The two soldiers return, carrying a wide, heavy briefcase between them. Hemslock gestures for them to set it on the ground. A deft flick of the straps opens it, allowing us a glimpse of what’s inside.

“How did you even get these?” Gries chokes out.

“I know people who know some people. Look at these beauties.” Proudly, like a doting father, Hemslock surveys the explosives within. “MI6s, AK-47s—nothing too fancy. Surprising how easy they were to bring in. They’ll take out anything in a heartbeat, even a god. And then we’ve got our secret weapon.”

“Hemslock, what the hell are you planning to—”

“What does it look like? Are you a fool not to figure it out by now, Gries? This island intends to kill all of us. These clear skies—they’re just an illusion.” Hemslock is busy, taking out more guns and tossing them to the other soldiers. “It’s not going to let us go until at least three of us bite the dust. So I’m thinking we need to turn the tables, see what we have to bargain. Settlement ain’t gonna be cheap.”

Hemslock lifts a large flamethrower, grinning nastily. “This one is my favorite,” he says. “What’s the little god gonna do when I burn everything it sends after us?”

“You didn’t bring these guns on a whim,” Leo says. “You didn’t hire a score of bodyguards because it’s a part of your contract. You came here intending to destroy this island. You knew guns could hurt it.”

“Destroy is such a misleading term. I’d like to offer Him an alliance, is all. If this god gave his power to these natives, then he can give it to us. Cortes said that the god prized strength most of all.” He turns back to the caves. “So that’s what I’m going to prove to him.”

“Reuben—”

“I’m going hunting with my boys. This camera’s still operational.” Hemslock taps the helmet he’s wearing. “Feel free to watch, but none of you are going to stop me. Let’s roll, men.”

“Are we really going to let him do this?” Chase mutters, watching Hemslock and his soldiers disappear into the mouth of the cave. I can hear Hawaiian Shirt and Straw Hat scrambling behind us, hurriedly setting up the laptop that connects to the camera Hemslock is wearing. Even when there is danger, some instinct motivates them to continue recording, watching, analyzing for a show that’s endangering their lives. “Dad?”

“I don’t think there’s anything that would stop him.”

With nothing better to do, we all crowd around Straw Hat’s workstation. The dark cave comes once more into focus, Hemslock leading the way.

“We’re heading back to the cavern with the writings,” we hear him say. “There’s something in the smaller tunnel beyond that it doesn’t want us to see, so that’s where we’re going. Stay alert.”

They pass the carved figure of the Godseye without incident. The ancient script underneath it seems to glow with its own unearthly light.

“Tight squeeze, careful,” one of the soldiers murmurs as he slides through the narrow opening of the tunnel where we first encountered the creature. The heavy-duty flashlights attached to their guns are stronger than the ones we carried, and they illuminate the passageway, showing no new signs of supernatural activity.