Free Savage Lands by Andy Briggs

through to try and convince the people who took their land to return it. They’re going to escort us most of the way.” He studied the dark trees; there was no sign of the forest people.
    â€œSo you lied to them?” said Jane caustically. “Pretended to be somebody else?”
    Greystoke shrugged and returned to his tent, pausing before he climbed in to look steadily at Jane. “I saved your life. You’re most welcome.” He climbed into the tent, zipping the flap up without waiting for a reply.
    Archie looked to where he suspected the pygmies were watching them. “Well I suppose that means we’re safe for the night. I suggest we rest. I know I need it.” He returned to his tent, yawning loudly.
    Clark limped over to Jane, who still stood her ground. He spoke low, watching as Robbie returned to his own tent. “Listen, Jane. We don’t often see eye to eye, but you gotta stop being so pigheaded and keep your bek shut. We got a good thing goin’ with his lordship, and now it seems like Tarzan is down on his list of priorities, so what have you got to worry ’bout?”
    â€œIt doesn’t mean I have to like him.”
    â€œNah, you don’t. He’s a pompous rooinek .” His South African accent became more pronounced with the Afrikaans slang. “His heart may be in the wrong place, but his wallet ain’t. We need this”—Jane opened her mouth to speak but Clark raised a finger to silence her—“an’ if you don’t, your dad does. It’s your mother’s fault you’re out here in the first place; don’t let it be your fault he’s gotta stay.”
    Jane felt a stab of guilt. She knew that was exactly the reaction Clark was aiming for, but it still hurt. He limped back to his tent, and Jane swore he was deliberately making his injury more pronounced to make her feel bad. Again, the sickening feeling of guilt: a feeling that would keep her awake long into the night.
    â€¢ • •
    T he mist lingered on into the following morning, but as they broke camp and pressed on down the mountain, it slowly lifted. They were all hungry and tired. Greystoke had hoped the forest people would return their stolen food, but their enigmatic escorts remained unseen, although the group could easily feel their eyes on them every step of the way.
    By lunchtime, they made it to the base of the mountain range where the trees thinned out to a small grass plain, just a few miles across. Greystoke’s pace increased as he entered a code into the GPS.
    â€œThere should be a river, this way. We’ll be picked up there,” he said, indicating a spot located an angle away from their current position.
    The brown grass was almost as tall as they were, making it impossible to see ahead. Only the rising jungle-clad mountains lining the valley provided a point of reference; otherwise they could have been walking in circles without realizing it. Robbie noticed that Jane had become increasingly concerned since they stepped into the grassland. He was sure the pygmies were not following them any longer. However, Jane’s head kept snapping up at every sound she heard.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Robbie asked Jane, catching her up as Archie and Greystoke led the way, batting aside napier grass.
    â€œI’ve been here before,” she answered with a tremor in her voice. Before she could go on, there was a shout from Greystoke.
    â€œStop!” he yelled.
    Jane froze, looking around sharply for danger. But Greystoke laughed loudly. “This is it!” he said, pointing.
    The grass abruptly gave way to the red-soil banks of a murky brown river that meandered through the plains. The river was twenty yards wide and moved sluggishly, but the adventurers knew what dangers could lurk in the water, and kept their distance. Greystoke found a large rock and sat down with a sigh.
    Clark looked around. “Now