Chapter 2

The small plane landed on a makeshift strip at the island's east coast. The island itself sat near the equator, its climate warm and hot - perfect, Dr. Nilsson said, for snakelike creatures. Surrounding the strip was an ugly, overturned plot of land full of temporary tents and buildings. Surrounding the encampment was a palm tree forest, thick and wild, with bamboo shoots springing up in between fat tree trunks.

Upon arrival, Zayrn and Dr. Nilsson were quickly ushered from the plane as beefy, young men unloaded all of their cargo. An older man, with white hair and gleaming bronze skin met them by the plane.

"You must be Dr. Nilsson and Mr. Nicholson," he put his hand out for both of them to shake, "I'm Einar Yorivowsky, here to help you facilitate research on this island."

Einar Yorivowsky was an intimidating character: a tower of hard-corded muscles built one on top of the other and a nasty, deeply-lined face that could easily frighten children.

Zayrn leaned over to catch sight of the long rifle on the man's back. The brown haired man hummed nervously, rocking back and forth on his heels.

Einar's sharp eyes caught him and he gave the young brown haired man a tight smile, "The island's inhabitants aren't very friendly."

inland)))!!

Dr. Nilsson perked up at that comment, "But you still haven't run across an Ophidian narus? From our last correspondence -"

Einar raised a halting hand, "No, ma'am. I have not, nor has any of my men, even caught a whiff of a naga. However, there is a large, aggressive species of wild bore present on the island as well as many venomous snakes. Robarts here," he gestured to a man carrying down one of Dr. Nilsson's many metal cases from the plane, "almost got eaten by an anaconda the length of a goddamn bus. Whatever the hell is on this island, it's tough and we've gotta be prepared," he tapped a finger against the butt of his rifle.

If Zayrn was iffy about this before, he wasn't anymore. He was tempted to walk right back up into the plane and wait for it to take him straight back home.

Dr. Nilsson didn't give him the chance, however. She grabbed his arm and guided him through the camp as Einar showed them their private tents and the sterile, portable building allotted to them in order to conduct their research. The tents were small, but livable. The portable was empty save for a few metal countertops, a sink, and various cupboards.

Still, Dr. Nilsson looked like a little kid on Christmas. She was elated, running a hand across a stainless steel countertop and grinning at Zayrn like an absolute loon.

"Can you believe it, Zayrn?" she nearly sang. "That we are here? That this is where we will be performing the most exciting work ever known to mankind?"

Zayrn set his carry-on bag down on the table, shoulder aching, "I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. Besides, it'll take a while for all of the equipment to be set up."

"I know, I know," she waved him off. "But hopefully we'll be ready to begin tomorrow morning."

Zayrn's eyes narrowed, "Isn't tomorrow a Saturday?"

"Yes indeed," Dr. Nilsson said remorselessly.

"Slave driver," the brown haired man accused.

"Enjoy your free time while you have it, my ever so hardworking assistant."

"Thanks, I'll try," Zayrn muttered before waltzing over to one of the windows.

As the building sat at the edge of the encampment, his view was of the forest beyond. Something about the land out there being wholly untouched by human hands unsettled Zayrn, somewhere deep in his core. It was as if the longer he looked, the less familiar the trees became.

Logically, he knew the trees were just trees and nature would be nature regardless of mankind's influence, but still. The uneasiness remained, gnawing at Zayrn's gut.

After taking note of their storage After taking note of their storage space and other amenities the portable gave them, Dr. Nilsson joined him by the window.

"Isn't it enticing?" she murmured. "I'm barely holding myself back from going out there right now and exploring this place."

Zayrn didn't exactly understand or share her enthusiasm so leaning a shoulder against the wall, he changed the subject.

"Hey, remember what Einar said about one of his men nearly being eaten by an anaconda the size of a bus? You think that's true or exaggerated?"

"The largest anaconda ever reliably recorded grew to a length about twenty-seven feet. The length of an average bus is forty. Under usual circumstances I would say he was exaggerating by at least a margin of ten feet, but on this island? I'm convinced anything is possible. We only need to discover it."

"You know, I was kind of hoping for a reassurance."

Dr. Nilsson blinked, "I was not aware you harbored fear of anacondas. Furthermore, anacondas on our known continents, even at the length of twenty, twenty-five feet can easily consume a human whole. In this instance, the size of the anaconda being enlarged would not affect the fact humans can be seen as a food The only difference would be the amount of its consumption. A snake that large would need to feed much more often or in bigger quantities."

"Truly. Amazing. Very reassuring. Anacondas apparently eat people and a forty-foot one will eat about what? Let's say ten of them at a time instead of one? Great. Can't wait to be dinner."

Dr. Nilsson placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I assure you, Zayrn, we will be well-protected behind a wall of Einar's men. It's why I hired them, remember? Neither you or me are equipped to handle the physical threats this island will bring us, but we don't need to be. We have Einar and his troop. We won't go anywhere without them. I promise."

"Alright," Zayrn conceded, light brown eyes still reflecting the wilds beyond the window.

"Good," she dropped her hand from his shoulder. "Work will begin tomorrow at sunrise."

Zayrn stared out the window for a long time.

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End of chater 2.

Well this story is lil bit slow so have patience. ;)

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