1643 Words, this chapter.
Chapter Six, Transfer 3: Rio
The next day, Jess and the team were inside the Tijuca Forest inside Rio itself. "It's beautiful!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe we're still in the city."
"I know," said Private Fuego. "It's the largest Urban Forest in the world."
Jess was speechless. She and Paula stood on a rope bridge, about twenty feet off the ground. They were inside the trees, suspended over a paved foot path.
"Amazing," said Jess with awe. She moved closer to one of the large trees that anchored the bridge. Bird singing filled the air. She walked to the end of the bridge, and just above her, sitting on a branch, was a large green and blue macaw.
"Wow!" Jess cried, quickly stifling herself. "Oops," she whispered, but the macaw wasn't startled. "I can't believe how close it is."
Paula smiled. "Yes, they live with humans, so they are used to us."
Jess laughed, shaking her head as they walked down the path back to ground level. "I just can't believe the access! Roads, bridges, and foot paths though a rain forest, crazy."
The private laughed. "Yes, but It was worth the expense," she said. "We have many tourists who come for the many attractions inside."
"Hence the need to connect them to the ARC," said Jess. "We don't want tourists to die because the rescuers can't find them in all the trees."
"No, we don't," said Paula.
"Darn. I wish we could sightsee," said Jess.
"You will see some," said Paula. "The major sights bring much revenue, so they are an ARC priority."
Jess grinned. "Luckily for me. Where to next?"
"How do you feel about mountains?"
"Ooh, are we going to see that humungous Jesus statue?"
"Christ the Redeemer," said Paula. "Yes, it is a major tourist site."
"Yay!"
Fuego smiled. "The best place to set up communications would probably be the chapel under the statue."
"Perfect!" said Jess, giggling. "I get to see the statue!"
Paula chuckled.
Sometime later, they were driving back through the forest, after setting up the communications under Christ the Redeemer.
"It was huge!" Jess cried.
Paula, sitting beside her in the back seat, laughed.
"Seriously, that was just…colossal!" Jess cried. "I can't wait to send the photos to Becker and the others. They'll be freaked."
"Honestly?' That is surprising, considering what they have seen," said Paula.
"Oh, they're not jaded or anything. They still get impressed," Jess said, as she smirked. "Even more so if the thing isn't attacking or trying to eat them."
The driver of the truck laughed.
"I didn't think they spoke English," Jess said.
Paula smiled. "Raoul does," she said, nodding to the driver.
"It is broke," he said with a smile.
Jess giggled.
"Yes, bits and pieces," said Paula, "But it is more than the others. Although the ones assigned to you at least understand 'danger,' 'first aid,' and 'help."
Jess burst into giggles. "In time for my arrival, I suppose."
Paula laughed and nodded.
Jess settled in her seat, relaxing. "So far, today is my favorite day in Rio. The communication fixes were quick and easy, and I've seen some sights." She sighed happily.
Paula looked over at her and smiled.
Just then the unmistakable sound of an anomaly alert went off in Jess' bag.
She barely had time to retrieve the portable ADD when there was a loud roar of wind, an inhuman screeching noise, and the sound of skidding tires as the truck swerved wildly.
"Ah!"
"Raoul!"
"Hold on!"
Raoul struggled with the wheel, trying to keep from careening off the road. He managed to make a controlled crash of sorts, into a clump of trees.
There were Portuguese shouts.
"Jess, are you alright?"
"Yes, you?"
Paula nodded. She spoke Portuguese to the others and they all answered with "sim."
"No one's hurt," said Paula.
"Fuego!" cried Raoul. His face was white, and he was peering out the windows. "Something…dove…on us," he said, through gasps.
Paula quickly pulled Jess from the window and turned to speak Portuguese to the men. One climbed over the seat, taking Jess' place at the window. They all scanned the sky.
Pedro broke in on the emergency channel. "We have an anomaly."
"We know," Paula said quietly, still scanning the sky. "We have a large flying creature over the road coming from Christ the Redeemer. It forced us off the road."
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, we're all fine."
"The portable ADD says we're close to the anomaly," said Jess.
"Pedro, close the road."
"Sim, Private, I issue that now."
Jess smiled. "You're a cad, but you're efficient."
"Thank you, Miss Parker."
"Where's the anomaly, Pedro?"
"I do not know, yet," he said, with an air of confidence. "I shall know momentarily." Jess chuckled.
"I see nothing above the statue, or in vicinity of the chapel's cameras. I shall try satellite view."
The truck grew quiet. No one moved or talked. Then, Raoul pointed out the windshield. "There!"
They all moved so they could see. It was hard, over the cover they now had to see it, but Jess could make out a large mass, circling over the road.
"Pedro, the creature is…about fifteen or so feet in wingspan," said Paula. "It might be a pterosaur, it does have a long beak on its head."
"Understood. I am reading the anomaly in the area, but I do not have visual," Pedro said. "Hold on, I am getting picture now of the creature."
They waited.
"That is big bird!"
"Pterosaurs aren't birds," said Paula.
"No, they are not," he answered. "This one is, according to the creature identifying software Miss Parker installed."
"If it says it's a bird, it's a bird," said Jess. "Connor created the identifying parameters. He knows his stuff."
Paula nodded.
"The creature is a Pelagornis," said Pedro, "from late Miocene, wing span 15 to 20 feet."
"Yeah, that's about right," said Fuego.
"It had feathers, making it less successful in long term survival than pterosaurs."
"Sounds like Connor's files alight," said Jess. "He gives us more info than we need."
"You may need to know this," said Pedro. "It had a fearsome pointed beak with teeth-like appendages that could snatch large prehistoric fish. Ugh. I would stay clear of that."
"We intend to, Pedro," said Paula. "Raoul? How is the truck?"
"No loss of gas or electricity," he said, "and I do not see smoke. I think it is functional."
"Do we want to move?" asked Jess, eying the giant bird.
Paula didn't answer.
"Private!" screamed Pedro. "There are cars on the road, heading your way!"
Paula cursed in Portuguese, or at least it sounded like it to Jess. "Idiots!"
"What are they doing?" asked Pedro. "They run toward the bird!"
Just then Jess heard loud, horrible screeching.
"It is diving for a van!" cried Pedro.
"Jess, get out," commanded Paula.
"What?"
"You're safer out of the truck, with what we're going to do. Gonzalez, go with her."
The man who had climbed beside her now pulled her out of the car. He dragged her further inside the trees that lined the road. He spoke in Portuguese to her.
She stared.
He cursed in Portuguese. "Excuse," he said. "Low. Be… low." He made a movement with his hand that indicated she should crouch close to the ground.
She nodded, and obeyed.
They watched as the truck crawled out of the ravine and raced toward the incoming cars. Jess wished they had a worse view.
The van driver apparently thought he would play chicken with the thing. It drove straight at it as it dove.
"They're going to crash into each other!" she screamed.
They did. The van hit the bird in its chest. They were about the same size, but the bird had a leaner mass to it then the dinosaurs Jess had seen.
It was struck and laid on the van, dazed.
And that was the problem. The van had no visibility now, with a giant prehistoric bird draped over its front. It spun out of control, rushing toward the ARC truck.
Jess watched as Raoul maneuvered out of the way. It pulled over.
The van raced, driverless, hurling down the street. It kept going until it went off road and rammed into trees.
Two soldiers jumped out of the ARC truck, stopping the other cars and corralling the occupants. The truck raced to the van.
Jess and Gonzalez rushed over. Paula and the others beat them.
The van was a mess. Its front end was ripped apart, covered with parts of the bird that had also ripped off in the crash.
"Yuck," said Jess. She then noticed the top of the van had been ripped into, flesh, gore and blood covering it. "Please. Tell me that's all from the creature."
Paula gravely shook her head. "I wish I could Jess. Everyone inside is dead I'm afraid."
Jess shook her head. Through the carnage and wreckage she made out one whole adult body, several parts, and two whole smaller bodies. "Oh, God! Children!" She turned away to cry. She felt like vomiting.
"I don't know why they didn't stay at the chapel, where they were safe," said Paula, shaking her head sadly. She sighed. "It looks like the creature ripped inside, feeding even as it hung on for its life."
Jess shuddered.
Raoul looked at Jess. "She needs not be here," he said.
Paula nodded. "Will you be alright, until help arrives?"
"Sim," nodded Raoul. The soldiers with him nodded too.
"Backup is a few minutes away," said Pedro. "Take meu amor from there. Oh, I meant 'amor' in friendship, not with meu cad-ness."
Jess had to chuckle. "Thank you, Pedro. I appreciate your friendship."
"Sim."
"Come on, Jess," said Paula. They climbed back into the ARC truck and left the carnage for the serenity of the rest of the Tijuca.
End of Chapter Six