Chapter 10
947 Words
After the storm, the rain-washed jungle looked vibrant as if it had been given a fresh filter.
I sat at the cave entrance and saw the creek, now swollen into a small river, filled with wild chickens and birds that had been knocked down by the heavy rain, struggling against the current.
The water level was much higher and more dangerous than before.
But seeing those birds and chickens flailing in the water, I couldn't help but think of roast chicken and chicken soup—much-needed protein and fat for the next few days. I knew I couldn't hesitate.
If they drowned and stayed in the water too long, they'd become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, not only wasting precious protein but also polluting the stream. Time was of the essence.
Without thinking, I instinctively started taking off my pants to wade into the water.
But as the wind gusted through the trees, I felt a chill down below and realized I was standing there in just my underwear.
Normally, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but Jennifer was right there.
Jennifer glanced at me, her eyes lingering on my abs and the tent in my underwear. Smiling, she said, "I'm not some naive little girl, Arthur. You've got a nice physique. I never noticed your abs at the office."
Hearing that, I relaxed. A little teasing was far better than outright awkwardness.
After a few warm-up exercises to prevent cramps in the cold water, I said to her, "I'll go in and herd the birds and chickens toward the bank. Can you grab them?"
Jennifer, her gaze still lingering on me, smiled and replied, "Leave it to me."
I grabbed some sturdy branches from around the cave, gauged the depth of the stream, and then dove in to start herding my prey.
Maybe it was the wolf-meat soup from breakfast, but I felt surprisingly energetic. I splashed the water with the branches and occasionally threw pebbles at the chickens, driving them toward the bank where Jennifer stood ready.
She grabbed them firmly, one in each hand, as they reached the shore.
She looked at the birds and chickens she'd caught, clearly delighted.
But as she glanced back at me, still working in the stream, her expression suddenly changed.
She saw a large python swimming toward me, its sinuous body undulating on the surface of the water. "Arthur, look out! There's a huge snake behind you!" she yelled.
At her shout, I turned and saw the python—it was easily a foot thick—gliding toward me.
Without hesitation, I threw my branch at it and turned, swimming for shore with everything I had.
Luckily, the stream wasn't very wide, and pythons aren't exactly known for their speed. I reached the bank just before it could catch up.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I ran straight to the cave, quickly got dressed, grabbed my axe, and hurried away with Jennifer.
Looking at the dense jungle vegetation around us, I whispered to Jennifer, "Now that the downpour has stopped, predators will be out hunting. We need to rejoin Florence and the others as soon as possible. Do you remember the way back or at least the general direction?"
Jennifer, holding a pheasant in one hand, glanced at the storm-ravaged vegetation and then at the large python still lingering in the stream. She anxiously picked a direction and said hurriedly, "We should be able to get back to the tents on the beach if we go that way."
I followed her gaze in the direction she pointed, then looked back at her. Her rain-soaked clothes clung tightly to her body, accentuating her curvy figure. The peaks of her breasts strained against the buttons of her suit jacket, a few more having popped open.
Too bad she had a boyfriend already.
Sighing inwardly, I looked away, grabbed my axe, and started hacking a path forward, heading back the way we had come.
I had made a point of remembering landmarks along the way—coconut palms, patches of unusual flowers—but the storm had obliterated many of them, forcing me to move slowly and cautiously.
After a short while, I noticed a faint human shape lying in the grass up ahead.
I stopped immediately and turned to Jennifer. "Shh, I think I see someone up ahead. Stay here. I'll scout ahead and make sure it's safe before you come."
Jennifer followed my gaze and saw the figure in the grass. "Be careful," she said, her voice filled with concern.
I nodded. "Don't worry. I'll make sure we both get out of this alive."
With that, I hefted my axe and cautiously approached the figure.
As I got closer, I realized it was the body of a recently deceased man.
His outer clothing was torn and tattered, but I could still make out the words "Medical Rescue" printed on a pouch at his waist.
Perhaps because I had already buried two bodies on the beach, I felt less fear this time. Using a nearby branch, I carefully searched the body, hoping to identify him and find anything useful.
The knife at his waist, along with the antiseptic alcohol and bandages in his medical kit, made me suspect he had been part of a rescue team.
My mind raced with a question. 'Why is a rescue worker dead here?'
I thought about everything we had experienced on this island and felt a growing sense that something about it was different—unnatural, even.
The unusually abundant flora and fauna, the frequent encounters with snakes...
Before I could think further, I heard Jennifer call out, "Arthur! Come here!"
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