Brittany sniffed with disapproval. “Tony’s about to make dinner. If you’re hungry, you’d better get your asses out here.”
“We’re coming,” Rogue said, hauling Seth to his feet. “Time to eat.”
“This is going to be a long trip,” he grumbled.
“Stop complaining. It’s for a good cause,” Rogue said.
“I know, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s going to be a long, frustrating trip,” he replied.
They stepped out onto the deck and joined the rest of the group. It was already late in the day, and Jessica had dropped anchor for the night. The boat drifted in the current, gently rocking back and forth.
The sound and smell of sizzling fish drifted from the kitchen, teasing their nostrils. It was enough to drive anyone mad, and it was a relief when David broke out a deck of cards. Playing Go Fish distracted them from their hunger and allowed them to relax.
After the third game, Tony emerged from the kitchen with a triumphant grin. “Dinner is served. Help yourselves.”
A mad scramble ensued as everyone vied for their share, but it turned out to be unnecessary. There was more than enough to go around, even for a big-eater like Bear.
Rogue settled down with a plate piled high and took a deep whiff. The first bite melted in her mouth, and she sighed with pleasure. The fried fillets were just right. Crunchy on the outside, soft and flaky on the inside. “You’ve outdone yourself, Tony. This is delicious.”
“Thanks,” he said with a huge grin. “It’s my own recipe.”
“So, who won the fishing competition?” Jessica asked.
“He did,” Seth mumbled.
“You owe me, Bear,” Jessica said.
“You bet on Seth?” Rogue asked, quirking an eyebrow at Bear.
“I did,” Bear said.
“Why?”
“I had to. No one else would.”
Laughter ensued, followed by silence as everyone settled down to eat. The sun dropped behind the horizon, and filled the skies above with streaks of mauve, red, and yellow over an orange background. It painted a beautiful picture, the perfect backdrop to their day.
“How about a game of poker?” David suggested after dinner.
“Not tonight. We’re close to Kalama and should reach it early tomorrow morning,” Tony said. “We should get some sleep. Who knows what the day will bring?”
“Excellent idea,” Jessica said. “It’s a long hike from the harbor to the airport, and we’ll need our energy.”
“That settles it. Off to bed, people,” Seth said.
Everyone got to their feet and headed toward the cabin, Rogue included. She climbed into her hammock and settled in. Exhaustion dragged at her eyelids. “Good night, everyone.”
“Goodnight,” the rest chorussed.
With a smile tugging at her lips, Rogue closed her eyes. Tomorrow, the real adventure begins, and I’m ready for it.
Chapter 5 - Imogen
Imogen and Casey waited an entire day before they dared to leave the relative safety of the living quarters. The afternoon passed slowly while they huddled inside, followed by a long, sleepless night. Neither one of them spoke because there was nothing to say. The expedition was over, and all that remained was to pick up the pieces.
The next morning, Imogen rose with the sun. She took a quick shower and donned fresh clothing. She liked bright colors, and it showed in her ensemble: an orange spaghetti-strap top, a crimson shirt, jeans, boots, and a denim jacket. Plastic wristbands in every color of the rainbow decorated her arms, and she pulled her wild copper curls into a tight knot. Freckles dusted her milky-white skin, and her bright green eyes gleamed with curiosity behind a set of equally green spectacles.
Once she’d finished with her ablutions, Imogen made her way to the kitchen. Along the way, she passed by the empty rooms that used to belong to her friends and co-workers. It was hard to believe that Ralph and Allen were dead. The thought of their corpses rotting in the sun was enough to make her sick. They deserved a proper burial. If there’s enough left of them to bury.
She paused in front of Jessica’s room and lingered. Crumpled clothes lay strewn across the floor, and a pair of mud-encrusted boots stood in the corner. Jessica had never been the neatest of people, preferring to live life one minute at a time. Her loss hit Imogen the hardest. Not only did she admire Jessica for being a gutsy go-getter, but they were also friends.
Many a night, they sat in the tower and looked at the stars while sipping on a glass of wine. Now, Imogen had to give up the search and return home empty-handed, abandoning her friend to her fate. I’m sorry, Jessica. So, so sorry.
With a sigh of reluctance, she closed the door and continued down the hall. From the kitchen came the sounds of cooking, and her empty stomach growled. She’d been too upset to eat the previous day, preferring to go hungry. Now she longed for a solid meal. The kind that stuck to the ribs.
Casey looked up when she entered the room and gestured to a seat at the breakfast table. “Sit down. The food’s almost ready.”
“Thanks,” Imogen said. Casey handed her a cup of coffee, and she cradled it between her palms. She took a sip, grimacing when the bitter brew hit her taste buds. Casey liked it strong enough to strip the paint from a wall. It did the trick, however, and perked her right up. “Are you ready for today?”
“Not really. Are you?” Casey asked.
“Nope. Not at all,” Imogen admitted. “To be honest, I don’t even know where to start.”
“I think we should start by making certain the Spinosaurus is gone. I don’t want to be caught with my pants down again,” Casey said, ladling oatmeal into two bowls. She added a squirt of maple syrup and a knob of butter to each. “Here you go.”
Imogen spooned the thick porridge into her mouth, savoring its sweet, buttery goodness. It settled into the pit of her stomach and soothed the knot of anxiety that had formed there overnight. “That’s a good idea. We can use the
