Chapter 9: To Keep A Promise


Josiah's POV-

If Tholestes was seeing Pava and mating with her as Fern had told me, then what was I to think about that? Not much. This was a raptor problem that had nothing to do with me what so ever. Besides, I was here to document the dinosaurs again. Not to get involved.

Still, I felt uneasy about the whole thing.

I was heading back to the church now, Fern leading me back. I wanted to stay and say hello again to Tholestes, but didn't. Somewhere along the line I knew that my old friend would come and see me when Fern went back to the nest.

The sun wasn't down just yet and I wanted to fix-up the church when I got back to the town. With my new equipment and some of my old cleaning stuff, I could make the old building new again. At least on the inside, that is.

When I got back to the town and got my flashlight, I went straight to the communications building to turn on the power. A few sparks met me when I turned on the main power switch. The chugging sound of the power generators was a welcomed sound to my ears. Power was back on.

The main lights in the church were long-gone and so were the room lights on the upper floors and basement. Fern had stayed around to watch me work. I liked having her here as company. After 37 minutes of cleaning, scrubbing, and moving, I finally had the church the way I liked it from before. The ceiling was still a problem, but hey, what can you do?

Before she left for her home, Fern came up to me and said, "Josiah, could you do me a favor?"

"Sure," I said, taking off my work gloves. "what is it, Fern?"

"Could you promise not to tell Terias or anyone in our pack about Tholestes and Pava?"

That threw me. Why would she want me to promise that?

Fern went on, "I know that you and my brother are friends and everything, but the situation could become worse if you tell the clan what I told you. They could start suspecting that my brother is up to something every time he goes off on his own to patrol. Tholestes might even get mad at me for saying something to you about it. So could you promise not to tell him?"

I thought it over and then nodded. "Alright, I won't say anything to him. But you probably should tell him that what he's doing is wrong."

Fern snorted and rubbed her snout with her forelimb. "And how am I suppose to so that?"

I shrugged my shoulders before closing the doors behind me. "He's your brother, Fern. Not mine. You have to figure that out on your own."

I know I wasn't being much help, but I did promise not to say anything to Tholestes. How could I?

I walked back upstairs to my hidden room and sat on the make-shift bed. The room had been cleaned somewhat and there was less cobwebs in the corners and walls. The days work hadn't made me tired that much so I went to work on origination my equipment.

Night had fallen upon the town at around 7 and I was starting to feel a little tired. I had brought out my portable battery-powered lamb and turned it on. The lights may not have started working as they should, but I would find a way to fix them later when I had the time.

I went down to the ground floor and was about to close the doors and barricade them, when something in the air caught my nose. I paused. Then I sniffed the air again. The smell was very faint but I recognized it. It smelled sort of like...weed.

I knew the foul, disgusting stench of marijuana anywhere. I had smelled it at schools and around my block so many times it was not funny to my nose anymore. The stuff was something I would never partake in. It was just wrong and stupid. And nothing anyone told me would convince me otherwise. But what was that smell doing here? Was it possible that other people were here on the island as well? And if that were true, what were they doing here on Isla Sorna?

(*)

Edward Sega paced inside his private tent, the air inside thick and hot with the skunky-like smell of marijuana. He'd only sucked on the one cigarette for a few minutes during what free time he had before another shipment went to the mainland. In short, he was on a break. The brand, along with the powdery heroin in his system, made his head swim. But he didn't give a shit. This sort of brand was perfect for selling. And for making a lot of money. The kind of money he prearranged on getting very soon.

His double-cross was not in motion just yet. He had to wait for Rafael to have all the money here at the compound.

Rafael wasn't letting his guard down in his main tent, unfortunately. Two guards were posted their right now, machine guns armed and ready. No one was allowed near the tent except for Rafael and himself. Rafael had been very serious about protecting his money. Two briefcases full of the good stuff were half of what Edward had his eyes on. Both of his thumbs itched with anticipation of getting his hands on that money. But he couldn't do anything stupid just yet. To steal and take-off with the cash now would only make him half as rich. And a dead man if he were to ever get caught. The third and final briefcase with cash would arrive within a week. Rafael had already left for the mainland by boat that afternoon. In his place he had left his chief of security in charge, a man named Willie Mead from south Africa. The man was black in his mid thirties and was well built. He wore shades and a military-like outfit that seemed better in the days when it was new, and a red tattered beret on his bald head. He was well muscled and he wore an expensive-looking gold watch on his right wrist. In his other hand was a machete.

Edward didn't like this guy.

Willie Mead was one of the most slippery and dangerous crooks in south Africa around. His method of taking what he wanted involved many things that included murder. His group of men, along with Rafael's own unit, were mostly made up of south African gunmen for hire.

Edward hadn't come to the island with his own men. He was alone in his own scheme. Besides, he didn't like this lot. Didn't like them at all. They made too much noise when things got quite and they drank and whistled while firing shots in the air, wasting what precious bullets they had in their guns.

And sometime they would go hunting for dinosaurs. They didn't go too far inland though. Drunk and rowdy as they were, they never dared to go anywhere where predators lurk. Once or twice, when Rafael was taking trips to the mainland, a small group would go beyond the safety of the compound and recklessly start shooting at a herd of animals, just to get their jollies from boredom. Of course, Edward didn't care what they did. Their blind loyalty to their boss was what was going to get them killed sooner or later.

Deciding he had enough of his marijuana for one day, Edward went outside his tent, feeling the cool breeze of the evening wash over his hot skin. The tent had been stiflingly blistering. And being in the clothes he had on didn't help. He wore black pants, an undershirt, a button shirt, a pair of army boots that didn't fit the kind of weather on this tropical island.

Rafael's men were dressed in the same kind of clothes. Shorts and undershirts, sunglasses and caps, and boots. Some were even wearing sandals or were barefooted.

Edward eyed each and everyone of them. Even though he was armed with a handgun of his own, Edward knew he stood no chance of getting the rest of the money off the island. Especially without a boat.

Most of the supplies and vehicles were brought here by two ferryboats that Rafael had procured by thieving them from ports in San Jose. Edward didn't know about ferryboats but he did know how to drive a speedboat. The docks nearby had two speedboats, one of which was gone.

Edward only needed one to make a speedy get away. Once he had all three of the briefcases, of course. After that it would be smooth sailing back to his home in Jamaica.

The hard part was just being patient. But like his old mama use to tell him when he was young; all good things come to those who wait.


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(Sorry about the late chapter here, folks, but getting a new DS 3D and Pokemon OR and playing nonstop can do that.

Other chapters will take just as lone, but hey, that's how I work.)