Snippet #2485040

Not to be left flat-footed, Kyle trailed after the other man. Peering over his shoulder, he flinched as the doors parted with a rush of hot, humid air, heavy with moisture and pungent decay.

"Bosnia?" he muttered. "Is that in the jungle?"

The view that greeted them was nowhere he recognized. The sun shone down through a leafy canopy wreathed in lingering mist. The sound of tropical birds and other jungle denizens was deafening. Past a small clearing hewn from the jungle brush, it was just leafy ferns and jungle trees in every direction, too thick to admit viewing. He thought he could smell the ocean somewhere beyond the trees, but it was no comfort.

"What the hell?" he breathed. "Did we get Shanghaied?" Momentarily forgetting his concern, he turned to the other detainees. "Hey, get a load of this! We're in a jungle!"

When the other man didn't move, he stalked back and took him by the arm.

"Hey, are you stupid or something?" He noticed that the man's eyes didn't appear to be focusing. "You still feeling those drugs? They must have really got you juiced. Hey, why don't you sit down or something?"

He glanced over his shoulder worried that the bull-creature might come back. He shared a wordless glance with Cadmus, realizing the man's intent. Kyle had no desire to stay in the facility any longer than he had to, but this 'escape' seemed far too convenient. He wondered if the seemingly open environment might not just be another, larger pen.

"Hey, man," he said to Cadmus. "Whatever you want to do, it's your call. I'm with you."