The Solomon Curse Read Online Free PDF Page B

over.”
    â€œThat’s a big win for the crocs, I suppose,” Remi said.
    They rounded the westernmost point of the island and headed east toward the capital city of Honiara, where the only real hospital waslocated, according to Ricky. By the time they pulled up to the emergency entrance, twenty-six minutes had elapsed, and Ricky’s uncle was in desperate shape. Ricky darted from the car to get help, and moments later two islanders, accompanied by a handsome woman in a green medical smock, came running out with a gurney.
    Remi’s eyes locked with the woman’s as she approached the car. She looked like an islander, but her hair was styled differently from the other locals they’d seen, and her bearing commanded immediate attention. This was clearly a woman in a position of authority, in spite of her smooth skin and relative youth. When she reached the victim, she glanced at Remi and Sam before focusing on his wounds.
    â€œHow long ago did this happen?” she asked, her English colored with a marked Australian accent.
    â€œHalf an hour ago. Crocodile on the east side of the island,” Remi said.
    The woman took in the bleeding man with a glance. She eyed the butchered leg before turning to the orderlies and giving a rapid-fire order in pidgin. The men leaned into the vehicle and dragged out Benji’s inert form. They placed him on the gurney, which looked like it had survived the Japanese occupation, and inspected the tourniquet. Seeming to intuit Sam and Remi’s doubts about the care he was going to receive, the woman pursed her lips.
    â€œDon’t worry. The gear in the OR is in better shape than this relic.” She held out her hand. “Dr. Vanya. I’m the chief medical officer here.” Remi shook it, followed by Sam.
    â€œSam and Remi Fargo,” Sam said.
    Dr. Vanya appraised them for a lingering moment and then turned to where the orderlies were wheeling Benji into the hospital. “If you’ll excuse me, duty calls. You can wait in the emergency room. There’s a bench and a ten-year-old copy of the
Times
. Oh, and nice work with the tourniquet.”
    Before either of them could say anything, she disappeared into thebuilding. Sam eyed the smear of blood on the car seat, and his gaze drifted to his clothes, covered with rust-colored stains. They’d only been on the island for a few hours and already they’d helped save a man who was now battling for his life.
    A troubling start to what should have been a low-key underwater exploration and an ugly omen for their time in the Solomons.

CHAPTER 5
    Leonid’s pickup truck rolled into the lot several minutes later and pulled up next to the SUV. Leonid got out and waved to the driver, who gunned the engine and veered back onto the main road in a cloud of exhaust. The Russian approached Sam with a hangdog expression on his face.
    â€œDid he make it?” he asked.
    â€œBarely,” Sam said. “It’ll be touch and go, that’s for sure.”
    â€œPoor guy. What a way to go.”
    â€œI can’t believe they didn’t warn you about the crocodiles,” Remi said.
    â€œThey did. That’s why they had the machetes and axes.”
    Sam eyed Leonid. “Couple of AK-47s would have been a better idea.”
    â€œBelieve me, my friend, if there were any on the island, I would have had them.”
    â€œWhere’s your crew?” Remi asked.
    â€œBack at the bay. They’re packing up and returning by sea with the boats and gear. Nobody wanted to ride with me. I have a feeling they blame me for their friend’s misfortune for some reason.” He paused. “Did you see the size of that creature? It was longer than the truck.”
    â€œAnd it may have family in the area,” Sam said.
    Remi nodded. “Yes, and the relatives might hold a grudge. Take your butchering of their friend personally.”
    Leonid looked alarmed. “I didn’t do