The Extinction Series , Ellis, Tara [famous ebook reader .txt] 📗

Tyler had no idea what the population of Barinas was, but based on what he saw before they landed, it looked huge. There was also lots of smoke, which Eddy said was probably a result of power issues and civil unrest. Even more reasons to avoid being seen, and get into what Jason called the “less populated region”.

Taking another look at the dense vegetation and exotic plants, Tyler didn’t know if they could get any less populated. Except, after living on Madagascar he was well aware of how you could go from impenetrable jungle to sprawling city in a heartbeat.

If Barinas was like some of the places he’d seen on the island, then Jason was right. Tyler remembered how freaked out and chaotic everything was after only a loud noise. He couldn’t imagine what a large city would be like with a big chunk of the people dead and nothing working.

“I think I can walk,” Hernandez insisted, when Eddy and Jason moved to lift and support him.

“I’m sure you can,” Eddy replied casually. “But for how far? Certainly, no further than one, or possibly two-hundred feet. After that, you won’t be able to help yourself at all and we’ll end up carrying you. It would be easier for everyone involved if you allowed us to help support you now, so that you have a better chance of making it to the road before collapsing again.”

Tyler grimaced at the expected reaction from Hernandez, as his face clouded and his nostrils flared, but Peta quickly intervened. “Eddy’s right,” she said, stepping up close to him. “Now that you’re out of the water, your temperature is going to climb again, and you’re going to feel pretty crappy before we get too far. Just let them help you,” she urged, taking one of his hands. “Because no matter how much you beg and go on about being a liability, we aren’t leaving you here.”

Eddy cleared his throat. “It would be the most—”

“I’d listen to her,” Jason spoke up, cutting Eddy off while glaring at him. “I haven’t known her nearly as long as you, but I don’t need a medical degree to see that she’s stubborn. Plus, you know I’m a Marine. We never leave a man behind. Or woman,” he added, glancing at Peta with a dashing grin.

“Come on.” Devon didn’t wait for permission. He grabbed one of Hernandez’s arms and pulled it across his shoulders. “Time to check your pride, my man. And I’d really like to be inside a vehicle with hard sides and locking doors before it gets dark out here.”

Chuckling, Hernandez didn’t resist when Jason came along his other side. “How far did you say this road is?” he asked, as they began half-carrying him across the clearing.

“Less than a mile,” Jason answered with a nod toward the spot in the trees he’d come back from. It was a small opening in the undergrowth on the other side of the helicopter. “It’s not a marked trail, but it’s definitely used by either animals or maybe fishermen. This is a great spot for either.”

“Let’s go with fishermen,” Devon said, looking around nervously.

Tyler shook his head and grinned at Peta as she rolled her eyes. He suspected Devon wasn’t as scared as he always pretended to be. He’d exchanged enough stories with the guy throughout the past couple of weeks to know Devon had a lot of guts. He also had a lot of experience doing some crazy stuff out in nature, but for some reason always played it down.

Some clouds had moved in during the afternoon to further obscure the hazy sun, and the temperature dropped a good ten degrees as a result. Tyler welcomed the slight relief from the sweltering, humid warmth. But the only thing worse than heat in the tropics was a good rainstorm. Hopefully, it would hold off until they got some transportation. “Why didn’t you just grab the truck when you saw it?” he asked Jason. Tyler had wanted to grill him with a dozen other questions about what he’d seen as soon as he was back, but everyone had started talking at once, and Jason was obviously hot and irritated by then. Waiting for a better opportunity had seemed the smarter thing to do.

Marty loped around them, sniffing at everything he could find. Tyler hoped that if there was some sort of terrifying animal lurking nearby ready to spring on them, the dog would alert them to it.

Jason was keeping a quick pace and carrying most of Hernandez’s weight, so he didn’t try and look back when he answered. “Because I couldn’t tell for certain if the farm was deserted. If there’s a problem, I want you guys out here on the road waiting to make a quick exit.”

“What do you mean by problem?” Peta asked. “If there’s someone there, we’ll just try the next place.”

Eddy looked back at Peta from where he was leading the group onto the trail, and Tyler braced himself for what he was pretty sure was going to be an unpopular answer.

“It could be some distance until we’re able to find another viable vehicle,” Eddy stated in a very condescending tone. “Hernandez obviously can’t make that sort of hike, and we don’t have the time. Would you not agree that the potential of successfully reaching this Libi Nati is more important than the unethical act of car theft?”

“Of course, it is,” Peta snapped. “But I’m not about to get into a shootout with some innocent farmer just trying to survive like everyone else.”

Eddy hesitated, forcing Jason to stop and eliciting a curse from him. “Can we have this conversation once we’re on the road?” Jason said, glaring again at Eddy. “Or maybe we can simply agree not to kill anyone. Is that logical enough for you?”

Eddy’s brows drew together and