“I’ve seen them, but they’ve never come near. They often stand among the trees and watch me until I leave, but they’ve never come this near before. Fishermen have sighted them in the past, but it’s considered bad luck to talk about them.”

“Guns seem to be effective at scaring them off,” Hemslock says as he returns to the group, his temper under better control. He looks hard at me. “Bastards won’t catch us off-guard a second time.”

Gries turns to Melissa, still irritable. “Where the hell is the damn ‘copter?”

“I’ve been trying to contact them,” the girl says, nervously. “There’s a storm on the mainland right now, which must be affecting our communications—we can’t establish contact with the rest of the team there, either.”

“Find a way!”

Melissa rushes off. Hemslock reaches into his jacket and pulls out a gun. “We’re going to search the caves again for Karl,” he says grimly. “Robert’s already planning our approach. If any of you want to volunteer, you’re going to have to go in packing heat.”

Gries hesitates. Then, “I’ll go.”

“You have got to be shitting me, Dad!” Chase cries out.

“I’m sorry. But they need all the help they can get, and I’m experienced enough with caves to be of some use. I—” His jaw flexes. “I heard her, Chase. Your mom. She’s somewhere inside. Alon—”

“Askal and I will stay with him, sir,” I say, before he can finish the sentence.

“Brick, Leo’s in,” Hemslock says brusquely, nodding at one of his soldiers. “We’ll keep up the search till nightfall.”

“Mr. Hemslock, Mr. Gries.” The medics approach them, troubled. “Mr. Galant is awake,” one of them says.

“Finally some good news!” Hemslock exclaims, his face clearing. “How is he?”

The medics glance worriedly at each other. “Sir,” one says carefully. “I think it would be best if you see for yourself.”

A large tent had been set up near the shore to handle any medical emergencies during filming, and the medics have been treating Armani there since he’d fallen unconscious. I accompany Hemslock, Askal tagging a few feet behind us.

Armani lies on a large cot, staring up at the ceiling. He blinks, slowly. “Reuben?” he asks, as Hemslock sits on the chair beside him. “Is that you?”

“You gave us all a scare, Steve,” Hemslock says reassuringly. He reaches down and grips the man’s shoulder. “A lot has happened while you were unconscious. Karl’s missing, and it’s been a mess with the other—”

Armani grabs at Hemslock’s arm without warning. His fingers score deeply into his skin, with a strength that makes Hemslock recoil.

“The fuck, Steve?” He struggles to throw him off, even as the man clings to him stubbornly.

Askal begins to growl and bark at Galant, leaping for him with teeth bared. I haul him back by the scruff of his neck just in time. “Baba!” I say sharply and he acquiesces, though he continues to snarl and snap in the man’s direction.

The medics are quick to pull the injured man from Hemslock. Armani fights them, but he then shudders, hands dropping without warning. He lets the medics settle him on the cot. His eyes continue to stare blindly ahead, never once looking at Hemslock, the doctors, or the rest of us in the room.