Return To Primordial Island by Rick Poldark (namjoon book recommendations TXT) 📗

“I’m not a monster, you know.”

“I’m not saying you are,” she stammered. “You’re a complex guy. A real mystery wrapped in an enigma.”

Jason guffawed, breaking the tension. “Where do you come up with this stuff?”

They continued on, following Mary’s tracks in a comfortable silence. Jason hadn’t noticed that they were being watched, but it wasn’t by dinosaurs or lizard men. It was something that left no tracks.

* * *

“We need to return to base camp,” said Collins. “We can discuss side missions later.”

“I made this mess,” insisted Peter, “I need to clean it up.”

“I’ll go with you,” offered Tracey.

“No, you won’t,” said Nielsen. “You’re an employed consultant of Poseidon Tech, and you’ll stay on mission, Dr. Moran.”

Tracey shook her head. “I left him all alone to deal with all of this. I need to help him fix it.”

“Who’s to say that this thing is telling the truth?” said Collins. “It could be leading you right into a trap.”

Ghenga watched the exchange, occasionally flicking his tongue out to taste the air. Grux stood by his side, waiting patiently.

“I don’t think so,” said Peter. “He basically wants me to awaken an old rival race.”

“How do we know this Simian race won’t join forces with them and kill everything else on the island?” insisted Collins.

“Why do we even care about this when we’re all going to be leaving this island?” said Nielsen. “It’s a moot point, because we won’t be here long.”

“In all good conscience, I can’t leave everything like this,” said Peter.

Tracey placed a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe Nielsen’s right. I came to get you and bring you back, not help you fix unintended consequences.”

Peter met her eyes with his. “I can’t go back. Not yet, anyway. You have to understand, I set things in motion that need to be corrected.”

She nodded, eyes welling up. “I’ll back whatever decision you make. I need to correct my mistakes as well.”

Peter arched an eyebrow. However, before he could query as to what she meant, Nielsen stepped in front of him. “If it was your interference that caused these problems, do you really think more meddling will help? We came for you, to bring you back home.”

 Tracey turned on him. “That’s not really why you’re here.”

Nielsen took a step back. “Well, we’re here to bring back all of the old team.”

Tracey put her hands on her hips. “Is that why most of our current team is back at base camp?”

Nielsen laughed, but it was bitter and joyless. “What are you talking about? We brought a full weapons team and a helicopter. I came in person, for crying out loud. And I brought Collins, the head of security, with me.”

Everyone looked at Collins, who shifted his feet, looking uncomfortable. “Can we argue this back at base camp? We’re sitting ducks out here.”

“No,” demanded Tracey. “We discuss this now. You brought a team of technicians but only bring one on this mission, and she’s a damned kid.”

“Hey!” protested Marcy. “I’ll have you know I’m damned good at what I do.”

“I don’t doubt that,” said Tracey, “but what are all the others doing back at base camp?”

Marcy turned on Nielsen. “Now that you mention it, she raises a good point.”

“We’re making a lot of noise,” said Collins, annoyed, his eyes darting around their surroundings. “This really isn’t the place to discuss this. We really need to return to base camp.”

“He’s right,” said Nielsen. “I’d be happy to discuss this back at base camp.”

“What about him?” said Peter, gesturing to Ghenga.

“He can come with us,” said Nielsen.

Collins stepped forward, putting a hand up. “Now, wait a minute. I didn’t approve that.”

“You don’t need to,” said Nielsen, sounding imperious. “I’m the project manager and team leader.”

“I’m in charge of keeping base camp secure, and bringing lizard men back constitutes a major security risk,” said Collins. “What happens when the others track him back to our base camp?”

Nielsen waved a dismissive hand. “Your men can handle a bunch of lizards with spears.”

“What about Mary?” asked Peter. “They have her.”

At her mention, Tracey appeared deflated.

“We can launch a rescue mission once we regroup,” said Collins.

Peter glowered. “She could be dead by then.”

“Now, we don’t know that, Dr. Albanese,” said Nielsen. “We can’t go off into the jungle half-cocked without support.”

“He’s right about that, Peter,” said Tracey, her voice small. “It’s too dangerous. We’ll be no good to Mary or Jason.”

Peter felt guilty. All this time he only focused on Mary; he’d almost forgotten about Jason. He turned away, angry at himself and the situation. “Maybe you’re right.”

“Send them away,” said Collins, gesturing to Ghenga and Grux. “Tell them you’ll go to that Temple of the Simian King, but you need reinforcements.”

Peter knew he was right. He didn’t trust Nielsen as far as he could throw him, but he respected Collins’ judgement. The man seemed like a straight shooter. He turned to Ghenga and reached out, palming the orb. ‘Ghenga, I have to return to my people.’

Ghenga flared his dewlap and retracted it in a swift motion. ‘What about the Temple of the Simian King?’

‘I will go and awaken them, but I cannot do it alone. I need my people.’

‘If you do not do this, your people will die. All of them.’

‘You have my word, Ghenga. I will fix my mistake.’

Ghenga cocked his head. ‘You gave the Zehhaki a second chance at existence. It is their mistake that threatens all life in this land, including their own…I will lead them away for now, to afford you time.’

‘Thank you. How will I know where the Temple of the Simian King is?’

‘I will show you.’

Without warning, a map flashed in Peter’s mind with such force