“Oh, but the water is more refreshing than that kiwi.” Carlos grinned. He turned his focus to Katrina and waved his hand. “Miss Landon, please come in the water. The coolness will regenerate your tired legs, I assure you.”
Since she was nearly finished with her coconut, she nodded and walked toward him. “I believe I will.” She stopped near the bank.
“Come inside.” Carlos sunk a little lower. “Never have you felt such—”
He lost his balance, and he glanced into the water. Fear crossed his face mere seconds before he cried out and went under. Frozen in shock, all Katrina could do was watch the terror unfold in front of her. Carlos jumped up for air, screaming in agony. But in the blink of an eye, something pulled him back under the water again.
She waited for him to resurface. Along the bank, the other men shouted for Carlos to come up for air. They acted as though Carlos was playing a joke on them. Holding her breath, she prayed he was all right. But soon the water became bloody.
His arms came out of the water, flaying as if trying to get away from something. The tone in the other men’s voices pitched higher with worry. Gradually, Carlos’ limbs became limp and drifted back under the bloody water.
Tears stung her eyes. Silently, she willed Carlos to jump out of the water and tell everyone this was a joke. But Carlos never came up again.
“It’s a croc!” Felix yelled as he dashed toward the water. Two other men quickly followed.
Before they reached the bank, the top of a large, and very long, reptile emerged from the other side of the pool, popping its head out of the crimson water. Beady yellow eyes stared right at Katrina as he sped toward her. It’s green, scaly skin bobbed just above the tainted liquid.
There are two of them?Or was this the same one who had killed Carlos? Her stomach lurched, but she couldn’t move. Fear had left her immobilized.
“Katrina!” Felix screamed and ran to her.
Just before the second crocodile reached the shore, Felix swept her up in his arms and darted back toward camp. Behind them, the other men followed. Terror covered their pale faces as tears spiked their eyes.
When Felix reached safety, he collapsed to his knees on the ground, still holding her as he rocked her back and forth in his arms. His hand held her head against his chest. His heartbeat was fast, and his breaths were uneven.
“What just... happened?” she asked.
“I wish I knew.”
“Is Carlos... dead?” Her voice squeaked.
“Yes.” He choked on the word.
She lifted her head and gazed into his watery eyes. “Would that other crocodile... have eaten... me?”
He shook his head. “I would never allow that to happen.”
Her body shook harder the more she tried to relax. She could have been killed, too. Never in her life had she witnessed such an attack. And Carlos, he did nothing wrong. He’d been frolicking in the water, just as she and Felix had done yesterday.
Why hadn’t she seen a forewarning of it? She could have stopped Carlos from going in the water. She could have donesomething.Anything.
“Why—why were the crocodiles there?” she asked, sitting up fully. “You said they don’t live near waterfalls.”
“They don’t.” His voice cracked.
This couldn’t be happening. Nothing had gone right since they started on their trek. Felix must be devastated. His face was pale as he stared past her. Confusion mixed with grief coated his expression, tugging on her heart more.
“Oh, Felix. I’m so sorry. Carlos was a good man. He didn’t deserve...” She held back her tears as she stroked his hair. She slowly pulled his head toward her neck.
With a heavy sob, he fell into her, burying his face in the crook of her neck as his body shook with silent cries. Inside, her heart wrenched, making it harder to breathe.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and he tightened his hold on her. It was her turn to rock him as she tried her best to comfort. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gently stroked his hair and neck.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” she said in quiet sobs. “I should have seen it. I could have stopped it.”
Felix lifted his head. His tear-filled eyes gazed deeply into hers.
“Why do you say that? How could you have known? None of us did.”
