Chromosome 6 (52 page)
Authors: Robin Cook
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Mystery & Detective, #Suspense, #Thrillers, #Suspense Fiction, #Fiction - Espionage, #Thriller, #Detective and mystery stories, #Espionage, #Onbekend, #Medical, #Medical novels, #New York (N.Y.), #Forensic pathologists, #Equatorial Guinea, #Forensic pathologists - Fiction, #Robin - Prose & Criticism, #Equatorial Guinea - Fiction, #Cook, #New York (N.Y.) - Fiction
"Atah," Kevin said. It was a word they'd heard frequently starting from the moment bonobo number one
had yelled it when they'd first encountered him. They thought it meant "come." Bonobo number one didn't respond.
Kevin repeated the word then looked at Melanie. "I don't know what else to say." "Neither do I," Melanie said. "Let's go for it and open the door. Maybe he'll respond then. I mean it is hard for him to 'come' when he's locked up." "Good point," Jack said. He stepped around Melanie to reach back along the right side of the cage. With trepidation, Kevin released the latch and opened the door. Kevin and Melanie stepped back. Kevin directed the flashlight toward the ground rather than shine it in the animal's face. Bonobo number one emerged slowly and stood up to his full height. He looked to his left and then to his right before redirecting his attention at the two humans. "Atah," Kevin said again while backing up. Melanie stayed in step. Bonobo number one started forward, stretching as he walked like an athlete warming up. Kevin turned his body around so he could walk easier. He repeated "atah" several more times. The animal's facial expression didn't change as he followed. Kevin led to the bridge and climbed up on it. He again repeated "atah." Bonobo number one hesitantly climbed onto the concrete stanchion. Kevin backed up until he was standing in the middle of the span. The bonobo came out onto the bridge warily. He glanced frequently from side to side.
Kevin then tried something they'd not tested on Arthur. Kevin strung bonobo words together. He used "sta," from the episode when bonobo number one tried to give the dead monkey to Candace. He used "zit," which bonobo number one had used to get them to go to the cave. And finally he used "arak," which they were quite sure meant "away." "Sta zit arak," Kevin said. He opened his fingers and swept his hand away from his chest, the gesture that Candace had described in the operating room. Kevin hoped his amalgamated sentence said: "You go away."
After repeating the phrase once again, Kevin pointed to the northeast in the direction of the limitless rain forest.
Bonobo number one rose up on the balls of his feet and looked over Kevin's shoulder at the dark wall of mainland jungle. He then looked back in the direction of the cages. Spreading his arms he vocalized a series of sounds Kevin and Melanie had not heard, or at least not associated with any specific activity. "What's he doing?" Kevin asked. At that point the animal was facing away from him. "I could be wrong," Melanie said, "but I think he's making reference to his people." "My god!" Kevin said. "I think he might have understood my meaning. Let's let more of the animals out."
had yelled it when they'd first encountered him. They thought it meant "come." Bonobo number one didn't respond.
Kevin repeated the word then looked at Melanie. "I don't know what else to say." "Neither do I," Melanie said. "Let's go for it and open the door. Maybe he'll respond then. I mean it is hard for him to 'come' when he's locked up." "Good point," Jack said. He stepped around Melanie to reach back along the right side of the cage. With trepidation, Kevin released the latch and opened the door. Kevin and Melanie stepped back. Kevin directed the flashlight toward the ground rather than shine it in the animal's face. Bonobo number one emerged slowly and stood up to his full height. He looked to his left and then to his right before redirecting his attention at the two humans. "Atah," Kevin said again while backing up. Melanie stayed in step. Bonobo number one started forward, stretching as he walked like an athlete warming up. Kevin turned his body around so he could walk easier. He repeated "atah" several more times. The animal's facial expression didn't change as he followed. Kevin led to the bridge and climbed up on it. He again repeated "atah." Bonobo number one hesitantly climbed onto the concrete stanchion. Kevin backed up until he was standing in the middle of the span. The bonobo came out onto the bridge warily. He glanced frequently from side to side.
Kevin then tried something they'd not tested on Arthur. Kevin strung bonobo words together. He used "sta," from the episode when bonobo number one tried to give the dead monkey to Candace. He used "zit," which bonobo number one had used to get them to go to the cave. And finally he used "arak," which they were quite sure meant "away." "Sta zit arak," Kevin said. He opened his fingers and swept his hand away from his chest, the gesture that Candace had described in the operating room. Kevin hoped his amalgamated sentence said: "You go away."
After repeating the phrase once again, Kevin pointed to the northeast in the direction of the limitless rain forest.
Bonobo number one rose up on the balls of his feet and looked over Kevin's shoulder at the dark wall of mainland jungle. He then looked back in the direction of the cages. Spreading his arms he vocalized a series of sounds Kevin and Melanie had not heard, or at least not associated with any specific activity. "What's he doing?" Kevin asked. At that point the animal was facing away from him. "I could be wrong," Melanie said, "but I think he's making reference to his people." "My god!" Kevin said. "I think he might have understood my meaning. Let's let more of the animals out."
Kevin walked forward. The bonobo sensed his movement and turned to face him. Kevin hesitated. The
bridge was about ten feet wide, and Kevin was concerned about coming too close. He remembered all too well how easy it had been for the bonobo to pick him up and throw him like a rag doll. Kevin stared into the animal's face to try to see any emotion, but he couldn't. All he got was a repeat of the uncanny sensation that he was looking into an evolutionary mirror. "What's the matter?" Melanie asked.
"He's scary," Kevin admitted. "I don't know whether to pass him or not." "Please, not another Mexican standoff," Melanie said. "We don't have much time." "Okay," Kevin said. He took a breath and inched around the animal while teetering on the edge. The bonobo watched him but didn't move.
"This is so nerve wracking!" Kevin complained when he climbed down from the bridge. "Do we want him to stay here?" Melanie asked. Kevin scratched his head. "I don't know. He might be a lure to get the others over here, but then again, maybe he should come back with us."
"Why don't we just start walking?" Melanie said. "We'll let him decide." Melanie and Kevin set out for the animal cages. They were pleased when bonobo number one immediately climbed from the bridge and followed. They walked quickly, conscious that Candace and the other people were waiting. When they got to the cages they didn't hesitate. Kevin opened the door on the first cage while Melanie did the second. The animals emerged quickly and immediately exchanged words with bonobo number one. Kevin and Melanie went to the next two cages.
Within only a few minutes, there was a dozen animals milling about, vocalizing and stretching. "It's working," Kevin said. "I'm sure of it. If they were just going to run off in the forest here on the island, they would have already done so. I think they all know they have to leave." "Maybe I should get Candace and our new friends," Melanie said. "They should witness this, and they can help speed things up."
"Good idea," Kevin said. He looked at the long row of cages. He knew there were over seventy. Melanie ran off into the night while Kevin went to the next cage. He noticed that bonobo number one stayed nearby to greet each newly freed animal. By the time Kevin had released a half dozen more animals, the humans arrived. At first, they were intimidated by the creatures and didn't know how to act. The animals ignored them except for Warren whom they gave a wide berth. Warren had brought the assault rifle, which Kevin guessed reminded the
bridge was about ten feet wide, and Kevin was concerned about coming too close. He remembered all too well how easy it had been for the bonobo to pick him up and throw him like a rag doll. Kevin stared into the animal's face to try to see any emotion, but he couldn't. All he got was a repeat of the uncanny sensation that he was looking into an evolutionary mirror. "What's the matter?" Melanie asked.
"He's scary," Kevin admitted. "I don't know whether to pass him or not." "Please, not another Mexican standoff," Melanie said. "We don't have much time." "Okay," Kevin said. He took a breath and inched around the animal while teetering on the edge. The bonobo watched him but didn't move.
"This is so nerve wracking!" Kevin complained when he climbed down from the bridge. "Do we want him to stay here?" Melanie asked. Kevin scratched his head. "I don't know. He might be a lure to get the others over here, but then again, maybe he should come back with us."
"Why don't we just start walking?" Melanie said. "We'll let him decide." Melanie and Kevin set out for the animal cages. They were pleased when bonobo number one immediately climbed from the bridge and followed. They walked quickly, conscious that Candace and the other people were waiting. When they got to the cages they didn't hesitate. Kevin opened the door on the first cage while Melanie did the second. The animals emerged quickly and immediately exchanged words with bonobo number one. Kevin and Melanie went to the next two cages.
Within only a few minutes, there was a dozen animals milling about, vocalizing and stretching. "It's working," Kevin said. "I'm sure of it. If they were just going to run off in the forest here on the island, they would have already done so. I think they all know they have to leave." "Maybe I should get Candace and our new friends," Melanie said. "They should witness this, and they can help speed things up."
"Good idea," Kevin said. He looked at the long row of cages. He knew there were over seventy. Melanie ran off into the night while Kevin went to the next cage. He noticed that bonobo number one stayed nearby to greet each newly freed animal. By the time Kevin had released a half dozen more animals, the humans arrived. At first, they were intimidated by the creatures and didn't know how to act. The animals ignored them except for Warren whom they gave a wide berth. Warren had brought the assault rifle, which Kevin guessed reminded the
animals of the dart gun.
"They are so quiet," Laurie said. "It's spooky." "They're depressed," Kevin said. "It could be from the tranquilizer or from having been imprisoned. But don't go too close. They might be quiet, but they are very strong." "What can we do to help?" Candace asked. "Just open the cage doors," Kevin said. With seven people working, it took only a few minutes to get all the cages open. As soon as the last animal had emerged into the night, Kevin motioned for everyone to start toward the bridge. Bonobo number one, who'd been shadowing Kevin, clapped his hands loudly just as he'd done when Kevin and the women had first come upon him in the cul-de-sac of the marshy field. Then he vocalized raucously before starting after the humans. Immediately the rest of the bonobos quietly followed. The seven humans led the seventy-one transgenic bonobos in a procession across the clearing to the bridge of their freedom. Arriving at the span, the humans stepped aside. Bonobo number one stopped at the cement stanchion.
"Sta zit arak," Kevin repeated as he spread his fingers and swept his hand away from his chest for the final time. Then he pointed toward the unexplored African interior. Bonobo number one bowed his head momentarily before leaping up on top of the stanchion. Looking out over his people, he vocalized for a final time before turning his back on Isla Francesca and crossing the bridge to the mainland. The mass of the bonobos silently followed. "It's like watching the Exodus," Jack quipped. "Don't be blasphemous," Laurie teased. But, as with all teasing, there was an element of truth. She was truly awed by the spectacle.
As if by magic the animals melted into the dark jungle without a sound. One minute they were a restive crowd milling about the base of the bridge; the next minute they were gone like water soaking into a sponge.
The humans didn't move or talk for a moment. Finally, Kevin broke the silence. "They did it, and I'm pleased," he said. "Thank you all for helping. Maybe now I can come to terms with what I did in creating them." He stepped up to the bridge and pressed the red button. With a whine, the bridge retracted. The group turned away from the stanchion and began to trudge back to the pirogue. "That was one of the strangest pageants I've ever seen," Jack said. Halfway to the canoe, Melanie suddenly stopped and cried: "Oh, no! Look!" Everyone's eyes darted across the river in the direction she was pointing. Headlight beams from several vehicles could be intermittently seen through the foliage. The vehicles were descending the track leading to the bridge mechanism.
"They are so quiet," Laurie said. "It's spooky." "They're depressed," Kevin said. "It could be from the tranquilizer or from having been imprisoned. But don't go too close. They might be quiet, but they are very strong." "What can we do to help?" Candace asked. "Just open the cage doors," Kevin said. With seven people working, it took only a few minutes to get all the cages open. As soon as the last animal had emerged into the night, Kevin motioned for everyone to start toward the bridge. Bonobo number one, who'd been shadowing Kevin, clapped his hands loudly just as he'd done when Kevin and the women had first come upon him in the cul-de-sac of the marshy field. Then he vocalized raucously before starting after the humans. Immediately the rest of the bonobos quietly followed. The seven humans led the seventy-one transgenic bonobos in a procession across the clearing to the bridge of their freedom. Arriving at the span, the humans stepped aside. Bonobo number one stopped at the cement stanchion.
"Sta zit arak," Kevin repeated as he spread his fingers and swept his hand away from his chest for the final time. Then he pointed toward the unexplored African interior. Bonobo number one bowed his head momentarily before leaping up on top of the stanchion. Looking out over his people, he vocalized for a final time before turning his back on Isla Francesca and crossing the bridge to the mainland. The mass of the bonobos silently followed. "It's like watching the Exodus," Jack quipped. "Don't be blasphemous," Laurie teased. But, as with all teasing, there was an element of truth. She was truly awed by the spectacle.
As if by magic the animals melted into the dark jungle without a sound. One minute they were a restive crowd milling about the base of the bridge; the next minute they were gone like water soaking into a sponge.
The humans didn't move or talk for a moment. Finally, Kevin broke the silence. "They did it, and I'm pleased," he said. "Thank you all for helping. Maybe now I can come to terms with what I did in creating them." He stepped up to the bridge and pressed the red button. With a whine, the bridge retracted. The group turned away from the stanchion and began to trudge back to the pirogue. "That was one of the strangest pageants I've ever seen," Jack said. Halfway to the canoe, Melanie suddenly stopped and cried: "Oh, no! Look!" Everyone's eyes darted across the river in the direction she was pointing. Headlight beams from several vehicles could be intermittently seen through the foliage. The vehicles were descending the track leading to the bridge mechanism.
"We can't get to the boat!" Warren blurted. "They'll see us."
"We can't stay here, either," Jack said. "Back to the cages!" Kevin cried.
They all turned and ran toward the bulwark of the jungle. The moment they ducked behind the cages, the headlight beams swept across the clearing as the vehicles turned to the west. The vehicles stopped, but the headlights stayed on and the engines kept running. "It's a group of Equatoguinean soldiers," Kevin said. "And Siegfried," Melanie said. "I can recognize him anywhere. And that's Cameron McIvers's patrol car."
A searchlight snapped on. Its high-intensity light played along the row of cages then swept the bank of the river. It quickly found the canoe.
Even fifty yards away, they could hear excited voices responding to the discovery of the boat. "This is not good," Jack said. "They know we're here." A sudden and sustained burst of heavy gunfire shattered the tranquility of the night. "What on earth are they shooting at?" Laurie asked. "I'm afraid they're destroying our boat," Jack said. "I suppose that's bad news for my deposit." "This is no time for humor," Laurie complained. An explosion rocked the night air, and a fireball briefly illuminated the soldiers. "That must have been the gas tank," Kevin said. "So much for our transportation." A few minutes later, the searchlight went out. Then the first vehicle made a U-turn and disappeared back up the track leading to Cogo.
"Does anybody have an idea what's happening?" Jack asked. "My guess is Siegfried and Cameron are going back to town," Melanie said. "Knowing we're on the island, they probably feel pretty confident." The headlights on the second vehicle suddenly went out, thrusting the entire area into darkness. Even the moonlight was meager since the moon had sunk low in the western sky. "I preferred it when we had some idea where they were and what they were doing," Warren said. "How big is this island?" Jack asked.
"About six miles long and two wide," Kevin said. "But..."
"We can't stay here, either," Jack said. "Back to the cages!" Kevin cried.
They all turned and ran toward the bulwark of the jungle. The moment they ducked behind the cages, the headlight beams swept across the clearing as the vehicles turned to the west. The vehicles stopped, but the headlights stayed on and the engines kept running. "It's a group of Equatoguinean soldiers," Kevin said. "And Siegfried," Melanie said. "I can recognize him anywhere. And that's Cameron McIvers's patrol car."
A searchlight snapped on. Its high-intensity light played along the row of cages then swept the bank of the river. It quickly found the canoe.
Even fifty yards away, they could hear excited voices responding to the discovery of the boat. "This is not good," Jack said. "They know we're here." A sudden and sustained burst of heavy gunfire shattered the tranquility of the night. "What on earth are they shooting at?" Laurie asked. "I'm afraid they're destroying our boat," Jack said. "I suppose that's bad news for my deposit." "This is no time for humor," Laurie complained. An explosion rocked the night air, and a fireball briefly illuminated the soldiers. "That must have been the gas tank," Kevin said. "So much for our transportation." A few minutes later, the searchlight went out. Then the first vehicle made a U-turn and disappeared back up the track leading to Cogo.
"Does anybody have an idea what's happening?" Jack asked. "My guess is Siegfried and Cameron are going back to town," Melanie said. "Knowing we're on the island, they probably feel pretty confident." The headlights on the second vehicle suddenly went out, thrusting the entire area into darkness. Even the moonlight was meager since the moon had sunk low in the western sky. "I preferred it when we had some idea where they were and what they were doing," Warren said. "How big is this island?" Jack asked.
"About six miles long and two wide," Kevin said. "But..."
"They're making a fire," Warren said, interrupting Kevin.
A dot of golden light illuminated part of the bridge mechanism, then flared up into a campfire. The ghostly figures of the soldiers could be seen moving in the periphery of the light. "Isn't that nice," Jack said. "Looks like they're making themselves at home." "What are we going to do?" Laurie questioned despairingly. "We don't have a lot of choice with them sitting at the base of the bridge," Warren said. "I count six of them."
"Let's hope they're not planning on coming over here," Jack said. "They won't come until dawn," Kevin said. "There's no way they'd come over here in the dark. Besides, there's no need. They don't expect us to be going anywhere." "What about swimming across that channel?" Jack said. "It's only about thirty or forty feet wide and there's no current to speak of."
"I'm not a good swimmer," Warren said nervously. "I told you that." "This whole area is also infested with crocodiles," Kevin said. "Oh, God!" Laurie said. "Now he tells us." "But, listen! We don't have to swim," Kevin said. "At least, I don't think so. The boat that Melanie, Candace, and I used to get here is most likely where we left it, and it's big enough for all of us." "Fantastic!" Jack said. "Where is it?"
"I'm afraid it's going to require a little hike," Kevin said. "It's a little more than a mile, but at least there's a freshly cleared trail."
"Sounds like a walk in the park," Jack said. "What time is it?" Kevin asked.
"Three-twenty," Warren said.
"Then we only have approximately an hour and a half before daylight," Kevin said. "We'd better start now."
What Jack had facetiously labeled a walk in the park turned out to be one of the most harrowing experiences that any of them had ever had. Unwilling to use the flashlights for the first two to three hundred yards, they had proceeded by a process that could only be termed the blind leading the blind. The interior of the jungle had been entirely devoid of light. It was so utterly dark it had been difficult for anyone to even know whether their eyes were open or not. Kevin had gone first to feel his way along the ground, making frequent wrong choices that required backtracking to find the trail. Knowing what kind of creatures inhabited the forest, Kevin held his breath
A dot of golden light illuminated part of the bridge mechanism, then flared up into a campfire. The ghostly figures of the soldiers could be seen moving in the periphery of the light. "Isn't that nice," Jack said. "Looks like they're making themselves at home." "What are we going to do?" Laurie questioned despairingly. "We don't have a lot of choice with them sitting at the base of the bridge," Warren said. "I count six of them."
"Let's hope they're not planning on coming over here," Jack said. "They won't come until dawn," Kevin said. "There's no way they'd come over here in the dark. Besides, there's no need. They don't expect us to be going anywhere." "What about swimming across that channel?" Jack said. "It's only about thirty or forty feet wide and there's no current to speak of."
"I'm not a good swimmer," Warren said nervously. "I told you that." "This whole area is also infested with crocodiles," Kevin said. "Oh, God!" Laurie said. "Now he tells us." "But, listen! We don't have to swim," Kevin said. "At least, I don't think so. The boat that Melanie, Candace, and I used to get here is most likely where we left it, and it's big enough for all of us." "Fantastic!" Jack said. "Where is it?"
"I'm afraid it's going to require a little hike," Kevin said. "It's a little more than a mile, but at least there's a freshly cleared trail."
"Sounds like a walk in the park," Jack said. "What time is it?" Kevin asked.
"Three-twenty," Warren said.
"Then we only have approximately an hour and a half before daylight," Kevin said. "We'd better start now."
What Jack had facetiously labeled a walk in the park turned out to be one of the most harrowing experiences that any of them had ever had. Unwilling to use the flashlights for the first two to three hundred yards, they had proceeded by a process that could only be termed the blind leading the blind. The interior of the jungle had been entirely devoid of light. It was so utterly dark it had been difficult for anyone to even know whether their eyes were open or not. Kevin had gone first to feel his way along the ground, making frequent wrong choices that required backtracking to find the trail. Knowing what kind of creatures inhabited the forest, Kevin held his breath
each time he extended his hand or his foot into the blackness.
Behind Kevin, the others had aligned themselves in snakelike single file, each holding on to the unseen figure ahead. Jack had tried to make light of the situation, but after a time even his usually resourceful flippancy failed him. From then on, they were all victims of their own fears as the nocturnal creatures chattered, chirped, bellowed, twittered, and occasionally screamed around them. When they finally deemed it safe to use the flashlights, they made better progress. At the same time, they shuddered when they saw the number of snakes and insects that they encountered, knowing that prior to the use of the flashlights they had been passing these same creatures unawares. By the time they reached the marshy fields around Lago Hippo, the eastern horizon was faintly beginning to lighten. Leaving the darkness of the forest, they mistakenly believed the worst was behind them. But it wasn't the case. The hippopotami were all out of the water grazing. The animals looked enormous in the predawn twilight.
"They may not look it but they are very dangerous," Kevin warned. "More humans are killed by them than you'd think."
The group took a circuitous route to give the hippopotami wide berth. But as they neared the reeds where they hoped the small canoe was still hidden, they had to pass close by two particularly large hippos. The animals seemed to regard them sleepily until without warning they charged. Luckily, they charged for the lake with a huge amount of commotion and crashing noise. Each multi-ton animal created a new wide trail through the reeds to the water. For a moment, everyone's heart fluttered in his chest.
It took a few minutes for everyone to recover before pushing on. The sky was now progressively brightening, and they knew they had no time to lose. The short hike had taken much more time than they had anticipated.
"Thank God it's still here," Kevin said when he separated the reeds and found the small canoe. Even the Styrofoam food chest was still in place. But reaching the canoe posed another problem. It was quickly decided the boat was too small and too dangerous to carry seven people. After a difficult discussion, it was decided that Jack and Warren would stay in the reeds to wait for Kevin to bring the small canoe back. Waiting was hell. Not only did the sky continue to get lighter and lighter, presaging imminent dawn and the possible appearance of the soldiers, but there was always the worry that the motorized canoe had disappeared. Jack and Warren nervously alternated between looking at each other and their watches, while fighting off clouds of insatiable insects. And on top of everything else, their exhaustion was total. Just when they were thinking that something terrible had happened to the others, Kevin appeared at the edge of the reeds like a mirage and silently paddled in. Warren scrambled into the canoe followed by Jack. "The power boat's okay?" Jack asked anxiously. "At least it was there," Kevin said. "I didn't try to start the engine."
Behind Kevin, the others had aligned themselves in snakelike single file, each holding on to the unseen figure ahead. Jack had tried to make light of the situation, but after a time even his usually resourceful flippancy failed him. From then on, they were all victims of their own fears as the nocturnal creatures chattered, chirped, bellowed, twittered, and occasionally screamed around them. When they finally deemed it safe to use the flashlights, they made better progress. At the same time, they shuddered when they saw the number of snakes and insects that they encountered, knowing that prior to the use of the flashlights they had been passing these same creatures unawares. By the time they reached the marshy fields around Lago Hippo, the eastern horizon was faintly beginning to lighten. Leaving the darkness of the forest, they mistakenly believed the worst was behind them. But it wasn't the case. The hippopotami were all out of the water grazing. The animals looked enormous in the predawn twilight.
"They may not look it but they are very dangerous," Kevin warned. "More humans are killed by them than you'd think."
The group took a circuitous route to give the hippopotami wide berth. But as they neared the reeds where they hoped the small canoe was still hidden, they had to pass close by two particularly large hippos. The animals seemed to regard them sleepily until without warning they charged. Luckily, they charged for the lake with a huge amount of commotion and crashing noise. Each multi-ton animal created a new wide trail through the reeds to the water. For a moment, everyone's heart fluttered in his chest.
It took a few minutes for everyone to recover before pushing on. The sky was now progressively brightening, and they knew they had no time to lose. The short hike had taken much more time than they had anticipated.
"Thank God it's still here," Kevin said when he separated the reeds and found the small canoe. Even the Styrofoam food chest was still in place. But reaching the canoe posed another problem. It was quickly decided the boat was too small and too dangerous to carry seven people. After a difficult discussion, it was decided that Jack and Warren would stay in the reeds to wait for Kevin to bring the small canoe back. Waiting was hell. Not only did the sky continue to get lighter and lighter, presaging imminent dawn and the possible appearance of the soldiers, but there was always the worry that the motorized canoe had disappeared. Jack and Warren nervously alternated between looking at each other and their watches, while fighting off clouds of insatiable insects. And on top of everything else, their exhaustion was total. Just when they were thinking that something terrible had happened to the others, Kevin appeared at the edge of the reeds like a mirage and silently paddled in. Warren scrambled into the canoe followed by Jack. "The power boat's okay?" Jack asked anxiously. "At least it was there," Kevin said. "I didn't try to start the engine."
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