The Hive had stayed safely hidden under a leafy, canopy of trees in the Amazon Rainforest for centuries. It had remained disguised, invisible from the sky and impenetrable from the ground until modern machinery had invaded Amazonia. Desperate for land, farmers used burning and uncontrolled clearing of the rainforest. The result had been devastating fires. Now, the Hive was directly in the path of those fires.
Sleep would be impossible. They began making plans.
Kate warned them that they would be entering the rainforest 290 meters above sea level, into thick ground cover, passable only with the use of a machete. The plan was that groups would leave the Hive at scheduled intervals. The leader of each group would be provided with detailed maps and instructions on how to make their way north to the Amazon River. Boats awaited their arrival. Once on the river they would travel west until they were safely out of the fire zone.
Kate began to list off the animal dangers they might encounter, but stopped when she saw their wide-eyed terror. Soon enough they would be educated up close and personal.
"Pack only what you can carry on your backs. Rudy will hand out the sleeping bags and MREs."
"MREs?" Lucy was confused.
It was Ethan who explained. "They are lightweight packets of dried food. It doesn't take very much water to rehydrate them."
"Oh." Lucy nodded.
Georgie looked queasy.
"Each of you will carry 50 water purification tablets. Do not drink any water that hasn't been purified." Kate gave them her sternest look.
"And don't look so worried. Rudy and I will be with you every step of the way. Anne, get your stuff and meet us back here in thirty minutes. Let's go." They scattered to collect their things.
Kate begged Rudy to let her send him and the others out of the area to safety. The only way she could transfer the others was if Rudy accompanied them. Problem was, Kate would be left behind.
Rudy hugged his sister. "I would never leave you. We will go together."
"But, I can travel with another group."
"Not gonna happen." Rudy bluntly put a stop to the idea. He left to get supplies.
Kate considered sending him without his permission, but knew he was right...their best chance of survival had always been as a team.
"Im not going to make it. I'll probably starve to death or get eaten by a wild animal. Maybe a snake. And I can't even speak Spanish." Georgie was in the kitchen stuffing snacks into his backpack. He had decided to forego socks and underwear, leaving extra room for food.
"Not a problem because they speak Portuguese in Brazil and the natives speak their own language." Ethan corrected him. "Just stick close to me. I'll be able to speak both."
"Ready?" Kate asked. The others nodded hesitantly, because of course they weren't ready.
"Okay, we are set to leave on the hour. It's 5 minutes to, so if anybody has a any last minute needs, forget it. We need to be ready to move as soon as the signal is given."
Lucy shifted her backpack so Twiskers' weight didn't throw her off balance. Shadow sat patiently by her side.
"Here, I have room. Let me take Twiskers." Rufus reached into Lucy's backpack. The cat came out snarling. "That's enough!" Rufus wrapped the struggling feline in a thin strip of fabric he had torn from the top sheet on his bed. He slung the makeshift sling wrap over his left shoulder, across his back and tied it securely at his right hip. Twiskers snuggled close to him, purring.
"You are a genius. Thank you. " Rufus puffed up at Lucy's compliment.
Everyone was weighted down. Georgie looked especially put upon.
"Okay, then!" Mr Christie's appearance was not unexpected. "Is everyone ready? Good, good. Last group to leave, youngest, fittest, etcera, etcera. Godspeed and all that." He left with a flick of his hand.
"Well, that was...um..." Rufus smiled. "Helpful and educational. "
The tension lifted a little.
"Time to go." Rudy took the lead. "Stay close." They went through the central garden.
Lucy and Shadow were directly behind Rudy. Lucy's face was sad as she passed by her garden for probably the last time.
Griffin, Anne and Rufus trudged single file behind Lucy. Bringing up the rear was Georgie, almost clinging to Ethan's side, and finally Kate.
The group was curious where the door to the outside was hidden. Rudy came up to a solid brick wall and pressed an ordinary looking brick just above waist height. An opening appeared.
"Open Sesame!" Rufus laughed.
They moved quickly through the opening, every head turning this way and that, alert to any danger. It was the humidity that hit them first, then the musty, dank sweet smell of rotting vegetation. The air felt damp, heavy.
"Wow." Lucy stumbled trying to look at every thing at once. Griffin grabbed her arm and steadied her. He dropped it immediately when Shadow gave a low, rumbling warning.
"Thanks." Lucy smiled in his direction.
Rudy used a flashlight to illuminate the path.Thick ferns and bramble bushes had been trampled leading away from the Hive and into the jungle. "Keep up the pace, but becareful not to trip." Another 20 paces and Rudy turned the light back the way they had just come. :What the...?" Even in the dim light he knew something was wrong. The line ended at Rufus. Where were Georgie, Ethan and Kate?
The entire group had just made it outside the Hive when Ethan, sick of Georgie stepping on his heals,
turned to hiss at him.
A thump caught his attention as he turned. He saw Kate fall to the ground. A person in full, jungle camouflage stood over her, a big gun slung over their back.
"Georgie." He nudged Georgie, then forcibly turning him in the direction of the soldier. "Do something." Ethan hissed.
"What? Oh!" Instinctively, Georgie threw up both hands. The soldier suddenly flew backward, his feet off the ground, his back striking a tree with a loud grunt. The soldier slid down the tree settling at the bottom in a sitting position.
Ethan and Georgie rushed back to Kate. They knelt in the soft ground. She seemed to be unconscious. When Ethan whispered to her she said nothing, her eyes stayed closed.
"Help me get her up." Ethan ordered Georgie.
"But everybody is gone ahead." Georgie squinted into the darkness. "Maybe we should go find them. Rudy can help her."
"We don't have time." He pulled her arm over his shoulder. "Come on. For sure, that soldier wasn't alone!"
The idea that more armed people would be arriving spurred Georgie into action. He slid Kate's other arm awkwardly over his shoulder, squeezing it tight to him, he grunted and stood. He was surprised when the maneuver worked.
Loud voices were coming from around the side of the Hive.
"Quick, in here." Ethan pushed Kate and therefore Georgie into the thick underbrush away from the path.