Read Online Destiny: Book of Light by Paul Allen - Free Book Online

back in their holsters hanging from under his arms.
    He glanced over the weapons supplied for the crew and picked out a rifle, he cocked it took a look down the sights of the barrel, and then let it rest in his arms waiting with the crew, smoking a cigarette. As they approached, the trees towered bigger than any Sean had ever seen. He had assumed that the pass was much smaller than it actually was because of the illusion the size of the jungle had created. Tensions were on edge as the ship entered the pass.
    Everyone felt the change in the ships speed as the ocean current was funneled into a single underwater valley. The currents below water nearly doubled in speed and a couple of guys on deck stumbled. With the arrival of James, an engineer, all 39 of the crew were on deck now. The Jungle shadowed the height of the ship and all eyes were focused on either side, listening for the slightest sound, or watching for the smallest movement. It created a strange atmosphere with bright blue skies high above and yet shadowed darkness all around.
    The captain was kept busy in the bridge trying to navigate a safe passage down the Channel. Even still though, his gun lay on the mahogany bench in front of him. Sean was now on full alert. Not only did the Jungle tower above the height of the ship, and not only did the speed of the ship continue to pick up, but Sean had noticed mountains springing up in the distance, meaning any village or anyone on those mountains would see the ship from miles off.
    Suddenly a ping of a ricocheting bullet ringed through the air.
"Who saw it?" Shouted Sean scanning the jungle as it flashed by.
Another whizzing sound cut through the air as a bullet sailed just upward of the crews heads.
"Who saw it?" Shouted Sean again.
"God damn it!" He roared as he scanned the Jungle even more intensely.
All was silent for a moment until another whizzing was heard for a split second, but before anyone realised where it was, Dani, the ships Chef hit the ground, his throat bursting open as he tried desperately to hold in his blood. The strain of him struggling to breath, silenced the rest of the crew as they all slowly watched his spurts become less frequent and his eyes roll back into his head. He was like a fish out of water as he flapped around on the deck.
"Ok, everybody stay down, get down now Jim." Sean ordered as another bullet whizzed just over the deck hands head.
"We can let the ship protect us from bullets but we need to keep on guard for anything that can damage the ship. I have a feeling this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better, but all it seems to be right now is a couple of snipers target practising. So keep your fucking heads down but your eyes wide got it?"
    Sean found a rest for his rifle on the Port side and returned to scanning the Jungle. Another few bullets whizzed past overhead but all heads were kept low now. Sean became alarmed by the speed of the boat. It was tearing down an unknown channel at much too quick a speed. He looked up at the captain in the bridge and could see the strain and sweat on his face as he wrestled the ships wheel. Keeping low he climbed up to the bridge.
    "What the fuck is goin on captain?"
"There's nothing I can do, the ships in full reverse, the channel is just too quick, but don't worry it's deep the whole way through, we should be fine."
"So have you been down here before?"
"No, and I have never heard of anyone passing here and coming out the otherside."
From the height of the bridge Sean could just about see over the canopy of the trees. Out over the sprawling jungle, the rising mountains in the distance, and further down the river.
"What is that?" asked Sean, indicating to a plume of smoke on the horizon.
    "I know, I have been watching it. I have no idea what it is. I thought it might be a village on fire, but it appears to be in the middle of the pass and at this speed we'll be there within the hour. I'd say it's probably some form of defence for stopping