Minutes to Burn

"But I do think it's a good idea," Cameron continued. "The pit. We'll camo the top of it, rig the bottom with explosives. All we need is to slow the fucker up for a split second to blast it." She glanced over at Diego. He looked upset but said nothing. "Let's get to digging."

"You don't have to," Rex said. "There are natural cavities all around this island. Gases within the lava that didn't rise and escape to the air. Sort of like trapped bubbles. Some of them barely break the surface, and then the tops erode." He turned east, raising a hand to shade his eyes. "I noticed a number of them just past the base camp," he said. "You should be able to find one of suitable size."

Ramoncito stepped through the flap, his face red from the sun and his tears. Rex walked over to him, removed his Panama hat, and set it on his head. "Ready to head back?" he asked.

Ramoncito nodded, still sniffling.

Rex signaled Diego and they headed to Diego's tent to gather the water samples.

The soldiers stood dumbly in a half-ring around the boy, waiting for the scientists' return. Ramoncito's face broke, and he started crying. Szabla and Savage turned away uncomfortably, and Tank chewed his lip. Ramoncito swayed, still light-headed from his sun exposure.

Justin stepped forward to steady the boy. After a moment, Cameron joined him.

Loaded down with bags full of water samples, Diego and Rex stood at the edge of the road near the rows of balsa trees that Diego so loathed. Tank flipped Rex an extra tube of sunblock and Rex nodded his thanks.

Cameron checked the watch face sewn into the inside of her pants pocket. "It's 1500 now," she said. "That should put you back at Santa Cruz at 0700. You'll have about fourteen hours to set up your gear, run tests, and reach Fort Detrick with your results."

Justin removed his long-sleeved shirt and gave it to Ramoncito to protect him from further sun damage on the ride back. The sun was still strong, but it had softened, already beginning its arc to the horizon.

Ramoncito took it from him, gratefulness in his eyes. He probably wanted to decline the offer like a man, but the pain of his sunburn made him swallow his pride.

Justin smiled. "You'd better wait to smell the thing before you thank me. It's a touch ripe, but it'll keep the sun off you."

Cameron stood beside the two scientists, even after the other soldiers nodded their good-byes and began to convene near the tents. Rex shifted his canteen strap on his shoulder, squinting into the sun in Cameron's direction. "Guess you guys aren't so useless after all," he said. His cheeks had taken on color, just beginning to redden. He waited for Diego and Ramoncito to look away. "Thank you," he mouthed.

Cameron shrugged. "What were we gonna do? Draw straws and leave some of our squad behind?" She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"So that's it?" Diego asked. "Strictly a military decision?"

A sulfur butterfly danced a clumsy circle around Diego's head. It flut-tered down, landing on his backpack, a pale yellow spot. Cameron reached over, plucking it gently off the fabric by clasping its wings between her fingers as she had seen Diego do earlier. She took the but-terfly's thin body between her thumb and finger and turned it over, blowing gently on the closed wings. They splayed under the soft pres-sure of her breath, spreading open beautifully across her hand. She swept her hand upward, releasing the butterfly, and they watched it navi-gate the gentle southeast winds. "Yes," she said. "It is."

"We'll do our best to get back and convince the government that we know more about science than they do," Rex said. He glanced at the sweep of the dark forest. "Just two more larvae constitute the account-able virus reservoir." He nodded once, slowly, and they both understood the unspoken implication. Taking a small step back, he checked his watch. "You have about nineteen hours to pickup. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Cameron shook her head. "No." She ruffled Ramoncito's hair roughly and pointed down the road. "Get out of here," she said.

They turned and began walking down the road toward the watch-tower and the thin trail beyond. After a few paces, Ramoncito stopped and turned. Cameron was still standing there, watching them leave.

Chapter 60

We're gonna split duty," Szabla said, standing before the fire pit. She jerked her chin, indicating Cameron. "You, Justin, and Tank recon, try to beat the clock. Make sure you sweep up along the cliff faces to the east-no one's checked there too thoroughly yet. If you find Derek… " Szabla turned her eyes from Cameron and continued. "Kill the larva he's protecting, and him if you have to." She raised a finger at Cameron, though Cameron had not reacted. "Don't you go all woman on me again now."

"Can you handle that?" Savage asked, eyeballing Cameron.

Cameron stood up and slapped her muscular thighs with her hands. "Of course."