Little red flags were popping up around every turn. Why were Mark Andy and I even going on this mission? We worked with test tubes and clip boards, not army operations. Like Melissa had said, for whatever reason Evan trusted us to get the job done. And we had no choice now, we were going onto Isla Ciaru whether we liked it or not. Simon and Vincent hopped out of the life boat once the waters were waist deep. They pulled us onto the rocky beach and the rest of us climbed out. Melissa scoured a map before pointing us East.
"What animals are on the island?" I whispered to one of the body guards, Muhammad I believe.
"Dinosaurs," he stated stoically. I didn't bother asking him to elaborate. I had a feeling he had a quota of three syllables a day and had just met that mark.
"Just stay close Arbor. Dr. Richars wouldn't have sent us here if he thought we were going to die," Andy said comfortingly. I adjusted the backpack of eggs and plowed ahead, keeping pace with Melissa.
"Do you work closely with Evan?" I questioned, slightly out of breath from her brisk pace.
"I've never met him before. I was hired for this mission by one of his assistants. He was too busy on Isla Nublar to speak to me himself."
I kept my head down and marched along in silence. We came across a footprint at some point during the hike. I recognized it as a T-rex and gulped. Andy and Mark took a few steps back as they saw the footprint as well. Melissa studied it closely before point the group in another direction, hopefully out of the dinosaur's path. I wondered if it was too late to turn around and go back to the beach. But Melissa had said if we stayed in one place to long something would stumble upon us and promptly eat us. I was safer in a group.
I still couldn't believe Evan had tricked me into going on this mission with the false assumption I would be safe. Every time I thought about how he promised it would be an easy drop off, in and out, I got more angry. I could die on this mission, or get hurt, or left behind if we didn't hit the 96 hour mark. Was my life so little to him?
Remembering the bracelet he had given me I decided to toss it. I fished around in my bag for a second before I found the leather and turquoise beaded accessory. I hooked my fingers around it and flung it at the nearest tree. Something white fell out of the bracelet. I glanced around but no-one had seen. I quickly pocketed the bracelet and slip of paper that had fallen out.
"Um, I need to pee," I whispered to Melissa. She rolled her eyes and checked her watch.
"3 minute rest brake," she declared. The body guards sat down on the grass and opened up their canteens to re hydrate. My assistants Mark and Andy did the same. I quickly scurried into the bushes to look at the paper. Evan had probably hid the paper int eh bracelet as a message, but what could it possibly say? I'm sorry you're walking into dino infested lands?
I unraveled the paper and looked closely and the tiny font.
Arbor, by now I'm sure you know this mission is more dangerous than it first appeared. I had no choice, I need you on Ciaru for a reason. I told you earlier back in my test the government was going to rehabilitate Isla Nubar for their experiments. I was lying, Isla Ciaru is the one where they are going to perform their experiments. Everyone on that mission is walking into a trap and there will be no boat waiting for you when you drop the eggs off. This was the only way I could think to warn you without the government finding out. After you drop off the eggs find your way to the South East beach instead of the Northern one you docked on. I've arranged a secret boat to get you all of the island.
My breath was caught in my throat at the revelation. The government had deceived us all into walking straight into their experiment. Dr. Ricahrds must have found out somehow and had been trying to warn me without being found out. I looked around the forest warily. Were there hidden cameras watching my every move? How could I tell the group if we were being watched?
Maybe I wasn't supposed to tell the group, that's why Evan had only given me the note. I would have to get us to the South East beach somehow without explicitly telling everyone why. In the note Evan said to drop off the eggs before going to the beach, meaning we still had to complete the mission. I supposed I would just go along with Melissa until we reached the nesting grounds.
