The Extinction Series | Book 4 | Spread of Extinction Ellis, Tara (top 10 ebook reader .TXT) 📖

“I think Eddy does have a really good point,” Peta said, surprising Tyler. “And after we’ve gotten to the hot springs and figure out what we’re going to do next, then I’m all over looking at the bigger picture and what’s going on here. But Jason is also right, and I feel it, too. It’s taking too much unnecessary risk at this point.”

Eddy seemed to carefully consider their words, and then shrugged. “I’ll have to defer to Jason’s instincts and your field experience, then.” Shifting, he included Devon in the conversation. “Perhaps once we’re settled, I could recruit your help in conducting a larger investigation.”

Devon looked stricken, his eyes flitting up to the rearview mirror again and begging someone to help him. “Um, well…how about you hit me up for that parade later on, and we can talk more about it then?”

Grinning, Tyler turned back around and attempted to relax as Eddy and Devon’s conversation continued. Marty took advantage of his lap, and lay his head down so that Tyler could scratch at his ears. His stomach grumbled, and Tyler realized they hadn’t really eaten anything since the day before, and it was already after dinner time. If he was hungry, Marty had to be starving.

The road flowed away behind them, and it was easy to become mesmerized by it. Filtered sunlight dappled the cement in dizzying patterns as it passed through the tall, dense canopy of the rainforest. It continued to thicken as they moved further inland, and Tyler didn’t even want to consider what it was going to be like once the sun went down.

He was doing his best not to think about Hernandez, but every once in a while, he had an unexpected upwelling of dread. Like he’d forgotten to do something really important, or left something critical and unforgiveable behind. Then, he’d realize it was Hernandez that was missing. That he hadn’t forgotten him, but intentionally left his cold body buried under too-thin a layer of dirt, alongside a dingy cement building in a country he’d never heard of before.

Tyler pulled Marty a little closer as the emotions threatened to bubble to the surface again, and he bit at his lower lip to help maintain control. He couldn’t lose it. Not yet. Not until they were inside four secure walls and maybe even had some light, so that he felt safe and not so vulnerable. It was like he was afraid whatever evil was lurking would take advantage of his moment of weakness and pounce.

Closing his eyes against the imagery the thoughts were conjuring up, Tyler instead tried to picture the beach back on Madagascar. The cove where Mikael’s parents had their resort. He managed to get lost in it for all of about twenty seconds before guilt over his best friend quickened his pulse and forced his eyes open.

Tyler was learning how hard guilt was to live with. Anger, fear, hate…those were all emotions he could at least bury enough so he could still function, and take them out later to examine. But guilt? It was eating away at him, no matter how deep he tried to shove it down. Guilt at abandoning his best friend, over his mother’s death, the decision to leave his dad, and—Hernandez.

He wasn’t sure if it was because he wanted to give him the pills, or because he didn’t a whole lot sooner, before Hernandez spent so long needlessly suffering. Either way, it came down to being selfish. That was the only reason they kept him alive for so long, and the reason Hernandez held on was for them, not himself.

Taking a shuddering breath, Tyler wiped at his nose and focused on the trees. He was still being selfish. He should be glad that his friend wasn’t being tortured any longer. Instead, he was finding ways to make it all about himself. Or, maybe it was to avoid thinking about his dad. Tyler flinched at the thought, as it caused a painful spasm in his stomach.

No. No, he couldn’t go there. Not yet.

“We’re coming up on something!” Devon shouted.

Tyler was glad for the distraction from his own self-recrimination. Disrupting Marty, he happily got back onto his knees for a better look. Sure enough, about a quarter-mile up the road, there was a huge span of open space and what looked a large, weathered barn.

“There’s a tractor out front, but I don’t see a house,” Eddy observed.

Devon slowed, trying to decide if they should stop. “Do those things take gas or diesel?”

“It looks old enough to run off gas,” Peta answered. When Jason raised an eyebrow at her, she scoffed. “Why is it so surprising that I know that? I was raised on a farm.”

“Really?” Jason sounded surprised. “I have to admit that Australia is a country I haven’t had a chance to make it to. What kind of farms do they have there?”

The Jeep bounced over the uneven terrain as they pulled off the blacktop and drew closer to the tractor. Tyler searched the open fields around the barn, relieved not to see any signs of anyone living or currently working there.

“It was a horse farm,” Peta answered. “But I’ve driven my share of heavy equipment, and that relic probably runs on gas,” she added, gesturing at the large tractor.

“Hey!” Tyler interrupted, pointing at the barn. “There’s a riding lawn mover over there. Those take gas, don’t they? Ours did.”

“Yes!” Devon hooted. Throwing the Jeep in park, he was the first to jump out.

Tyler eagerly clambered out the back and had to take a moment to stretch before he could trust his legs. Marty began running in excited circles, his muzzle buried in the grass. Whatever he smelled must have been pretty good, because it was the most energetic Tyler had seen the dog act in days.

A familiar