Without her eyes on Sanders giving her something to focus on, her mind wandered to her villagers. Worry rolled through her chest and choked her throat as tears stung her eyes. Would she ever see them again? Would it take removing Chukuwereije from power before she could come back? Perhaps if she used an alias and returned, then the powers that be couldn’t use her as a political pawn. It frustrated her to no end to know where God wanted her but to have the people who “handled” her father dictate otherwise.

A few steps later, she heard the river. Knowing their jungle trek would end soon quickened her pace, but when a leaf cut her right ear, she hissed in pain and slowed back down. She dabbed at her ear, then looked at the smear of blood on her fingers. As soon as she had a moment, she’d apply antiseptic to it.

Absently waving away the mosquitoes that circled her head, she stepped out of the underbrush and stopped at the top of the incline down to the water. She dropped the twig as she looked left and right. Dare she mention crocodiles and snakes to Captain Norton? The most dangerous animals in the rivers by far were the hippopotami. Likely, he already knew about them. She’d avoided the water in her months here because of the invisible dangers that lurked below the surface.

Pushing her own fears aside, she approached Ozzy. He and his teammates had also paused at the incline. Sweat poured from his face. Concerned, Cynthia checked his pulse. His heart pounded furiously.

“Can you get him down there?” she asked, looking at the rocks and brush on the slope.

Fisher nodded. “If he would lie down on a stretcher, it would be less risky. That way, if we lose him, he doesn’t land on his leg.”

Ozzy looked at her with wild eyes. “I didn’t take that shot just so you could put me on a stretcher.”

“No. You took that shot so you wouldn’t scream in pain going through the jungle.” She inspected his leg and could see no blood or other seepage through his pants. She took that as a good sign. “Mission accomplished. Next mission: take you down to that big black boat your teammates have so cordially assembled for us. Sergeant Fisher is right. You need to be on a stretcher for that.”

He shook his head emphatically. “I’m not lying on a stretcher.”

She pushed a finger against his chest. “Then sit on it.”

Captain Norton came through the trees just then. He stopped short where they all stood. “Problem?”

Cynthia smiled. “Nope. If you take Sergeant Sanders down to the beach, then bring the stretcher back up here, we can get Lieutenant Osbourne down.”