Night on Terror Island (13 page)

Beth looked like she was walking on broken glass. When she spoke it was in a squeaky little voice that sounded, Kip thought, not so much like Rose but a constipated fairy.

‘I’m fine, Daddy.’ she squeaked. ‘No, we weren’t watching the film. I
hate
scary films.’

Dad’s voice said something else.

‘Oh yes, we’re having a lovely time. I’ve been doing some colouring in. What do you mean, I sound different? I’m not different. Well, I’m not. No, I’m just the same as ever. Honestly.’ A pause. ‘Oh, all right then. Kip? Daddy wants to speak to you.’ Beth thrust the handset back at Kip, looking daggers at him. He lifted it to his ear.

‘Er … yes, Dad?’

‘What’s wrong with Rose?’

Kip swallowed.

‘Nothing. She’s fine.’

‘She sounds
funny
.’

‘Do you think so? Well, I’m not laughing. She’s making me miss the film.’

‘Yeah, don’t start on about that. Anyway, I should be back around ten-thirty for the end of the movie.’

‘That’s fine, Dad,’ said Kip. ‘You take as long as you need.’

Just then the Communicator on his hip began to flash.

‘Look, Dad, I’ve got to go. Somebody’s come out for more popcorn.’

‘OK. Catch you later.’

Kip rang off on the mobile and pressed the button on the Communicator.

‘How are things progressing?’ asked Mr Lazarus in his earpiece.

‘Not great. I just had a phone call from Dad in Blackburn. I answered it without even thinking.’

‘Oh dear. Do you think he suspected anything?’

‘I just about got away with it … But never mind about that! We missed Rose on the beach. She’s already left. Now we’re walking along some kind of trail. Can you see us?’

‘No. I’m further on into the film, watching Rose and the others. They’re on the same trail I think, but further along it. I did warn you about the editing. The film must have jumped to a new scene just as you were touching down.’

‘Well, what should we do?’

‘Keep moving. If you step up the pace, hopefully you’ll catch up with her before too long. Rose is with a blonde woman, who seems to be looking after her.’

‘That’ll be Kara Neetly, I suppose. OK, you’d better ring off. Call me if anything comes up.’

‘I will. Good luck.’ The Communicator went dead. Kip glanced at Beth. ‘Bit creepy in here,’ he observed, but she didn’t reply. The trail was getting narrower and the jungle seemed to crowd in around them. There were sounds here, the rhythmic chirruping of insects, and a kind of hypnotic croaking sound.

‘What’s that noise?’ asked Kip nervously.

‘Tree frogs, I think,’ said Beth. ‘You get them in jungles.’ She watched a lot of nature documentaries and prided herself on knowing about this kind of stuff. She was looking around, her expression one of delight. ‘This is amazing,’ she said. ‘I always wanted to go into a jungle. What country do you think we’re in?’

Kip didn’t have the first idea. He was leading the way, peering along the narrow track, which twisted and turned through the thick ranks of vegetation. It was almost unbearably hot in here, a sweltering humid fug that made trickles of sweat run down his spine. It was also, despite the full moon, a lot darker than it had been on the beach. He tried not to think
about
how Rose must have felt being made to walk along here. He wondered how far ahead she was and hoped that he’d catch up with her before much longer.

Rose was hot and scared and fed up with trudging along the dark jungle trail. The sun had now slipped below the horizon and the light was fading fast. She was beginning to realise that this wasn’t some kind of dream she was having. It all felt far too real for that. She clutched Tamara’s hand tightly and looked around apprehensively. She wasn’t sure how long they had been walking like this. All she knew was she wanted to be home in her own room, with her dolls and her cuddly toys. She looked up at Tamara and said, ‘How much further?’

Tamara looked down and Rose could see that her pretty face was streaked with grime and sweat.

‘I don’t know, honey,’ she said. ‘We’ve just got to keep going.’

‘What I wouldn’t give for a flashlight,’ muttered Captain Holder.

‘Good job I grabbed one just before the ship went down,’ said Jade. She reached into her pack and pulled out a heavy torch, which she handed to him. He looked at her with new respect in his eyes.

‘How come you didn’t mention this earlier?’ he asked her.

‘I was saving the batteries,’ she told him.

He smiled, turned back and switched on the torch, directing a powerful beam of light along the trail. They started walking again.

‘I don’t like it here,’ said Rose. ‘There’ll be bugs.’

‘Ah, don’t worry about them,’ said Tad. ‘The snakes will eat all the bugs.’

Tamara fixed him with a look.

‘Now is probably not the time to be cracking jokes,’ she said.

‘Oh, excuse me all over the place,’ said Tad. ‘And besides, I wasn’t joking. I’m simply stating a fact. A tropical rainforest like this is sure to have a high number of snakes. Big ones, I should think.’

‘Will you shut up?’ snapped Jade.

Tad looked crestfallen.

‘I was only saying,’ he muttered.

‘Well, don’t,’ said Rose.

A few moments later, Captain Holder, who was walking at the head of the column, slowed a little and looked back over his shoulder.

‘There’s a building up ahead of us,’ he announced.

‘What kind of building?’ asked Tamara.

‘Hard to say. There’s no lights or anything, place looks deserted.’

Now the trail opened out in to a clearing and the column of people was able to spread out a little. Rose could see the building that Captain Holder had
mentioned;
a modern-looking, three-storey structure that seemed strangely out of place in this primitive setting. It was encircled by a high chain-link fence topped by razor wire; and at intervals along its length were huge signs showing yellow lightning bolts, a sure indication that at one time the fence must have been electrified. But they could see that the huge set of metal gates set in the centre of the fence had been smashed open, as if by incredible force.

They walked closer, staring up at the shattered gates.

‘What do you suppose happened here?’ murmured Tad.

‘Looks like something very powerful came through those gates,’ said Captain Holder. ‘A truck maybe.’

‘But it’s electrified,’ said Jade.

‘I’d say it was once upon a time,’ admitted Captain Holder. ‘But I reckon somebody switched off the juice.’

‘How do you know?’ asked Tad.

‘I don’t for sure, but if anybody feels like grabbing hold of the wire to test it, be my guest.’ Nobody took him up on his offer. They walked in through the open gates and stood looking at the front entrance of the building. Above the door, a paint-blistered sign swung from a rusted-iron bracket. It was just possible to make out the words
U
S MILITARY
in faded yellow letters.

‘Must be some kind of research centre,’ said Tad. ‘Hey, maybe there’s a phone or a radio inside. We could call for help.’

‘I wouldn’t count on it, so I wouldn’t,’ said Sam, grimly. ‘Place looks like it’s been empty for years, so it does.’

A heavy wooden door barred the way. Captain Holder walked up to it and tested it with one powerful hand. There was a bit of give in it. He glanced round and saw a length of iron bar lying on the ground a short distance away. He fetched it and, handing the torch to Tad, he jammed the pipe into the door and began to exert all his strength to try and prise it open.

‘I think this is called breaking and entering,’ observed Tad.

‘So sue me,’ grunted Captain Holder through gritted teeth. The door opened surprisingly easily, making a scraping sound as it did so. Now they could all see that it had been half off its hinges and bore the evidence of having been forced open some time back. Somebody had simply closed it again.

Captain Holder dropped the metal bar, took back the torch and examined the inside of the door. ‘That’s odd,’ he said. He indicated a huge metal bolt that nobody had bothered to use. ‘If somebody had slid that across, I’d never have got it open.’

‘I guess that means that there can’t be anybody in here,’ observed Tamara.

‘But the door was closed,’ reasoned Tad.

‘Maybe from the outside?’ suggested Jade.

‘Unless there’s somebody inside but they’re too stupid to know how to use a bolt,’ said Tad.

Jade laughed. ‘Who could be that dumb?’

‘Number Tails,’ said Rose, remembering the creatures she had seen in the trailer, and everybody looked at her.

‘What’s that, honey?’ asked Tamara.

‘Number Tails,’ said Rose. ‘You know, like big monkey men?’

‘What is she on about?’ muttered Tad.

Captain Holder directed the beam of the torch into the building, revealing a scene of complete devastation. Everything was wrecked beyond repair. The floors were littered with piles of debris and a sparkling layer of broken glass. A wheelchair lay on its side, one wheel twisted and crumpled. A couple of ancient-looking computers lay in a corner, the screens smashed, the plastic casing shattered.

‘What happened here?’ asked Tamara.

‘It was Number Tails,’ said Rose. ‘They look like big monkeys but they’re scary like monsters.’ Everybody looked at her again.

‘Monsters?’
cried Sam. ‘Why do you keep saying that?’

‘I saw the rotten trailer,’ said Rose.

‘The trailer?’ muttered Tamara. ‘You mentioned that before. What trailer?’

‘The rotten trailer for the rotten film!’

Her companions exchanged puzzled glances.

‘What’s she talking about?’ muttered Captain Holder.

‘She seems to think we’re in some kind of movie,’ said Tamara.

‘Interesting,’ said Tad. ‘That sounds like a form of dementia. Unusual in one so young.’ Everyone ignored him.

‘We
are
in a movie,’ insisted Rose. ‘Only, I’m not supposed to be in it. Just you lot. I don’t know how I ended up here, but I did. And I know this is where the monster-men are. The Number Tails. I saw them chasing people.’

‘Hey, quit that, kid,’ said Tad. ‘You’re beginning to freak me out.’

‘That makes two of us,’ said Captain Holder. ‘Come on, let’s check inside. Everybody stay together.’

He started forward into the room, broken glass crunching beneath his boots.

‘Think there’s anybody else in here?’ murmured Jade.

Tad shook his head.

‘I’d say that’s highly unlikely. There’s no signs of life whatsoever.’

Just then, they heard a noise from somewhere up above them – a deep grunting sound.

‘What the blue blazes was that?’ asked Captain Holder.

KIP AND BETH
came to a halt on the jungle trail. They stood there, looking fearfully around in the cold light of the full moon.

‘What was that?’ asked Kip quietly. They had both heard it – the sound of vegetation stirring, as though something large and heavy was moving through it.

‘Probably some kind of jungle animal,’ said Beth.

‘Such as?’ asked Kip.

‘Er … well, it depends which country the island’s in. It’s a rainforest, so it could be a tapir, or a jaguar …’

‘Or a sabre-toothed tiger,’ said Kip. ‘Remember, they were in the trailer?’

‘Oh, but the creatures in this film are just CGI,’ said Beth, ‘computer animation. They couldn’t be like …
real
’. She looked at Kip. ‘Could they?’

Kip’s grim expression must have said everything.

‘But, that’s mental,’ said Beth.

Now there was another sound – a deep rumbling growl that seemed to shake the ground beneath them.

‘That doesn’t sound like anything I’ve heard on the Discovery channel,’ admitted Beth. ‘Maybe it’s a—’

She broke off. They could hear something crashing along the trail behind them. They turned to look.