The Lost Island

49

Kneeling on the ground, Gideon went through the drysacks, emptying out all the contents he’d managed to salvage and spreading them out to dry. The granola bars were gone, but there were two pieces of pemmican left, both damp. A single handgun, some ammo, knives, cups, lighters, four liters of water, med kit. And the sat phone. He would call Glinn as soon as possible — there might be just enough juice left for one more communication. But for now, he had to make sure Amiko was taken care of.

Struggling to his feet, he grasped a knife and began cutting down some large, flat, glossy leaves, spreading them out to make a dry ground cover. He helped Amiko onto it, making her a pillow out of a bundle of leaves.

He lit a small fire — with great difficulty, as everything was damp — and used a Sierra cup to boil a small amount of water.

“We’re going to change your bandage,” he said.

She nodded her thanks. She was flushed, her eyes bloodshot, her fever high.

He unbuttoned her shirts, pulled them aside. The bandage was soaked with blood. He removed both it and the dressing underneath, exposing the wound. It was no longer closed, the tape having come loose in the struggle up the cliff. The wound was bleeding.

Using clean gauze pads from the medical kit, dipped in the boiled water, Gideon cleaned the wound, rinsed it with sterile water and some Betadine, then applied antibiotic ointment and reclosed the wound with surgical tape. He bandaged it, then crushed an amoxicillin tablet in water, along with a tablet of the second antibiotic. Amiko took them both.

“You need to eat,” he said.

“Not hungry.”

Gideon took out the two pieces of pemmican, which Amiko finally ate.

“We made it,” she said, struggling to smile. “We’re here. You saved my life. And I’m feeling a lot better.”

“Good.” She did look better — but the wound was awful. She had to get to a hospital.

He picked up the sat phone. “I’m calling Glinn. We need a rescue.”

She struggled to sit up. “Wait, Gideon. We made it. Let’s explore the island first.”

Gideon shook his head. She really was half crazy. “You’re injured and you need a doctor.”

“We’ve got bandages, antibiotics, all we need.”

“No way. I’m making the call.” He picked up the cell phone and unlatched the box. Amiko watched as he opened it, checked the battery. Still at one percent.

He turned it on.

It took a while, searching for satellites, while the battery meter blinked red. As soon as it locked on, he made the call.

It was answered instantly.

“Gideon?” It was Glinn.

Gideon interrupted him. “Battery’s almost dead. We need to talk fast.”

“I told you this mission was aborted and ordered you—”

“Enough! We need a rescue. Amiko is hurt.”

“Badly?”

“She needs immediate medical attention.”

“Very well. Give me your coordinates.”

“We’re on an island about twenty miles offshore,” he said. “I’m not sure exactly where.”

“I’m locking in on your satellite signal. I’ll have it in a minute.”

“We succeeded. We found the medicine. It grows here, on this island group. Another thing: this area was once inhabited by large, one-eyed hominids — Cyclopes. The natives worship its skull. It all backs up Amiko’s theory about the Odyssey.”

A brief silence. “Extraordinary. We’re almost there with your coordinates…”

Amiko held out her hand. “Let me talk to him. Now.”

Gideon handed the phone over. She grabbed the phone box, turned it upside down.

“What are you—?”

She yanked out the battery and gave it a mighty heave over the cliff.