The Fourth Man

Thunder And Lightning

Thunder And Lightning

"It's going to rain," Graham noted, they were sat around the camp in a dejected mood after Jonathan had told them his father believed 'The Dark Things' had returned.

"It's definitely going to rain," Graham mentioned again, addressing the strong humid atmosphere "So the fire will be doused, and all the wood will get wet, you boys go and get some dry firewood now before it starts."

Glad of something to do the five boys set off. It also gave them a chance to talk among themselves away from camp.

"This place gives me the creeps, so bad," Nerpato exclaimed

"Not as much as that Allan does," countered Siggy "He is such a weird man."

"Yeah," laughed Thomas "Everyone seems to be getting killed as soon as we turn up," said Jonathan matter-of-factly

"Poor Quaker," Exo added "They lured him into a trap and killed him, I mean, who kills a kid?"

"It's worse than that," said Nerpato "They didn't know who they would kill, it was meaningless. Who do you think they are?"

"My theory," Siggy stated "Is they were stranded on this island too, and it's drove them crazy."

"Where did they get the guns from then?" Exo asked

"Exactly, that's a good question; I did point out it was only a theory."

Soon it did begin to rain, and very heavily, the skies had turned black, and a fierce wind whipped into their faces.

"We can't be very far away from Farland can we?" Siggy pondered, as he tried to keep the firewood he had gathered safe from re rain, it wasn't working though, it was already soggy.

"Why?" asked Exo "I suppose we can't be very far away."

"Well the weather can't be too much different, and we were only a few weeks away from monsoon season back home," Siggy noted.

"Fair point," said Exo "I would say the weather would be roughly the same, so yeah, monsoon season."

"Great," Nerpato mumbled "We'll just wait for the storm to come, and where does lightning often hit? That's right trees, and where are we? Oh yeah, middle of a forest," Nerpato argued with himself, forcing the others to stifle hysteric laughs.

"So," Jonathan piped up to start conversation "what do you think of Code Eighty-Six?"

"Sounds like it was made up, if you'd asked me a week ago," Siggy admitted "but since we've been on this island I would say anythings possible, probably true."

"Well I believe in my father," Jonathan stated with an edge of pride in his voice "and if he thought it was necessary to find the Fourth Man then I believe him. He died in his quest, so I'll carry it on."

"Fair enough, well I'm always behind you mate, I always said I would be," Nerpato backed him up.

They carried on collecting damp wood until the rain was so torrential they could barley see.

"Can we go back now?" Siggy shouted over the downpour "I'm wet, freezing, and really hungry."

"Good idea," Thomas agreed.

"Hey, guys, one second!" Exo shouted.

"Why? What is it?" Nerpato asked.

"I've found something, come over here."

They joined Exo as the first distant rumble of thunder sounded, a full storm wasn't far off.

"Looks like a trail," Exo indicated to the footprints in the soft mud

"Probably from us," said Siggy, keen to get back to camp, and the warmth of the fire.

"No," said Exo, "We didn't walk this way or come from that way."

"The attackers?" asked Jonathan, suddenly intrigued.

"Probably," Exo nodded "Come on, we might find where they're camping, and where they're holding Jellah hostage."

He took off, following the trail at a steady crouched run. A flash of lightning obscured the sky for no longer than a second, as it's booming thunder accompanied it.

"Wait, Exo!" Nerpato shouted "Don't go running off on you're own!"

The torrential rain didn't let them see very far, so soon Exo was out of view, they ran after him in pursuit. They couldn't hear very well over the mixture of thunder and rain, but they could all make out the distinctive sound of Exo's cries of pain.

"Exo?" Nerpato bellowed into the forest. He got an abrupt and violent gunshot for his reply.