Kevin and the women were happy to comply on rubbery legs. The two men followed. Once out of the cave, the three friends had to squint in the bright, hazy sunlight. Below the face of the cliff were a half dozen more animal handlers. They were busy rolling up tranquilized bonobos in reed mats and lifting them onto a trailer where they were carefully positioned side by side.
“There’s one more up here in this cave,” the man with the flashlight yelled down to the others.
“I know you two,” Melanie said once she got a good view of the men who’d come into the cave. “You’re Dave Turner and Daryl Christian.”
The men ignored Melanie. Dave, the taller of the two, pulled a two-way radio out of a holder at his waist. Daryl started climbing down the giant steps.
“Turner to base,” Dave said into the instrument.
“I hear you loud and clear,” Bertram said on the other end.
“We got the last of the bonobos and we’re loading up,” Dave said.
“Excellent work,” Bertram said.
“We found Kevin Marshall and the two women in a cave,” Dave said.
“In what state?” Bertram asked.
“Filthy but otherwise apparently healthy,” Dave said.
“Give me that thing!” Melanie said, reaching for Dave’s radio. Suddenly, she didn’t like being talked about disparagingly by an underling.
Dave fended her off. “What do you want me to do with them?”
Melanie put her hands on her hips. She was incensed. “What do you mean ‘what to do with them’?”
“Bring them to the animal center,” Bertram said. “I’ll inform Siegfried Spallek. I’m sure he’ll want to talk with them.”
“Ten-four,” Dave said. He snapped off the radio.
“What’s the meaning of this kind of treatment?” Melanie demanded. “We’ve been prisoners out here for more than two days.”
Dave shrugged. “We just follow orders, ma’am. It seems as if you two have riled up the front office big time.”
“What on earth is happening to the bonobos?” Kevin asked. When he’d first seen what the men were doing, he’d assumed it had all been for the purpose of their rescue. But the more he thought about it he couldn’t understand why the animals were being loaded onto a trailer.
“The bonobos’ good life on the island is a thing of the past,” Dave said. “They’ve been warring out here and killing each other. We’ve found four corpses as evidence, all bashed with stone wedges. So we’re caging them at the staging area in preparation for taking them all to the animal center. It’ll be six-foot concrete cells from now on as far as I know.”
Kevin’s mouth slowly fell open. In spite of his hunger, exhaustion, and aches and pains, he felt a profound sadness for these unfortunate creatures who’d not asked to be created or born. Their lives had suddenly and arbitrarily been doomed to monotonous incarceration. Their human potential was not to be realized, and their striking accomplishments thus far would be lost.
Daryl and three other men were now on their way up with a litter.
Kevin turned to look back inside the cave. In the far shadows, he could see Arthur’s profile near the lip of the chamber where Kevin and the women had been kept. A tear formed in the corner of Kevin’s eye as he imagined how Arthur was going to feel when he awoke to find himself encased in steel.
“All right, you three,” Dave said. “Let’s start back. Are you strong enough to walk or you want to ride on the trailer?”
“How do you move the trailer?” Kevin asked.
“We’ve got an all-terrain vehicle on the island,” Dave said.
“I’ll walk, thank you,” Melanie said icily.
Kevin and Candace nodded in agreement.
“We’re awfully hungry, though,” Kevin said. “The animals have only been offering us insects, worms, and marsh grass.”
“We’ve got some candy bars and soft drinks in a locker on the front of the trailer,” Dave said.
“That should be just fine,” Kevin said.
The climb down the rock face was the hardest part of the trip. Once on the flat, the walking was easy, especially since the animal handlers had cleared the trail for the all-terrain vehicle.
Kevin was impressed with how much the workers had accomplished in so short a time. As he emerged into the marshy field south of Lago Hippo, he wondered if the canoe was still hidden in the reeds. He guessed it probably was. There was no reason it would have been found.
Candace was elated when she saw the earth-covered timber bridge and said as much. She’d been worrying how they were going to get across the Rio Diviso.
“You people have been busy,” Kevin commented.
“We had no choice,” Dave said. “We had to round up these animals in the quickest time possible.”
Kevin, Melanie, and Candace began to get seriously fatigued on the last mile segment from the Rio Diviso bridge to the staging area. It was especially apparent when they had to step off the trail for the all-terrain vehicle to pass on its way back for the last trailer-load of bonobos. Stopping and standing just for a moment made their legs feel like lead.
Everybody breathed a sigh of relief when they emerged from the twilight of the jungle into the bustling staging area in the clearing. Another half dozen blue-coveralled workers were toiling under the hot sun. They were quickly unloading the bonobos from a second trailer and getting them into individual steel cages before the animals revived.
The cages were four-foot square steel boxes, making it impossible for all but the youngest animals to stand up. The only source of ventilation was through the bars in the doors. The doors were secured by an angled hasp that latched around the side beyond the animal’s reach. Kevin was able to catch glimpses of terrified bonobos cowering within the cages’ shadows.
Such small cages were supposed to be used only for transport, but a forklift was laboriously moving them into the shade of the north-facing wall of the jungle, suggesting they were staying on the island. One of the workers was manning a hose from a gasoline-powered pump and spraying the cages and the animals with river water.
“I thought you said the bonobos were going to the animal center?” Kevin asked.
“Not today,” Dave said. “For the moment, there is no place to put them. It’ll be tomorrow or the next day at the very latest.”
There was no trouble getting over to the mainland because the telescoping bridge had been deployed. It was constructed of steel and had a hollow, drumlike sound as they trodded across. Parked alongside the bridge mechanism was Dave’s pickup truck.
“Hop in,” Dave said, while pointing into the truck’s bed.
“Just one minute!” Melanie snapped. They were her first words since leaving the cave. “We’re not riding in the back of a truck.”
“Then you’ll walk,” Dave said. “You’re not riding in my cab.”
“Come on, Melanie,” Kevin urged. “It will be more pleasant back here in the open air.” Kevin gave Candace a hand.
Dave went around and got in behind the wheel.
Melanie resisted for another minute. With her hands on her hips, her legs spread apart, and her lips pressed together, she looked like a young girl on the verge of a temper tantrum.
“Melanie, it’s not that far,” Candace said. She reached out her hand. Reluctantly, Melanie took it.
“I didn’t expect a hero’s welcome,” Melanie complained. “But I didn’t expect this kind of treatment.”
After the damp oppressiveness of the cave and the moist hothouse of the jungle, the breezy ride in the back of the truck was unexpectedly pleasant. The bed was filled with reed mats that had been used to transport the animals, and they provided adequate cushion. The mats had a rather rank smell, but the group guessed they did, too.
They lay on their backs and watched patches of the late-afternoon sky appear between the branches of the overhead canopy of trees.
“What do you think they are going to do to us?” Candace said. “I don’t want to g
o back in that jail.”
“Let’s hope they just fire us on the spot,” Melanie said. “I’m ready to pack my bag and say goodbye to the Zone, the project, and Equatorial Guinea. I’ve had it.”
“I can only hope it will be that easy,” Kevin said. “I’m also worried about the animals. They’ve been given life sentences.”
“There’s not much we can do,” Candace said.
“I wonder,” Kevin said. “I wonder what animal-rights groups would say about this situation.”
“Now, don’t say anything like that until we get the hell out of here,” Melanie said. “That would drive everybody bananas.”
They entered the eastern end of town, passing the soccer field and tennis center on their right. Both were in use, particularly the tennis center. Every court was taken.
“An experience like this makes you feel less important than you thought you were,” Melanie commented while glancing at the players. “You’re hidden away for two agonizing days and everything goes on just as it did before.”
They all pondered Melanie’s comment as they unconsciously braced for the sharp right-hand turn they knew was coming up to take them to the animal center. But instead, after the truck slowed, it stopped. Kevin sat up and looked ahead. He saw Bertram’s Jeep Cherokee.
“Siegfried wants you to drive directly to Kevin’s house,” Bertram called to Dave.
“Okay!” Dave called back.
The truck lurched forward as Dave pulled out behind Bertram.
Kevin lay back down. “Well, that’s a surprise. Maybe we’re not going to be treated that badly after all.”
“Maybe we can get them to drop Candace and me at our places,” Melanie said. “They’re more or less on the way.” She looked down at herself. “The first thing I’m going to do is take a shower and change clothes. Only then am I going to eat.”
Kevin got his legs under him and kneeled behind the truck’s cab. He rapped on the rear window until he got Dave’s attention. He then relayed Melanie’s request. The response from Dave was a wave of dismissal.
Kevin repositioned himself on his back. “I guess you have to go to my house first,” he said.
As soon as they hit the cobblestones, the ride was so jarring that they all sat up. Rounding the last turn, Kevin looked ahead expectantly. He was as eager to take a shower as Melanie. Unfortunately what he saw was not encouraging. Siegfried and Cameron were standing out in front of his house along with four heavily armed Equatoguinean soldiers. One of the soldiers was an officer.
“Uh-oh,” Kevin said. “This doesn’t look promising after all.”
The truck came to a halt. Dave hopped out and came around to put down the tailgate. Kevin was the first to climb out on stiff legs. Melanie and Candace followed.
Preparing himself for the inevitable, Kevin walked over to where Siegfried and Cameron were standing. He knew Melanie and Candace were right behind. Bertram, who’d parked in front of the pickup truck, joined them. No one looked particularly happy.
“We had hoped you’d taken an unannounced holiday,” Siegfried said scornfully. “Instead, we find you have willfully disobeyed standing orders not to trespass on Isla Francesca. You’re all to be confined to quarters here, in this house.” He pointed over his shoulder at Kevin’s.
Kevin was about to explain why they’d done what they had when Melanie pushed past him. She was exhausted and irate.
“I’m not staying here and that’s final,” she spat. “In fact, I quit. I’ll be leaving the Zone just as soon as I can make arrangements.”
Siegfried’s upper lip hiked itself up to exaggerate his sneer. After a quick step forward, he backhanded Melanie viciously, knocking her down. Reflexively Candace dropped to one knee to aid her friend.
“Don’t touch her,” Siegfried shouted, as he drew his hand back as if to strike Candace.
Candace ignored him and helped Melanie up into a sitting position. Melanie’s left eye was beginning to swell, and a trickle of blood slowly ran down her cheek.
Kevin winced and looked away, expecting to hear another blow. He admired Candace’s courage and wished that he shared some. But he was terrified of Siegfried and afraid to move.
When another blow did not materialize, Kevin looked back. Candace had Melanie standing shakily on her feet.
“You’ll be leaving the Zone soon enough,” Siegfried snarled at Melanie. “But it will be in the company of the Equatoguinean authorities. You can try your insolence on them.”
Kevin swallowed with difficulty. Being given to the Equatoguineans was what he’d feared most.
“I’m an American,” Melanie sobbed.
“But you are in Equatorial Guinea,” Siegfried snapped. “And you’ve violated Equatoguinean law.”
Siegfried stepped back. “I’ve confiscated all of your passports. Just so you know, they will be given to the local authorities along with your persons. In the meantime, you are to stay here in this house. And I warn you that these soldiers and this officer have been ordered to shoot if you so much as take one step outside. Have I made myself clear?”
“I need some clothes,” Melanie cried.
“I’ve had clothes for both of you women brought from your quarters and thrown into upstairs guest rooms,” Siegfried said. “Believe me, we have thought of everything.”
Siegfried turned to Cameron. “See that these people are taken care of.”
“Of course, sir,” Cameron said. He touched the tip of his hat before turning to Kevin and the women.
“Okay, you’ve heard the manager,” he barked. “Upstairs you go and no trouble, please.”
Kevin started forward but he detoured enough to go by Bertram. “They were using more than fire. They were making tools and even talking with each other.”
Kevin walked on. He’d not seen any reaction in Bertram’s face other than a slight movement of his perpetually elevated eyebrows. But Kevin was certain Bertram had heard him.
As Kevin wearily climbed to the second floor, he saw Cameron already organizing an area for the soldiers and the officer to occupy at the base of the stairs.
Up in the front hall Kevin, Melanie, and Candace eyed each other. Melanie was still sobbing intermittently.
Kevin breathed out. “This is not good news,” he said.
“They can’t do this to us,” Melanie whimpered.
“The point is they are going to try,” Kevin said. “And without our passports we’d have trouble leaving the country even if we were to walk out of here.”
Melanie put her hands on either side of her face and squeezed. “I’ve got to get ahold of myself,” she said.
“I feel numb again,” Candace admitted. “We’ve gone from one form of captivity to another.”
Kevin sighed. “At least they didn’t put us in the jail.”
Outside they heard multiple car engines start and vehicles pull away. Kevin went out onto the veranda and saw all the cars leaving except for Cameron’s. Glancing up into the sky, he noted that twilight was deepening into night. A few stars were visible.
Turning back into the house, Kevin went directly to the phone. Picking it up, he heard what he’d expected to hear: nothing.
“Is there a dial tone?” Melanie asked from behind him.
Kevin replaced the receiver. He shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”
“I didn’t expect so,” Melanie said.
“Let’s take showers,” Candace suggested.
“Good idea,” Melanie said, making an effort to sound positive.
After agreeing to meet in a half hour, Kevin walked back through the dining room and pushed open the kitchen door. As dirty as he was, he didn’t want to enter. The smell of roast chicken teased his nose.
Esmeralda had leaped to her feet the moment the door opened.
“Hello, Esmeralda,” Kevin said.
“Welcome, Mr. Marshall,” Esmeralda said.
“You didn’t come out to greet us like you always do,” Kevin said.
“I was
afraid the manager was still here,” Esmeralda said. “He and the security man had come up earlier to say you were coming home and that you would not be able to leave the house.”
“That’s what they told me, too,” Kevin said.
“I’ve made food for you,” Esmeralda said. “Are you hungry?”
“Very much,” Kevin said. “But there are two guests.”
“I know,” Esmeralda said. “The manager told me that as well.”
“Can we eat in a half hour?” Kevin asked.
“Certainly.”
Kevin nodded. He was lucky to have Esmeralda. He turned to leave, but Esmeralda called out to him. He hesitated, holding the door ajar.
“There are many bad things happening in the town,” she said. “Not only for you and your friends, but also for strangers. I have a cousin who works at the hospital. She told me that four Americans came from New York and went into the hospital. They talked with the patient who got the liver from the bonobo.”
“Oh?” Kevin questioned. Strangers coming from New York to talk to one of the transplant patients was a thoroughly unanticipated development.
“They just walked in,” Esmeralda continued. “They were not supposed to be there. They said they were doctors. Security was called, and the army and the guards came to take them away. They are in the jail.”
“My word,” Kevin commented, while his mind veered off on a tangent. New York reminded him of the surprising call he’d gotten a week previously in the middle of the night from the GenSys CEO, Taylor Cabot. It had been about the patient Carlo Franconi, who’d been killed in New York. Taylor Cabot had asked if someone could figure out what had happened to Carlo from an autopsy.
“My cousin knows some of the soldiers who were there,” Esmeralda continued. “They said that the Americans will be given to the Ministers. If they are, they will be killed. I thought you should know.”
Kevin felt a chill descend his spine. He knew such a fate was what Siegfried had in mind for him, Melanie, and Candace. But who were these Americans? Had they been involved with the autopsy on Carlo Franconi?
“It is all very serious,” Esmeralda said. “And I am afraid for you. I know you went to the forbidden island.”