“You can’t tell what’s in those.”Kimberly pointed out the obvious.“Could be extra supplies.”
“I don’t think they brought water and snacks to a deserted island just in case they got the munchies.It has to be something illegal.”My entire body was tense with excitement.I pulled out my phone and stared at the shattered screen.Damn.Must have got busted when I fell.I looked over at Kimberly.“Where’s that phone of yours?Mine’s broken.Can you record this?”
“Yeah, I think so.”She fumbled with the armband.This was starting to feel like a James Bond movie, complete with clandestine videos.She held the phone up and pressed the start button.Looking at the screen, she cursed.“They’re too far away.I can’t get a good shot.”
I held out my hand.“Let me try.”
She passed the phone over, and I stared down at it.Where was the zoom button?There was one, there had to be.I clicked a button at the top of the screen, and the picture started to pan from left to right.Nope that wasn’t it.I pressed the icon in the top left corner and the phone obligingly zeroed in on the men on the beach.Yes, much better.I watched the tiny screen as the device captured the action on the beach.
The men were loading the boxes into the Zodiac, working quickly and efficiently.This obviously wasn’t their first time doing this.
I stretched my arm out, trying for a better shot of the three.It would be great if I could get usable shots of their faces.
I didn’t see what brushed against my cheek, but reflex made me flinch.The movement was just enough to cause me to twist my wrist.
It felt like a nightmare -- I could see disaster coming but I was powerless to stop it.I reflexively pulled my arm back, and the phone caught on a branch, slipping through my fingers.I watched helplessly as the device flipped end over end and arched its way down to the beach.It landed in a dense patch of scrub bush, the sound loud enough to be heard over the surf that pounded on the beach.
All five men straightened at the same time, their heads swiveling as they attempted to isolate what had caused the sound.
I frowned, motioning Kimberly to hug the ground.She complied instantly, squeezing her eyes closed, and keeping her hand on Diego.
I prayed the mutt wouldn’t pick this moment to act up.So far, he’d been the perfect partner in crime.
The poachers communicated with hand signals, spreading out and slowly moving toward the source of the sound.
Fuck.What else could go wrong?I hugged the ground, opening my eyes just a slit to watch as the poachers came closer to the base of the cliff.At least they hadn’t thought to look up yet.
The group were closing in on the bush containing the cell phone.Pity I didn’t still have it.Their faces were much clearer from this angle.Had it smashed on impact, or would the poachers see the video of themselves and figure out there was someone watching them?
I assessed the area around us with a practiced eye, checking to see if there was an easy way from the beach to our hiding spot.We’d have to be gone before they scaled the cliff.
A wild burst of sound shattered the silence, and Kimberly flinched.A covey of quail broke cover, surging up from the bushes directly in front of the one the cell phone had fallen into.I was beginning to become a real bird lover.
The poachers reacted on instinct, and two of the birds dropped to the ground with arrows through them.The tension shattered, the five men laughed gruffly as they swaggered over to retrieve their arrows from the unfortunate birds.
“Let’s get packed up and get out of here.”Mr.Arm Tattoos wiped the blood from his arrow off on one of the bushes.“This place is starting to give me the creeps.”
“We’re just about loaded.One last box and we’re good to go.”
“Hey, what’s this?”Mr.Dreadlocks reached into the bush and pulled out a shiny metal object.
Fuck.The phone?I held my breath.
No.A crumpled beer can.Relief flooded through me.
“Maybe that chick likes beer.”Mr.Arm Tattoos took the can and examined it.“Or maybe it just washed up at high tide and got caught in the bushes.Looks like it’s been here for a while.”
The fourth man took a cursory look before tossing the can back into the bushes.“We’ll circle the island from the water before we leave, make sure there’s no one else here.Doesn’t hurt to be careful.Meantime, let’s get moving.”
The group trekked back to the Zodiac and quickly stowed the last of the boxes before they all clambered in and motored out to the waiting cutter.Watching the boat back out into the ocean and start a wide sweeping circle around the island felt like an anticlimax.
Kimberly pivoted to face me.“Do you think they’ll be back?”
I considered it.“Probably not, but we’d better stay out of sight of the water for a good hour and pray they don’t see my boat.The phone can wait until we’re sure it’s safe.”
“So what do we do now?”
I rolled onto my back.“Take a nap?Unless you happen to know where I can get a good steak on this island.I’m starving.”
