Return To Primordial Island Page 15

  Tracey nodded and reclaimed her seat next to Peter. The others squeezed into the back. Somehow Susan ended up sitting in Jason’s lap, but she didn’t look like she minded.

  Peter drove off, following the river south, keeping with the path marked on his cognitive map. They stopped a few times for water from the river and to relieve themselves in the bushes. Eventually, they reached a part of the jungle where the vegetation grew thick, and massive tree roots extending across the road precluded continuing in the Jeep.

  Peter pulled to a stop. “We can’t drive through this. We go the rest of the way on foot.”

  Everyone hopped out of the Jeep. Susan threw her arms up above her head, clasped her fingers together, and arched her back as she stretched. Mary rubbed her lower back, as the bumpy terrain played havoc with her spine.

  Peter pointed in front of him. “It’s this way. Be careful. Everyone, stay together and stay alert.”

  Jason strolled up to the front with Peter. He squatted on his haunches and scanned the ground.

  “See any tracks we need to worry about?” asked Tracey.

  Jason stood. “Nah.”

  Peter’s eyes were closed. When he opened them, he looked up at the trees.

  “What is it?” asked Tracey, looking up as well.

  “We’re not alone,” said Peter. “We’re being watched.”

  Small black furry shapes leapt amongst the canopy above, swinging from branch to branch. They called out in high pitched cries and howls.

  “Gibbons,” said Mary. “Or at least this island’s version of them.”

  “Are they dangerous?” asked Susan, casting a wary eye at the canopy above.

  “Not particularly to humans,” said Mary. “But they’re territorial.”

  “Beats a T. rex any day,” said Jason, his eyes also cast upward.

  A few of the gibbons swung to lower branches, looking down on the human party. They inflated their throats, like bull frogs, crying out as they deflated them.

  “Those look like Siamang,” said Mary. “They’re endangered in our home dimension.”

  Jason counted tens of them. “They look like they’re flourishing here.”

  “They live in monogamous pairs,” explained Mary, her tone almost mocking. She looked at Susan, smirking. “Except when a group has multiple adult males.”

  “Sounds like some people I know,” quipped Susan.

  Jason noticed the exchanged and appeared amused. Peter was oblivious to the whole thing. His mind was on more important matters.

  “They’re patrolling,” said Mary. “They’re letting the others know we’re here. We must be at the edge of their territory.”

  “What if they attack?” asked Tracey.

  “Not likely,” said Mary. “We’re too big, and there are too many of us.”

  “Let’s go,” said Peter.

  They entered into the jungle, staying close to the snaking river. This was new territory, and they had no idea what was in store for them. Driven by a grave sense of purpose, they pushed on toward the Temple of the Simian King.

  Chapter 11

  Peter and Jason took point, while the others followed behind. They crept through the bushes and small trees, jumping over large, above-ground roots and pushing aside thick vines. The gibbons hooted and whooped above, following them.

  Jason scanned the ground and touched tree trunks, his fingers probing scratches and marks as they walked. “So, Peter, how’ve you been holding up?”

  “I was captured, offered up as a sacrifice, was almost eaten by a Spinosaurus, and was swallowed whole by a Titanoboa. Other than that, I’m doing great.”

  “I guess your negotiations with the lizard men didn’t go well.”

  Peter smirked. “That’s an understatement.”

  “It’s a good thing you have those orbs,” pressed Jason. “I’m sure they saved your life.”

  “They did. The life orb did anyway.”

  “What about the death orb?” inquired Jason. “You haven’t used that one yet?”

  Peter shrugged. “I don’t know how, and I’m not sure I want to learn.”

  “Why is that? If we get in a tight spot with a nasty dino or the lizard men, you could wipe them out,” Jason snapped his fingers, “just like that.”

  “That’s what I don’t like about it,” said Peter. “In fact, it straight-up terrifies me. It sounds too easy. Something that devastating shouldn’t be so easy.”

  “Nothing easy about taking a life,” said Jason. “Trust me. I know.”

  “The last person to wield it fancied himself a Death Lord,” reminded Peter. “It consumed him.”

  “Maybe he was the wrong person to have it,” offered Jason.

  “Maybe,” said Peter.

  “You’ve been talking about balance and all…and yet you don’t want to use the death orb’s power. You’ve been focusing entirely on the life orb.”

  This hadn’t occurred to Peter. “Do you think it’s a mistake not learning to use it?”

  Jason shrugged. “Maybe it’s not meant to be wielded by the one who wields the life orb. Maybe that’s the balance.”

  Peter furrowed his brow. “Interesting. That’s entirely possible. I wonder who then would wield it to offer balance. It certainly wasn’t Mike Deluca.”

  “Oh, definitely not that guy,” chuckled Jason. “Who says that power has to be evil? Death is a natural part of life. Without it, there’d be population explosion, the devastation of entire ecosystems.”

  “That’s true,” said Peter. “Only the death orb is followed by an evil entity on this island.”

  Jason grew quiet. He shot Peter a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”

  “Something evil offered to teach me how to use it.”

  “How do you know it’s evil?”

  Peter shrugged his shoulders. “It just feels evil. It’s what communed with Mike Deluca and twisted him. Tracey thinks it made Flight 207 crash here. She thinks it brought us here.”

  “Why would it do that?”

  “To get off the island.” Peter hesitated. He and Jason had been on this island together for what felt like months or even years. In that time, Jason had only expressed a passing interest in the orbs and Peter’s dominion over them. He found Jason’s sudden interest peculiar. He decided to withhold the bit of information about Nazimaa being imprisoned in the Temple of the Simian King. No one, other than Tracey, needed to know about that. He planned on avoiding Nazimaa anyway, so he found it irrelevant.

  “When you were left for dead by the Zehhaki, how did you recover?” asked Peter. He noticed Jason’s demeanor change. It was a brief flash, a one-second micro-expression of emotion that was quickly covered up by Jason’s cool veneer.

  “I was exhausted and injured,” said Jason. “I suppose I just needed a rest.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by a siamang who dropped down in front of them, blocking their path. It hung from a branch by one arm, its white-bearded face regarding Peter with great interest.

  “Uh, Mary?”

  Mary broke from the others and ran up next to Peter. “It’s okay. He’s just checking you out.”

  The trees and vines around them came alive with other siamangs, who hung out, observing the intruders into their territory.

  Susan yelped, pressing herself up against Tracey for protection. Tracey put her arm around Susan in support, as a parent does to a frightened child.

  One of the siamangs jumped onto Susan’s shoulders, causing her to screech in terror. She whirled around and around, swinging her spear, and it circled her head, swinging from her shoulders. “Get it off me! Get it off me!”

  Tracey backed away, startled and apparently uncertain of what to do.

  Jason laughed out loud. “He likes you, hun.”

  “Calm down,” said Mary, stepping toward Susan. “He’s just curious.”

  “Curious?” squealed Susan, who now stood absolutely still and rigid, grimacing as the small primate used her as his own p
ersonal jungle gym. “He won’t hurt me?”

  “I don’t think so,” said Mary.

  The siamang groped her, rifling through her pockets, grabbing her spear momentarily and letting it go. It grabbed the locket hanging around her neck.

  “What are you doing?” cried Susan.

  The siamang snatched the locket off her neck and leapt to a nearby vine.

  “That’s mine,” demanded Susan. She dashed off after it, outraged.

  “Susan, wait,” cried Tracey after her.

  “It has my kid’s picture in it,” shouted Susan over her shoulder.

  *

  Susan darted through the underbrush and hanging vines, pursuing the little thief who pilfered her locket. “Get back here, you little klepto!”

  Branches hit her face, scratching her cheeks as she gained on the little crook, only for it to narrowly evade her grasp. It swung from vine to vine, staying low to the ground, stopping as if it waited for her to catch up, taunting her. Susan heard the others calling after her, but she was too livid to hear their warnings.

  Suddenly, she burst into a clearing where a bunch of much larger primates all sat. She skidded to a stop in the dirt and stood still, placing her hands out defensively.

  What looked like a small group of chimpanzees sat in a circle, each holding a rock. At their feet sat broader, flat stones with crushed nuts sitting on the surfaces. They had been cracking the shells of the nuts and eating until they were interrupted. The small young cringed behind their mothers. They all gazed at Susan with eyes that appeared all too human.

  Forgetting about her locket, she started to back away when one of the chimpanzees cried out. Susan froze again. She heard her friends calling for her, searching the jungle. It dawned on her how far she’d separated from the group.

  Now, most of the chimpanzees called out, and within seconds there was an answer. The jungle erupted with deeper calls and chest pounding—males. Bushes and branches rustled all around Susan as the larger males rushed into view, jumping up on tree trunks, pounding on them with their fists. They saw her as a threat.

  Susan’s skin went cold, and the primitive, fight-or-flight part of her brain cried out, ‘Danger!’ She was surrounded.

  *

  Peter ran forward with Jason, who clutched his knife, as the jungle around them exploded in percussion.

  “That’s chest beating and tree pounding,” shouted Mary, running behind them with Tracey. “Those are larger primates. Susan’s in trouble.”

  “She’s invaded something’s territory,” panted Tracey, dashing alongside Mary.

  “That’s right,” said Mary.

  “Susan!” called Jason, desperate. “Susan, where are you?”

  Peter closed his eyes and reached out with his senses, his chest glowing under his shirt. He could feel the jungle in his mind. He found Susan. “She’s just ahead. Jason, she’s surrounded.”

  Jason doubled his efforts. “Susan! Susan, get out of there!”

  They slowed as they approached the clearing where Susan stood, surrounded by several male chimps. They glared at her, and she stood frozen.

  “Susan!” cried Jason.

  She turned and looked at Jason, her eyes wide and pleading. A single tear streamed down her cheek.

  The chimpanzees rushed her, tackling her to the ground. They pulled at her clothes as she screamed.

  Jason dashed forward, but Peter grabbed his arm. “Jason, no.”

  Jason turned on him, imploring him. “Do something, Peter! Use the death orb! Do it now!”

  Peter closed his eyes and dug deep, reaching for that wall of frost within his chest. However, as he extended himself toward it, it only receded from him. It was too cold, too distant for him to even touch. He heard Mary and Tracey cry out.

  He opened his eyes to find Susan being bitten and torn apart by the male chimpanzees.

  Jason squared off with him, his eyes feral. “Give it to me! Give me the death orb!”

  “I-I-I don’t know how.”

  Before Peter could register what was happening, he felt the death orb leaving his body. He looked down at his chest in disbelief as it passed out of him and drifted across to Jason. “No, wait…” Off in the bushes he thought he saw a young boy smiling, extending his hand. It was as if he was pulling the death orb out of Peter’s chest through sheer will. Nazimaa.

  The death orb passed into Jason’s chest, illuminating it with an icy blue glow. The hunter’s eyes blazed white, his irises disappearing altogether as he was possessed with the power of death.

  He turned on the chimpanzees that ravaged Susan’s body and shouted at them. He tensed his body and a wave of blue energy emanated from his body, enveloping the murderous chimps. They simultaneously dropped like stones, crumpled on the ground, dead.

  Something literally taken out of him, Peter dropped to the ground, feeling weak. Mary and Tracey were by his side, comforting him, asking him if he was all right.

  Jason ran to Susan’s gored body and knelt beside it, wailing. She was torn to pieces. Jason wept into his hands.

  “Peter, what happened?” asked Mary. “What did he do to you?”

  “He took the death orb,” said Peter, gasping for breath. “He took it right out of my chest.”

  “How is that even possible?” asked Tracey.

  Peter looked over to where the young boy had stood. He was gone. “Nazimaa. She helped him.”

  Jason stood and wheeled around, pointing an accusatory finger at Peter. His eyes were back to normal, but there was something different about him. “Why didn’t you do something to save her?”

  “I tried,” muttered Peter. “I couldn’t do it.”

  “You’re weak,” bellowed Jason. “You didn’t deserve to wield the death orb. It wasn’t meant for you.”

  Peter stood with the help of Mary and Tracey, who regarded Jason with suspicion and horror. “Is that why you were asking about the orbs? Why you were asking about the death orb?”

  Jason’s chest heaved. “You don’t respect death. You treat it like an enemy, rather than the ally it could be.”

  “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t…”

  “And now Susan is dead because of you.” Jason’s face contorted with disgust. “You don’t even have the power to bring her back.”

  Peter stepped forward to survey the remains of Susan. Mary and Tracey tried to stop him, but he shrugged them off. Susan was torn to pieces, beyond his power to bring her back. The primordial island had claimed her life for the second and final time.

  “But I do,” hissed Jason. “I can bring her back.”

  “No,” demanded Mary, stepping forward.

  Jason turned on her, eyes wild. “You don’t think I can do it? You underestimate me.”

  “It doesn’t matter if you can,” said Tracey. “You shouldn’t. You’d make her into a monster…”

  “Like me?” said Jason, finishing her sentence.

  “No, that’s not what I meant,” said Tracey, shaking her head.

  Peter stepped in front of Jason, cutting him off from Tracey. “It’s not right. She’s gone. Anything you did would be a horrible facsimile of her. Don’t disrespect her memory by doing something unnatural.”

  Jason recoiled from Peter’s words, placing a hand in front of his face, like a vampire faced with a crucifix. When he dropped his hand, his eyes returned to normal. The orb in his chest dimmed, and his whole demeanor changed. He appeared less wild and more like himself. His face dripped with sweat. “She had a family. She was going to go home.” His voice sounded small.

  “It’s my fault,” said Peter. “She shouldn’t have followed me here.”

  “That’s not fair,” demanded Mary. “She had no choice but to follow us.” She pointed a finger at Jason. “Even you said this mission was essential.”

  Jason was calm, but the expression on his face was bitter, as if he had a foul taste in his mouth that he couldn’t shake. “If Peter hadn’t hogged all the power for himself, this wouldn’t have happ
ened. He was greedy, and he couldn’t handle it.”

  Tracey balled her hands into fists. “No, don’t you dare blame him. He didn’t ask for any of this. He was only trying to do the right thing.”

  “You’ve been speaking to Nazimaa,” said Peter to Jason. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Jason turned his back on them. “Because I knew how you’d react. After what happened with Mike Deluca, I knew you wouldn’t trust me.”

  Peter laughed, but it was a piteous sound. “Wouldn’t trust you? Jason, I trust you with my life. You’re a good person.”

  Jason turned back, leveling his gaze at Peter. “Even now? Do you trust me now that I have the death orb?”

  “Maybe you’re right,” said Peter. “Maybe you respect death enough to wield it. Look how you resisted being overcome by its power. You could use it for good.”

  “I know what I’m going to use it for,” said Jason. “I’m going to the Temple of the Simian King, and I’m going to bring my little brother back.”

  Peter shook his head, sweating profusely. He looked wan. “No. I saw what you think is your brother. It’s Nazimaa. She’s a demon.”

  Jason stamped his foot. “No! It’s Joey. I know it’s him.”

  “She appeared to Mike Deluca as his deceased wife,” said Peter. “She twisted and manipulated him, like she’s doing to you now.”

  “No,” insisted Jason. “I’m bringing my brother back. He’s at the temple.”

  “Nazimaa’s at the temple,” said Peter. “She’s imprisoned there. She wants you to free her so she can leave the island.”

  “Maybe you can use your death power to wipe out the lizard men,” offered Mary. “Then we don’t even have to go to this temple.”

  “That’s not for you to decide,” admonished Jason.

  “Oh, come off it,” said Mary. “You asked Peter if he could do it when he had the death orb. Now it’s a bad idea?”

  Peter stepped forward, looking Jason in the eye. “Come on, buddy. You have the death orb. I know you can use it responsibly. If anyone can do it, it’s you. Let’s think about this for a moment.” He saw he had Jason’s attention. “What do you think is the right thing to do? Not the right thing for you, but the right thing for all? For the island?”