Leon saw the animal several times. He stopped once to look in the direction of another section of the river and it was there. He set down his bowl to stoke the fire and it was there. It would stare passively with a pair of grey eyes. At least the eyes weren't creepy like Chayton's. He wondered if he would have to get used to it, kind of like some neighborhood kid. The creature made no threatening advances, in fact it would leave.
Then one day he was by a pool of water in the jungle (these were quite common likely due to some source below the rock strata) he was about to bathe in the somewhat clean water when a whining buzz caught his attention, A bee was visiting the pool. He followed the bee and lost it, then found a different bee. Bees had been pretty good to him over the years, In the desert he could follow bees to find water.
But it was something else that he was known for. The Africans called him some word that meant the Honey guide . The Honey guide was a bird that would guide humans or an animal called the Honey Badger to a bee hive. Leon could detect a hive by the way the bees were flying. These bees were buzzing somewhere to the east. He was so intent on the insect that he almost didn't notice a huge armored animal standing there.
It had little beady brown eyes, four legs and a ball on it's tail. He stared at it a good while, forgetting about the honey. It stood taller than he was, a great big Sherman tank staring at him in the woods. Then it decided to show its hand and crouched like an armadillo. There was no belly to be pierced. Leon left it there hoping not to startle it into using its tail on him. It made some kind of noise like a grunt and he grunted in response.
He had lost the bee and his direction , so he sat till he saw another. The morning was warm and he nearly forgot there were great reptiles who would kill him for food. It didn't take long. He had gotten comfortable and was reluctant to rise. He got to his feet, wincing at a cramp in his left foot and soldiered on after it. It wasn't long before he came to it. He could smell the male's pheromones all around in the air.
It was in a small hollow; he could see the papery edges of the hive where the light hit it. He could see the bees milling around it, going about the business of collecting nectar from the flowers. He turned to get his bucket. The creature was there, he heard some clicking noises and assumed the creature was making the noises. It reminded him of the languages of the Bushmen. He had been there once, long ago with Hamilton and a Senga tribesman named Wonderful.
They spoke by bringing the tongue sharply off the palate. He hadn't had much to do with them. They weren't particularly reliable, leaving once they got their tobacco. But they clicked and this animal clicked. He decided they could click together. He left the creature to get his bucket. It didn't seem long before he put his hand on it. He was in a hurry to get there and back so he could take his bath.
He was distinctly aware that he was being followed. He pressed on. He passed the tank creature again. He wondered if it would be cramped when it decided to get up. When he got to the hive, he set the bucket down. It took him some time but he got a flame going. With the bucket in one hand and a flaming stick in his mouth, he climbed the tree. It was slow going. The bees were agitated but they buzzed off, kept at bay by the smoke. The creature watched from below.
He squeezed the honeycomb out of the hollow and put it in the bucket. Climbing back down was not funny at all. But he got down and put the flame out and walked away as the insects examined their loss. He felt strange watching the creature move aside to let him pass. He passed the large creature again, it had finally gotten up and was lumbering off. He passed the clearing and made his way to the little pool.
The animal, this grey eyed creature with all the feathers and such, followed him. It remained several arm-lengths behind. Maybe it smelled the honey. He stopped and took a comb out and broke it up. He could see the grubs and the honey oozing out of it. Some had gotten on his hand and he licked it off enjoying the sweet taste. The animal stared at him for a moment then sniffed at the honeycomb.
There was a crunching noise when the animal matter-of- factly began eating it comb, honey, grubs and all. He looked around at the sky and went to take his bath, leaving the one eating the honey behind. He got to the pool and disrobed and rinsed off. His mind was on that thing back yonder with its sticky snout. His mind wandered from subject to subject and he had about gotten to sleep when got a startlement. The huge creature had come to the pool to drink.
It was dark by time he got to his tree.
Something stirred outside the cave. Chayton had been roused from sleep by the noise. He grabbed the rifle and kept the sight trained on the entrance. The big female had stirred. He could hear her behind him. He did not look back, instead flipping the safety off. It was big, plodding, like everything was on this island. The moon was nearly covered with clouds; the air was thick with heat. There was another sound that overlapped the other, it was not as loud. There was more than one. Chayton kept his index finger on the trigger and his other hand was ready to work the bolt.
Nadine had heard the noises before Chayton did. Her mind identified them as parasolaphus. That was what the humans had called them. They were easily recognizable due to their long nasal horn. They also could find their way out of the valley. She stood up groggily, she was still tired. She stood still staring at the human who was lying on his stomach with his arms wrapped around the end of his weapon. She thought it was funny that the human... Chayton was prepared for battle. There was no danger. She was content for a moment to see what the human would do. The first one began to pass in front of the cave entrance. She could see its silhouette until it blocked the moon. She could see the human was still at the ready. She had frightened many raptors in her time for sport. As soon as the third beast covered the light penetrating the little cave, she gave a screech that sent the herd in a mad scramble for safety.
Chayton jumped on his feet. The hair on the back of his neck was stiff. His heart threatened to run off after the beasts. He turned to see the big female barely able to control herself. Her white snout was open, showing her yellowish teeth. She emitted a rhythmic chirping and he could see her muscles move as the sound rumbled through her chest. She rocked back and forth on her heels and flexed her tail. Chayton threw the gun down, which went clattering on the floor.
"You scared me out of my skin." Nadine laughed harder.
"You looked so funny". She would never forget the only emotion she had seen so far on the humans face.
"Women like to tease." He didn't believe it was possible for her smile to get any wider. "I thought you were in danger."
"Not by those things!"
"What were they?"
"Parasolaphus." She cocked her head "You didn't know?"
Chayton shook his head. His voice became quiet just above a whisper "No. Where I'm from their all gone."
"Gone?" Nadine was puzzled. The herbivores could lay enough eggs to ensure that their numbers stayed the same. The crazy human couldn't possibly believe they were gone.
"Extinct."
Nadine shook her head. She didn't know what that meant.
"All dead."
Nadine couldn't speak for a moment."How?"
"We don't know. It was a long time before humans." Chayton had a faraway look like he was searching his mind for something. "Maybe the plants died off."
"You said you couldn't remember anything. How do you know this?"
Chayton nodded still not looking at her. "Good question. Hard to answer. I don't know how, but I know."
Nadine thought she understood this somewhat, she could understand the human language perfectly, but she didn't know how this was possible. She couldn't understand most of the language of the Utahraptors that lived not far from the valley.
"You know nothing of your life?"
Silence reigned in the little cave. Somewhere, water dripped, left over from last nights rain. Chayton had diligently been teaching her the language without sound. Her efforts were all over the ground outside. He had said that she had learned more in the short time they were together than he had When he was in... School?
"I know I was imprisoned once. The rest is feelings. Just plain feelings. I have some ideas too, but I don't know."
"It must be shameful."
There was another silence. Nadine wondered if the human would answer her question.
"Maybe... a little."
Nadine thought that was curious for the human to say. The human had hesitated too long, She wasn't an Alpha for nothing. Nevertheless, she decided that it wasn't important enough to pursue. The human had settled in the back and she thought he was going back to sleep . She stared at him for a moment before returning to her spot herself. Chayton was sitting up with a faraway look still on his face. He slowly brought his guitar to him and started turning the black spikes on the narrow end. His other hand plucked the strings. He had explained that this was called tuning. He soon had it done. His fingers started moving again. She had sat through these before. They were interesting, but hard to follow.
I should've walked by that cafe along with the rest
and I never should've mixed blue jeans with your black red dress
Champagne in fancy glasses don't go with my cowboy hat
You told me off a million times now I'm going to tell you back.
I know you sneak out to party every night
let me tell you, honey, you know that ain't right
I may not have the best vision in the world
But I can, sure, see the kind of fool you take me for
you can just stroll down that lonely road,
Darling, we're through and I know,
you'll find someone to chase away your blues
But these old blues are the only thing I have left of you
well, maybe, one day you'll understand,
when sorrow and hunger pierce your wonderland
my feelings for you will never change
your life has been one sunny day but now it's gonna rain
When he was done, he packed the shining silver instrument in its case and went to sleep.
Night had come to the town. Hamilton found a light blue earthen dish by his front door. That was his signal. He packed up the bedroll he had carried for the last forty years, and left to meet the man he had saved from a sniper so many years ago. After Chayton went back to the states. Hamilton had led a revolution against a corrupt official. Men with AK-47s marched the streets. There was some fighting initially but they quickly declared a coup, but there had been one sniper that wreaked havoc for several days. He had a scar from that war. If it could be called that. Some shrapnel had become embedded in his back. He had been sick with infection for several weeks afterward. As soon as he could walk he returned to Zimbabwe. But the revolt was successful. That was why he watched his back. There was always the chance of getting on the receiving end of a vengeful member of the old regime.
There was a desolate spot in an old cemetery. The people had been burying their dead here for over two centuries. The night was windy, dried leaves blew around in the air. The wind kept the mosquitoes down at least. He wore a dark hoodie to blend in with the dark. His eyes scanned the area. There was nothing, but the alabaster stone and granite blocks that marked the Christian graves. The Catholics had built a church on top of a burial ground. The church was long gone, but the graves remained.
"I see you've finally come."
"And how are you. I see your manners haven't improved."
"They will when you finally die, old man."
"Alright, you young fool. Why is the government being so stubborn?"
"Two weeks ago a few people in rafts were rescued by some fishermen. Their yacht had been sunk with most of the passengers and crew. The military is still searching for survivors."
"Why is that being kept quiet?"
"The people on the boat were very wealthy business people, and one of them was Chayton Glendale."
"The government doesn't want to be blamed for the death of such a famous man."
"Si."
"They can't hide that forever. Who owned the yacht?"
"A family of fisherman. Their son became prosperous".
"Any idea how she sank?"
"None. The story that the people told was not credible."
"Enlighten me."
"They said a large crocodile creature wrecked the boat."
"Your right. That is a bit far-fetched. Were they near any Islands? "
"Los Cincos de muerte."
"the Five Deaths? I thought most people were scared of them."
"Si. But they had money."
"Money does get people in trouble. What can you tell me about them?"
"There was a mining operation on several of them by the Germans during the forties. After the war they were abandoned. Then, A few years ago John Hammond leased one of the Islands from the government. He hired may scientists, and started a resort of some sort. There was an accident and the work was halted. Last week one of these scientists disappeared"
"What is the scientists name?"
"I can't tell you." The man was handing him an envelope. Ben took it.
"Let me tell you what. Give me the name of the family and I will take the job off your hands."
"You know I can't do that. I can't tell you their name is Martinez.
""Well I see this was a waste of time. Bye." The man nodded.
There was a pay phone across town. The town had one gas station. Hamilton called the man who ran it "Goober". It was a dusty place that chickens had the run of. He went there to call Chayton's son. He had forgotten his name. He knew the boy would pack a bag and fly down. He supposed if he was a third the man Chayton was he would bear watching.
Bethany was packing for a trip to South America. She kept an ear out for her husband. She had to. To keep Willard from finding out. He had told her she couldn't come with him. She knew she had to. Anything his father got involved in turned wild. She could feel the sun on the back of her neck. She enjoyed that. She soon had her bag packed. She had told Willard that she was going to visit her aunt while he was away. She had a friend drive her car from the airport. She would be there when her husband arrived.
Athen took buses while he could afford it. Then he hitched rides and walked when he couldn't. He had talked to Hamilton on the phone at a booth in Georgia and agreed that Chayton could just want some privacy. They would check anyway. When he reached Texas Shadow Walker paid an overdue visit to his old friend Chris Mulley. Old Chris was a retired farmer who had served as Athen had. Mulley had spent the years after the war caring for the children of his late sister. Which was compounded by the fact that he had lost most of his left leg to a landmine. Mulley could get around as good as anyone Athen knew. Even so, there were always plenty of relatives around. A fact that saved the man's life two summers ago. A young blonde had tried to poison his food after pretending to break down on the highway. The old man's niece had seen through the phony breakdown and called the police. the attempt on his life was then suspected when arsenic was found on her person.
He wasn't the first to have his life endangered recently but he was the most fortunate. When Athen slept he could see their faces, three of his comrades killed in different ways. At first it all seemed like mere coincidence, but as these little incidents kept happening even the untrained could figure on them being connected. Athen himself had his house broken into. He had come home to find his things scattered. The fact that he owned nothing of any real value didn't matter. He would get to the bottom of this. The old weather beaten house was in sight. It had a large porch. The man spent most of his time sitting on it. It even had a little stove with a chimney.
"So what do you need now?"
"What makes you think I need something?"
"Reprobates like you always need something. Besides with this killer on the loose you wouldn't come here without a reason."
"How do you know about that?"
"I have my ways. One of 'em is Ben Hamilton. So what is it?"
Athen felt a mixture of amusement and insult. "It's money. I can't afford a trip to south America."
"You'll have it." I hope you catch Shade first."
"Who?"
"Jackson Shade, the man who murdered that senator that's been all over the news. The murder was done the same way. Though the authorities don't know it yet. Any Idea where Chayton went off to?"
"There is a little island chain off the coast of central America. We think he's there."
"What happened to Leon?"
Athen was startled that he hadn't thought of him. The last time he had heard of the man was last fall. He had been grouse hunting in Idaho. Athen knew the man had stayed there a week. Chayton had told him so.
"I don't know. He was in Idaho a year ago".
"He spent a while with this crazy woman that used aftershave in her hair".
"What. To make it smell nice?"
"Maybe, It's a wonder she didn't drink it."
"Leon would sleep anywhere, in anyone's old barn or tool shed. Along with that ugly dog he picked up."
Mulley turned his head nodding in agreement "He never stays in one spot. Your likely to find him anyplace".
Athen shifted his weight from one side to the other "Aftershave" He had a sudden thought.
"What do you know about this Shade?"
"He is a mercenary from Nevada. There's springs out there, Alkali water, You put your shirt in, it'll come out clean."
The man was scraping the wood porch with his prosthetic leg back and forth. Athen had been right in front of him when the mine went off. It was sheer luck he wasn't in the same position.
"Tony was a good man. Ben said his Awiza gun bearer and tracker is still sitting pretty in Africa. That means you have the job...I hope you kill the son of a bitch."
"As soon as you give me the money. I'll be on my way. It's hot down there, I wish Chayton had the decency to disappear in winter."
Hamilton actually slept in the hotel tonight. The intruders had given up on him being there. He knew one of them had a wool jacket. He opened the package. The envelope had a paper with a list of names: Henry Wu,Jake Whitacre,Harold Serentis,Laura Sorkin, Gerry Harding. There was a name he knew well, Robert Muldoon, He remembered the man from Kenya, and an incident with a man eating leopard. Grace Knight, Aurora Black, Rae Akatuski, Luke Anderson. It disturbed him to see the names. They were all children. He had to find out which one was missing. This was not a simple rescue mission. Nothing was simple when it came to Chayton. He would catch the killer of Tony Heart, then try to find Chayton. If he wasn't dead.
He felt asleep thinking about Heart. He had been the best of them. The authorities had tied his killer to the murder of a senator. It had been determined that the killer was a mercenary named Jackson Shade that had more than likely fled to South America. By all accounts he was good at what he did. None of that mattered. If he was right the assassin would surely be coming to Costa Rica. That mattered. He slept soundly for a few hours. Then, some feral cat made a fuss outside. He rose to check the area . There was no one out there. He stood beside the window looking out for a few minutes. Then there was a creaking, then he heard a shuffle of feet, someone was coming up the stairs. They were trying to be quiet. He wouldn't have heard them if he had been sleeping. That's for sure.
They must have stirred up that cat when they entered the hotel. He picked out the sounds of two men, or two people anyway. He slipped his thirty-eight out of his waistband. He was not concerned with the law of the town. He knew these men. They were known criminals, There would be trouble, but most people would react as if he had done them a favor. The murderer was probably not among them. These were small fry. The knob started to turn.
"Quien es?" He called out in a questioning voice. There was a slight pause. He could picture them realizing that he was awake. Then the door swung open with enough force to hit the wall. He could see the figure raise a revolver to fire. He didn't give him the time. The man fell back into the other man, who stumbled around for a moment before running off. He only caught a glimpse of him. He picked up the cartridge and thumbed another one in the chamber. The man was going to die soon.
"Where is Shade?"
The man didn't answer the question "He said you would be easy."
Before Ben had the chance to say anything else the man sputtered and went.
He had another dead man on his conscience. He wondered who had told the man he would be an easy target. But he could think of someone. The man he had come to stop. It wasn't Shade. His thoughts went to the man. He would kill him for the traitor he was. He waited for someone to investigate the shooting. The night was still. He could hear nothing more. Then Chayton moved again behind him. He was soon standing, listening. A feminine voice spoke that night in Vietnam.
