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The dark-haired
beauty checked her map and after a careful study, said,
"About four miles, or as near as I can figure. It's
hard to tell when you get off the main road."
"No kidding,"
Angelique said then gasped when the old truck hit yet
another bump and sent all three women flying. "Sorry!
Damn, I hate driving across country. We can't stop now
though, we're in the heart of Valdez's country and I for
one don't want to be caught by him."
Claire, who sat
beside her in the front seat, said, "At least you have
Jim waiting for you in camp." She was smiling while she
talked. She was also holding on to the armrest and the
seat, trying not to bounce as the truck pounded across
the rough terrain.
Angelique smiled at
the thought of her Doctor Jim. Tall and lean, he was
her idea of the perfect man. A doctor, but not like any
doctor she'd ever met before. He was fit and darkly
handsome, and he adored her. He also worried constantly
about her forays into the jungle to help the people in
the surrounding villages. But, she thought, if she
didn't help them, no one would. Usually, Jim
accompanied her, but this time, he'd been sidetracked by
an incoming patient who needed surgery ASAP. A ruptured
appendix, the poor boy was being airlifted into camp,
and Jim Brody was the only doctor available.
"Hey!" The two
girls in the back yelled simultaneously as the truck
suddenly lurched to the side and slammed them into the
door.
"Angelique," cried
Claire, "look out!"
Too
late, Angelique saw the boulder. The right front tire
hit it, and bounced. Landing on top of the large rock,
the truck tipped precariously, then slammed down on the
boulder again. The screams of the women was nothing
compared to the explosion as the gas tank hit and
scraped along the rock. The sparks were just enough to
ignite the gas fumes, the explosion did the rest.
The first aid truck
flipped. The women inside were tossed around like so
many rag dolls. Their thin cotton uniforms tore as they
were thrown into jagged metal bent in the crash.
The truck rolled
several times. The women screamed, terrified.
When they finally
came to a halt, the truck lay on its side. The world
seemed suddenly quiet. All but for the sobbing of
women.
"Oh God," moaned
Angelique. She turned her head slowly and prayed there
wouldn't be an answering pain. Unbelievably, she didn't
feel anything major, just bruises. Clair groaned beside
her, a small gash on her head and her body was crammed
under the dash, but she too seemed unhurt. She couldn't
see Jean, but she heard the other woman sobbing behind
the seat.
Then, the sudden
stink of smoke filled the air. The tanks had ruptured.
They had to get out. The fire was spreading fast.
"Jean," Angelique
called, "can you get out. I’m afraid the truck's going
to explode."
"Yes, I'm okay, I
think. Get out!" Came the terrified response from
behind the seat.
No sooner had the
woman answered, than there was another explosion and the
truck shifted.
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