BooksBarbecue
Back Whirlwind
Chapters (95)
  1. Title Page
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. 85
  87. 86
  88. 87
  89. 88
  90. 89
  91. 90
  92. 91
  93. 92
  94. Also by DAVID KLASS
  95. Copyright Page

I lie there in darkness, holding P.J. tight. This girl. This girl from Hadley-by-Hudson who I love and have come so far to find. Only her. She clutches me back and whimpers, and I am crying, too.

I know we’re still in grave danger. There’s nothing I can do. The ordeal of crossing the bridge was too much for me. The panic that I suppressed for so long now seizes control. I’m exhausted. My legs cramp into Gordian knots. My right foot starts to throb. I shake uncontrollably.

I sense the colonel standing above us, watching. There’s no way I can get up and fight him. We’re at his mercy. But he doesn’t push us into the pool. He doesn’t strangle us.

I’m vaguely aware of time passing. Other men creep hesitantly into the room, summoned by their commander.

They stay back as he bends close to me, and his voice is soft and musical again. “Well done, Jack. I like survivors. I reward the brave. You told me what you know. It’s of little use to me, but I will keep my side of the bargain and let you both go. Here are my terms. Leave the rain forest. Never return. Never help the People of Dann again, or I will find you.”

I lie there on the stone floor, clutching P.J. and trying not to shiver. He’s clearly waiting for some sort of response. Somehow I manage to look up at him and nod. Then I gasp, “My dog.”

“You can take that mindless cur if you want.”

“And the boy.”

“Fine. I have no use for a tongueless twit.”

I know I should stop. I can feel P.J.’s heart beating fearfully. I should quit while I’m ahead, and get her out of here. If he really is willing to let us go, we should make a beeline for the nearest exit and not look back till we’re in North America. Still, I can’t stop myself from gasping out, “Ernesto … and the kids in the cell …”

The colonel laughs. “Such nerve! Who are you? Moses? You want to lead your people out of bondage? The truth is, I have no use for them. Weak as they are, and diseased and addle-brained, they’ll slow you down. But if you want them, you can have them. It will give me a chance to empty the stinking refuse from my prison. Take your chosen people and head out into the wilderness.”

He nods to his henchmen. “Get them out of here.”

Strong arms haul us up. P.J. and I won’t release each other, so the guards half carry, half drag us to a door behind where the colonel was standing.