Shipwrecked on the remote volcanic island of Agrihan, and with one of them severely injured, Lou Benson and Jim and Staci Kirk have to find their way to civilisation. Joined by orphan Ailsa Cudby, who has been living with a local village since her parents died, they set off past the volcano in search of an abandoned U.S. Air Force base. With time running out to get medical attention, the teens once again face danger in order to save one of their own. Will they find help in time?
Extract
“Jim,” she said seriously. “I want
you to promise me something.”
His brow furrowed. “I’m not
leaving you here. So don’t even suggest it.”
“Listen to me. If that thing
blows, and I mean really blows, I
don’t want you to wait for me. Take Staci and Ailsa and run. We both know I
can’t keep up on a good day, and me running anywhere for the rest of my life is
out of the question. I won’t have you or them die because of me and my stupid
leg.”
“Lou…” Exasperation tinged his
voice and the scowl she loved so much crossed his face.
But he was Ailsa’s now, whether
either of them wanted to admit it or not. Not that he’d ever been hers, other
than in her mind.
“Promise!” she said fiercely.
“OK, OK, have it your way.” Jim
paused for a moment as he ate. “That’s if
they want to leave you. And you know full well that they won’t do that. At
least, not willingly.”
“Don’t give them a choice.” She
finished what was on her plate. “It might never come to it, but I don’t want
anyone dying for me.”
Jim glanced at her. “You realize
that Jesus already did that, right? All you have to do is acc—”
Lou shook her head. “Don’t preach
at me, Jim. I don’t want or need it. I just need you guys to be safe, and if
that means leaving me here, then that’s what you do. I’ll write a disclaimer in
the log if it’ll make you feel any better.”
“Oh, really?”
She scowled back. “Yes, really.”
“Something along the lines of I, Lou Benson, being of sound mind, do
hereby insist that Jim, Staci, and Ailsa leave me behind to die in the case of
a natural disaster…”
“Words to that effect, yeah.” She
held out a hand. “Give me the logbook, and I’ll do it now.”ebook
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