Dobby was sitting with Ethan, murmuring to him.
“Just a little bee sting,” Axle said.
She gritted her teeth as Axle injected the anaesthetic.It didn’t take long for it to take effect and he sewed the gash and covered it in a waterproof bandage.“It’s not as pretty as a plastic surgeon would do, but it shouldn’t scar much.”He packed his equipment away.“Rest now because we might have to move fast when it’s time.”
“All right.Thank you.”She grabbed a few of the larger, less decayed palm fronds and lay them down to make a blanket of sorts.Damien helped her and then handed her a pack.“It’s not bad as a pillow.”
She smiled.“Thank you.”It was kind of him to consider her comfort.
Vance grumbled something under his breath, so perhaps he wasn’t asleep, but she paid him no attention.Then she lay down and the moment her head hit the backpack, sleep claimed her.
Chapter 6
Dobby watched as Mila fell asleep instantly.On the edge of the clearing, Vance was muttering and swearing.Dobby suspected he’d get pulled aside to deal with Vance’s complaints after they were back in Australia.Not that he cared.The man was a selfish, privileged git, and not worth his time.
He’d been glad to hear Mila give him the serving he deserved, but he hated hearing the pain in her voice.Had she loved him?
Surely she hadn’t been fooled by him.But perhaps he could be charming when he wanted something.
“She’s a tough cookie,” Axle murmured.“Her arm had to be hurting, but she didn’t say a thing about it.”
“She was more concerned about Hawk,” Dobby agreed.Someone she’d only just met.It took a certain type of person to put strangers before herself.He felt drawn to her, but instead of moving closer, he stepped away.“I’m going to check the road.”
Axle nodded as he made himself comfortable near Hawk, but between the road and the others.
Dobby crept through the jungle.Joker and Radar would have made sure they left no sign of them stopping there, but Dobby wanted to check.And he wanted to scope the surroundings, ensure there wasn’t a rice field or houses near where they were camped.
He took his time watching the road to see if any survivors were leaving town and that people weren’t returning to investigate things.He understood Mila’s desire to stay and help.They’d be lucky if any buildings were left standing by the time the sun rose.
But he also had to keep to his mission, even if it had gone completely pear-shaped.
The insects had returned to chirping and a few birds squawked.The thick, rich scent of plants and decay filled his nose, a far more pleasant scent than back at the village.
Agus worried him and he didn’t want Mila anywhere near him.If they were lucky, he’d stay holed up in his house until after they’d left the island, but he wouldn’t count on that.
He’d keep her away from Vance as much as he could, too.Radar had told him what had happened.Dobby wouldn’t let her be forced into anything.
Not that she seemed likely to give in to Vance.
Satisfied the road was clear and there was no sign they had been there, he circled the camp, creeping through the jungle listening for noises that shouldn’t be there.He couldn’t hear anyone speaking, or see any lights, which was good.
In the distance a macaque called and received an answering response.A few birds screeched, and a mosquito buzzed annoyingly close to his head.He swatted at it.
Shifting down the hill, he found a gap in the trees which allowed him to view the ocean.Another wave rolled in, but it didn’t appear like it was too big.He made note of the time.
From his estimate they were maybe a bay around from where they’d arrived.He sighed.He should have first sent Radar and Joker to scout for the zod in case by some stroke of luck it had survived intact.
But there was no fighting an enormous wave and the jungle was difficult enough to navigate through when it wasn’t full of broken trees and debris.
The zod could wait, at least until they had a definite extraction time.
He stared down at the ocean.The water was littered with rubbish for almost a kilometre.
Even if they found a boat, it would be slow going through the debris.
As he stared at the water, he relived the moments the tsunami hit.
The way the wave had knocked Mila from her feet and buried her.Its onslaught as it caught up with Hawk and he disappeared from view.
