Page 72 of Perfectly Wild

Guns.

Hurling himself forward to his feet, the light follows him, and standing with his arms raised in front of his eyes is a disadvantage. The Ularan men and women are already standing, unmoving and silent. He’s thankful they understand danger and don’t do anything to be shot.

“¿Cómo puedo ayudarle?”How can I help you?

A deep voice tells him they’re trespassing and on private land. A threatening tone indicates they aren’t getting away without a form of payment. He ponders his position to bargain, although his resources are scarce. Tiny pieces of gold are all that remain beside his American dollars. One of the flashlights shines over his hammock and lands on his backpack. A man dressed in a khaki shirt scavenges through his bag. He pulls out medication packets and his notes wrapped in plastic.

“Quién eres tú?”Who are you?

Samuel explains he’s an American doctor caring for the people in the community, and they are traveling to find a new home.

The guy asks for their passports and visas, and it tricks Samuel into believing they’re a sub-group of the government military.

Before he has time to explain, a gunshot fires, and a body falls with a thump. Wails sound before him.

“Por favor, colega, deje que le explique la situación.”Please, colleague, let me explain the situation.

A grunt sounds from behind the intruder. The flashlights leave Samuel and shine on the limp body of an intruder gasping for his last breath. It gives Samuel a chance to flee behind a thick tree trunk. Flashlights scan the Ularan faces, all squinting their eyes from the light. Multiple beams of light scan the area like a prison yard searching for an escapee.

Another body falls, and a flashlight rolls out of his hand along the ground. It shines momentarily on a figure holding a blow dart.

Tïmenneng.

He disappears into the darkness, and the hostile men yell and flash the lights in search of him. Except one. The leader shouts a threat warning he’ll shoot the women.

Before Samuel surrenders, he needs a plan. Only his thoughts scramble, and he has no weapon in defense other than his voice to reason with the criminals.

“Tengo oro,” Samuel shouts.I have gold.

Lights shine in his direction.

Snickers of triumph and footsteps stomp closer.

Suddenly, an arm is around his throat, a blade pressed to his jugular. The intruder came from behind with a hand around his waist, holding Samuel like a vice. One slight slip could be fatal. The light is back burning his eyes. There are fewer men to fight thanks to Tïmenneng’s swift skills, and Samuel knows he must act fast. The familiar thump of a body hitting the ground, and simultaneously, the light falls away from him, another flashlight rolling over the ground pointing at Samuel’s feet. The attacker grunts and wails behind Samuel, and his hold loosens. Samuel flings his arm off his neck and turns to see him curled over, holding his testicles.

Kaikare stands behind, and he makes out her defiant stance.

He doesn’t think, only acts and swings a brutal uppercut punch to the attacker’s nose at an angle where the nasal bones, with enough force, penetrate the brain.

Samuel yells out with the pain of smashed knuckles and a loud moan of knowing he killed, not saved a life.

“Samuel, you’re fine.” The voice breaks through his pain.

He reaches for Kaikare to ensure she’s safe, except her body shape is fading. He opens his eyes to nothing but black space.

A hand rests on his back.

“You’re safe. You’re with us, and everything will be okay.”

Samuel scrunches his eyes closed with awareness of his surroundings. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “It was just a dream.”

“No, Samuel. You’re experiencing nightmares, and it scares me,” she whispers.

Nightmares are still dreams.

He wishes it was just that and not the truth of his dark past.

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