They had paddled for a while now, and the river wasn't as exposed. On each side of the river were some enormous cliffs. The number of shadows had decreased though there still was a few. Scouts of some sort, Englehorn guessed. They probably hadn't recovered from the last visit so they were a little more careful this time. That, or those noisy things that killed their friends would return to kill them.
"Driscoll…Ann...this is too dangerous. With those damn natives up there on the cliffs, we've got to go ashore now, and move inland," Englehorn whispered.
"Okay…but we can't here. We can't climb those cliffs; we'd be trapped..."
"I know. We have to find more flat ground, but I don't think we should set up a camp by the river either…those…dinosaurs probably come here each morning and evening to drink," Englehorn said.
"Don't remind me of them!" Baxter mumbled, annoyed and scared.
They sailed on for a couple of minutes, and it grew darker and darker. It was as if sunlight couldn't penetrate the island's aura, and the fog became thicker and thicker. They started to have trouble seeing the water just a few feet in front of the boat. In the silence of the darkness and fog, it seemed like the sounds of the animals and nature was enhanced. It was almost possible to hear the lizards' small steps when they ran across the walls of the cliff walls, and you could easily hear the wind play with the leaves several feet before the tree could be seen.
"I don't like this," Ann whispered.
"Me neither," Jack replied. "Englehorn, this is too dangerous. We can't see anything in front of the boat…we don't know if we'll hit a big rock or something, and then the boat'll be destroyed."
"I know…I think we should move inland now," Englehorn answered them.
They started to paddle towards land, and after what felt like many miles, they started to see land. The current was strong so it took a lot of strength from them all to get in.
Englehorn and Jack jumped out of the boats and pulled them in. They quickly surveyed the surroundings. Nothing seemed to pose any kind of threat so they helped Jimmy and Ann out of the boats.
"I don't wanna leave the boats," Baxter suddenly said.
"Hm! Why not!?" Driscoll asked as he helped Ann get the bags out of the boats.
"It's safer here, and we'll be able to get away, if someone…or something should attack us," Baxter answered.
"What? No, we'll not be safer in the boats. In fact, we'll be more exposed to attack if the natives decides to attack us." Driscoll said.
"Get out of the boat!" Englehorn almost shouted. "Jack's right. We are more likely to survive on foot since we are faster, and it's easier to get to cover and hide if necessary!"
"I don't know…I think I'm gonna stay here. You move on, and I'll try and make it in the boa—" Baxter said but was interrupted.
"Out of the boat now!" Ann yelled, unable to take any more from Baxter. "We don't want to waste any time, plus you are gambling with our lives, you jerk! Denham and his mercenaries are right on our heels. If you stay here, you'll surely die! And if I know you correctly, you'll rat us out when they torture you! And believe me! They will torture you to make you tell them where we are going!!"
They all looked at Ann, even Jimmy who was half asleep. Baxter looked at Ann for a while, and then at the river. He decided to follow the group for he was too scared to continue on his own, and knew if anybody could get him through this alive, it would be Englehorn.
"Let's get moving," Englehorn then said. "It's getting dark, and we've got to set up a camp somewhere. We do not want to move around in the jungle in complete darkness."
They all grabbed their bags and started moving inland. They moved into the jungle and as they entered, it felt like they had stepped into another world. It was so hot and the air was heavy, plus the sounds had changed. All they could hear was mosquitoes and weird sounds from bigger animals hiding in nearby bushes.
A lot would happen over the next few days, and they'd have to kill a lot of people to survive and return home in one piece. But right now, all that mattered was for them to get into deeper into the jungle, set up a camp, and hope to survive...