“Sure. But keep it between us. You can tell Barney, but no one else. I just don’t want it turning into some kind of… debate.”

“Of course.”

“Good. Let’s check out what we’re up against.”

To his surprise, Shen reached out solemnly, and shook Tom’s hand, as if they’d made some sort of pact. And maybe they had. Tom knew one thing—if he was going to walk out of a jungle, he’d rather do it with a scientist than with someone who wanted to run the school council.

CHAPTER 9

By the time they got back outside, a collection of suitcases and other luggage was building up in front of the plane and people were still coming and going, dripping with sweat. Most of them were laughing and talking too, so maybe Joel’s plan had served some purpose in keeping morale high.

Tom retrieved his and Alice’s backpacks from the edge of the stack and placed them inside the remains of the luggage hold. He left the carton of water where it was, though he couldn’t understand why no one else had taken a bottle yet.

Tom and Shen set off up the slope, apparently unseen by most people. Alice walked past carrying a backpack and threw a half-smile at Tom, nothing more.

Suddenly Joel called out, saying, “Hey, Shen!” Shen stopped and turned. “Where are you going?”

“With Tom. We’re going up the hill.”

Joel glanced at Tom, then back to Shen, and said, “That’s good. Maybe you can help the other three.”

Tom hadn’t stopped walking and after a few seconds Shen caught up with him and they climbed in silence. It was the second time Tom had made this climb in an hour and it was already harder, the heat more intense and constricting, the buzzing of insects relentless.

When they reached the top, Shen immediately searched the valley beyond until he spotted the wreckage. He nodded when he saw it.

Without looking at Tom, he said, “Barney would have told them that they’re wasting their time.”

But they had gone anyway, Chris and Toby too eager to notice what should have been obvious to anyone, that there were no more survivors. Briefly, Tom tried to listen for their voices or sounds of their progress, but there was nothing beyond the wall of noise and the stray sounds coming from behind them.

Tom looked to the left, nonplussed that he couldn’t see Charlie’s body now, but after a few seconds he noticed the blue of his shirt, just visible among the branches. Maybe some movement had caused the body to drop a little and he wondered if it had been an animal or if the others had tried to reach him.

Turning to Shen, he said, “Which way would you go?”