David Golemon - Legend

"But how does an animal escape the very extinction that killed its land cousins? If I remember my biology classes correctly, wasn't the plesiosaur a saltwater species?"

"As for its escaping extinction, the argument has been made that many varieties of sea animal may have escaped the fate of their cousins by the simple fact of their enjoying a more abundant food chain in a particular location," Keating said as Ellenshaw agreed, aggressively bobbing his white head.

"And the fact that this variety of plesiosaur is clearly living in freshwater indicates that the creatures may have left the harsher, more competitive hunting grounds of the oceans for the less dangerous waterways to be found inland. We may never know. I have a new theory about the animal that attacked us, as I have looked at the carcass very closely. I believe one reason this beast didn't go along gracefully to extinction land is the fact—" Ellenshaw paused for dramatic effect, "I believe this particular species has turned into what we know today as the giant sea turtle."

"Oh, come on! How can you speculate so carelessly like that?"

With that, the argument was on between the two scientists.

Ignoring them, Sarah asked Jack, "How in the world did you kill the mother animal?"

"I didn't," he answered as he popped half a sausage into his mouth.

"Jack, something killed it. Tore its head right off and then staked its body to the side of the boat," Carl said.

The major turned around and looked out of the tinted side window. He opened it and breathed deeply. His eyes scanned the water and then the small beach he had been on only an hour before.

"Something saved me from the creature and dragged me up on that beach. It was something big," he said as he turned back to face the others. He took Sarah's hand in his own and didn't care who saw it. "I was as good as dead; the plesiosaur had me dead in her sights and there could have been no way I could have escaped on my own. I was pulled down by the smaller ones, hard enough to sprain my ankle. I was taken deep underwater. Every time I tried to fight to the surface, I was pulled even deeper. Then something came at the animal with incredible speed. I only saw a violent strike by something and then I was released. There was blood in the water; I could taste it. I didn't know if it was my blood or someone or something else's. Then before I could reach the surface, I was grabbed by my ankle and pulled away. All I remember after that was the feeling of being pulled along in the water. Then whatever saved me from the animal left me on the sand, and that is all I remember until I woke up with one of Sanchez's small monkey fishes trying to feed me."

"Then what was it in that water that saved you, Jack?" Virginia asked.

"I don't know, but according to the footprints that were left in the sand where I woke up, it's huge. Its feet resembled those on the couple of statues we came across."

"My god," cried Charles Hindershot Ellenshaw III. "It's real! The legend of a creature that walks upright is real!" His amazement was enough to interrupt his argument with Keating.

The Rio Madonna was at anchor, and Farbeaux thought the captain should count himself lucky for being that way. When the Americans went off the radar Farbeaux became curious as to why, when suddenly Captain Santos threw his engines in reverse and brought the Rio Madonna to a standstill in the middle of the river. There, the captain had sent a small party ahead to reconnoiter the river. They were gone but an hour when they reported the rapids lay in front of the ship. Santos had narrowly missed smashing the Rio Madonna to splinters. Of course Mendez was angry at this development, stomping the decks, threatening everyone who crossed his path. But the captain smiled and watched how coolly Farbeaux handled him, by not handling him at all. The Frenchman seemed content to wait and the captain was curious as to why.

"I'm afraid this perpetual false twilight is affecting your capacity to see my point, senor ," Farbeaux said, "The Americans are there and we are not. Do you wish to charge in there with your guns blazing and take by force that which we can have with no risks by just waiting?"

Mendez stopped his pacing at the stern of the boat. He stared out at the anchored barge behind them and thought for a moment.

"I wish to do something, anything ," he grumbled.

"As I would, but I am a patient man. The Americans cannot leave here without going through us; we have effectively cut off any retreat they may have. Besides, my friend, the minerals have been there since the beginning of time; they're not going anywhere."

Mendez made a decision. "As always, you are right; I must learn to be as you. But you must understand, it is hard for a man such as I." He turned to face Farbeaux. "What is your plan?"

"We will wait until the middle of the night and utilize our rebreather scuba equipment, which won't leave any telltale bubbles on the surface, and simply swim under or around the Americans and reconnoiter the mine. Are you ready for a swim, Senor Mendez?"

"Yes, this is a good plan. But I must ask as I am curious, why not just place a charge on the bottom of their boat and send her to the bottom of the lagoon?"

"And then if there are survivors, senor , what then? What if three or four of those highly capable men survive? I am prone to believe they wouldn't be in a very charitable mood because we tried to kill them, do you?"

Mendez just glared at Farbeaux. He hated having things explained to him as if he were a wayward schoolboy.

"I know these people you seem so quick to try and murder, senor . They are capable of cutting your men to pieces." Farbeaux glanced toward the sneering Rosolo. "Let's find out first if we even have a reason for such ruthlessness, shall we?"

Mendez relaxed and finally smiled. "That is why men such as I pay handsomely for men such as you, my friend; they think on another level."

Farbeaux nodded and then moved away toward the bridge.

As soon as his back was turned Mendez ceased to smile and addressed Rosolo.

"You will of course place the charge and send the people he admires so much to the bottom. Just make sure it won't detonate until we are well within the mine."

Captain Rosolo grinned. " Si, jefe ."

"You look like a man who is concerned about a problem, senor ," Santos said when Farbeaux closed the bridge door.

"There is no doubt about your ability to observe. And of course, I do have problems. Senor Mendez is a fool. But I have observed you, Captain Santos, and I don't believe you are one." Farbeaux held the captain's eyes. "And since you and I are not fools, tell me how a river captain, one who has said that he has never traveled this particular tributary before, knew there would be rapids ahead."

Santos smiled broadly. "I was born with a sense for danger, senor . My own mother, she was always crossing herself and telling me I was of Satan's villa. Proclaimed this until the day she sent me to Bogota and the Catholic nuns there. Then when they couldn't figure me out, I was sent even farther away to study at the seminary. But, senor, the river, she was always calling for my return. So you see, I feel the river, I know the river and her many moods."

Farbeaux laughed. "You have a gift all right, senor , but it is a gift of storytelling. Be careful in the coming day or so, Captain, and hide this strange… ability of yours; someone other than myself may become suspicious."

Santos watched as Farbeaux left his bridge. He crossed himself and again kissed and then caressed his medal before dropping it back into his shirt. Then he went to the window and checked on the men on deck. He opened a drawer and removed a Colt.38 Police Special, all the while watching.