Chapter 19 - Into The Jungle

[image error]

Photo credit: Stuck in Customs / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

 

Delphina held tight as the sharks led her a few miles out to sea before they turned South.  The boat’s trail led them back closer to shore. 

 

“Are you sure this is the right way? Del asked.

 

The lead shark turned back with a stunned look on its face.

 

“Fine, fine, I trust you,” Del said.  They continued for hours.  Del found it increasingly hard to hang on and lost her grip a few times.  She could tell only a few hours of sunlight remained and they would have to stop soon.  As they came around a shallow bend, the sharks made for land.  Del watched the bottom of a boat come into view.  She couldn’t be sure but it looked like the one.  She released her hold on the shark fin and swam under the dock. 

 

Del bobbed on the surface and listened for signs of life.  She heard one set of footsteps walking back and forth near the vessel.  She made a knocking sound underneath the dock.  The person above cocked a rifle.  She saw a shadow lean over the edge.  She heard him lay the rifle down to get a closer look.  Del saw her chance.  She reached up and snatched at his shirt pulling him into the water.  She had her own pistol ready and jammed it his face before she pulled it back.

 

“You’re just a kid!” she yelled.

 

“I’m almost sixteen!” he yelled back.

 

“What are you doing guarding that ship?  Where are your parents?”  He rolled his eyes at that question and jerked away from her.  They both pulled themselves onto the dock.  He reached for his rifle but Del stepped on it.

 

“I mean it!  Why are you here?” she asked.

 

“I don’t gotta tell you nothing, lady,” he said.

 

Del grabbed the scrawny teen and hauled him to the edge of the dock.  She whistled and two fins surfaced.  She held him out so he could see the sharks.

 

“Start talking, kid,” Del said.

 

“Ok ok!  Chill lady!  I got no parents!  The captain pays me real good to watch the boat when they dock here.”

 

“What’s your name, kid,” Del asked.

 

“Miguel.  I got a little brother that needs medical attention.  The captain makes sure he gets it and I take care of the boat.  They come here every week.  That’s it.”

 

“Where’s the crew now?”

 

“They spend about three days at the factory and then they come back.”

 

Del looked the kid over.  He looked small for fifteen and thin.  She almost felt sorry for him but knew smugglers and drug dealers recruited early.  She guessed almost sixteen was a stretch. 

 

“Can you take me to this factory?” Del asked.

 

“No way!”, Miguel said trying to twist his way from Del’s grip.  She held fast.  She needed to get to the factory and find Kyran.

 

“I’m not asking, kid,” Del said before she hauled him from the dock.  She kicked the rifle into the water and pulled Miguel along until she saw an abandoned truck.  “Who’s truck is this?  You know how to start it?” she asked.  Miguel snatched his arm away from Del and checked out the truck.  He opened the unlocked door and found the keys under the matt.  He dangled them for Del and she snatched them from his hand.

 

“Get in.”

 

Like this:Like Loading...
Chapter 19 - Into The Jungle