“We’ve already sent for a helicopter,” Leo tells them. He has yet to change out of his clothes from the night before. There are dark circles under his eyes. He doesn’t look my way. “The locals are still adamant about not coming here to help us, but they’ve at least agreed to that.”

“Did you see what spooked him?” Hemslock asks me.

I am quick with my answer. “The corpse.”

“This isn’t a joke, kid,” Producer Two says angrily. “You could get hit with a lawsuit if you don’t tell us exactly what happened.”

“You know what?” Hemslock says unexpectedly. “I believe Alon.”

“If you think that bullshit is going to fly with us, Hemslock—”

“There were cameras rolling on site. I got the tapes. None of them caught what happened, but they did record what came before. Steve was stumbling around, drunk. He fell in. Then Alon ran out and climbed down to save his ass. Steve might not be alive if not for this kid, and you’re threatening to sue?”

The producers glower at Hemslock from three different monitors. “We can’t have word getting out that he’s been injured,” Producer Three finally says. “The studio’s going to pull back funding if they think we’re being reckless. The unions are going to have a field day with this.”

“Then it’s going to be up to you three to stem any gossip. There aren’t any injuries on set. Steve’ll wake up, and he’ll be fine. I’ll send a few of the crew back with him when the helicopter arrives.” He points at me. “Has anything similar happened on the island before?”

“There were visitors who used to ignore warnings not to stay on the island. After the first two or three deaths, local authorities stepped up, banned tourist boats from landing here. But this was before my time. Their bodies were found along the beach, but without any wounds to show what killed them.”

“What about the fishermen?”

“The curse leaves them alone.”

“Ah yes, your god hates outsiders.”

“He hates trespassers. There’s a difference.”

“We didn’t need a tour guide to get our crew onto the island,” Producer One says to me. “Only ten thousand dollars in bribes. So why are we spending money to keep you on?”

“Because, like I’ve said before, the island knows Alon,” Hemslock says. “I know that’s hard to wrap your brain around, Conroy, but some things can’t be bought with money.”

Producer One sighs loudly. “We’ll humor you, Reuben. But you better have something to show beyond a dead tree and an injured producer.”

“Good job,” Hemslock tells me, as we all log off. “Ignore those old fools. They haven’t held anything sacred for a long while now. I know we’ve kept you away from your family. If you want to take this opportunity to go and visit your father, since you weren’t able to last night—”

“Thank you. I will.”

“Do you have anyone who can look after him the rest of the time we’re here?”