Jungle Stakes (SHORTLIST Open Novella Contest II)

Chapter 8

"What is wrong with this thing? Bloody hell, why can't anything work?" Helena and Fitzy looked at each other in alarm when the professor's colorful expletives got increasingly louder from the nearby command tent.

"Go find out what's wrong, Helena. I can handle things right now."

"Okay." She looked over Javier, who was still laid out on the table they'd just set down in the medical tent. "Do you want these guys to stick around and help move Javier to a camp bed when you're done treating him?" He nodded, so she relayed the request, laid a hand briefly on Javier's good shoulder, then went to find the professor.

The professor's pale, sweaty face was an alarming shade of puce from shouting at the radio. He was flipping switches and pressing buttons on and off to no avail.

"Professor!" She called when he raised a fist as if to hit the delicate equipment. "What's wrong?"

He twisted in his chair and narrowed his eyes slightly at her in accusation. "The bloody radio won't work. I might have finally found someone to help with these symbols, and now I can't call them for our phone meeting! How am I supposed to work in these conditions?"

"Let me see what's up." She crossed to the radio and began examining it. Nothing was amiss from the front. When she went around the back, she cursed. Every single cable had been removed.

"What is it? What did you find?" the professor demanded.

"It appears we've been sabotaged. All the cables are gone. Look, I need to get back on watch. Javier was attacked by an...animal. Fitzy's treating him now. When he's done, we'll regroup and give you an update on what we think we should do." She didn't want to tell him about the bodies until they'd had a chance to talk with Jake.

"Very well. I'll be waiting."

Annoyance flared in Helena that the professor didn't even ask after Javier's condition. Jerk.

"Professor, we don't know what we're dealing with. So don't go triapsing through the jungle, okay?"

He tsked and clenched his jaw. "I'll just wait in my tent then. I expect to be updated immediately." She just shook her head when he turned on his heel and marched self-importantly from the tent.

"Jerk," she muttered.

After a quick stop to update Fitzy, who swore a brief blue streak at the news before returning to his task of disinfecting the cuts, she went to check on Jake. "Jake?" she called and slipped into the dark tent.

He was curled up on his side, breathing shallowly and sweating profusely. She tucked the blanket around him, refreshed his water, and pressed a kiss to his brow before going to stand guard.

She had wanted to check on the body, but a shiver of fear raced up her spine at the thought of going down there alone. It could wait until Fitz was with her. That way she could show him the skin changes, anyway.

When she settled down beside the doorway, Javier's mother had risen from the ground, her age evident in her slow movements. Her arms were stiffly straight at her sides, fists clenched. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Fear chased anger across her face as she looked down at Helena then into the dark stairwell before leaving without any attempt at communication.

Hours later, Helena stood and stretched when Fitzy walked into the clearing. He came over and gave her a fist bump. "Hells Bells, all quiet in the tomb?"

"Dead quiet," she said straightfaced.

"Ha ha. Javier is resting peacefully. Got Jake to drink, but he still won't eat. He was too groggy for me to update him. I think the professor took a sleeping pill or something, because he's knocked out."

"I found some in his tent, so probably."

Fitz snorted. "Why am I not surprised that you were snooping in his stuff?"

She shrugged. "Old habits and all that. He was there when I went in, though. Just out like a light. And the pills were right out in the open." Fitz quirked up an eyebrow, and his lip twitched. She drew in a fortifying breath. It was time. "Fitzy, we need to compare the pictures for any new changes to the body."

His smile faded. "Let's get it over with."

She led the way into the tomb, full of dread at what they might find and excitement at seeing the man again. She held her breath, and walked straight to the sarcophagus to look in. The breath she'd been holding whooshed out when he was right where she'd left him. Her body began to heat up as she stared at his magnificent face.

"Here's the camera," Fitzy said, coming to stand beside her. He flicked it on and swore. "There's nothing here. Did you download the shots?"

"No!" She grabbed the camera as if holding it would change the message on the back.

"Someone's erased the memory! The original shots are on the computer in the main tent, but the new ones weren't downloaded."

Fitzy walked around. "I'd bet nothing else has been touched."

Helena looked at the man's decidedly healthier-looking face. "Fitz, do you think his skin looks any different?"

Fitzy frowned, but came to look at the face. "What do you mean?"

She closed her eyes. "I know it's going to sound crazy, but he looks more...filled out since we first opened the tomb. It's like his skin is getting more hydrated or something."

"Helena," disbelief was clear in Fitzy's voice.

"Every time I come down here, his skin looks better."

"He's a corpse."

She pursed her lips. "We'll get the original pictures and compare."

"Okay, but later. This guy isn't going anywhere. Go get some food and rest. I'll stand watch. Just check on Javier for me, okay?"

She nodded and walked a touch faster to be first up the stairs.