuck away.” He feared the tribesman was about to stick him with that spear. His sudden scream actually jolted him forward. He began to swing on the very contraption that hung him. This swinging action allowed him to bump the tribesman timidly. The nude one ran off, deep within the forest. At a small distance away, Pam heard an echo. It snaps her out of her trance, prompting her to try to catch up with the crew. Brutus continued to scream. “Hey Kyser, I think I hear something.” Kyser halted the group to hear what Pam had to say. However, Briscoe, and Roy heard the screams. They were just next to Brutus. Those shouts from Brutus along with Briscoe and Roy’s chanting finally awakened Klinton. “Oh, my god,” exclaimed Klinton as he finally confronted the pain that awaited him. An excruciating throb worse than any migraine pulsated from under his wound. However, he thought about his boss as he heard screams for help. Briscoe helped Klinton up. “It sounds like its coming from there.” They darted in the direction of the screams. “Oh my!” Roy exclaimed. “What the…,” declared Briscoe. “Oh shit… Brutus…,” shouted Klinton running towards him to get a better view. “Brutus! How did this happen?” yelled Klinton while the other two called for help. “How are we going to get him down?” “I don’t know, just keep calling for help.” Meanwhile, Kyser advised Pam that he didn’t think she actually heard anything. “What is it Pam?” Disapprovingly. Pam said nothing, but continued listening. She couldn’t hear them right at the moment, and Kyser’s continuous interruptions did not help the matter. “You see, there’s no one screaming. Come on. The rest of the crew is probably waiting for us at the camp. The others agreed, but for some reason, Pam remained still. “Let her stay there and hear ghosts.” Wesley exclaimed. Pam did not agree as she began to hear, or maybe just possibly sense, those screams again, but this time the volume seemed to be doubled. Pam ran off in the direction of the screams, and the crew turns to see Pam dart off. Kyser scratched away at a crude itch wondering what had gotten into Pam. Wesley stalls abruptly declaring, “Let her run off. Fitting if she runs into a big snake.” Wesley chuckled. “No! Let’s go after her. I’m responsible for you all.” “Come on! I don’t think we need to go after her paranoia.” “Can it Wesley!” the professor declared sternly, adding, “Just because you’re this super FBI agent doesn’t mean you would like to be left alone.” “Who asked you, Arab.” “What’s with this guy?” “Alright gentlemen,” declared Kyser. “Let’s follow her.” The crew set out to catch up with Pam. The others examined all around the tree from which Brutus dangled, but to no avail. It seemed an impossible feet to climb it, but yet someone had to save him. It was only a matter of time before someone heard them, they thought, and so they waited, screaming and yelling, for this seemed to be their only option. Indeed, Pam was on her way, and suddenly, she noticed Brutus hanging there. “Oh my God,” exclaimed Pam,. walking towards them with dismay. “Hey where are the others?” shouted Roy. “Pam! Pam, snap out of it,” Roy exclaimed urgently. However, she stood there staring at Brutus, still informed by some higher force. “Can’t you hear us? Where are the others?” “There’s no use for this girl. Damn!” exclaimed Klinton. The crew they asked for just pierced the horizon and noticed all of the commotion. “Hey! Help us .” “What the hell?” “He’s in some kind of trap.” The crew converged around Brutus. Everything seemed under control, except for a method to get him down. Because the entire crew was there, they had a sense of control, but they were in a state of shock. Pam stood there motionless as that very moment the sounds of the forest were muted. Dire eyes were probably what made things silent, but the crew made crackling sounds from the plant brush as they approached closer, but that wasn’t the only cracking sound. The branch above that held Brutus began to crack. With that fact came the first understandable words from Brutus, “Oh my God, I feel my leverage slipping. I think you better think of something fast.” The crackling sounded once again. This time it was a bit louder than all other sounds. It sounded like a lumber jack conquering a huge tree. “Aughg aughg !!!” Pam screeched. She experienced some strange force, and she knew, that right before her eyes Brutus would fall to his death a split second before it happened. Landing head first, Brutus died instantly. The whole crew watched in amazement .Pam gave out a final scream as Brutus made contact with the unforgiving earth. The crew rushed to his aid, Klinton being the first to announce his death. “Whoa… wait a minute. This is now two that are dead,” exclaimed Julian. “Who else is dead,” shouted Roy. Kyser filled Agent Beavers in on the discovery of the late Joe. The crew pondered how best to get Brutus’ body back to camp. However, not before examining the scene. Wesley noticed the tree’s vitality, that it seemed to be in its prime. “I’m not sure how this branch broke. I don’t think his weight caused it.” “Then what did?” “I’m not sure.” “Well what are you sure about?” “One thing is for sure! In the morning, we need to search the area for more traps so that no more of this tyranny occurs.” They all agreed, passing it off as an accident. Pam didn’t say anything, but felt it was no accident. They all evacuated the scene and those particular eyes watched their departure. A patch of cumulonimbus clouds began to cover the night sky. On their way back, some pondered the strangeness of both deaths. “Hey Richard!” exclaimed Wesley. “I think it was kind of odd for you to figure you needed four FBI agents, but now it’s making sense. Is there something you are not telling us about your little project? Because, if there is, I might have to kick your ass.” “Wait a minute, no one talks to me that way, and Kyser, get your employee in line before I have his job. If I have to pay for it.” “What the fuck, this guy’s not threatening me.” Kyser settles the gentlemen down and added, “I do think all of this just doesn’t add up. Now Rich, me and you go way back, so what’s going on?” “I don’t know?” “Oh yeah! Is that why you brought the professor?” exclaimed Wes. “Hey, leave my name out of it.” “There was suspicion that there could be a tribe of some sort, but I’ve never seen anyone. Maybe an indigenous tribe is responsible for all of this.” “Hmmm, maybe you’re responsible!” “That is absurd. What the hell would I have to gain and how would I mysteriously… I just won’t entertain that comment.” “Knock it off!” declared Kyser, scratching his head like it hurt. “Professor, what do you say?” “Well, there are likely to be tribes living around here.” “Well… how likely is it?” The professor gave a look of deep thought and answered calmly. “I should say highly likely. On my journey today I’ve seen signs of someone’s passage.” “Oh, what sort of signs?” “I’ve seen a few abandoned campfires as well as what appear to be some discarded tools, most of which were defective spearheads, or maybe even somehow broken off into some animal, which were eaten on the spot.” “OK, we just asked you a simple question and that was more than enough,” replied Klinton. Andrew had slipped over a bit to whisper to Wesley, “He looked quite suspicious when that Joe guy turned up.” “He did, didn’t he? I thought I was the only one to notice.” Andrew had slipped away and Wesley got Richard’s attention. “Richard, I think we all need to talk.” Everyone looked. “Andrew tells me that you looked suspicious when that Joe guy turned up. I think you know something and your crew demands to be told.” An eerie silence was amongst them. All that could be heard were natural forest sounds. “Oh, you have nothing to say, do you?” Wesley uttered. Richard was fed up and his response showed it. “Look, I told you! You don’t know who you think you are talking to. I’m going to show you first thing in the morning, because now you’re trespassing on my property and I want you off the premises.” “Wait a minute sir! I don’t think so… People have been turning up dead. I think that is where our expertise is needed. So, frankly! I don’t think we are going anywhere?” Wesley and Richard had drawn up on each other as if they were to begin the fight of the century. Richard responded with his fists clenched at his sides. “Oh, I think you will be leaving, because you have no jurisdiction here in South America. This is private property, and if I want, at the press of a button, I can call the correct authorities. I know that you’re not the correct ones. I’ll contact the Brazilian government and have you removed!” Richard’s face began to redden. His fists remained clenched while his eyes focused on Wesley’s. Wesley could care less about Richard’s threats, or even his intentions. He did however care about his money, and there was no way Richard was going to get out of paying him. What he thought was easy and boring income now became exciting and intense. This was up his alley, just as it was up Richard’s. The two would have had a standoff, but Kyser did what he did best, lead. He sliced between the two quarreling men and stated boldly, “Are there people living back here?” He said looking directly into Richard’s eyes. “Look! I have no Idea!” “Well, damn it Richard. I know you’re a thorough man, so why wouldn’t you have already surveyed the land. I mean, you bring a civil engineer and now he’s dead… and now you have his crew who seems to be worth diddly. Well maybe except for the two pilots. I mean what the…” “Hey! Wait a minute now!” Klinton exclaimed. “I’m a surveyor as well, and I worked hand in hand with Brutus. I ain’t got a degree, but shit… Shit! I’m dam near an engineer. So whatever the job, it still can be done. Shit, fuck a degree. Just because I ain’t got the money to get a degree don’t mean I can’t learn the shit. Like I said, whatever the job, it still can be done.” “Yeah…Well, Mr. Klinton, or whatever your last name is, you’re not the only one who can do a few things around here. I’m a navigator, and I can sail you around the world.” The professor scratched his chin and said to Kyser, “I think you offended a few people in your negotiation speech. Because I surely am. If there are people living back here, I think that you would all need me to negotiate.” “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend anyone,” Kyser said mildly, a look of shame upon his face. “It’s just that these two are getting out of hand.” “You all just stop it, stop it!” Pam cried out. She felt things now deep as a soul touching her. Whatever the case may be, she wanted things quiet. Laughter poured from a few of the men as Wesley whispered loudly, “My, my are we getting a little touchy?” Pam ran off. The noise became too much to bear. “Pam! Pam! Officer Slaughter!” Kyser called out to her and commanded the gentlemen to follow her. Pam ran directly for her tent to lie down and go to sleep. She wanted to avoid what she was feeling and hearing. However, most of the crew went their separate ways caring less about Pam’s masquerade. Andrew headed directly to check on his wife. Klinton decided to lie down just like Pam, but the rest of the crew seemed to have a little more energy to dissipate. “Oh…baby! Are you alright?” Andrew kissed his wife on the forehead. “No one came to bother you?” She lay there, hesitant, prompting him to ask again. “What happened?” “Oh, nothing… It’s just that Adam tried to force his hands around me. I gave him that kick, and boo-yah. He was reminded of his place.” “Oh hell no! What the fuck…you little pervert!” Andrew’s rage soared as he reached to choke Adam. “You sick fuck, how could you put your fucking slimy hands on my…wife?” Andrew cried loudly as he shook Adam as if he was trying to shake something loose. Adam struggled to maintain his balance, but his sickness weakened him severely. Andrew roughed him up a little, with no regard to an illness. To him the illness was disrespecting his wife. Huge steps came from behind Andrew, followed by a hard kick in the ass, and now a tight hold had commandeered Andrew’s assault. “Leave him alone, can’t you see he’s sick,” replied Wesley. “I don’t care! He better not put his hands on my wife again!” “Look wise guy. How’d you like it if I roughed you up?” That’s exactly what Wesley intended. However, Roy Beavers had heard the ruckus and quickly broke the rampage up. “Hey, hey, you guys cut it out.” He split the men with his body and pushed them in opposite directions. “Come on Roy, he’s picking on poor Adam. If he weren’t sick, I’m sure this bullying wouldn’t happen.” “I know Wes, but the guy said he’s protecting his wife.” “Hmmm… He better protect himself, because I’m about to…!” “Hey, hey! Stop it!” Kyser exclaimed from a distance. Finally they stopped bickering, thanks to Roy and Kyser’s intervention. Andrew’s face showed that he was still upset, and you could hear it in his voice. “Come on dear!” He grabbed his wife and they headed for their tent. “Are you alright, baby?” These words were spoken softly and sincerely. “Yes, baby. I’m fine. I could have handled myself.” Her voice resembled that of kid engaged in show and tell. The rest of the crew could hear Andrew rumble big bad words regarding his standoff with Wesley. “That motherfucker came on me from behind. I should have popped him in the mouth as soon as that Roy guy broke us up. I can see now, I might have to pop him one.” “Baby, just calm down. Everything is OK.” She tried to calm him because he forgot now why he was so angry in the first place. It was because Adam tried to give his filthy germs to his loved one. He saw the condition he was in before they discovered Joe, and it was unbearable to be around. Except of course Pam’s sensitivity rendered her immune to the sneezing, coughing, and wiping of mucous. She had a kind heart indeed, and they say that is where the soul rests. It seemed that Joe’s innocently deceased soul had reached out to her. She wouldn’t find out now because she was asleep. In her dreams, Pam pictured a baby, but the infant somehow was able to walk freely about the forest. It seemed innocent enough as the baby weaved through thick trees and vines. There was nothing seemingly threatening to the baby, and maybe for that reason Pam was drawn to the infant. She tried to catch up with the little one , but she gained no ground. Her stumbling over huge tree stumps, thick vines, and other various green life caused her attempts to gain terrain come up lame. Her pace seemed to be afloat, and she had no control over her own movements. It caused her deep sorrow, but not sadness. For sorrow is an emotion of blessings from events you have no control over and that cause things to be in disarray, but sadness is something you can control. Therefore, sadness is an illness. The values you set for yourself cause one to be sad. This was sorrow because Pam had no control over the current situation, and she did feel sorrow. How these emotion are translated from sleep state to real time remains to be seen. Roy, Wesley, and Kyser gathered in real time and had a few adult beverages while plotting against Richard. It wasn’t as though they thought he was a criminal, but they knew these two accidents weren’t an accident and Richard seemed to know something. The fact needed investigating, but the two men were exhausted. Kyser had plans to pack it up in the morning and head back to the states. “Hey, I advise you guys to pack up, because we’re out of here in the morning. So you best get some Z’s, because I mean… first thing I morning.” They all took heed. It was quiet once every one was asleep. The Kemps however remained eyes open engaging in what newlyweds usually parlay in. They got noisy and Susie wanted no one out here to know her exotic side. The moans and groans she loved to carry out were truly a sensational thing to listen to. They decided to run off so no one could hear them. They could really let it all out, like the animals they were, and they were in the proper place for their instincts. However, most mammals disengage in sexual activity once conception is achieved, but the Kemps new nothing of nature and its fine tuning with life. Nevertheless, she wanted to experience an occasion in the jungle. It seemed it could be a fantasy from childhood, all of those adolescent years loving Tarzan and always thinking he was a hunk, even wondering about wandering off with him deep into the jungle where he would then rape her — but she enjoyed it. All of those years her mother cooped her up, she thought that was the way it was done. The animals on television showed her no differently. She had even believed her mother’s scolding as a child, about boys and various other evil perceptions of sex, and so Susie started out as a Tomboy. Wearing her caps backward and beating up boys her age was just half the battle of her rocky childhood. But nearly growing up with a sexual identity crisis snapped at the loss of her virginity. Ironically, this event spawned a little hatred and disobedience towards her mother. It all happened at the age of seventeen. That particular night her parents had to leave in an emergency. Susie sat there watching television and she nearly fell completely asleep. However, a loud ring from the phone startled her wide awake. She thought it was her parents, but it was her drunken girlfriends. They laughed and giggled trying to entice an invitation out of Susie. She declined, because she had no idea when her parents would return home. Just moments after hanging up the phone, it rang again. It was her mom saying it would be tomorrow before they could get home. Susie sat back in the couch and gazed at the television, not really paying much attention. She thought about how much fun her friends seemed to be having and how bored she was. Her not expecting that call from her mom even crossed her mined gracefully. In fact, she had answered the phone with a commanding “no”, which puzzled her mom. Susie thought she was her friends trying once again to convince her. But now Susie didn’t need convincing, and she called her friends back and invited them all over. To this day her mother has no idea they had boys over getting drunk, and that all lost their virginity that night. Well some of her friends had experience and they plotted on Susie. The alcoholic beverages clouded her decision because it felt dangerously good to her, especially for it being her first time. Her being drunk caused her to feel no present pain. She lay there allowing a young man to stab all of his might in her. She realized how much that would have hurt if she weren’t drunk the next morning. She could barely walk, and when her parents arrived home she remained in bed and claimed to be sick. After snapping out of her reverie, she and Andrew chose a huge tree with bulging roots to sit upon. He cornered her upon this huge tree and began kissing her rapidly. She moaned freely while returning kisses of equal or greater value. Her kisses were accompanied by caresses that were always soft and smooth. These acts of foreplay continued until they slid down the tree. Susie’s hardly appropriate blouse obtained a rip from the bark that would cut you like fish scales, but it was unnoticed because they nearly ripped their clothes off. They perfected this art of mild aggression to the point in which the clothes would still be wearable. Andrew wasted not time in engaging into sexual intercourse with his wife. The circumstances seemed to be a rush, and that’s what he did, because that’s what filled him. Now that both of their eyes were either closed or blinkered they could no longer do any watching. However, there were always eyes watching them, from the moment they left their tents. This time they were in one spot the eyes could now focus on their targets. The chants and praises had begun the moment the King descended the horizon. It really never stopped, but faded further into the background in daylight. It really did go on now as the eyes watched closely. The mysticism had intensified proportional to those very same chants and praise, and also with the deepening of night. The dances the indigenous ones performed around specific trees helped as well, but that was deeper into the jungle, deeper than had ever been reached by civilization. The noise cascaded throughout and a silent roar came upon the entire rainforest. This didn’t stop the eyes from watching. It only intensified as they watched the Kemps engage in indecent exposure. Andrew was on top of Susie with her hands stretched out. She gripped the tree roots to absorb the thrusts. He had to work hard to please a woman with her sexual past. Her hands were beautifully layered in jewelry he had brought her, and her fingers were long and slender and sported a French manicure. Absorbing all of Andrews love and even throwing a little back, she was in bliss as she clung to the branches. Andrew had his leverage as well on those very same bulging roots. He placed both feet upon them and used them for pushing power, because those roots were strong, sturdy, and surely wouldn’t give under measly human power and stretched in an uncontrollable pattern. Susie could even prop her head up on one of the many branches, the very same one her hands were stretched out upon. In fact, the tree’s roots seemed pretty useful as it allowed Andrew thrust with much more love. He was no minute man; but indeed he was, because fifteen minutes into pure thrusting, they both were about to reach a rewarding climax. Susie was into this one because she’d already had two. The third would probably be the knock out blow she would welcome. In light of all this, she had no realization that she had no apparent control of her arms, which were no longer gripped atop the roots but now lay beneath them. The climax was coming and it made things for the moment all seem like a dream. However, the roots that lay on top of her beautiful hands started bearing down. She began to struggle a little, noticing that the grip got tighter and tighter. Andrew had his tongue down her throat so her distress calls were plugged with flesh. There were three options for her: to push him off, but her hands were sealed; the verbal command was obviously a no-go; and her last and final option was tough because Andrew had her legs pinned tightly with his arms while stroking fast and hard. The ground rumbled and Andrew started slowing his kisses down. Finally stopping, he could vaguely hear his wife squealing but his tongue had drained her ability to scream. He sensed she was in distress, but by the time it was clear, Susie was being pulled beneath the earth. The roots were responsible as they began to clamp down on Andrew’s heals, immobilizing him. In fact, he screamed loudly as the roots broke both of his heals with such awesome power. Susie was now completely consumed and the roots gripped Andrew tightly and began to suck him beneath the earth. Their fate was suffocation from being squeezed by the limbs and buried alive. In Pam’s’ dream she had heard Andrew scream, because at that moment she stood straight up in her sleep, and that moment she realized that she had lost the baby. The spiritualistic mysticism had sustained her in this deep sleep. Eventually, Pam fell back down and went into a deeper sleep. That instant the night, and specifically the area around camp, seemed gloomy. A dissident evil filled the air. Nature is often referred to as cruel and evil, but it’s just the laws that were laid down. Whether it be a rodent being devoured by a wild beast or rain flooding the entire area, Nature’s wrath was always thought to be spiritual in essence. If a stranger tried to run you away from your home, would you kill? Would you be killed? Most people would probably kill and this was the predicament the jungle inhabitants had to face. They were less civilized so this rule was probably second nature. Pam had been suddenly awakened, but only briefly. It seemed this awakening corresponded to the Kemp’s vital signs. However, after their signs had terminated, that eerie roar was vibrant once again. It was not from some wild rainforest animal, but from fierce thunder that followed behind bright electrical bolts. Down poured rain and the crew scattered to their tents for cover. The droplets were heavy and the sounds from them hitting the ground muted everything, except for the activities of the cumulonimbus. They say life is energy, and what was in those clouds was as well. All who have died here may have had their spiritual energy merged, and because of that are forced to haunt this very jungle indefinitely. It also may intensify them. It may cause them to call out in rage. The rain that poured so heavily upon their tents made rhythms for their dreams, like hundreds of mini-drums being pounded on by little drummer boys using the tents as their drums and the rain as their sticks. It was surely horrific music to their hearts. The good hearted were filled with sorrow. The cold hearted were filled with terror. The aurora that filled the minds of the intruders were like dream invaders. It caused them to be pinned down with an inability to move and deflated any desire to awaken. The intensity of their emotions was no help in the matter. The rain seemed to represent something holding them down in this spot. It was like the clouds spit nails, and the impact pinned them down like a carpenter sealing plywood with an air-gun. However, the rain of nails pinned the crew to their dreams of sentient nature. It seemed they were trapped inside a bottle and they yelled at the top of their lungs, but no one heard them. They were too small to be seen, but they did scream, but only in the confines of their dreams. Richard tossed and turned but could not wake up, no matter how hard he tried. Voices echoed inside his sleeping brain. It was Mr. Neuheisil pressuring him. “What’s going on, Richard? Why haven’t we got that report yet? I know you want to seize this opportunity, so I wonder if there isn’t something that you’re not telling us.” Richard faced Mr. Neuhesil and got a cool chill, because the rest of the investors surrounded him. They all agreed, especially the keen Winterlin. They all supported Mr. Neuhesil’s scolding of him too. To Richard they looked like humans possessed by demons and they were just a nail clipping from eating him. Richard was terrified. So he ran off, but instead of running, he had levitation abilities. He floated off into the thick and dark forest scared out his wits. For some reason, a burning desire fueled Richard. This desire was geared toward getting the project done, because the investors struck horror within him. There was no awakening, so he had better fly off and get this project done like the demon investors suggested. He flew himself through the woods but he couldn’t see a thing. Sweat poured down his face, giving testimony to his fright. He was also worried because he floated about the jungle alone. There were no clues surfacing as to how to please them. He worried more and more as he flew deeper and deeper. It got gloomy as he flew further in. It seemed like hope was overshadowed by darkness and all that could be seen was dark shades of massive trees. They too seemed to be possessed and might even devour him if he got too close. In his dream, Richard opened his eyes wider in an attempt to see, but he didn’t realize his fear caused him not wanting to see. The only part of his body that worked above normal was his emotions. All emotions were tied to the mystic force, just as the Egyptians were tied to worshiping their sun. The only difference here was that Richard had no choice. Those same eyes that watched in real time watched in dream time, but this time Richard seemed to notice more of them. He went along with his deep emotional fear that attracted him to this long dark path. He got more nervous when he still could find no clues or anyone to help him. He knew the investors were demons, so he made himself cautious. For some strange reason, that feeling of being eaten wouldn’t leave. Paranoia flamed up out of control like flares that helped to boil his blood. As he began to slow down, he felt panic from the uncertainty of his dreams. Why was he slowing down? What lay before him? The reason he was slowing down was the first of his concerns, but he really didn’t figure out why he was moving. What he didn’t have time to understand was that his fear and anxiety were directly related to his movements. As he came to a complete stop, his feelings climaxed upon connecting eye to eye with a painted face. His might have been the most wide open closed eyes that there have ever been. His face absorbed shock, but in a calm and restrained manner. He could not move. A stiff fearful stare was all that was allowed. Both sets of eyes did just that, but frustration wore down on Richard, because he wanted to run and could not. It was dark, but to Richard, the eyes captured all. This fact and that painted face grew his fears based solely on the ignorance of his misfortunes. Richard had already pointed his fingers. He grew a hate for those unknown eyes and all that they represented. The dreams intensified and Julian Akbar stood in the middle of the dark forest and wept. It was unclear if it was because he was lost in the forest or simply just a part of his dream. His excitement soared as he noticed love at first sight sifting through the forest. A nude indigenous woman ran playfully about. The professor’s urge to follow became unbearable. The pursuit was initiated and sorrow glowed within him. He could not catch up, and the darkness made his prey fade away in the distance. His fear now began to rise when he realized he was not going to catch her. He found himself deep in the masses of trees and vines, but he never stopped the pursuit. The sorrow-fear balance fluctuated severely. For the moment, sorrow remained down on the see-saw as he tried so hard to catch that woman. There was no woman back home, so why not? Love haunted Julian because he never experienced it. The sad part was that this probably included his family and students. Loneliness contributed to his sorrows, but when the painted face man made an appearance it contributed to his fear. There he was, genitals rapped in simple cloth and wearing nothing else to cover his body, except for the many different colors that patterned his face like some ritualistic tattoo. It did indeed conceal the identity of this man, but Julian had no problem seeing the spear he tightly gripped. All this happened instantly, because they were already in pursuit. Julian ran as fast as he could through the thick jungle, but he ran into a dead end. His life flashing before him sent a shockwave throughout his body as he looked up at what was blocking his way. It was a zombie version of Wesley, who had a thick snake wrapped around him like a skirt. There was also a snake around his neck. Wesley seemed abnormally large and the look of an animal seeking its prey. Julian swiftly cut left while continuing his getaway, but the man with the spear had just about gained on him. Mr. Akbar approached an open space in this dream world jungle. He gained a little relief when he noticed his comrades spread out. They stood there motionlessly staring at Akbar. Julian called out in distress, and a hand reached out to Akbar, but as the helper reached to help him, the spear was launched in his direction. He fell down abruptly as the spear pierced the throat of the helper. The body tumbled on top of Julian making it hard for him to get up. When he did get up, it was too late. He had been captured and carried off deep into the forest, possibly never to be seen again. The professor’s captor was strong and well built. It was apparently simple for him to carry the professor quickly. Slouched over the indigenous one’s back, the professor seemed helpless to escape. However, he was astonished at the manner in which his kidnapper traveled through the forest. It became apparent the native knew exactly where he was and where he was going. A huge ceremony was going on in the middle of the forest before a tremendous bonfire. There were dancers that performed a ritual. A huge barrier of massive trees separated an area from the rest of the forest. The professor’s heart pounded as he sensed something. This heart pounding sensation became noticeable to Julian causing him to worry. He knew that South American cultures performed ceremonies in which the heart is extracted using a priest’s bare hands. There were all kinds of myths revolving around the heart. It was thought that is where that little speck of light in every living being shines so brightly, the burning point that empowers the soul. This particular culture believed a sacrifice of the heart at noon would be a sacrifice to the sun god. This would send the sacrficed’s soul straight to the heavens, to perhaps become a star to guide generations to come. The fact that it was nighttime puzzled the professor. He recalled learning that, if performed at the crescent of a full moon midnight, then a soul could be banned to the underworld. This truly frightened him. Although his colleagues thought the subject matter to be myth, Julian had taken to heart some of those myths. The fact that this could be performed on him didn’t sit well. However, the ceremony already seemed to be in progress. All of a sudden he was slung to the ground next to some tribal woman. It appeared to be the one he was chasing. However, before he could even rejoice his victory in capturing his loved one, he sensed something about to happen. There were guards all around him. They began to push him and the woman forward as the drums increased their rhythm. The professor’s eyes were grim when he looked behind him and noticed those guards were Jerry and Briscoe. Fear was increased by the fact that a spear was lodged through Briscoe’s throat and a huge chunk seemed to have been bitten off of Jerry’s face. The professor screamed to be awakened, but could not awaken no matter how hard he tried.