CHAPTER 241
The fire was all but out. The men from the chopper were beating what was left of it down with shovels and burying it with sand.
Dr. Levine was still watching the scene play out with a lost look on her face.
Marty Guitierrez was standing beside her. "Maybe its time you went back to California, Rich."
She didn't look at him. "Go to hell."
Marty sighed and looked up the beach. A glint in the sky caught his attention. It looked like another helicopter was approaching.
Nearby one of the men who was smacking out the fire turned the spade end of his shovel upward and waved it at Marty. When Marty looked the man gestured that they were leaving.
Marty turned to Dr. Levine. "Rich?"
"We'll find our own way back," she scowled into the air.
Arby, Kelly, and Diego were within earshot. They were repacking what was left of their scattered equipment.
Kelly observed Arby's face. She knew the look. He was about to argue with Dr. Levine. As Arby lifted on his haunches she snatched his wrist and shook her head vigorously. Kelly knew how much he had grown tired of trudging through the Costa Rican wilderness, but she also knew the hell that would raise if Arby suggested in the slightest that they get on that helicopter.
"Don't you dare," Kelly mouthed.
Arby slouched in disappointment and continued to help pack their things.
"Have it your own way, Rich," Marty was saying to Dr. Levine.
The sound of the distant helicopter was now pulsing through the air and catching the attention of everyone. Marty was looking at it again, and there was no doubt it was headed for the campsite. He frowned, thinking that this was an unusual amount of air traffic for such a remote location. Whoever it was must have also heard about the unusual carcass.
Indeed the helicopter came straight toward the camp and landed directly opposite the first chopper. As its rotors wound down the first helicopter began to fire up. Two men hung out the door seeming to argue over whether or not they should do something about the new arrival. One of them pointed to the scorched campsite. Marty watched as he appeared to gesture that there was no longer a concern. They both shrugged in agreement, and then one of them flagged Marty and yelled.
"¡Vamonos!"
Marty looked back at the second helicopter. Someone was getting out.
