On the shore, off the boat - everything aches but gets better the more I move. I lead us down the path. Under the canopy is virtual night, quiet but for crickets. Our footsteps make little sound. We keep low and cautious.
I miss my pistol already. Good thing I never gave it a name. The shotgun's damp from splashes but the shells are dry. At least I think so. I don't have time to worry about it.
It takes a long time winding through the forest before the first hint of torchlight greets us near the end of the path - we all duck behind trees and peer out.
So that's where they all are.
Amy whimpers and Jean swears under his breath.
Past the trees, gathered around the open mouth of the mine like spectators at a pit fight, are a hundred silent aldeanos, stock still and staring at two figures struggling in the middle. Torchlight flickers brightly at either side of the pitch black opening, casts the ugly faces of the stunned crowd in orange and yellow light - we're close enough to see the drool on their chins.
The end of the path is on a little rise that dips down before the mine - I can clearly see the two figures fighting and my heart nearly stops dead.
Leon.
It takes all I have to stay put. I grind my teeth. All the horror of the past few hours suddenly fades from my mind. Leon. Leon. Leon's okay.
Not for long.
His careless hair is matted to his cheek with blood - eyes bewildered and spinning - one hand grips his shoulder and the other holds a length of pipe - normally handsome features are drawn in pain and fear. He charges at the brute pipe raised and brings it down hard on the thing's head with a sickening pop. The momentum of the blows sends him somersaulting behind his attacker. The man turns slowly to face him.
Not a man - not a squid-head - the top of his face is human but beneath the nose is a tattered mess of broken jaw and odd jutting teeth - and in that bloody hole foot-long, sharp insect legs stab out at the air frantically, like an beetle set on its back. Bright glowing eyes - this is the priest, the one who pretended not to see me peeking in the church window. He sees me now - his head raises - eyes shine into mine - I swear the sound that comes out of his shattered face is a laugh.
"Come on!" Leon shouts, crouched with his pipe ready.
The fucker takes a step back and opens his arms.
Pale insect legs push forward - a crack! and his ribs break open - blood sprays over Leon and the motionless villagers behind him. Leon jumps up and stabs the pipe through the first pulsing white segment that comes through the chest cavity. A high-pitched squeal rings out. The crowd reacts as one being and all clutch at their heads. Pus and gore gush over Leon - he dodges the mad, scrambling legs and drives it in harder. The body topples backward - the squeal fades - the villagers straighten as see their leader twitching on the ground.
The wretched tableau holds long enough for me to snatch a grenade off Jean's belt.
I step out from behind the tree.
"Run, Leon! Into the mine!"
The sweet look of relief that comes over his face is worth dying for.
I pull the pin with my teeth and toss the grenade. Leon runs for the dark opening. A few aldeanos not surprised by my sudden appearance make a grab for him - he's too quick, and Amy takes out his pursuers at the knees. More get wise and turn to the trees.
The grenade lands between the legs of the fallen leader. A second - a heartbeat - bullets from Amy and Jean blow off hands and heads - and the world explodes in a flash of light.