Primal Thirst by J. Kent Holloway

Author:J. Kent Holloway [Holloway, J. Kent]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery & Crime
Publisher: Springbrook Digital Publishing

NINETEEN

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Randy yelled, scowling at Shantili. “You can’t possibly trust that weirdo.”

“It’s not like I have a choice,” I said.

“Sure you do. You can just leave him hog-tied here and hope an orangutan comes along and makes him its girlfriend.”

“Randy, shut up,” Vera interrupted. “Jack, we’re just worried. That’s all. It’s just a little strange that he’ll only let you and Nikki go with him. It seems like he’s trying to split us up.”

If she only knew. I hadn’t told the group about Shantili’s prediction of betrayal. It wouldn’t have done any good and this way, at least, the only one who had to worry about it was me. I knew that the shaman’s words could not possibly be true, but the venomous seeds had been planted, just as he intended.

“It works out great actually,” I said, looking at them with the biggest smile I could muster. “This way, we can cover more territory. You guys can move on to Tuhan Kampong, meet up with that other missionary guy Nikki told us about, and get ready for the next jenglot attack.”

I paused to let the words sink in.

“While you’re doing that, Nikki and I will be investigating this craziness from Shantilli’s angle. And if he tries anything hinky,” I turned to look at Shantili, “I’ll feed him to the jenglot myself.”

“I still don’t like it,” Randy said.

“I don’t either, but my mind’s made up. We’re doing it this way.”

“All right, but keep your radio handy.”

“I was already planning on it,” I said out loud for all to hear. “Actually, I want regular check-ins. Every hour on the hour.”

“Sounds good to me.”

I motioned for Randy to come closer and we walked out of earshot from the rest of the group.

“Look, something’s not right here,” I said. “I know it, but I need your support on this with the others.”

“This really is stupid, Jack,” Randy whispered.

We both glanced back at the witchdoctor. His dark eyes closed, head swaying in tight, concentric circles and mumbling something under his breath.

“I just don’t like it. But I’ll follow your lead. Just let it go on record now—this plan sucks,” my friend said.

I smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing.

“I’ll be careful. But listen. When you get to Tuhan Kampong, you need to be proactive,” I said. “I want one of these things caught ASAP. So far, they’ve run circles around us and I’m sick of it. We’re about to go on the offensive.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“You know how I work, Randy. I never have a plan until I see what I have to work with. You’ll just have to figure it out when you get there.”

“Well, you’re a big help,” he said, scratching the stubble on his chin. “Guess I’ll think of something.”

* * *

Shantili led us deep into the jungle for several hours before coming to the base of a massive, steep hill carpeted with thick vegetation. A red-orange glow cascaded around the peak, as the sun sank down from sight.

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