Quest (Dane Maddock Adventures) (36 page)

“Hey, somebody’s got to know about Bigfoot and Nessie and all that good stuff. That somebody is me.”

Tam finished making a nest for the bird inside her backpack, and put it on backward, like a baby carrier. Bones took the lead as they resumed their trek, happily carrying on about the mapinguari.

“There are all kinds of stories about it. The far-fetched ones say it has caiman skin, backward feet, and a mouth in its belly.”

“The ‘far-fetched’ stories?” Kaylin smirked.

“We just discovered a two thousand year-old Punic city in the middle of the Amazon. Do you really want to take a tone with me?”

“Fair enough,” Kaylin said. “Go on. We’re all ears.’

“Anyway, it seems most likely that it’s a descendant of Mylodon, an ancient, ground-dwelling sloth. It was ten feet tall.” Bones slashed at a low-hanging limb and dodged as it sprang back at his face. “Supposedly, the mapinguari is a carnivore, and it can move in total silence through the thickest vegetation. Then again, some people think it’s not a ground sloth, and can swing through the trees, as long as the limbs are strong enough to hold it.”

“What else?” Dane found himself searching the upper reaches of the kapok trees, keeping an eye out for the legendary beast.

“It’s hard to kill because of its thick skull, and sturdy bones. And it’s got a tough hide and this coarse, matted fur that arrows bounce off of if you don’t hit it just right. It hates the scent of a human, and people get dizzy when they look at it, but that’s probably because of its strong odor…” His words trailed away and he stopped and turned to face Dane. “Just out of curiosity, why do you ask?”

“Oh, it’s no big deal, really. According to Fawcett, this canyon is where it, or they, supposedly live, and it’s supposed to be death to pass through here.”

Five seconds of stunned silence hung in the air as everyone stopped and stared at him.

“Why are you just now telling us this?” Matt sounded uncannily like Dane’s father, back when Dane was a child and had neglected to mention something important, usually a failing grade or a paper that needed signing.

“What would have been the point? We didn’t have any other choices. Besides, it’s probably just a legend, anyway.”

“And if someone asked you if the chupacabra was real?” Bones arched an eyebrow.

“Fine! I get the point. Let’s just get the hell out of this canyon.” He brushed past Bones, who, unlike the others who were still staring at him in disbelief, was looking crestfallen.

“What’s wrong with you?” Dane frowned.

“We came all the way to the home of the mapinguari, and I don’t have a camera.”

Kennedy knelt in the shadow of a kapok tree, chewing on a Brazil nut and letting the humid air bathe his frozen body. It had been child’s play to use his clothing as a flotation device as he rode the river, but the frigid water had nearly been the death of him. He’d scarcely been able to pull himself out of the water before what would have been a certain fall to his death over the waterfall. His body temperature had fallen, too, and he found himself feeling sluggish and confused as he made his way out of the underground cavern.

He would be all right, though. He’d been through worse in the service. Already, his senses were sharpening. He’d immediately spotted tracks left by Maddock and his party, and followed them to where they had cut a trail through the undergrowth.

He grinned. Nice of them to clear him a path. It would take him minutes to cover distances that had taken them hours to hack their way through. Best of all, he doubted they had any idea he was on their trail.

“Did you hear that?” It was about the third time Matt had asked the question, but this time, Dane did hear something. It was a rustling somewhere in the distance, and it was coming closer.

“Can’t be the mapinguari. It’s silent, but deadly.” Dane could tell Bones was trying to sound more positive than he felt.

“Smells like a silent but deadly.” Willis grimaced.

He was right. Borne on a gentle breeze, the same foul odor that was evident in the underground cavern now assaulted Dane’s nostrils. He drew his Walther, regretting the lost backpack with his reloads. He had four bullets left in this clip. “Bones, do you have any more wisdom to share about this thing?” The rustling grew closer and the stench was almost overpowering.

“They’re afraid of water. Won’t cross it.” Bones said, tapping the handle of his Glock. Unlike the others, who were visibly nervous, Bones was as calm as ever. Then again, perhaps he was just crazy. “I’ll bet there’s a stream or something running across the end of this box canyon. That would explain why they haven’t expanded their territory.”

“All right, everyone. If we get separated, make for the end of the canyon as fast as you can. We’ll meet up at the lagoon.”

The rustling sound ceased. They all turned and looked in the direction from which the unseen thing had been approaching. What was it doing? From inside Tam’s backpack, the little harpy eagle sounded a shrill cry, and then, all was bedlam.

The attack came from behind. With an unearthly roar, a monstrosity of tangled reddish-orange fur dropped down in the midst of their group. It swiped at Matt with a clawed hand, cutting him across the chest. Dane whirled and fired, catching the moving beast in the head. It roared again and vanished in a flash, scrambling on all fours into the jungle.

It wasn’t over.

Another of the creatures, probably the one they’d heard stalking them, burst from the tangled forest, knocking Bones to the ground. Dane aimed for the gut this time, but the mapinguari was fast, and his bullet caught it in the thigh as it sprang toward him.

Dane dropped and rolled as the beast flew past him. It rounded on him. It had a long snout, beady, black eyes, and a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Its body was covered in red-orange fur, like that of an orangutan, except its belly, which was leathery, dark red flesh. Moving faster than Dane would have thought possible, it attacked, but Matt, Bones, and Willis were ready. They all opened fire. There was no telling how much damage the bullets actually did to the strange beast, but it fled, leaving a trail of blood behind.

“Whew!” Bones said. “That was freakin’ crazy.”

Just then, the jungle behind them came alive with the cries of angry mapinguari.

Bones looked at Dane. “What now?”

“Now we run!”

“What the hell?” Kennedy stopped short, looking all around. Up ahead he heard the cry of an animal like none he’d ever heard before, followed by gunshots, people shouting, and more roars. The outburst only lasted for a matter of seconds, and then silence…

…followed by bedlam.

They were in the trees and in the jungle all around him. Big, furry, orange things swinging toward the sound of the gunshots. He didn’t know what they were and he didn’t care. He just wanted to get out of there.

The jungle seemed to grab at him as he ran, as though nature itself was working in concert with the unseen creatures. Gunshots occasionally broke through the din of bestial roars. He didn’t know whether to hope Maddock’s men were killing these creatures, whatever they were, or if he should root for the beasts. Then again, he had to have the seed. He
had
to have
it.

One of the monsters broke through the foliage to his left and came for him. He saw a flash of white teeth and long, razor-sharp claws. He hit the ground and rolled under it, stabbing up into its exposed gut as it flew past him. His KA-BAR dragged across the tough hide, but didn’t pierce the flesh.

He came to his feet, knife at the ready. The creature turned, circling him warily. He didn’t understand why. He certainly hadn’t done it any damage. Snarling, the beast struck at him with its wicked claws.

Kennedy leapt back, breaking through a tangle of brush, and nearly falling into a twenty foot gorge. He teetered on the edge, staring down at the swift-moving stream that tumbled over and around jagged boulders. Righting himself, he turned to face the monster. Its head broke through the foliage and it froze. It sniffed the air, roared, and turned and ran.

What had just happened? Why had it not finished him?

There was no time to contemplate this turn of events, because just then, he looked around and spotted Maddock helping the blonde, Kaylin Maxwell, up onto a fallen tree that spanned the gorge. On the opposite side he saw figures vanishing into the forest. The others had already crossed. He was almost too late.

Maddock stood with his back to Kennedy, watching the girl. Perfect. Kennedy drew his KA-BAR and attacked.

Dane heard the approach of his attacker only an instant before the man was upon him. He whirled around, barely dodging the knife thrust. It was Kennedy. How had he caught up with them? It didn’t matter now.

Dane drew his Recon knife just as Kennedy rolled to his feet and came at him again. Dane wished he had even one bullet left in his Walther, but he had expended them all fighting off the mapinguari, which, just as Bones had said, did not seem to want to come anywhere near the water.

Kennedy feinted and Dane stepped to the side, flicking his knife at Kennedy’s eyes. The man moved his head just enough to avoid the blow, and slashed at Dane’s knee. Dane shifted his feet and made the man pay with a quick slash that missed his throat, but opened a gash in his cheek. Now he’d have another scar to match his first one.

Kennedy, baring his teeth, crouched, looking for an opening. They circled one another in silence. Dane could see Kaylin out of the corner of his eye. She was more than halfway across, and must not have heard the attack over the sound of the rushing water far below her. That was fine with him. She didn’t have any bullets left either, and even if she did, he wouldn’t want her involved. He wanted her to get to safety with the others.

“Just give me the seed and I won’t kill you,” Kennedy growled.

“What do you want it for?” Dane kept his voice conversational, though his every nerve was charged.

“I don’t want it, but those whom I serve want it very badly.”

“Those you
‘serve’
? What kind of talk is that for a tough guy? ScanoGen must pay you pretty well if you’ll grovel like that for them.”

Kennedy barked a laugh. “You’re as ignorant as I thought. ScanoGen pays me well, but I only work for them. I serve the Dominion. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?”

The words caught Dane totally by surprise, and Kennedy used the moment of shock to make a quick thrust at Dane’s midsection, one which he barely avoided.

“I don’t know what you did in Utah, Maddock, but rest assured, the Dominion knows your name, and they know Bonebrake. When I make my report, you’re both dead men. If you give me the seed, though, I’ll ask them to spare the lives of your friends Barnaby, Sanders, Dean, and Maxwell.” His confidence was growing as he spoke. “I know your type, Maddock. You don’t want their blood on your hands. Not that I think you’re noble, I think you just don’t like feeling guilty.”

“Thanks for the therapy session. My copay’s in the mail.” Dane made a feint of his own and Kennedy danced back out of reach. So he wasn’t so caught up in his little speech that he could be taken unaware. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have the seed.”

“Liar! That guy, Brian, gave it to you. He told me himself. He even described the pouch he put it in!”

“True, but I gave it to Tam Broderick. You remember her,” Dane taunted. “By the way, she’s F.B.I. Did you know that? She’s got the seed, and she’s already on the other side of the river.” He hoped Kennedy could not see that the pouch still hung around Dane’s neck. “You can go after her, but you’re going to have to get through me first, and then she’s got all those friends of mine you mentioned to protect her. Good luck with that.”