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

selection pressures at play, you being one of them, all artificially put in place.”

Peter paused, watching the road. He figured maybe she was right. “Tracey, do you believe in destiny?”

She laughed. “That’s just silliness kids learn from storybooks.”

Peter turned to look at her, arching his right eyebrow. “You mean stories about dinosaurs, ancient races, and magic orbs?”

“Okay, I see your point. Once you do this, are you leaving the island? Are you coming home?”

Peter smiled. “That’s really why you came? To bring me home?”

Tracey’s expression was grave. “Peter, that thing…that entity that you’ve been talking to…I think it brought us here. It wants off the island.”

“Nazimaa,” said Peter. “That’s what it’s called.”

“Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure that’s the voice I heard on the recording from 207’s flight recorder.” Tracey swallowed hard. “We can’t let her get off this island.”

“And now Poseidon Tech is zeroing in on the ore deposit below base camp to keep the portal to our home dimension open. That’s going to be a problem.” He chewed on his lip, deep in thought. “Maybe these Simians can help us with this Nazimaa.”

“What makes you say that?”

“She’s imprisoned there. Ghenga told me so. Maybe they were the ones who imprisoned her. Maybe they’ll know how to contain her.”

Tracey shook her head. “I don’t know. Something doesn’t sit right with me about this Ghenga character. I still don’t know why he’d turn on his own people like that, and I don’t buy into his story about saving them from themselves.”

They drove on for a while in silence, each deep in thought about their predicament and their options. Peter wanted to restore balance to the island, and Tracey wanted to bring him home, even if he was with Mary now.

Peter looked up ahead. “Look. There.” He pointed ahead.

A huge grin crept across Tracey’s face. “I don’t believe it.”

Peter pulled up to Jason, Mary, and Susan. “Hey guys, need a lift?”

“Peter!” Mary cried out.

He stopped the Jeep, and he and Tracey stepped out. Everyone exchanged hugs and sentiments of relief. Peter related everything he and Tracey had been through, including Poseidon Tech’s real purpose and the attack on base camp. Jason and Susan told them about how they rescued Mary.

Tracey stepped back, and Mary hugged Peter, showering affection on him. Peter didn’t notice her uneasiness as he was too busy receiving a hero’s welcome.

“So, we’re really going to this Temple of the Simian King?” said Susan.

“It’s the only way,” said Peter. “I can feel it in my soul. It’ll set things right.”

“I agree,” said Jason. “I know nature, and this island is out of balance. The lizard men will have the Umazoa for lunch.”

“What about base camp?” asked Susan. “What about going home?”

“You can go any time,” said Peter. “You don’t have to follow me. In fact, you probably shouldn’t.”

“I can’t exactly walk back on my own through a jungle infested with prehistoric monsters either,” said Susan.

Jason threw an arm around her shoulders. “Once we finish this, I’ll make sure you get back. I know you want to go home.”

“What about you?” asked Susan, blushing. “Don’t you want to go home?”

Jason took in a deep breath, puffing out his chest, and let it out slowly. “I don’t know. I didn’t exactly fit in back home. Here I can hunt all I want and not be regarded as a total piece of human garbage.”

Susan appeared disappointed.

“Oh, I guess I’ll go home,” said Jason, sounding playful. “Why, if I didn’t would you miss me?”

“You know, I just might,” said Susan.

Jason smiled at her. “Good to know.”

“All right,” announced Peter, interrupting the moment, “everyone in the Jeep. I have another race to wake up.”

“Hey, mate,” said Jason, “I don’t suppose you brought any additional weaponry with you.”

Peter shook his head. “We had to get out of there fast.”

They all piled into the Jeep. Tracey stood back, waiting for Mary to take the front passenger seat.

“You go ahead,” said Mary, grinning impishly. “I’ll sit in the back and cause trouble.”

Tracey nodded and reclaimed her seat next to Peter. The others squeezed into the back. Somehow Susan ended up sitting in Jason’s lap, but she didn’t look like she minded.

Peter drove off, following the river south, keeping with the path marked on his cognitive map. They stopped a few times for water from the river and to relieve themselves in the bushes. Eventually, they reached a part of the jungle where the vegetation grew thick, and massive tree roots extending across the road precluded continuing in the Jeep.

Peter pulled to a stop. “We can’t drive through this. We go the rest of the way on foot.”

Everyone hopped out of the Jeep. Susan threw her arms up above her head, clasped her fingers together, and arched her back as she stretched. Mary rubbed her lower back, as the bumpy terrain played havoc with her spine.

Peter pointed in front of him. “It’s this way. Be careful. Everyone, stay together and stay alert.”

Jason strolled up to the front with Peter. He squatted on his haunches and scanned the ground.

“See any tracks we need to worry about?” asked Tracey.

Jason stood. “Nah.”

Peter’s eyes were closed. When he opened them, he looked up at the trees.

“What is it?” asked Tracey, looking up as well.

“We’re not alone,” said Peter. “We’re being watched.”

Small black furry shapes leapt amongst the canopy above, swinging from branch to branch. They called out in high pitched cries and howls.

“Gibbons,” said Mary. “Or at least this island’s version of them.”

“Are they dangerous?” asked Susan, casting a wary eye at the canopy above.

“Not particularly to humans,” said Mary. “But they’re territorial.”

“Beats a T. rex any day,” said Jason, his eyes also cast upward.

A few of the