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			  RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH

 		         by Jeanette Larsson (c) 1998

				CHAPTER FOUR

-Sydney! Let her go, Garrett commanded.
-Give me the map and I will, the man said in a bad accent.
-What map?
-The one you found on the shore.
-I don't know what...
-Hey, he must be talking about the one Callie found, J.T whispered to Glory.
-Give it to me, the man said sternly.
-How...
-Garrett, wait! Glory said. He's talking about the one we found in the box.
-Then where is it?
-I don't know. Callie had it, and she's not here.
-No games, give me map or your girl has no neck no more.
-Garrett? Sydney drew a startled breath.
-Ok, ok, just keep it calm. I'll look for it.
-No need for that. Assistant can look.
-What? Another masked man turned up behind them, threatening the others with 
a gun, forcing them to walk forward. Once they came up to Garrett, Glory and 
J.T., the man with the gun stopped. The man holding the knife said something 
in a different language and the other man tossed his gun to him, then left 
to search the camp.

-Is anyone there? Please take these snakes away from me! Sandy kept shouting 
in the now seemingly abandoned cave. She stopped shouting when she thought 
she heard something. Movements became visible in the dark space. 
-Sandy? someone asked in a low voice. She recognized the voice immediately, 
it was Saja, it had to be. She suddenly relaxed, knowing that someone was 
there, someone friendly.
-Saja? She whispered.
-Sandy! He hurried to her, and Callie followed. 
-Are you alright? Callie whispered. 
-Stop! Don't come any closer! She suddenly exclaimed.
-What? What's the matter? Callie asked, not having noticed the snakes 
surrounding Sandy.
-I think she's referring to them, Saja explained, pointing out the snakes to 
Callie.
-Oh. But how do we get them away from her? 
-I'm ashamed to say, I have no idea. Maybe as Sulan the Conjurer I could 
have made them disappear in a cloud of smoke, but...
-That's it! Snakes don't exactly enjoy smoke, right?
-Right.
-So all we have to do is find a few dead branches and lit them on these 
candles, and we've got ourselves a fire.
-I'll go back out and look for some wood.
-Be careful, Callie said.
-How did you find the way here? Sandy asked.
-Well, we saw a couple of guys heading in the other direction, so we figured 
this was where they came from.
-Two men? In black masks?
-Yes, how did you...?
-They were sent to our camp to get the map we found on the shore.
-The map? But I have it.
-You do? But what about...
-The others... I suggest we get out of here as soon as possible.
Right then Saja came back in, he held a large branch in his hand, then 
stepped up to one of the candles and set it on fire. Then he held it out to 
the snakes, who all backed off. Callie and Saja then quickly untied Sandy, 
and hurried out the cave. Callie was last, and just as the others went out 
through the opening, she turned around, sensing that someone was right 
behind her. A masked man grabbed hold of her arm, but she managed to pull 
free. She ran out, terrified.
-So, you're here too, Callie, the masked man said between clenched teeth. I 
should have known. He pulled off his mask, revealing his true identity. But 
that just makes this a lot more fun, now doesn't it? Barek smiled to 
himself.

-Why don't you just let Sydney go, huh? Take me instead, Garrett tried.
-No deal. Give me the map, then we'll negotiate, the man said in his bad 
accent. In the bushes behind him something suddenly moved, Glory noticed it, 
but quickly came to her senses and acted like nothing had happened. 
-What's going on? Sandy whispered to Saja and Callie as they watched the 
others from behind one of the bushes near camp.
-I don't know, but I'm sure it's not something good, Callie whispered back.
-Callie, what are we going to do? Saja asked. 
-I suggest we try and get his attention, maybe the others will be able to 
take him then. 
-And what have the stars advised you with on this matter?
-That you, mighty warrior, shall lead us. Callie put her hands together and 
bowed to him.
-Ehh...
-Just run out of the bushes screaming at the top of your lungs. That oughta 
get his attention, don't you think?
-As you wish. Saja leapt out of the bushes, shouting and waving his arms at 
the masked man. The man turned around when he heard the noise, gun in hand, 
and let go of Sydney in the process. Garrett and J.T grabbed a hold of the 
man and forced him to drop the gun on the ground. The man called out to his 
friend in their own language, but being unarmed the rest of the gang had no 
problems overpowering him. While J.T and Garrett were holding the man who 
originally carried the knife, and Jimmy and Neil held the other one, Sydney 
was embraced by Mila and Glory. 
-So what are we going to do with these guys? Jimmy asked the others.
-Well... Nancy began, we could dump them in the water or something?
The others ignored her comment. 
-I'd suggest we tie them up, Callie said. We're not alone on this island, 
and we would probably do best in getting as far away from them as possible. 
I didn't tell you this, but as I left the cave back there, yet another 
masked man grabbed my arm. Maybe there's even more people here, and we can't 
fight them off.
-So we run? Garrett asked incredulously.
-Oh, you think you're all powerful? Well then, you can just stay here and 
wait for the others to come get you.
-Garrett, please. Let's get out of here, Sydney pleaded.
-Ok, but have we decided on what we're going to do with these people? What 
can we tie them up with for example?
-Well, there's some rope I found stranded on the beach, but I'm not sure how 
strong it is, Neil interjected.
-Great, that will be just fine, Callie said. We only need a head start. 
Eventually, the third one will find them anyways, so it doesn't really 
matter how long they're tied up.

-You two search the jungle from here to the shore, Barek commanded his men. 
And you two head straight for the shore. That's most likely the place where 
those kids have set up camp. If you run into any kind of trouble, take one 
of them as hostage if necessary, otherwise you just get the map and leave. 
The men all nodded to show they had understood. They started out the cave, 
but Barek stopped one of them, and whispered something in his ear. He 
answered in the affirmative, and then also left.

-I'm sorry I didn't come with you, Jimmy said quietly to Callie as they were 
walking hastily away from the original camp.
-It's no big deal, she shrugged.
-Sure it is, I shouldn't have let you go through the dark all alone.
-I was with Saja, and I'm a big girl...
-Could we please not fight?
-I haven't said anything...
Nancy, walking behind them, smiled slyly.

-Wow, what you did back there, offering to take Sydney's place, that was 
just so... I don't know... romantic, Mila said in awe. She got an evil glare 
from Sydney, but did not notice it. Billy also cast a suspicious eye her 
way. Garrett was obviously enjoying the attention.
-Yes, it was, Sydney said sharply. Garrett noticed the look in her eyes, 
telling him to back off, but ignored it, and just smiled back. He went back 
to talking to Mila, leaning close to her as they engaged in what seemed like 
a deep conversation. Sydney's eyes darkened and she interrupted them by 
pulling on Garrett's arm to get his attention.
-Garrett, may I talk to you for a minute?
-Well, actually...
-Now, she said sternly and pulled him to the side. She waited until the
others had passed them, then punched him on the arm.
-Don't you think you are being a tad bit too convincing?


                               To be continued...

***If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc., email Jeanette 
at jan.larsson@d.lrf.se