The Lost Island

58

Gideon scrambled down the dizzying trail to the crack that led into the necropolis, Amiko following. Once again the beauty of the necropolis — its lofty dignity, its mysterious light — was overwhelming. Here was proof the Cyclopes once had a culture, spiritual beliefs, a civilization. Anger at Glinn rose in him afresh. But he pushed those thoughts out of his mind, striving to focus on getting the lotus and getting out. There was nothing he could do about the rest of it — nothing. At least Garza was on their side. He had badly misjudged the man.

They entered the dark recesses of the necropolis, its silence overwhelming after the noise of the camp and the roar of the Cyclops. They quickly located Polyphemus’s grave. There was the stone box…and there was the lotus. Amid the strange and powerful scent that rose from the box, Gideon scooped as many pieces up as he could fit in his drybag. They turned and emerged from the necropolis into brilliant light, making their way up the treacherous trail.

At the top of the cliff, Gideon turned in the direction of the chopper, but Amiko paused. “What about the Cyclops?” she said.

Gideon hesitated. “What about him?”

“What do you mean? We’ve got to free him! We can’t leave him in that cage. And he needs the lotus. He’s dying.”

Gideon looked at her steadily. “We can’t do anything for him. He’s surrounded by a dozen armed soldiers.”

“I’ve got the codes. And I’ve got a plan. Now give me the bag with the lotus.”

“Wait, Amiko…Garza needs the bag.”

She stared at him, her face darkening. “The Cyclops saved your life. He saved mine. And you’re just going to leave him there, in a cage, to die in misery?”

“I don’t like it any more than you do. But there are bigger things at stake here. Like this.” And he lifted the bag.

“Give me half. I’ll take it to him. You can take the rest and go with Garza.”

“We don’t know how much will be needed for analysis. We can’t risk it. Look—”

Quick as a striking snake, Amiko lunged for the bag, seizing it. Gideon yanked back and for a moment they struggled over it before it tore open, scattering the lotus. She abruptly released the bag, sending Gideon off balance, at the same time plucking the .45 from her belt and, turning it butt-first, striking him on the side of the head. He hit the ground and all went black.

Gideon felt like he was swimming back up from the bottom of the ocean, and the journey seemed to take a very long time. He struggled to sit up, his head throbbing, and looked at his watch. He’d been out about fifteen minutes. He cursed himself for not seeing this coming.

He glanced around. The lotus roots, which had been lying everywhere, were gone. Except for one that she had left for him, shoved in his pocket. She had taken all the rest.

Blood oozed from a cut on his temple, and his head pounded so that he could hardly think. He pulled the lotus from his pocket, wrapped it in a leaf, and tucked it back. Slowly, he rose to his feet. As he tried to clear his head, he heard the thunder of a distant explosion. A moment later he saw a ball of fire rise above the canopy, roiling into red and black, in the direction of the base camp.

Amiko.

He sprinted through the jungle, bashing through the vegetation, ignoring the pain in his head, until he reached the waiting chopper.

“Where were you?” Garza cried. “Something’s going on at the camp.” His radio had burst into frenzied chatter, everyone speaking at once over the frequency:

…it’s loose…killing everyone…that woman…fire suppression now…Oh, my God!..

And then, as if to underscore all this, a distorted bellowing came from the radio, drowning out the babble of voices, dissolving into a roar of static — and then, suddenly distinct over the radio, a scream of human agony, cut short by the sound of ripping flesh.

“Son of a bitch!” Garza cried, and then stared at Gideon. “What the hell’s happening?”

“Amiko,” said Gideon. “She knocked me out. Took the lotus. She’s freeing the Cyclops.”

Garza looked at him. “Took the lotus?”

“All except this one.” He pulled it out of his pocket and gave it to Garza.

“Get in,” said Garza, snatching it. “Let’s get the hell out of here. And let’s pray to God that one root will be enough.”

Gideon hesitated, his foot on the threshold.

“Get in, damn it!”

Gideon shook his head. “No. No, I can’t.”

“Why the hell not?” Garza was already powering up the rotors.

“It’s a catastrophe. I can’t go while that thing is killing people and…while Amiko’s in danger.”

Garza grabbed the controls. “If that’s the way it is, I hope you survive. Sayonara.” The door slammed and locked. Gideon retreated at a crouch as the chopper ascended into blue sky, then accelerated westward, toward Managua and home.

As Gideon watched it disappear, another massive explosion shook the forest.