‘We’ll have to borrow it without his knowledge,’ Kevin said.
‘Oh, yeah, sure,’ Melanie said sarcastically.
They entered the tunnel-like path leading up to the car. Halfway to the
parking area Melanie said: ‘God, it’s dark. Am I holding the light okay
for you guys?’
‘It’s fine,’ Candace said.
Melanie slowed then stopped.
‘What’s the matter?’ Kevin asked.
‘There’s something strange,’ she said. She cocked her head to the side,
listening.
‘Now don’t get me scared,’ Candace warned.
‘The frogs and crickets haven’t restarted their racket,’ Melanie said.
In the next instant all hell broke loose. A loud, repetitive stuttering
noise splintered the jungle stillness. Branches, twigs, and leaves
rained down on the group. Kevin recognized the noise and reacted by
reflex. Extending his arms, he literally tackled the women so that all
three fell to the moist insect-infested earth.
The reason Kevin recognized the sound was because he once had
inadvertently witnessed the Equatoguinean soldiers practicing. The noise
was the sound of a machine gun.