TERROR

5. CONGO FOREST

" We're finally here, " Jamestone said as he set the plane to a halt. The men got out of the plane and started to look around on the area. " Amazing sight. Never been here before ," said Kyle. " I've heard of a myth before that when whites step into African forests they never come out, " said Ken as he chuckled. " We've got everything in the plane to keep us fit in a week, so we better accomplish the mission as soon as possible. I've kept the plane behind the trees and covered it with the bushes. Good thing it's green. " " Perfect camouflage," added Kyle. 'So what's the plan now?' Bruce asked impatiently. ' Just chill bro. Can't we at least smell the Africa's fresh air, ' interrupted John. ' Well I say we rest for a couple of minutes, ' Jamestone said as he went towards a nearby log that was covered with mushrooms. He took his knife and cut the mushrooms so he could get room to rest his head for a while.

Jamestone woke up to see no one at the spot where he slept. " Where's everybody? "he asked himself. He got up to his feet and took a map from his hip pocket. He examined it carefully then took a compass from his trousers' left pocket. " I go west, "he decided. He followed the compass' direction all the way but instantly gave a stop when he saw a dead deer lying in the tall grass beside a small algae swamp. He examined it closely and noticed something strange. The deer was killed. All of its body was ripped off except the head. This gave him a sick feeling and started to turn back when he felt strong nails digging into his flesh on his shoulders and roars ringing into his ears. His legs got chewed off instantly. He couldn't scream as his breath was cut off by the beast's gripping teeth at his trachea. That was the last of him...

"Aaaaaaah! " Jamestone screamed as he woke up from the horrible nightmare. " Just a nightmare ..." Jamestone relieved after breathing heavily due to the trauma faced. " What's wrong buddy? " John asked. " I'd just experienced a nightmare of my life, "he replied. Jamestone looked at his watch which showed it was 1336hrs. "I guess we should get to work men. We've rested enough, " Jamestone said. He took out his compass, read it then shouted, " We go west men. " and they went.

The longer they went the taller the grass was on their way. Bruce took out a machete and slashed the tall grass. The others let him be in front so he could clear the way. " Darn it. I didn't know that this could be tough," Ken said as he paced whistling. They continued to move till... " Aaarkh !" a sound from a distance was heard. "What's that?" Ken asked shockingly. " shuush! we better be silent ' John said. They continued moving until there was a tree beside them. Without notice, a black python dropped onto Kyle's left shoulder. ' Aaargh! Snake! WTF..., ' his adrenaline never became this active before . He ran to a tree beside and knocked his left shoulder together with the snake. The snake went down and became furious. It started to spit out its venom. By luck, Kyle reached out for his glasses and wore them. He saw a bamboo stick on his right leg and picked it up and quickly whacked the python's head instantly. All that took place within a minute. The python laid there lifelessly.

Others stayed there astonished for what had happened. 'What? Let's go you eye poppers, 'Kyle said to them. The grass ahead of them was now short but the ground was muddy. " This is an equatorial zone. Rain's present throughout the year. This is the outcome, " John exclaimed angrily while getting his right foot out of the sticky mud. To their surprise they saw a dead deer. Its body was completely ripped off except for the head." Holy S**! This is what I saw in my nightmare, "said Jamestone terrified.

" It must be the hunters. They say they're hunters too in Africa. I didn't know that they could be this weird,"said Ken." Well, let's move.. It's probably a hunter or a wild animal out there,"he continued. Jamestone read the compass again and sighed. "We are in the wrong direction, "he said. 'Isn't there a shortcut or something to break out of here?'John asked, 'Coz this mud is starting to.... ROAAAR! He was interrupted by the sudden roar surprisingly coming towards them. A black puma emerged from the thick bushes quickening its pace towards them. " Ruuun! " Bruce shouted. They all turned and ran for their dear lives. Though in the beginning their movement was slow in the thick mud, their race became as fast as lightning now . They split up. Bruce, Jamestone and Kyle went towards the left side of the swamp in front of them while John and Ken went right . The puma turned left and jumped towards Bruce, who was behind among the three. The puma not only managed to clench on Bruce's body but also was able to dislocate his knee cap. " Aargh! "he screamed. "Heeeeelp! "he pleaded while struggling to get off the puma's massive jaws. Bruce was able to grab hold of the puma's jaws but was soon overpowered by its trunk. The puma used all its pressure on its body to weaken Bruce's grab. He swang his right paw on Bruce's chest back and forth. "Aaaargh! " Bruce screamed in agony. He kicked the puma's testicles with his right boot. The puma backed out a little pace, giving Bruce enough time to quickly take his machete from his backpack and aim at the animal's neck. " Swhiip! "as quick as that. Blood ejected from the animal's neck like a sprinkler, showering on Bruce's body making him look like a giant tomato pulp.

Jamestone and Kyle who were up a bamboo tree came down and quickly raced towards Bruce. ' Are you alright man?' Jamestone asked. Bruce shoved Jamestone aside. " You left me you knit wits. I could have died out there. You didn't even help. So called partners, "said Bruce angrily as he spat blood from his mouth. "We're sorry man. It won't happen again, " Kyle said reassuringly. " It's okay. I don't hold grudges." he said. "But one thing for sure, I need to change. I look like ketchup. "he continued. Let's find the other guys. Jamestone dialed on his phone then.. " Hello. We're alive. The puma's dead now. Meet us at 86degrees NE at the Biroon swamp. " and hung up.

2022hrs, Congo forest :

The five men sat outside their plane warming themselves with a campfire they had created using the forest's twigs and dry leaves. Bruce's chest was well bandaged and his patella was kept back in place with the help of Kyle who was an expert when it came to First aid. " Maan! What a heck of a day this was today, "said Jamestone. ' We ought to be careful right now coz I'm starting to think the myth you talked about may be true, ' John said to Ken. " Well, first thing tomorrow morning we start with the job. Let's really keep our eyes open and we stick together."said Jamestone. "Well campers... I'm off to bed now, " Jamestone said and quickly headed inside the plane to sleep.

0000hrs ,midnight. Congo forest :

A squirrel, brown with a red tail waited patiently for its prey. A dung beetle was on the thick dry leaves rolling down the separated animal dung. It finished this activity in not more than three minutes. When it finished this, it started dragging the rolled dung towards its hole. The squirrel began sneaking then quickened its pace then... Swipe! It caught the beetle then immediately gnawed on it, enduring the taste of its prey till it was unnoticeably swallowed by a strange unknown animal with razor like teeth. After being satisfied with the squirrel for dinner, it quickly jumped into the trees and headed in the dark.