Return To Primordial Island, Rick Poldark [top non fiction books of all time .TXT] 📗

“That’s why she gave him the death orb,” said Mary. “She knew it’d be easier to take it from Jason than you.”

“How do we fight the spirit of a demon?” asked Tracey.

“We can’t. We all have to get off this island,” said Mary.

Peter frowned. “Negative. That would be extraordinarily dangerous, given the circumstances.”

Tracey appeared upset. “But you promised. You said you were coming back with me.”

Mary visibly bristled at Tracey’s demeanor toward Peter. The chimpanzees weren’t the only territorial ones. “I guess he didn’t exactly tell you about us.” She shot him a reproachful glance. “Must’ve slipped his mind.”

“Actually, he did tell me,” said Tracey. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

Mary squared off with Tracey. “Actually, it is my business.”

Peter had had enough. “Will you two cut it out? One of our friends is dead, another just had a huge burden placed on him, making him a target for a demon, and all you two can do is bicker over me? Newsflash: I’m not anyone’s property. I have a mind of my own. Neither of you own me. At this point, I don’t want to have anything to do with either of you. Why don’t you start a campfire while I bury Susan?”

“But…” offered both women in unison.

“But nothing. Leave me alone.”

Mary stormed off, obviously displeased with her treatment.

Tracey lingered. “Pete…let me help you.”

He averted his gaze. “I want to be left alone, Tracey. Seriously.” He looked and saw her walk away from him, honoring his wish.

He surveyed the mess that was his friend Susan and couldn’t help but feel guilty. Maybe Jason was right. Had he monopolized both orbs incorrectly? Did their powers need to be balanced out by being separated across two different people?

It took him about an hour to bury Susan. He had no tools and used his bare hands. He was covered in sweat and dirt, and he reeked of body odor. He resented both of the women in his life. He was tired of being viewed as weak. He was tired of being someone’s property.

When he rejoined the others, Tracey and Mary both sat in front of a campfire. Peter saw an expended hand-held signal flare lying on the ground next to Tracey. She must’ve used it to ignite the kindling. Jason butchered some animal he had caught, handing chunks to Mary, who in turn skewered the bits with sharpened sticks.

Jason looked up from his cutting. “You’re a right mess, mate.”

Peter’s shoulders slumped. “Tell me about it.”

Neither of the women even looked at him, which was fine by him. “I’m going to wash up down by the river.”

“Hold on a minute,” said Jason. “Let me go with you.”

Peter held up a hand. “I want to be alone.”

“Let him be,” said Mary, her tone bitter.

Jason shrugged. “Whatever you want, man.”

Peter separated from the group, heading for the river. As he meandered through the jungle, he heard the current. He reached the riverbank and looked around. The coast appeared to be clear. At this point, he didn’t even care if something jumped out and devoured him. He even welcomed it.

He stripped down, leaving his clothes in a bundle on the riverbank, and waded into the river. Sheltered from the sun by the dense canopy, the water was cool and refreshing. He waded in until the water was up to his chest. He splashed water on his face and then cupped his hands to douse the top of his head.

The Temple of the Simian King was close, but it looked as if they didn’t need to go after all. Jason’s facility with the death orb presented another option for them in dealing with the Zehhaki. Peter no longer had any qualms about wiping them out. Maybe Tracey was right, and he had no business awakening yet another race. There was no guarantee that the Simians would even be friendly. What if they also attacked the Umazoa?

While he felt relieved that he didn’t have to awaken the Simians, he knew he and Jason could not leave the island. He had no idea how the orbs would function back in their home dimension. And, there was another problem still. Poseidon Tech appeared intent on keeping the portal between dimensions open. That meant that there’d be more expeditions to the island from the home dimension. They clearly sought to profit from it somehow. Would they charge rich people to come visit the island? How would other governments—like China or North Korea—handle the news that an uncharted interdimensional island suddenly appeared in relatively close proximity? Would there be a race to claim it?

Peter realized that the Zehhaki might be the least of the Umazoa’s problems after all. The mad rush to claim the island would no doubt lead to some form of colonization. There might be the introduction of foreign disease that could wipe out their entire tribe. What if there were other tribes on the island?

And then there was the problem of Nazimaa. She was itching to leave the island. If she ever accomplished that, who knew what havoc she’d wreak in his home dimension? In fact, the portal was two-way. If kept open indefinitely, not only did his home dimension have access to this strange land, but this land and whatever inhabited it would have access to his home dimension. Besides a possible migration of dinosaurs to his home world, what if there were worse entities than Nazimaa wanting out of this world?

When he finished washing up, he waded back out of the river and put his clothes back on. They were drenched with sweat and dirt, but at least he was clean and refreshed underneath. He almost felt human again.

He re-entered the jungle and found his friends again. They looked as if they were finishing up their meal.