Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Marcus is on his feet in an instant, a blade in hand. It’s not the knife I found, but a different one.
I stand up and walk closer, so I can hear what’s going on without getting too close. Amira follows.
“... such a load of shit!” Ray cries. “He likes it here”—he stabs a finger in the air toward Marcus—“because he gets to be the big shot. But I don’t want to live on this fucking island until the day I die! I have a wife back home. We need to be building a boat.”
Nova walks up beside Marcus, her hand on a knife in a sheath at her waist. Niran, who’s not as tall as Marcus but taller than Ray, stands with his hands on his hips, his expression impassive.
“We don’t have the resources it would take for that,” Marcus says levelly. “And we don’t put our hands on people.”
Ray takes a step toward Marcus. Nova has her blade at his throat before I can even take a full breath. Putting his palms in the air, Ray steps back.
“I’m not gonna hurt anybody.”
Amira snorts softly because hurting Marcus, Nova, or Niran doesn’t really seem like an option for Ray.
“I’m tired of all your we shit,” Ray snarls at Marcus. “You don’t speak for me! I want off this fucking island, and I know other people here do, too.”
Marcus lowers his brows slightly. “Anyone who doesn’t like it here can leave anytime. They just can’t come back.”
“Bullshit!” Sweat drips from his chin. “Why do you get to control everything? All the food and medicine? And whatever’s in that bunker? No one but you can access it. Maybe what we need is a change in leadership.”
The camp was already quiet, but now it’s deathly silent. Everyone stares at Marcus and Ray, Nova’s blade still drawn.
Marcus looks around, his expression neutral. “Anyone with Ray? If ten people ask for an election for a new leader, we’ll have one.”
Ray’s shoulders sink with relief and he looks around. “Come on, guys! If you want to build a boat and get back home, this is your chance!”
A man calls out from beside another fire. “You don’t think we should, Marcus?”
Marcus shakes his head and crosses his arms. “We don’t have the right tools, the know-how, or the manpower for it. And we’d have to leave the safety perimeter to source enough trees.”
Some people nod. No one comes forward.
“Come on!” Ray bellows, walking away from Nova. “Speak up! This place is bullshit and he’s a dictator!”
The camp is quiet. Ray’s wild-eyed gaze lands on me.
“You. You said you want off this island. Tell him!”
My pulse hammers as everyone turns to look at me. The entire camp isn’t out here, but there are at least a hundred people staring at me and thinking I’m Team Ray. What the fuck?
“That’s not what I said.” I approach Marcus, who’s scowling at me. “He’s twisting my words.”
“It’s okay to agree with him.” Marcus’s tone is cool and detached.
“I don’t.” I shoot a glare at Ray. “You never said anything to me about building a boat or getting a new leader. You wanted to know about Rising Tide and you said you’re tired of shoveling shit and you want to find a way out of here.”
His eyes narrow at me, his expression hard and hateful. “You’re just afraid of him like everyone else. But there’s power in numbers.”
I balk. “Do you have any idea what’s in that jungle? In the Rising Tide camp?”
He shrugs. “Can’t be worse than this place.”
“I saw the body of a man who got torn apart by a jaguar. People kill each other for fun at Rising Tide. There’s no food. They’re eating algae and bugs. A snake—not a normal snake—killed someone from this camp. If you think this camp is the worst place on the island, you’ll be in for a shock when you leave it.”
“Is that what you want?” Marcus asks Ray, his tone brusque. “We’ll give you supplies if you need them and you can go.”
Ray considers, then shakes his head, his voice cold. “No.”
“Then quit running your fucking mouth,” Niran says, spitting on the ground.
Marcus shakes his head, his expression dark. “He can say whatever he wants.” He focuses on Ray. “But the next time you put your hands on someone in this camp will be the last. Clear?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
Ray walks away, hanging his head in dejection. After the way he threw me under the bus, I don’t feel sorry for him.
I want to assure Marcus that I wasn’t talking shit about his leadership, but when I turn, he’s already walking away, Nova and Niran on his heels. Amira puts an arm around me.
“It’ll blow over,” she says.
I have a feeling it won’t.
23
Sometimes what looks like disease is actually cooperation, and what seems destructive is actually beneficial. There are fungi that appear to attack plant and tree roots, but really, they are helping them absorb nutrients.