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  “Like you said, it’s a major discovery. Maybe they plan on selling the rights to the island to the highest bidder. I don’t know. Whatever the reason, it’s above all of our paygrades.”

  Marcy looked as if she didn’t want them to go. “If it’s dangerous, maybe Collins can help you with whatever you have to do.”

  Peter shook his head. “He doesn’t have the men to spare on a side mission he knows nothing about and, frankly, wouldn’t believe if we explained it. His priority is securing the camp. Finding us was always secondary.”

  Marcy pouted. “You two, be careful. Make sure you’re back in time for extraction.”

  “We’ll do our best,” said Peter.

  “Be safe,” said Tracey. “There may be other attacks on base camp.”

  “I’ll stay in the main tent,” said Marcy. “And, I’ll keep an eye on Nielsen.”

  “Come on, Tracey,” said Peter. “We have to go before they see us.”

  Tracey nodded. She hugged her friend. “Goodbye, Marcy.”

  Marcy’s eyes welled up. “You make it sound so final.”

  Tracey rounded the Jeep and hopped back into it. Peter turned the ignition. The engine turned over, and Peter threw the Jeep into gear. Marcy watched as the Jeep pulled away, disappearing into the night.

  She worried about her two friends. She hoped that whatever they had to do they’d be successful. She returned to the main tent, working on the cover story she was going to feed Nielsen.

  Act III

  Awakening

  Chapter 10

  Jason strolled beside his deceased younger brother, Joey, as night gave way to dawn. The chorus of exotic frogs and the chittering of countless insects began to quiet with the brightening of the horizon, and warm rain fell.

  “Where do I find Peter?” asked Jason.

  Joey smiled up at him. “You won’t have to. He’s seeking out the Temple of the Simian King as we speak. I’ve seen to it.” His little brow furrowed.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Jason.

  “It’s Peter,” said Joey. “The poor man has carried the burden of two orbs with him, yet he only knows how to access one.”

  “The life orb.”

  Joey nodded. “You don’t choose the orbs. They choose you. You have to be worthy of the power they offer.”

  “Hey, Peter’s a good man. He saved my life. There’s no one more worthy.”

  “That’s not what I meant, Jason. He’s perfect for wielding the life orb. It suits him. However, it’s not in his constitution to wield the power of death.”

  It hadn’t escaped Jason that his little brother was wielding a vocabulary well beyond his age. However, he was happy to see Joey. He didn’t appear as an apparition or phantom now. He appeared just as he had in their childhood. When his little brother spoke, it wasn’t just in words. He felt him in his mind and in his soul. He liked the sensation, and he fought back doubts and inconsistencies to allow this feeling to wash over him completely, even though in the very back of his mind, somewhere in his reptilian brain, he heard a faint voice of caution growing weaker and weaker, fading into the warmth Joey offered.

  “So, who should wield it?” asked Jason.

  Joey looked up at his big brother, beaming. “I think you’re the perfect one to wield it.”

  Jason chortled. “You’ve got to be kidding. Me? I’m the worst person to have such a power.”

  “You’re perfect, actually. You understand death. You respect it.”

  Jason’s eyes welled up. It wasn’t like him to be emotional. “I’ve missed you. I’m glad to see you again in this strange place.” He looked around at the jungle, hesitating before speaking again. “Is this where people go after they die?”

  “It’s where I went. You were sent here to be with me again. You are alive, and I can be, too.”

  Jason scratched his head. “What…what do you mean, you can be too?”

  Joey looked ahead as he strolled next to his big brother. “My body is being kept in the Temple of the Simian King. I need the power of the death orb to bring me back.”

  “But…that doesn’t make sense. Why would the death orb bring you back?”

  Joey pondered this question for a moment. “The only way I can explain it is that death put me here. That wolf pack…” he winced, “…it was horrible.” He looked up at his brother, his eyes welling up and his expression searching, pleading. “They tore me apart, Jason. Like I was some kind of animal. They were death sent to me, to extinguish my life.”

  Jason audibly choked down his grief. His lips trembled as he croaked out, “I found them, Joey. I tried to kill them all to avenge you. I tried…” his eyes trailed off as he wiped away tears with the back of his hand, “…and I failed.”

  Joey gazed upon him, his eyes now strangely wide, impossibly so, anatomically speaking. They appeared as large pools threatening to drown Jason. The hunter allowed himself to be drawn in.

  “You can bring me back, and we can be together again. We can get off this island and go home. Will you do that for me, Jason?”

  Jason sobbed, hot tears mingling with the jungle rain as they streamed down his cheeks. “I’ll do that for you, Joey. I won’t let you down this time. I promise.”

  Joey smiled. “I know you won’t. Your friends are in a cave up ahead. I have to go now, but I’ll be there, at the Temple of the Simian King. When we meet there, we’ll get Peter to pass the death orb onto you. He’ll do it. He’s a good man. It’s too much power for one person, anyway. Absolute power…”

  “Corrupts absolutely,” said Jason, finishing the quote.

  Joey was gone.

  * * *

  Susan watched the sunrise as Mary slept. They had walked for a couple of hours, but Mary was still weak. Susan had made sure her friend was hydrated, and then she selected a spot in a small cave not too far from the river for them to rest. Susan had tried to stay awake to keep watch, but fatigue had gotten the better of her. Fortunately, they passed the night without incident.

  Mary began to stir, groaning as her eyes opened. She stretched out on the ground, arching her back as she yawned luxuriously. She smiled at Susan. “How long was I out?”

  Susan shrugged. “I don’t know, but you were out for a while. How do you feel?”

  Mary rolled over on her side and propped herself up on her right elbow. “Better. Much better.”

  “You were exhausted and dehydrated,” said Susan.

  Mary stood up, brushing herself off. “So, what now?”

  “Jason said he’d catch up with us,” said Susan. “That’s if he’s still alive.”

  Mary smiled to herself. “He’s alive. That guy has got nine lives.”

  “He’s not as bad as he seems,” said Susan. “He’s actually pretty okay.” She flushed after saying it.

  Mary grinned. “Oh my God.”

  Susan looked at her sideways. “What?”

  “You like him.”

  “He’s okay.”

  Mary stepped closer to Susan, reading her face. “No, you like him. You like him.”

  “Come on,” said Susan. “What’re we, in middle school?”

  Mary ignored the remark. She was genuinely fascinated by this development. “What happened between you two?”

  Susan shrugged. “I don’t know. He looked after me, made sure I was safe. He’s actually pretty caring.”

  “Do you think he likes you, too?”

  Susan averted her gaze. “I don’t know. He’s not my usual type, you know.”

  “Peter isn’t my usual type,” said Mary.

  “Yeah, how did that happen, anyway?” asked Susan, turning the tables on Mary.

  “I don’t know. It just kind of did.”

  Susan looked down at the ground and back at Mary. “Do you love him?”

  This time it was Mary who averted her gaze. “I don’t know. He’s a nice guy and all.”

  “But…”

  “But…I don’t know. Sometimes I just feel like we don’t totally
connect.”

  “What? Because of his…powers?”

  “That’s part of it, but there’s something else. Sometimes, it’s like he’s holding back.”

  Susan looked around the cave and lowered her voice. “Have you two…”

  “Oh, yeah,” said Mary. “But it’s like he’s not there with me. Like he’s off somewhere else.”

  “Thinking about someone else,” said Susan, finishing her thought. “You know, I think he had it bad for Tracey Moran.”

  Mary nodded. “I know. But she kept him at a distance.”

  “And in you swooped,” said Susan.

  They shared a chuckle.

  “Come on,” said Mary. “You make me seem like some kind of predator.”

  “Maybe that’s what he likes about you,” offered Susan. “When you want something, you just go for it. He seems like the type of guy who follows the woman’s lead.”

  Mary flashed a mischievous grin. “Yeah, not like Jason. Now there’s a strong, take charge kind of guy.”

  Susan felt a twinge of annoyance, which must’ve been visible on her face, because Mary giggled.

  “Oh, I’m only teasing,” said Mary. “Jason is all yours.”

  “Gee, thanks.” Susan managed an affable chuckle, but part of her wondered if Mary indeed had designs on Jason. After all, she did swoop in and grab Peter for herself. To make matters worse, her interest in Peter appeared to be fading, by Mary’s own admission. Susan wondered if Jason was her next target.

  “Someone say my name?”

  Both women startled, having been engrossed in their discussion, and turned to find Jason standing at the mouth of the cave.

  “Man, I caught you both off-guard,” laughed the hunter. “What if I was a velociraptor, or something?”

  “We were just about to make our move,” teased Mary, flashing him a sly look.

  The flirtation made Susan uncomfortable. Part of her was sure Mary was doing it to bust her chops. To her surprise, Jason appeared to ignore it. He walked over to Susan and asked, “Are you all right?”

  Susan blushed a bit. “Yeah, we’re okay. We had to stop walking. She was wiped out and very dehydrated.”

  Jason grinned at Mary. “This woman saved your life.”

  Mary smiled at Susan, and this time it appeared warm and genuine. “Don’t I know it.”

  “It was nothing,” said Susan.

  “Nothing,” chortled Jason.

  “Nothing?” echoed Mary. “This chick took down a lizard man with a spear.”

  “You helped,” added Susan.

  “How did you find us?” asked Mary.

  Jason outstretched his arms. “I’m a tracker, remember? I followed you right to this cave.”

  “What about the lizard men who were chasing you?” asked Susan.

  He waved a hand at her. “We ran into some dinos, who helped considerably.”

  “So, what now?” asked Susan. “We got Mary back. Do we go help Hiu?”

  He appeared lost in thought.

  “Hey, I’m talking to you,” snapped Susan.

  Jason snapped out of whatever private moment he was having. “We have to find Peter.”

  “I thought he never came out of the lizard men’s temple,” said Mary.

  Jason shook his head. “He’s alive.”

  Susan found his certainty in that declaration strange. “How do you know this?”

  Jason hesitated. “I found his tracks.”

  Mary’s eye lit up. “Peter’s tracks? Here? We have to find him.”

  “That’s the plan,” said Jason.

  “What direction do they go in?” asked Mary.

  Jason hesitated again. Susan found this to be strange, as it was a simple question.

  “They head south.”

  “What about Hiu and the tribe?” pressed Susan.

  “They left us to take care of their own,” said Mary. “Now we have to take care of our own.”

  Susan acknowledged the relief she felt having been reunited with Jason. She imagined how Mary must’ve felt having been separated from Peter. Whatever doubt Mary expressed about their relationship appeared to vanish, at least for the moment.

  “Let’s go,” said Jason. “Peter’s out there, and he needs our help.”

  * * *

  Peter kept alert as he drove the Jeep alongside the riverbank. Fortunately, they hadn’t run into any predators. A few enormous crocodiles lounged together, but none showed any interest in the passing vehicle. He followed the mental map burned into his memory, and they made good time. “We should be there soon.”

  “What do we do once we get there?” asked Tracey.

  “I awaken the Simians,” said Peter.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “It’ll reset the island. Bring it back to where it was. Balance everything out.”

  Tracey sighed. “But—and I’m just playing devil’s advocate here—you know that evolution is a progression shaped by specific selection pressures from the environment.”

  “Yeah. So?”

  “So, these races had their time, and they died out for a reason. You brought one back, and look at the chaos it caused.”

  “So, I’m reinstating a selection pressure to bring about balance.”

  “You’re playing God, Peter.”

  “Do you think I like this? Do you think I want this kind of responsibility?”

  “So why do it?”

  “Because for some reason these orbs chose me. I didn’t ask for this. Maybe it’s what I’m supposed to do.”

  Tracey shook her head. “You’re not even supposed to be here, Pete.”

  “Aren’t I? I don’t know. None of this makes any sense to me.”

  Tracey turned in her seat to face him. “So, let’s play this out. You change the selection pressure by reawakening the Simians, a race that was previously wiped out by a natural selection pressure. Now there are new selection pressures at play, you being one of them, all artificially put in place.”

  Peter paused, watching the road. He figured maybe she was right. “Tracey, do you believe in destiny?”

  She laughed. “That’s just silliness kids learn from storybooks.”

  Peter turned to look at her, arching his right eyebrow. “You mean stories about dinosaurs, ancient races, and magic orbs?”

  “Okay, I see your point. Once you do this, are you leaving the island? Are you coming home?”

  Peter smiled. “That’s really why you came? To bring me home?”

  Tracey’s expression was grave. “Peter, that thing…that entity that you’ve been talking to…I think it brought us here. It wants off the island.”

  “Nazimaa,” said Peter. “That’s what it’s called.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure that’s the voice I heard on the recording from 207’s flight recorder.” Tracey swallowed hard. “We can’t let her get off this island.”

  “And now Poseidon Tech is zeroing in on the ore deposit below base camp to keep the portal to our home dimension open. That’s going to be a problem.” He chewed on his lip, deep in thought. “Maybe these Simians can help us with this Nazimaa.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “She’s imprisoned there. Ghenga told me so. Maybe they were the ones who imprisoned her. Maybe they’ll know how to contain her.”

  Tracey shook her head. “I don’t know. Something doesn’t sit right with me about this Ghenga character. I still don’t know why he’d turn on his own people like that, and I don’t buy into his story about saving them from themselves.”

  They drove on for a while in silence, each deep in thought about their predicament and their options. Peter wanted to restore balance to the island, and Tracey wanted to bring him home, even if he was with Mary now.

  Peter looked up ahead. “Look. There.” He pointed ahead.

  A huge grin crept across Tracey’s face. “I don’t believe it.”

  Peter pulled up to Jason, Mary, and Susan. “Hey guys, need a
lift?”

  “Peter!” Mary cried out.

  He stopped the Jeep, and he and Tracey stepped out. Everyone exchanged hugs and sentiments of relief. Peter related everything he and Tracey had been through, including Poseidon Tech’s real purpose and the attack on base camp. Jason and Susan told them about how they rescued Mary.

  Tracey stepped back, and Mary hugged Peter, showering affection on him. Peter didn’t notice her uneasiness as he was too busy receiving a hero’s welcome.

  “So, we’re really going to this Temple of the Simian King?” said Susan.

  “It’s the only way,” said Peter. “I can feel it in my soul. It’ll set things right.”

  “I agree,” said Jason. “I know nature, and this island is out of balance. The lizard men will have the Umazoa for lunch.”

  “What about base camp?” asked Susan. “What about going home?”

  “You can go any time,” said Peter. “You don’t have to follow me. In fact, you probably shouldn’t.”

  “I can’t exactly walk back on my own through a jungle infested with prehistoric monsters either,” said Susan.

  Jason threw an arm around her shoulders. “Once we finish this, I’ll make sure you get back. I know you want to go home.”

  “What about you?” asked Susan, blushing. “Don’t you want to go home?”

  Jason took in a deep breath, puffing out his chest, and let it out slowly. “I don’t know. I didn’t exactly fit in back home. Here I can hunt all I want and not be regarded as a total piece of human garbage.”

  Susan appeared disappointed.

  “Oh, I guess I’ll go home,” said Jason, sounding playful. “Why, if I didn’t would you miss me?”

  “You know, I just might,” said Susan.

  Jason smiled at her. “Good to know.”

  “All right,” announced Peter, interrupting the moment, “everyone in the Jeep. I have another race to wake up.”

  “Hey, mate,” said Jason, “I don’t suppose you brought any additional weaponry with you.”

  Peter shook his head. “We had to get out of there fast.”

  They all piled into the Jeep. Tracey stood back, waiting for Mary to take the front passenger seat.

  “You go ahead,” said Mary, grinning impishly. “I’ll sit in the back and cause trouble.”