“Watch.”
It reminded him of a dog attack — the animals seemed frenzied as they jostled for position, poking heads in to get at the shrieking woman. In only a few seconds, the heads that pulled back were gulping meat, with snouts now slick-red with blood.
The screams became sobs, and then silence. Beside him, he heard Barlow gag, and he dragged him closer
“Don’t you fucking vomit; they’ll smell it.”
Bellakov turned back to the feeding frenzy. Sorry babe, he thought, but you drew the short straw. He still held Barlow by the arm and dragged him close for a second time.
“You owe me big time.”
Barlow’s head nodded like it was on springs.
They ran on but there were no sounds of pursuit, and after another 15 minutes, Bellakov felt it was safe enough to slow down. In another few minutes more, he stopped them. All were out of breath, but still alert.
Steve frowned, looking past him. “Where’s Andrea?”
Bellakov ignored him. “Everyone okay?”
“Where the fuck is Andrea?” he asked more forcefully and stepped closer.
Bellakov sighed and reached out to place a large hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I’m sorry… she’s gone.”
Steve knocked his arm away. “What? What do you mean gone? Gone where? We need to get her.” He went to step past Bellakov with Dan set to follow him.
Bellakov put out one burly arm. “She’s gone, gone. You understand what I’m saying?” He pulled the younger man in front of him, real close, and stared into his eyes. “They got her.”
“But…” Steve’s mouth opened and closed for a few seconds. “They got her? How? Where were you? Why didn’t you try and help her? Why didn’t you call us, me, I would have fucking well gone back for her.”
Bellakov had the urge to punch the kid, hard, but held it in check, as he needed them all on his side. He pulled his face into a facsimile of sorrow, and just shook his head.
“Steve, there were too many. They would have overrun us all.” He sighed. “Please, this is hard for me too, but we must go on and survive, try and find our friends.” Bellakov reached out and gripped the young man’s upper arms. “This is what matters now.”
The two men locked eyes, and he could see that Steve’s narrowed with distrust. After a moment, the fire in Steve’s eyes went out and he seemed to deflate. He looked down at the ground and nodded.
“Good lad.” Bellakov walked past the man. “This way.” He and Barlow headed off into the jungle, and Steve and Dan followed.
Bellakov heard the water before he saw it, and in another few minutes, they came to the riverbank of a shallow stream no more than six feet wide. He waved them down and crouched on his haunches, gun across his thighs, and just watched for a while.
The waterway only looked a few inches deep, with maybe a little more in some areas. It was clear and not moving too fast. Feeder roots from huge trees thicker than his waist burrowed in at the bank and the tree trunks were moss-covered, ancient, and towering above them, creating a green roof over their heads. Bordering the bank, heavy fern fronds reached over the water and though the stream cut a corridor between them, there was a sand and gravel bank on each side.
It looked peaceful, and safe, but he waited and watched. He knew from his jungle hunting days that fresh water was a lifesaver, but it was also a dangerous place to be. When animals came to drink and dipped their heads to lap at the cool water, they were vulnerable — all carnivores knew that, and that went for carnivores both on land and in the water.
“What are we looking for?” Dan whispered.
“Anything.” Bellakov watched as a few dragonflies the size of small birds hovered over the stream and then alighted on some rushes. He tried to listen, but there was the constant zumm of life from hidden insects buzzing, humming, and chirruping all around them. If there was something lurking down there, he needed to flush it out. He turned.
“You; Dan, was it?”
“Huh, yeah, me Dan. What?” Dan replied, frowning.
“Go down there and check for tracks on the bank.” Bellakov kept his eyes on the water.
“Are you shitting me? I’m not going out there… by myself.” Dan’s mouth dropped open in derision.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be safe.” He tapped his gun. “I’ll cover you and I’m the best shot of all of us.” He shrugged. “Take your buddy if you want someone to hold your hand.”
“This is not a good idea.” Dan looked at Steve.
“We’ll all be moving along the stream in a few minutes. But I want you to check for animal tracks now while I can cover you, rather than when we’re all down there, okay?” He pushed Dan. “Hurry up, son; daylight’s burning.”
“Come on, buddy.” Steve got up from his haunches and walked carefully down the bank. Dan followed in a crouch, mumbling about being a crash test dummy.
Bellakov watched the pair only for a moment before he turned his attention to the surrounding wall of jungle. Nothing edged closer or took a run at the pair, as they tentatively went to the bank, their heads turning one way then the other. Bellakov was also relieved to see nothing launched itself from the water, but didn’t really expect it as it looked too shallow. However, there were deeper sections, and bottom line was, he had no idea what freaking things could even exist here, so they’d need to be careful.
He felt the gentle tug on his sleeve and turned to the moonfaced Barlow.
“Janus.” He smiled creepily.
Bellakov was immediately on guard — Barlow never called him by his first name.
Barlow licked his lips. “I’m probably the slowest of you all. And I’m sure the temptation may come to leave me behind, like, well, you know who.” He simpered again.
Bellakov continued to give him an impassive stare. The guy was a schemer and wasn’t to be trusted. Besides that, the mercenary had already thought about dumping his fat ass if he slowed them down.
Barlow continued. “Janus, when that temptation comes, you will resist it, because you will remember the words I now speak to you.” His fingers alighted on Bellakov’s arm and began to gently tug at the fabric. “Five million dollars, no strings attached, and all you have to do for it is finish your job — and that is to get me home. Understand?”
Bellakov stared, letting the seconds stretch. “Ten million.”
Barlow’s eyes widened, but he nodded. “Ten million it is.”
Money talks, Bellakov thought, and he let his face break open in a wide smile. He reached out a hand. “Deal.”
Barlow shook it eagerly. “Good man, yes, deal.”
Bellakov went back to watching the men in the stream.After five full minutes, the pair of men straightened and hiked their shoulders. Bellakov half turned.
“Looks okay.”
Bellakov rose and then sauntered down, still wary, and when on the bank, he held up a hand for silence. He stood there, letting his senses take in the surroundings — there was no animal smells, no sound other than the small gurgle of water over rounded stones, and there seemed to be nothing he could see camouflaged behind the green fringe.
He walked out into the center of the stream that only came to his ankles.
“Move out; and walk in the water. It’ll stop predators picking up our scent trail.”
They began to head upstream, Bellakov in the lead, Barlow panting behind, then Dan and Steve at the rear. It was already 3pm, mid-afternoon. They needed shelter, or they needed a tree perch in the next few hours.