Andy and the others followed a well-formed trail through the forest, but they couldn’t be positive they were traveling in the correct direction. Three hours later, Andy, once again checking the iPad, realized the it no longer had a signal. They must be traveling through the same area Thomas had when they’d lost their signal.

“Okay, then,” Darnell said. “Let’s hear it.”

Vern took a deep breath and then said, “Iron Man, Captain America, Deadpool, Thor, Thanos, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Hulk, She-Hulk—”

“She-Hulk?” Andy interrupted.

Vern smiled. “Oh yeah! Big, green, and beautiful.”

Andy laughed.

“She got together with Luke Cage. So yeah, Luke Cage—that’s ten.” Vern rattled off five more names.

“Keep going,” Darnell said.

Vern continued with more names as Darnell counted. When Vern exhausted his recall, Darnell said, “Thirty-eight. That’s incredible.”

Vern said, “I’m a man of many skills.”

“That you are,” Darnell said.

Andy stopped to check the iPad. “Guys, the signal is back. They’re only a mile away. And better yet, they aren’t moving.”

The red dots blinked when they were on the move, but now the screen showed them as a solid, steady red.

“They must have found the village,” Darnell said.

“Yeah, but those dots are their packs. They could have dropped them and still be on the move.”

“Either way,” Andy said. “There’s a good chance the village is close by.”

“Time to get our weapons ready,” Vern said. “Just in case these cannibals ambush us.”

All three had guns. Darnell had forgone the large camera and brought a small handheld, which he could fit in his pack. He held one of the pistols in his left hand.

Vern pulled his pack off his back, placed it gently on the ground, and opened it. For the first time, Andy noticed a large “JR” written in black sharpie on the gray cushioning.

Andy asked, “Is that—?”

“Yep,” Vern said. “It’s Jonathan Roth’s pack. I didn’t think he’d be needing it any longer.”

“What’d you do with all his stuff?”

“Left it in his tent.”

Vern dug his hand into the pack and pulled something out. He showed it to the two others and said, “I brought some party favors.”

“A grenade?” Darnell said, laughing.

“Thought they might help us out in a pinch.”

Andy said, “Those, um, look a little old.”

“Vietnam.”

“You have old grenades from Vietnam?” Andy took three steps back from Vern. “Aren’t you worried they might explode?”

“Actually, the opposite. I’m worried they might not explode.”

Vern wanted to test one out to be sure. “Give me a minute,” he said, taking the grenade and working his way into the thick jungle.

Darnell said, “Twenty bucks says he comes back without one of his arms.”

“I’ll take that bet.”

“Give me five to one odds?”

“Sure.”