[2-8] The Campground

[Hiro Protagonist]

The wind blew across the two companions on the hillside while they weighed their options. Hiro looked disdainfully as the smoking wreck of the Nose before turning to Barry, quipping. "Y'know, last time we were down there I think the Lord of the Flies was taking command. It'd be a waste of time to head back now. Besides, there's still those missing people we gotta find, and I dou-"

Barry cut him off with a sheepish grin. "Actually, this isn't that island, Hiro. We still had about an hour or so of flight before that one." He raised the dirty briefcase. "I wonder what's inside here?"

Hiro just stared at him, the glassy reflection of his goggles hiding his eyes until he pushed them onto his forehead and stared at the Secondary. Bloodshot, half closed orbs circled in his sockets. The hacker was tired. Very tired. "So....you're telling me I took on a cannibal village on the wrong goddamn island?"

The bartender shrugged his shoulders. "Seems like it." Hiro immediately turned away from the Nose and started stomping down the hill towards the distant lighthouse. Barry followed close behind, carrying the suitcase. "Okay. The plane is a lost cause. That lighthouse looks pretty defensible, and there might be food, water, and some where safe to spend the night, because I don't know about you but I would really like a goddamn nap."

The secondary nodded in agreement. "Plus, we might be able to turn the light on and signal some help. There might be a radio or something. Mr. Jak -did- build this island, maybe he left some emergency supplies."

They walked through the jungle for about forty minutes, both of their throats dry and their stomachs rumbling. Barry had found a bush of bright purple and blue berries about ten minutes into their walk, but Hiro slapped them out of his hand at the last minute. His goggles had identified the bush as causing extreme diarrhea and muscle cramps. That was the last thing they needed right now. But then again, if they shit themselves, maybe the cannibals wouldn't eat them.

Finally, they broke through the tree and arrived at the massive white base of the monolithic lighthouse. One old wooden door, faded and pitted from years of use, was set in the smooth white stone. Hiro and Barry stood there, taking the enormity of the building in, before the hacker tried the knob.