Lost Contact (The Bridge Sequence Book One), Nathan Hystad [primary phonics books .TXT] 📗

“What’s a fossa?”

Hunter surprised me by answering, “Kind of a cross between a cat and a hyena. They mainly eat lemurs, which means they’re in direct competition with our guides, aren’t they?”

It was a passive-aggressive dig at their choice of career paths, but he was the one who’d hired them knowing that.

“And snakes?” Veronica asked as she built her pup tent.

“There are lots, but don’t fear, pretty lady,” Haja said. “They don’t like people much.”

“Good, because I don’t like them,” Marcus replied.

We were experienced with our equipment, and camp was erected within minutes. Hasin had the fire going soon after, and we rolled a set of fallen logs over, making seats as the flames licked the sky. It was peaceful, with the sounds of the region shifting from daytime to those of night. It was a different world in the dark, like a shift change on a factory floor.

Tripp brought out a supply of dried meat and nuts, and we ate. Hasin left, and I eyed him suspiciously, but he returned in a few minutes with the cooler from the back of the truck. He’d refilled it with more beer from somewhere, and now I accepted his offering. The nights were cooler, and I was thankful for the heat of the fire as I sipped the bitter brew.

“Tomorrow.” Hunter’s gaze was affixed to the sky. “How far?”

“The edge of the forest is near. Two hours, maybe,” Haja answered as he poked the burning logs with a stick. Ashes shot into the air, and the fire crackled. “From there… that depends on the location.”

“Marcus, I think we can share that with them now, don’t you?” Hunter asked my sidekick.

Only the two of us held the actual coordinates, as part of our deal, and when Marcus looked to me for leadership, I nodded.

He pulled his phone out and handed it to Haja beside him on the log. “This is in a restricted region.”

“We already assumed that. We can make it, right?” Hunter asked, finally breaking his game of chicken with the stars.

“It’s accessible,” Hasin chimed in after peering over his friend’s shoulder. “There is nothing, though. Why would this thing you seek be out in the forest?”

“Someone left it there by accident,” I lied.

Haja nodded, but his stare didn’t waver from my face. I sipped my beer. A mutual understanding.

“I think it’s time to check out for the night, Hunter,” Tripp said. He was sharing a tent with our financer and helped him to his feet. Hunter groaned and clutched at his stomach. I didn’t expect Hunter to be along for the entire duration of our expedition around the world, not after he realized he was too old and too sick to sleep outdoors and sweat in foreign countries. He wore matching white linen pants and a short-sleeved shirt. I’d never known anyone to use a handkerchief, but Hunter’s hadn’t left his grip in hours. He dabbed his face with it and finally shoved it away.

Tripp nodded to me before entering the tent after Hunter. I imagined he slept lightly, with one or maybe both eyes open.

Haja and Hasin did the same, retiring to their canvas tent, and Marcus yawned, finishing his beer. “I’m going to call it too, Rex.”

I noticed Veronica was still up, and I decided to keep her company for the time being. “I’ll be there shortly.” It was early, but we had a long day ahead of us, and I was beat after the last few days of travel.

“He’s a good kid,” she said, indicating Marcus.

“Smart too. One of the best students I’ve had.”

“He was your student?” she asked.

“Yep, until he decided he couldn’t make a career in the field. He transferred to something more… sensible.”

“Are you saying archaeology isn’t as romantic as it’s cracked up to be?” Veronica asked, shifting closer to the fire. We sat inches apart, and she wiggled her knees, bumping my leg every few seconds.

“I wouldn’t say that. There are times. Entering a site for the first time, brushing the cobwebs from the stone archways, and carefully treading on the floor, hoping you’re not about to set off some ancient burial guardian system. Then there’s the bats…”

She laughed, her blue eyes bright in the firelight. It was a nice sound amidst the jungle noises. “Bats? You’re scared of them?”

“What’s there not to be afraid of? Wings… those little faces. Not to mention the movies,” I said, feeling a little foolish.

“Don’t tell me you believe in vampires,” she said.

“No. I wouldn’t go that far.”

“How about aliens?” Her voice dipped lower, and I saw her glance toward Hunter’s tent.

“Aliens?”

“You know… beings from another planet.”

“I don’t know what to believe. I do think it’s awfully arrogant of us to assume we’re the only world with intelligent life.”

“Are you certain we’re speaking of the same planet? In my experience, the aliens would keep flying by… we’re waving a sign… nothing to see here.” She smiled again, making me join her.

“Why do you ask?” She wasn’t privy to our mission details yet, but she wasn’t naive. She knew more than she was letting on.

“Everyone’s heard about Madison the billionaire’s obsession with the unknown. I heard he has quite the collection.” Her lips were close to my ear, her voice barely a whisper.

“It is impressive.”

“You’ve seen it?” she asked too loudly, and slid a palm to her mouth.

“I have. Briefly, at least.” I thought of the last time Marcus and I had been in Hunter’s study, and the threat of violence from Tripp and Francois.

“That’s the real reason, isn’t it?” she asked me.

“I’m not—”

“Don’t lie, just tell me. I have a right to know if I’m going to be part of the team,” she said, sitting up straighter.

“Someone spread out these artifacts years ago. Hunter wants to gather them. It will complete a collection of his,” I said. It was only a half-truth, but that would have to be enough for tonight.

That seemed to slow her inquiries on the subject. “Was it hard