Survivor Planet Series 2-Book Box Set by Juliet Cardin Page A

pale shade in comparison to the machine that marched me through the jungle. I shivered again and hurried to catch up. Machine or not, he was the only thing standing between me and death.
    We marched for hours it seemed, pausing only when Ayres deemed it safe to rest for a moment or two. We’d been given no provisions, but along our journey I could see the trail was ripe with an abundance of fresh fruits—weird looking, but tasty—and several small running streams to provide drinking water. Ayres seemed knowledgeable about what was good to eat and drink and what was not. When I snagged a purple plum-like piece of fruit off a tangle of short wiry bushes he smacked it from my hand before I could pop it in my mouth.
    â€œYou will writhe like a snake, foam at the mouth, and die within five Earth minutes if you eat that,” he informed me.
    â€œWell, thanks,” I said sarcastically.
    The jungle went on forever. I’d never actually been in a real jungle before, but this one was similar in many ways from pictures and movies I’d seen to what I’d expect to find on Earth. Except for those giant ever-present moons in the sky I almost felt I was on Earth. Where were all the dangers we’d been warned about? There’d been no sign of dangerous wildlife or Varlings anywhere. In fact, everything was unnaturally silent. There were some strange looking birds squawking and chirping, but those were the only living things I'd laid eyes upon up to this point.
    Ayres stopped suddenly, and since I was looking up, I ran right into his back. He didn’t seem to notice. His head was cocked at an angle again so I figured he was listening to something. Whatever it was I had no idea—I couldn’t hear anything unusual.
    He reached back suddenly and pulled me off the trail several yards and then stopped to lean against the trunk of a thick tree. Strong arms wrapped around me and held me so that my back rested against a mass of chest muscles. I became acutely aware of the heat of the body I was pressed against. I stayed still and silent, part of me enjoying the contact.
    A rustling sound came from the trail, followed by heavy footsteps and a great sigh. “How much further?” asked a female with a whiny voice.
    â€œSilence,” her companion warned her. It was several minutes later before the footsteps faded away and Ayres deemed it safe to return to the trail. I guess they’d managed to avoid Ayres’ swinging limb of death.
    To keep the tedium at bay, I began to badger Ayres with questions. He indulged my curiosity with cryptic answers as long as I spoke to him in whispers. Conversing like this I had to keep close beside him.
    â€œDo you know what happened to those guys at the cottage?” He’d supplied all the answers to various questions about Taleon and the tournament. This question, however, was a tough one. Part of me wanted to know while another part of me didn’t. When Ayres didn’t answer right away I elaborated. “You know, the ones in white coats I was with? There was this beam of light coming out of the bedroom and Danny got sucked right in. I dunno where Jack...”
    â€œThey’re on the ship.”
    â€œCome again?”
    â€œThey are on the ship,” he said with slow pronunciation.
    Relief flooded me. “So, they’re alive?”
    He smirked. “We do not make a habit of transporting the dead.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do with them?”
    â€œIf you had refused to participate in the tournament I would have used them to coerce your assent.”
    Since I’d thought this entire affair was a coma-induced nightmare, it hadn’t been necessary. No. I’d strolled down this path to hell all on my own.

Chapter 9
    â€œWhat will you do with them now?” I asked.
    â€œDepends,” Ayres replied.
    He was exasperating. “Depends on what?”
    â€œIf we lose and must remain here, their fate will not be