Jungle Peril

Chapter Four cont.

Purto with the help of the Aldrin and Nicole tolled the plane under a nearby low lying tree.

We have to make sure it is well hidden. There have been cases of thieves”, Purto informed as he brought out the huge blanket he planned to cover the airplane with. Unlike Pabios cover blanket, this one was camouflaged. He covered the airplane as Nicole observed the covering from a distance. One would mistake it for a huge grass.

Purto surveyed his covering for one more time before he informed

“I will be sleeping in the forest this night. I will take off tomorrow morning. Its already late”,

Oh okay, Aldrin replied and stood for a moment.

What do you guys plan?

“We will set up a camp this night up in the hill over there”, Aldrin replied pointing at a far hill overlooking a large proportion of the forest.

Are you coming with?

No, I think I will sleep in my plane for the night. That place is way too far

Aldrin shrugged, it wasnt the smartest move of Purto and he knew it. Nocturnal animals would come to his equipment and ransack it but he doesnt care. He was supposed to be the expert, perhaps he might have a plan for that. Aldrin lifted the few items they had brought for the trip and began to make his way up the hill, he also brought out a cutlass and began to make a trail through the thick plantation.

Nicole held his arm gingerly as she lifted loads of her own. Hers contained unperishable foodstuffs that they are going to take for the period they would be in the forest.

Aldrin looked towards the horizon, the sun was setting rapidly in the distance. It would soon be nightfall when the forest will be more dangerous. They had to set up camp at a perfect spot quickly if they want to gain advantage.

We need to hurry up, the clouds were gathering rapidly, it would soon rain.

The sss rain comes unexpectedly”, he informed.

He began to navigate around the thick cover of the trees. Even though the trees will provide good shelter for the soon coming rain, Aldrin knew better. Humans want shelter and so do wild animals. The cover of the trees will be a good hiding spot for different kinds of animals who will want to run away from the cold that the rain brings with it. Apes especially would be lurking up in trees and would be more than glad to see dinner waiting for them.

The low lying grasses are no solace; the trees had wild animals but the grasses might be crawling with poisonous snakes. The grasses are a perfect hideout for them against the harsh weather that is brewing up. In fact, Aldrin could guess they are already hiding out. One wrong footstep can be hazardous. But right now the grasses were the better choice. Aldrin feels he could deal with the snakes better thanks to the anti-venom vaccine they had been injected with before the journey.

The first few drops of the rain began to drop on their skin. The wind was brewing up cold and the forest swayed from its wave. The water was cold and cooled their skin but it was a false love. It would soon bring with it hypothermia and muscle ache if they dont get to build the tent on time.

Shit, its closer now, he fumed and hastened his step. He had changed his mind; the trees were the better option for them with the advent of the rain. The low lying grass will require their effort and time to create paths.

Finally, they were at the high ground of the forest. Nicole admired the entire landscape below as Aldrin prepared the tent. Thunders coursed through the evening sky and the rain intensity increased.

Hey, I need a hand, Aldrin shouted from behind her. She hurried towards him and helped him hook the last peg of the tent in the ground. The peg took a lot of her strength and by the time she was done, she was breathing heavily from the exertion.

Tough girl, Aldrin smiled at her. He was looking particularly handsome this evening. He rushed towards the tents pack and brought out the cover. By now the rain had increased substantially. They had to hurry if they dont want their items to be soaked and destroyed by the water.

Aldrin attached the last part of the cover on the tent framework. He could hear the click of Nicoles camera behind him as she took pictures of the upcoming rain, the lightning, the landscape as it awaits the outpouring of the rain that will nourish its trees. He smiled, it would be lovely pictures and he will get to see it when they cuddle each other in the cold that will soon engulf them. He smiled again at the thought of cuddling Nicole in the middle of a dangerous forest. It brought him intense joy when he thought about how she would clutch onto him in her fear and cold. The joy was what motivated him through the entire journey. For him it was very clear, he was in love with Nicole and enjoyed every inch of her company. She was the lover of the free life; she always manages to maintain a smile even when faced with adversity.

“Come inside quickly”, he called out to her, she was taking a selfie. She turned quickly towards him and hurried to the cover of the tent.

Not yet mistress. We need to get these items inside the tent too, he teased. She smiled and with her head a little bowed as if to protect her from the rain, she hurried towards their belongings and half-flung them towards Aldrin who took them inside the tent. When they are both through they rushed into their new shelter. The rain had already started fully by the time they settled down.

The sound of the rain dropping on their tarpaulin tent gave them both a strange joy it was one of the pleasures of the adventure. Aldrin had brought along the way some dried leaves to make fire and was arranging them to burn. The fire will provide warmth for the cold they are currently feeling. However, they will have to put out the fire before they sleep to avoid burning themselves.

I told Johnson about our trip, Nicole started, Johnson was Nicoles boyfriend. Their relationship can be described as strange as the duo will only meet each other when it is convenient. They would relate with each other out of obligations. Anyone could tell that their relationship was coming to an end.

Oh nice. What was his response? Aldrin replied as he bent over blow the embers of fire that had been made with his tinder box.

“He said its fine”, Nicole replied. Something about the way she said the words got Aldrins attention and he looked up from the fires for moment at Nicole. She was browsing through the pictures she had taken earlier of the landscape and the airplane scenery.

Is it cool with it? he knew better; anyone would be jealous observing him and Nicole.

He said he is. But something about the way he said it got me thinking, she replied and winced a little as she said the word thinking. Anyway, I dont care about what he thinks. This is work related, she added as if in protest.

I find it hard to understand you two though, Aldrin chuckled. The fire had come up and now he was taking off his shirt.

Nicole looked away from his well-built body. Gosh, he has abs.

We were not always like that you know, she explained.

I doubt that, he sneered. He reached into his bag to pull out a long sleeve shirt. He would need it especially through the night to protect himself from mosquitoes.

I am serious. We were very romantic. He loved me then but now I am not sure, Aldrin could have sworn her face was sad. He was done wearing his clothes

You can look back now

I cant really tell whats wrong with us but I just dont feel like I use to before, she continued

Dont worry you will be fine, Aldrin comforted you better change those clothes, he advised

So why are you still with him then if you dont feel anything again? he inquired. She gave him a look it was a cue that informed him she was about to be naked and it was his turn to look away. Aldrin would have loved to look though, he imagined what her slim body will look like when she is naked. He was feeling horny.

I dont even know. I guess its because I still love him though”, she was done changing her clothes.

Let me see those pictures, he requested. She crawled towards him and was scrolling through the pictures beside him. Aldrin could feel heat in his body, he gets that feeling every time Nicole moves close to him. Her cologne was still active giving her a friendly smell. Gosh, I wish I was Johnson. he fantasized.

The pictures were indeed lovely;

You are a pro. I love the way you tilted the camera to take this one, he commended. She laughed loudly. Her laugh was music to his ears; it calms his soul. For a brief moment he forgets he is in the middle of one of the most dangerous forests in the world. She was all that matters, one day he would gain enough confidence to tell her how he feels.

Aldrin was not a coward, he was one of the bravest soldier in the United States and had faced many dangers head on but he had never mustered enough courage to tell Nicole about his feelings for her. He couldnt seem to fathom why, perhaps she was the greatest danger he had ever faced.

Nicole changed the camera orientation for a selfie. He could see her face as she posed for the picture, his own face was blank as he managed a smile but Nicoles mouth was poised. She snapped multiple images with different facial expressions. With every pose she made, Aldrin fell more in love with her. It was at this moment he knew deep within him that he couldnt afford to live without telling her. This trip indeed was going to be a memorable one, it was going to be the trip he had enough courage to propose to her.

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Kyle, Lisa, and Donald waited impatiently as Azura bent down and stood up in worship facing the east. She chanted the Islamic mantra in concentration repeatedly as she worshipped. The others could do nothing but shake their heads in disbelief.

Kyle and Lisa sat together on a nearby rock cuddling each other in comfort while Donald paced up and down the scene. He checked his phone repeatedly but the condition remained the same no network. His battery was running down quickly by the hour. He needed to preserve his battery till he was sure he is in a place of network.

I cant believe I am in this situation. He complained in his mind. He looked towards the other two; the cuddling seemed to have metamorphosed to more smooching

Oh cmon guys, get a room! he hissed out irritably; they only laughed at him but they seem to get the message because they stopped.

Finally, her prayers were over and she packed her mat back into her bags.

We wont get far if we keep waiting for you to pray

“I needed to pray to my God”, she explained.

They made their way down the cliff through the gentler side of the hill till they were directly in front of the river. They couldnt help but marvelled at its beauty

I cant believe this is the longest river in the world, Lisa commented; she leaped towards it and began to rinse her legs in the water.

The river is too wide, we cant swim across, we have to find another way through Kyle observed

Whos talking about swimming? Donald laughed.

“If we are fast enough we should catch the driver, Kyle informed; he was surveying the environment for any clue of crossing the river.

See that fallen tree over there. We will have to push it over the river. Its our bridge, he instructed.

The process he described wasnt an easy one and by the time they were through, hours had passed.

I dont think we can make it today to the rendezvous, we need to find somewhere to sleep fast, Kyle checked his wrist watch

Lets cross the river first, Donald suggested as he led Azura first on the newly made bridge but not before testing it sufficiently.

No, no, no, I think you should go first then you can help her on the other side, Kyle suggested. It was a better idea. The crew watched in suspense as Donald staggered his way through the bridge until he successfully made it to the other side.

Azura its your turn, Kyle instructed and helped her on the bridge till she was at Donalds reach.

“Lisa baby, cmon” Lisa was more edgy about crossing the muddy river. Kyle was impatient; the time was running out; he gave her a little shove on the bridge until she was on the other side. He stepped on the bridge and made his way easily to the rest of the crew.

Everyone was across already.

The wind has gotten colder, rain is falling somewhere close, Azura commented. Everyones eyes went towards the sky where the cloud seemed to have gathered in the distance ahead of them. Lisa was shivering

We need to get someplace to sleep this night. We wont be able to make it to the rendezvous today, Kyle informed. Their hearts panicked

Oh s**t! Where do we sleep in this dungeon? Lisa busted; her shivering had gotten worse. Kyle moved towards her and cuddled her gently.

How about you give her one of your long clothes? He asked Azura. She reached into her bag and brought out a blanket the one she had brought to the camp.

I have heard about caves in the sss. Perhaps we can get one to sleep tonight. These rocks can provide a solace, Kyle observed and began to lead the crew again. Hopefully they will find a rock shelter before complete nightfall.