Chapter Nineteen

The two groups reunited with hugs, handshakes, and many explanations.

Jack, Ann, Jimmy, and Darby quickly knelt by Clytie and the captain. "We need to get to the boats as soon as possible, am I right?" Jack asked, quickly assessing the situation.

Englehorn nodded, wincing. "You're right. The longer we stay on this island, the more bad things happen. Just like last time." He closed his eyes and leaned back against Clytie. "Jack, you'll have to lead them. I would do the honors, but… As you can see, I'm not fit for much of anything."

Jack nodded. "All right. I understand."

"Captain, what about you? Are you able to walk?" Jimmy asked, frowning in concern.

"I can try," he replied.

Darby studied Englehorn carefully, then shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea. You're shaking like a nervous dog. We'll have to find some way to carry you to the boats."

Englehorn frowned. He didn't like the idea of being carried.

"Clytie, how are you holding out?" Ann asked her friend quietly as the men discussed various ways of transporting the injured captain.

"I'm fine," Clytie replied just as quietly. "But I'm worried about Eric. He's hurt pretty badly, Ann."

Ann was startled to see tears in Clytie's eyes. "I'm sure he'll be all right," she reassured the other girl. She glanced at Englehorn quickly. Heavens…

Suddenly, Preston's voice echoed through the cave. "What are you doing here, Carl?"

Everyone turned to look at Carl Denham, who was filming the map carved in the cave wall. Slowly, Carl stopped filming and turned around, smiling sardonically at them. "Young Mr. Seaborne there saved my life out in the jungle. So… I followed him here. I felt safe with the man. I mean, if you were out in the jungle, wouldn't you want to be close to those Seaborne crack shots and Captain Englehorn?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Carl, we are in the jungle."

Darby stood slowly and walked closer to Carl. "Aren't you the one responsible for Wilson?"

Carl frowned. He could see where this was going.

"Do you see the captain?" Darby asked, his voice thick with barely controlled rage. "Do you see what Wilson did to him?"

Carl chuckled. "Did you see what Englehorn did to Wilson? That right there is the question, gentlemen."

"We saw," Jimmy spoke up, standing to join Darby. "The captain was defending himself--and Miss Seaborne."

Carl felt a moment of panic as he faced the two sailors. "Look, fellas, I didn't know Wilson would go berserk on me like that--"

"Sure you did," Preston said quickly. "You filmed it, didn't you?"

Carl swallowed tightly.

But before anyone else could say anything, Jake Atkins spoke up. "Enough of this! Let's get off of this godforsaken island once and for all. I'm sick of the place. We can discuss this issue on the ship."

"He's right," Jack said, standing and straightening. "Let's get to the boats."

Carl winced.

Jack immediately noticed his expression. "What?"

"Mr. Wilson and I… moved the boats," Carl said quietly.

"What? Where?" Jack exclaimed.

"Well… they're just… not where you left them," Carl replied.

There was a moment of silence.

"Clytie, help me stand," Englehorn whispered.

"Eric--"

"Please, Clytie," he insisted.

"All right." Clytie stood, gently pulling the captain up beside her. It was no easy task. He was still shivering with chills and quite weak from blood loss. Finally, she had him on his feet, leaning against the wall and her shoulder for support.

David noticed what was going on and quickly stood by Englehorn. "Captain, what are you doing?" he whispered.

"Someone has to do something about this," Englehorn muttered.

Before anyone could blink an eye, the captain had drawn his pistol and was aiming it at Carl Denham.

"Whoa!" Carl exclaimed. "Englehorn--!"

"Shut up," the captain snapped. "I'm sick of your nonsense. You will take us to the boats immediately, or I will shoot you."

Carl's eyes were wide. "Sure. I'll take you," he said quickly.

Englehorn nodded. "Good." He motioned to Schmidt. "Mr. Schmidt, keep an eye--and a gun--trained on Mr. Denham and keep him at the front of the line. If he tries anything, shoot him." He turned to flash a quick smile at Carl.

Carl's mouth dropped open, and he stared at Englehorn for a minute, then quickly regained his composure and turned to Schmidt.

The sailor was leveling a rifle at him.

"You're serious," Carl said to Englehorn.

The captain nodded. "You're right." He motioned with his pistol toward the mouth of the cave. "Go ahead, Carl. Lead the way."

As Carl, prodded by Schmidt, exited the cave, Englehorn closed his eyes and sighed.

"Wow," said David, impressed. "That was good."

"Thank-you," the captain replied. He opened his eyes and looked around, frowning. "We're missing a few men, Driscoll," he said. "Where are Weston and the others who were with you?"

Jack frowned. "They got separated from us a long time ago. I'm not really sure what happened to them. We never did find them."

Englehorn shook his head in frustration. "Not again…"

"I know what happened to them," Carl called back to him.

"What?" Englehorn snapped.

"They're dead," said Carl. "I stumbled across their remains not too long ago. The natives got them."

Englehorn once again closed his eyes. The faces of his men, now dead, flashed across his consciousness.

(LINE)

It was a cloudy, starless, chilly night on Skull Island as the group from the Venture followed Carl toward the coast. Schmidt, silent and steady, followed closely behind the movie producer, rifle ready. Behind him came Bruce and Darby, who had struck up an unlikely friendship, the actor realizing that he could learn a lot from the Irish sailor. Following them were Jack, Ann, David, Clytie, and Englehorn. The captain had refused to be carried, so those who walked close to him were helping him along, occasionally calling for breaks so that he could rest. He was still shaky with chills, and the wound in his shoulder still bled quite badly. Preston, Jimmy, Jake, and Jacobs took up the rear.

Clytie walked close by Englehorn's side, wrapping one arm carefully around his waist. She glanced up at him often, worry darkening her green eyes.

"I'll be all right," he said to her quietly as they moved slowly along.

"You'd better be," she replied fiercely.

He smiled briefly at her, hoping that she didn't notice how heavily he was leaning on her, how hard he was grasping Jack's shoulder.

David watched their exchange closely. If the captain made it--which David sincerely hoped that he would--he and Clytie would have to sort out their relationship. How could something like that work? Clytie was the privileged goddaughter of a very wealthy American man, and Englehorn was the captain of a rusty little tramp steamer, a German. David began to worry about their future together. Then he saw the way they looked at each other, the way they touched. He remembered watching Englehorn take the bullet for Clytie, watching Clytie tend to her man's wounds. The young archaeologist smiled. They certainly had a chance. Clytie wasn't the kind of girl to let something she loved get away from her without a fight. And if he understood the captain as well as he thought he did, David was sure Englehorn was the same way.

Clytie glanced back at her brother and noticed him watching her. "What, David?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing, Clytie. Just thinking."

The party moved along slowly through the jungle, soon immerging into a clearing. The giant wall was clearly visible not far ahead.

Jack noticed how pale Englehorn's face was and called for a halt. So the group rested in the shadow of the ancient, mighty wall, right near the bridge that led to the gate.

As Clytie helped him sit down slowly, the captain called up to Carl, "Denham, where are we going now?"

"Through the gate," Carl called back. "The boats aren't far from there. Joe and I found a cove in the rocks and hid them there."

"Whatever possessed you to do something like that, Carl?" Bruce asked irritably. The movie producer was just making it harder for them to get off the stupid island!

"Come one, guys," Carl chided lightly. "It was just a joke!"

"Another joke like that, and I am throwing you over the side of my ship," said Englehorn.

His crewmen cheered.

"Good one, Captain," David said. He thought for a moment to tell Englehorn of his witty conversation with Carl, but decided that now was not the time.

Clytie studied the captain's face. "Eric… How are you feeling? Be honest with me."

He smiled wryly. "I feel terrible. But not quite as bad as before." He shuddered convulsively with another violent chill. "I think I'll make it."

"Here." Clytie helped him drink from her canteen.

"Thank-you," he said quietly after drinking his fill. He closed his eyes. "I'm so weary, Clytie," he whispered.

Clytie felt her heart constrict. "Eric, we can make some sort of litter for you if you don't think you can walk."

He shook his head. "No. Just let me rest, and I'll be fine."

"All right." She tilted her head to the side to study him for a moment, admiring his stubborn determination. Then suddenly, gently, she leaned forward to kiss him on the lips.

Englehorn returned the kiss, then smiled crookedly at her when she pulled away. "I'll let that be my strength," he said softly.

After a few minutes of rest, Jack knelt beside the captain. "Captain, I think we should get moving," he said, his voice low and taut with worry. "There's something behind us. We need to get across that bridge."

Englehorn nodded. "Get them moving, Driscoll."

Jack stood and called to the group, "Let's go! We need to get across that bridge and through that gate before we rest again!"

Clytie and David helped Englehorn to his feet. The captain quickly turned to Jack. "What's behind us?" he asked.

Jack shrugged. "I don't know. Preston and Jimmy heard something back there. I don't think we should take any chances finding out what it is."

Englehorn nodded. "I agree. Let's go."

Once again, the group moved on, this time heading toward the bridge.

At the back of the line, Jimmy, Jake, Preston, and Jacobs kept glancing nervously behind them. Something was moving around in the jungle, something large. They could tell by the swaying of the treetops that it was getting closer and closer to the clearing…

(A/N: Not a long chapter, I know. Anyway, I hope you guys are still enjoying this! I'm still loving writing it! Keep up those reviews! I love 'em! Yay! Chapter Twenty is on the way, and I can promise you, it will be full of action and lots of Englehorn/Clytie interaction!)