Burial Ground

II

10:06 p.m.

Colton called for his men again, but there was still no answer. How long had it been? A minute? Five?

Sorenson looked over at him expectantly, awaiting his orders. His eyes were wide with fear, yet he would do whatever was required of him.

Colton had to decide their course of action right now. He was out of time.

Shrubs rustled at the edge of sight against the jungle, bowing violently in sections. They were out there, and they no longer tried to hide their numbers. He couldn't see them, but with the way the underbrush shook, there had to be dozens of them. Either that or they were fast. Really fast.

"Morton and Webber are dead," Colton finally said.

"Don't you at least want me to try to---?"

"They're dead, soldier. Tell me you have any doubt."

Sorenson opened his mouth to object, then let it fall slowly closed. His jaw muscles bulged several times and his eyes narrowed to slits before he finally found his voice. "What are your orders?"

"Hold your post. Nothing gets past us. If anything moves, you send it right back to hell. Clear?"

"Crystal."

"What's going on?" Merritt asked from behind him.

"Can you still handle a rifle?" Colton asked.

"What happened to the other---?"

"Can you still handle a goddamn rifle or not?" Colton snapped.

"They're gone, aren't they?" Sam asked. Colton could hear the tears in the woman's voice, but he had neither the time nor the patience to coddle her.

"Get in the back of the chamber. Don't come anywhere near this doorway again until I signal that everything is safe." He reached back and shoved her into the room. "Merritt. I need to know right now if you can---"

"Where are they?" Merritt asked.

Good. He hadn't frozen up.

"In the bottom of the crate under the GPR. Arm yourself and take up position between the doorway and the others. If anything manages to get through us, you're the last line of defense. And you'd better make every shot count."

If Merritt said something else, Colton didn't hear it. He focused on the lighted patch in front of him as he swept the barrel of his rifle across the tree line and listened for any sound to betray his adversary's intent. The sheeting rain tore through the glow and pounded the already muddy ground. Torchlight reflected from the expanding puddles and lit the front halves of the tall trees, throwing blankets of shadow behind them. A flash of lightning shimmered on the wet leaves before darkness again advanced with the rumble of thunder.