Chapter Eighteen
Captain Eric Englehorn had drifted into an uneasy sleep, soothed by the sound of Clytie's soft, smooth voice and the feel of her cool fingers on the bare skin of his chest. As he slept, he was plagued by strange dreams, dreams of hunting vicious creatures in the jungle, and sailing on wild seas, with whirlpools and sea monsters.
Clytie watched him sleep, staying close beside him, listening to him mutter in German and English. Nothing he said was connected, at least, nothing he said in English. Clytie's German wasn't very good.
Suddenly, the captain tried to sit up in his sleep, talking loudly in his sleep, unfortunately for Clytie, in German.
"Lay down, Eric," Clytie said, trying to hold him down, worried that he would injure himself in his sleep.
He was too strong for her, shoving her aside in his sleep, blue eyes squeezed shut. Soon, he was on one knee.
Clytie could see that he was trying to get to his feet. "Eric!" she called to him, grabbing onto his uninjured shoulder. "Eric! Wake up! You're dreaming!"
He suddenly turned on her, and with surprising strength, gripped her shoulders, talking speedily and angrily to her in German.
"Ow!" Clytie cried. His grip was hard on her shoulders. She was sure he was bruising her. "Eric! Wake up!" Reacting quickly, she slapped his cheek.
Englehorn's eyes flew opened with a start, his hold on Clytie immediately loosening. He looked around for a moment, wide-eyed and disoriented. Then his piercing blue gaze settled on Clytie. "Clytie… What--what happened?"
"You were dreaming," she explained. "Lay back down and rest."
He looked at his hands, still grasping her shoulders. "Did I hurt you?"
Clytie hesitated. "Not really. You were dreaming."
"I'm sorry." He sighed, closing his eyes momentarily. In that moment, he looked so weary that Clytie felt her stomach constrict.
"It's okay, Eric," she said quietly. "I'm fine. You're not. You need to lay back down."
He rubbed her shoulders gently with his thumbs, cursing at himself in German.
"Eric… It's all right," Clytie insisted.
He nodded absently, his eyes taking in her face, her hair, everything about her. A sudden wave of pain washed over him, and he groaned softly. "Clytie…" he managed weakly, leaning forward and pressing his right hand against his shoulder.
Clytie quickly wrapped her arms around him, wishing that she could share her strength with him. It upset her badly to see this strong, tough man so weak that he was trembling. Her guts were knotting up inside her, and she felt close to tears. She held him close for awhile, then gently helped him to lie down on the cave floor. She glanced out at the jungle. The rain was slacking off, but it was getting dark. "I'll build us a fire, okay?" she whispered to the captain.
Englehorn nodded. "Good. Good idea." He wrapped his arms around himself and laid still, waiting for the pain to subside and his strength to return.
As Clytie set to work on building the fire, her thoughts went to David…
(LINE)
David waited quietly for the confrontation that he knew was imminent. Something was stalking him in those bushes…
Suddenly, there was a wild cry, and a man burst out of the underbrush, running and hollering and carrying something large and bulky over his shoulder. "Mr. Seaborne!" he yelled, streaking past David. "You've gotta help me! It's chasing me!"
Carl Denham.
David turned quickly to see what was chasing Carl. A giant lizard creature darted out of the bushes, hooded eyes trained on the movie producer, who was still staggering along with his camera. Then, it spotted David, poised with his Thompson, standing between it and its prey.
"Oh no," David muttered, raising his gun.
The lizard thing hissed at him, flicking its long, skinny tongue. Then it charged.
David let out a yell and squeezed the trigger of his gun. A hail of bullets slammed into the creature, and it fell quickly, its tongue batting at the air uselessly as it writhed in death.
David released a long, shaky breath and ran a hand through his hair. These close calls with giant lizards were getting old and tiring.
Suddenly, there was a crackling of twigs from behind.
David spun around, once again raising the Tommy gun.
"Hold your fire!" Carl exclaimed, holding up his hands in front of him.
David paused for a moment, still aiming the gun at Denham. He smiled wryly, thinking how much Englehorn would love to be looking down the barrel of a gun at the movie maker. It did give one a sense of deep satisfaction… Sighing, the young archaeologist lowered the Thompson. "What on earth do you think you're doing, Denham?" he asked. "If I were you, I would go jump off a cliff or something. It would save you from a more painful death."
"I don't plan on getting eaten any time soon, thank you," Carl replied, lowering his hands and brushing off his jacket.
"I wasn't talking about getting eaten," David snapped, suddenly feeling very Englehorn-ish. Clytie's man was rubbing off on him. "I was talking about what the crew of the Venture is going to do to you once they find out you're still alive." He grinned. Yes, the captain would be proud of that one. When he returned with the others, he'd have to tell Englehorn about his wit…
Carl raised his eyebrows. "Thanks for the warning, Seaborne, but I think I'll make it back to New York alive."
David shrugged. "We'll find out." He turned from the movie producer and continued his jungle trek.
"Wait! Mr. Seaborne!" Carl jogged along behind him, his camera and tripod swinging awkwardly. "What are you doing out here?"
"I'm looking for the others. We got separated, remember?" He shot a dark glance at the chubby little man.
Carl frowned at David's strong, slim back. "Where's Wilson?" he asked cautiously.
"Dead," David replied quickly. "He shot Englehorn. Englehorn shot him."
"So the captain's dead, too?"
"No. He's alive." David just barely resisted the urge to turn around and stick out his tongue at Denham.
"And your sister?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Denham, but she's alive as well," David said. He was feeling rather annoyed with Carl. "She's with the captain, taking care of him. He's hurt pretty badly, thanks to your buddy Wilson."
(LINE)
Englehorn had again drifted off into unconsciousness. This time, though, he was quiet and still. Clytie didn't know if this was a good sign or a bad one. She watched his face for a long time in the flickering firelight, her arms wrapped around her knees, thinking about her feelings for him and his feelings for her. She knew that she was falling in love with him--hard and fast. It would destroy her, she was sure, if she had to lose him… Quickly, she shook her head. No, Clytie. You're not going to lose him. He's going to get well…
She tore her eyes away from his face, forcing herself to look else where before she went crazy with worry for him. Her eyes suddenly settled on an odd marking on the opposite wall of the cave. She frowned, peering at it in the orange light of the fire. Those markings… They almost looked like drawings….
Slowly, quietly, so as not to disturb the sleeping captain, Clytie stood and crossed the cave floor, her eyes glued to dark markings on the wall. As she neared them, she realized that they were carvings--obviously man-made, and very ancient. The young marine biologist quickly made out some of the shapes on the wall to stand for humans, some for animals, and some for places. She stood close to the carvings at first, tracing them with her fingers, feeling like she was touching the past. Then, it came to her. She took a couple of steps back, keeping her eyes on the wall. A slow smile touched her lips. "You were right, Clytie Seaborne," she whispered to herself. "It's a map."
"Clytie…"
She swiftly turned and went to Englehorn's side. "Are you all right, Eric?"
He was still lying down, his eyes closed. "Are we still safe?"
"Yes, Eric." She took his hand in hers. It was freezing cold. She felt his forehead. It was still hot. "Drink some more water, Captain," she said softly, sliding a hand behind his head. With that hand, she supported him, and with the other, she lifted her canteen to his lips.
"Thank-you," he said, his voice low and hoarse as he laid his head back down. He opened his eyes slowly and gave her a wry grin. "You look beautiful in the firelight," he added.
Clytie blushed. "Thank-you." She was momentarily lost in his blue, blue eyes, then shook herself. "I need to check your bandages."
Englehorn closed his eyes and nodded. "I think the one on my shoulder needs to be changed."
Again, Clytie thought with a frown as she opened up the medical kit. "Eric, you're losing a lot of blood."
"I know," he replied quietly, surprising her. "Clytie… We need to get off of this island."
"I agree," she answered heartily.
Suddenly, Englehorn sat up on his elbows, wincing. "Clytie, what's that on the far wall?"
Clytie glanced up from the First Aid kit. "I was just looking at that. I think it's some kind of map."
The captain studied the wall-map carefully. "That one area is this island," he said confidently. "It has to be. But if that is the island, then what--?" He broke off, wincing and holding his breath against the sharp pain in his shoulder and ribs.
"Lie down," Clytie said firmly. "You're wounded, remember?"
"How could I forget?" he replied a bit bitterly, teeth clenched.
(LINE)
If Carl Denham said one more word… David bit his lip, trying to suppress his anger. If that fat little man says anything else about his movies or his ambition or any other kind of crap like that, I'm turning around and shooting him.
Oblivious to how irritated his companion was growing, Carl continued to go on and on about his plans for the future, his new plans to make it big. And this time, he assured the young Seaborne, it would work.
"Shut up!" David cried, spinning around to face Carl. "I'm so sick of your mouth!" He waved his gun wildly. "You don't want me to 'accidentally' pull this trigger from agitation, do you?"
"Sorry, buddy." Carl raised his eyebrows. "Calm down. I was just--"
David held a finger to his lips. "Quiet! Just hush! I can't even hear the--" His face paled. "Oh my gosh. I can't hear the river!" Frantically, David looked around and listened. But there was neither sight nor sound of the river. "Dang it! I've lost the river!"
Carl cursed. "Some explorer you are," he muttered.
David looked up at the sky. The rain had slacked off, but it was getting dark. "Ah, great! I'm gonna be stuck out here with you at night!"
(LINE)
Ever so carefully, Jack and the others crossed the river. Fortunately for them, it was no longer raining. When they finally all stood on the near bank, Jack looked around for any sign of what had happened to Englehorn and the Seabornes.
"What direction were those gunshots coming from?" Preston asked, coming up beside him. "We should start looking there."
Jack nodded. "Good idea. Let's go." He motioned toward the direction of the gunshots. "That way." Then he started walking, Ann close by his side, and everyone else followed.
(LINE)
Clytie sat against the wall of the cave, holding the captain in her arms. She had cleaned his wounds and changed the bandages, but he was still not doing well. Now, he leaned back against her, teeth clenched, racked with fever and chills. Clytie knew that if he could make it through the fever, if the fever would break, he would have a much better chance at survival. Chewing on her bottom lip with worry, she stroked his hair and his hot forehead. God, please… Let him make it…
"Clytie, that map," he murmured. "There's another side… Another island…"
"Shhhhh. Save your strength, Eric. You're going to need it for the journey back to the ship," Clytie whispered. But her eyes went to the carvings on the cave wall. She squinted at it for a while, then realized that the captain was right. It looked like it represented Skull Island and another island. Markings showed where people were and where different types of animals were on both islands. There was also the carving of what looked like a sea monster in between the islands… Clytie shuddered.
Englehorn fought to stay conscious as another painful convulsion shook his body. He knew he couldn't take much more of this, but with such a fever, he did not want to sleep, because if he did, he feared he would not awaken. So he fought the pain and the shaking, clenching his teeth and his fists, glad for Clytie's slender arms around him. He reminded himself again that he was doing this for her. It was for Clytie. He realized with a start that if she were not a part of his life, he would not be fighting death so hard.
(LINE)
Jack led his group through the jungle, searching for any sign of their missing companions. He let Jimmy go ahead, scouting out the terrain.
Ann walked close to her husband, reaching to take his hand. "We'll find them," she said, trying to sound confident.
"I hope so," Jack replied quietly.
Ann brushed her shoulder against his arm. "We will," she said firmly. "And then we'll all get back to the ship and leave this accursed island forever."
Jack smiled down at her, encouraged by her gentle strength.
Suddenly, Jimmy came running back to the rest of the party, his eyes wide and excited. "Mr. Driscoll! Mr. Galyon! I found Wilson! He's dead! Someone shot him!"
Jack and Darby exchanged glances.
"We're on the right track then," Darby said.
"I wonder who shot him?" Bruce spoke up, looking a bit nervous.
"Probably Englehorn," said Jake Atkins quietly.
"You're right, Mr. Atkins," Darby agreed brightly. "I'm sure our captain was glad to do the honors."
"There's a trail leading from Wilson's body," Jimmy explained quickly. "Footprints… and some blood."
"Then someone else was hurt," Preston replied worriedly.
"I hope it wasn't David or Clytie," Jake muttered. He felt dreadful for having been so angry at his godchildren when last he saw them.
"We need to move fast," Jack spoke up. "If someone is wounded, we've got to consider this an emergency."
Bruce snorted. "This whole island is an emergency. We should be acting like this is an emergency already."
Jack blinked. "You know, Baxter, for once, you're right."
(LINE)
David and Carl tore through the forest, pursued by two small, but lethal-looking dinosaurs. On occasion, David turned to fire at them. Carl kept plowing ahead, clutching his camera and tripod tightly.
David wasn't really sure what direction he was running in. He had already lost his way--again. He was beginning to wonder how he had survived being on this island alone for so long…
"Seaborne! There's a cave up ahead!" Carl yelled from beside him.
"Good! Run into it!" David hollered back, turning to fire again at the two pursuing monsters.
"What?"
"I said run into it! Just do it, Denham!"
"But what if there are-"
"If there's anything in there, we'll deal with it! It can't be any worse than those guys!" he cried, motioning to the two creatures behind them.
"Right!" Carl agreed.
The two men ran uphill for a bit, then darted into the cave Carl had mentioned.
David instantly spun around and shot at the two dinosaurs. The animals slowed down, then abruptly turned and ran, apparently scared off by so much gunfire from David. David sighed and shook his head. He was getting really sick of this island…
"David!"
The young man turned around to see that he was in the cave he had left not so long ago. There was a small fire now, and there sat Clytie and Englehorn, leaning against the cave wall. Clytie had her arms around the captain, and he did not look to be doing so well.
"Well how on earth did I get back here?" David exclaimed. He crossed the cave to sit beside his sister, ignoring Carl, who was just standing there gaping at the far wall for some reason. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Clytie replied. Before Englehorn could speak, she said quickly, "He's not. We've got to get back to the ship, David." Her green eyes were large with worry.
David nodded. "I see that. With or without the others, we're getting back to that ship."
"I wish we could go tonight," Clytie said quietly. "Now, David." Her fear for the captain's life was escalating. His fever had still not broken.
David glanced out at the jungle. It was getting quite dark. "I don't know about that…"
"David, we have faced just as much--if not more--danger in daylight than we have at night," Clytie said sharply. "The risk is the same."
David sighed. Then he asked Englehorn, "Captain, do you think you're up to traveling tonight?"
Englehorn nodded quickly. "Right now, I would face almost anything to get back to my ship." He smiled wryly, his face drawn and pale.
"All right." David stood, stretching his long, lean limbs. "Let's get everything together and go."
Clytie suddenly realized that Carl Denham was standing in the cave. "What are you doing here?" she snapped.
Carl turned to raise an eyebrow at her. "I followed your brother. He saved my life out there."
Englehorn laughed hoarsely. "What a waste."
"Did either of you notice these markings on the wall?" Carl asked abruptly. "It looks like some sort of map."
"There's no time for that," David spoke up impatiently. He glanced at Englehorn. Being on the island would not be good for the health of a wounded, sick man, despite the fact that he was the strong, resourceful Captain Englehorn. His eyes met Clytie's. She knew it as well. "We have to get off of this island as soon as possible."
"I agree," came a voice from the mouth of the cave.
"Jack!" Clytie cried joyously.
