Emma and Duncan continued swimming along the base of the cliff, scared in case someone saw them. After twenty minutes they found a place where a small and deep valley cut through the cliff. A small river ran into the sea at this point and they could finally get onto land. The tropical jungle was very thick in the valley. All around them was wet and green. They were thirsty so they stopped to drink from the river and found the water was cool and sweet. It felt like paradise, but they knew they were in hell. Trapped on an unknown island with unknown people trying to kill them.
The river lead inland and up
through a
series of waterfalls. It was hard climbing up the rocks and grabbing
onto plants and trees for support, but finally they came to a flat area
with banana trees, 'This is a good place to stop and rest,'
said Emma.
'Yes, yes... please... I can't go any further,' said Duncan, feeling
exhausted. The couple sat down on a rock. They couldn't believe what
was happening to them. It was starting to get dark and so they made a
simple shelter from sticks and banana leaves, and ate some of the
emergency food from their bag. it was difficult to talk as they were in
shock from the day's events, but eventually Duncan asked.'What do you
think we can do?'
Emma was always good in a crisis, she always had ideas. But this time,
she didn't know what to do. 'Let's just try to get some sleep, and
think
about it in the morning,' she said.
They tried to sleep but It was a very long and uncomfortable night.
The next morning was bright and
sunny, and they ate bananas for breakfast. Duncan also managed to crack
open a coconut and they enjoyed the sweet sticky juice. It felt so
strange to be
in the middle of a jungle, the day after being in the middle of the
Atlantic ocean. Emma sat next to her husband. 'I think we should try to
find whoever tried to kill us, and tell them we are no trouble to them.
Maybe
they mistook our boat for someone else. Maybe they will let us go.' she
said.
'But Emma, we don't know who they are! They could be a drug gang, or..
or.. well... I just don't think they will say "Oh, sorry!" and let us
go. That's crazy. And another thing to consider... we don't know how
big the island is! It could be large enough for us to hide and survive
for weeks without being caught.' Duncan argued. 'I say we check out the
island and find out what's going on.'
'Okay, okay. You're right. I just don't like the idea of living out
here in the jungle for ever.
There isn't really much to eat; I can't eat bananas for breakfast,
lunch and dinner.' Emma looked at the banana in her hand and started to
cry.
Later that morning, they left
their little camp and headed further inland. Walking was easier now
they were on flatter ground, but straight ahead were some
high hills. Perhaps from one of the hills, they would be able to see
more of the island and so decide what their next step should be. It was
hot and sweaty work in the tropical heat, but after two hours
they started climbing up one of the hills. As the approached the top of
the hill there were no trees to hide them from view and Duncan felt
nervous, 'We should be careful. Someone might see us.' Just as he said
it,
they heard a noise. It was like humming in the distance, but it was
getting louder. 'It's a helicopter!' shouted Emma, 'Get down! Hide!'
They hid behind some bushes just in time, as over the crest of the hill
came a big military helicopter. It passed over their heads and
continued towards the place where they had camped the night before.
Then they saw some rockets being fired and heard a series of
explosions. The helicopter had found
and destroyed their tiny camp. This was very bad news - the island
people
knew
Emma and Duncan
had not died on their boat. They knew they were on the island and were
hunting them, still trying to kill them.
'I have an idea,' said Emma. 'I'll run to the top of the hill now,
while the helicopter is away, and take a look. We need to know which
way to go next.'
'No! You can't take that risk. If they see you then
we'll be dead within minutes. Let's go back down into the trees and go
around the side of the hill. It's much
safer.'