CHAPTER 56

Seth and Kyra came to the end of the tunnel and stopped. It was clear that a dirt road had once extended onward from the bore, but it had long since grown over with jungle. A dense canopy blocked the sky, and a multitude of tangled undergrowth was going to make any passing difficult.

Seth looked at the blockade of foliage with an unenthusiastic expression. "This seems like a good way to get lost."

"Well, we're already stranded, so why not get lost while we're at it?" Kyra tugged at him. "Come on. We don't have much of a choice." She dove her arms among the greenery and pried apart branches and leaves. "It looks like it gets a little clearer if we cut to the right," Kyra said as she climbed in.

Seth followed her in. "This also seems like a great way to get eaten." he muttered.

Within the jungle the wind rushing moan of the tunnel became muted. The lighting was low. There was a definite difference between the air on this side of the volcanic ridge and the other. Before crossing the tunnel it had been muggy, like breathing through a steaming washcloth. Now the air felt fresh and circulated.

"I hear the ocean," Kyra said as she pushed through more vegetation.

Seth heard it too. There was a steady rolling of waves that didn't sound very far away. He perked up. "Do you think we're near the docks? Maybe there's people there."

Kyra promptly shot down his bubble. "No. The docks are on the south side of the island. I don't know what this is."

Seth stumbled on a root and fell on his hands.

Kyra shot a palm down and helped him up. "Ok?"

He nodded and brushed himself off. "Do you think anyone is looking for us?"

"Maybe a hungry velociraptor."

"That's not funny."

Kyra continued walking. "Nobody knows we're missing."

"Maybe Dallas and Shelly made it back to the village. Maybe they told someone."

"Maybe." Kyra shrugged. "But our best bet is to keep walking." She put a hand up to her ear. "Hey. Listen."

Seth still heard the ocean. "What?"

Kyra trudged ahead faster. "There's a creek."

Sure enough, within moments they were standing in a quietly gurgling stream. It was only a few inches deep and bubbled over a maze of weathered rocks.

Kyra cupped her hands and gulped mouthful after mouthful of the refreshing water. When she looked up she noticed Seth was giving her an odd look, something akin to disapproval and perhaps even a little disgust.

"Aren't you thirsty?" She asked.

"This is Central America. Aren't you concerned about diseases and stuff?"

Kyra chuckled and splashed water up at his face. "I think there's bigger things to worry about on this island than that. Besides, it's hot. I know you're gonna pass out if you don't drink something soon."

Seth was still hesitant.

"Oh, come on." She splashed more water at him.

Seth cracked a grin and kicked water back at her. The next thing they knew they were running around in circles, throwing splash after splash at each other. Seth sprawled on his belly in the creek and pretended to swim. He dipped his chin and gulped down huge mouthfuls of water.

Kyra laughed. "That's more like it." She flopped on her back and acted like she was doing a back float.

For a brief moment they both forgot about the situation they were in. Everything was ok again until they heard a ferocious bellow from above. In that moment they both froze.

"What was that?" Seth sat up in the creek.

Kyra got to her feet with a worried look. Her eyes scanned the canopy.

A large shadow rushed across the tree tops, dragging a lashing wind in its wake. The branches rattled and leaves tore loose.

"It's gotta be as big as an airplane!" Seth exclaimed.

Kyra watched the leaves flutter around them and touch down in the stream. "I think we should go."

Seth nodded. "Yeah."

Kyra grabbed his arm and pulled him up. "Come on."

They followed the flow of the stream, moving closer to the sound of the ocean.

"Do you think we should be going this way?" Seth asked.

"Why?"

"Because you're leading us toward the ocean. Once we're on the beach we'll be out in the open, and whatever that thing is will have a really easy time getting at us."

"We just need to be able to get our bearings. If we don't we could be wandering around in this jungle without a clue all day."

"All I'm saying is, I don't think we should be putting ourselves out in the open like this."

Kyra stopped and looked Seth square in the face. She didn't hide any of her frustration. "Do you have a better plan, Seth?"

Seth looked around uncomfortably. He didn't know how to navigate through the jungle any more than she did. He shook his head. "No."

Above the trees there was another terrifying bellow. It sounded much farther away this time.

Kyra put her hands on Seth's shoulders. "I'm sorry. If we're gonna make it out of this alive I really think we ought to get out in the open." She dropped her hands and pulled Seth along by the wrist. "Come on. If we get out in the open we're more likely to be spotted by a camera. When that happens somebody is bound to come and get us in no time."

Above the trees Seth heard another bellow. It was closer again. The flying beast was circling back around. "I just don't want to become something's lunch in the meantime."