There was no trouble getting over to the mainland because the telescoping bridge had been deployed. It was constructed of steel and had a hollow, drumlike sound as they trodded across. Parked alongside the bridge mechanism was Dave’s pickup truck.

“Hop in,” Dave said, while pointing into the truck’s bed.

“Just one minute!” Melanie snapped. They were her first words since leaving the cave. “We’re not riding in the back of a truck.”

“Then you’ll walk,” Dave said. “You’re not riding in my cab.”

“Come on, Melanie,” Kevin urged. “It will be more pleasant back here in the open air.” Kevin gave Candace a hand.

Dave went around and got in behind the wheel.

Melanie resisted for another minute. With her hands on her hips, her legs spread apart, and her lips pressed together, she looked like a young girl on the verge of a temper tantrum.

“Melanie, it’s not that far,” Candace said. She reached out her hand. Reluctantly, Melanie took it.

“I didn’t expect a hero’s welcome,” Melanie complained. “But I didn’t expect this kind of treatment.”

After the damp oppressiveness of the cave and the moist hothouse of the jungle, the breezy ride in the back of the truck was unexpectedly pleasant. The bed was filled with reed mats that had been used to transport the animals, and they provided adequate cushion. The mats had a rather rank smell, but the group guessed they did, too.

They lay on their backs and watched patches of the late-afternoon sky appear between the branches of the overhead canopy of trees.

“What do you think they are going to do to us?” Candace said. “I don’t want to go back in that jail.”

“Let’s hope they just fire us on the spot,” Melanie said. “I’m ready to pack my bag and say goodbye to the Zone, the project, and Equatorial Guinea. I’ve had it.”

“I can only hope it will be that easy,” Kevin said. “I’m also worried about the animals. They’ve been given life sentences.”

“There’s not much we can do,” Candace said.

“I wonder,” Kevin said. “I wonder what animal-rights groups would say about this situation.”

“Now, don’t say anything like that until we get the hell out of here,” Melanie said. “That would drive everybody bananas.”

They entered the eastern end of town, passing the soccer field and tennis center on their right. Both were in use, particularly the tennis center. Every court was taken.

“An experience like this makes you feel less important than you thought you were,” Melanie commented while glancing at the players. “You’re hidden away for two agonizing days and everything goes on just as it did before.”

They all pondered Melanie’s comment as they unconsciously braced for the sharp right-hand turn they knew was coming up to take them to the animal center. But instead, after the truck slowed, it stopped. Kevin sat up and looked ahead. He saw Bertram’s Jeep Cherokee.

“Siegfried wants you to drive directly to Kevin’s house,” Bertram called to Dave.

“Okay!” Dave called back.

The truck lurched forward as Dave pulled out behind Bertram.

Kevin lay back down. “Well, that’s a surprise. Maybe we’re not going to be treated that badly after all.”

“Maybe we can get them to drop Candace and me at our places,” Melanie said. “They’re more or less on the way.” She looked down at herself. “The first thing I’m going to do is take a shower and change clothes. Only then am I going to eat.”

Kevin got his legs under him and kneeled behind the truck’s cab. He rapped on the rear window until he got Dave’s attention. He then relayed Melanie’s request. The response from Dave was a wave of dismissal.

Kevin repositioned himself on his back. “I guess you have to go to my house first,” he said.

As soon as they hit the cobblestones, the ride was so jarring that they all sat up. Rounding the last turn, Kevin looked ahead expectantly. He was as eager to take a shower as Melanie. Unfortunately what he saw was not encouraging. Siegfried and Cameron were standing out in front of his house along with four heavily armed Equatoguinean soldiers. One of the soldiers was an officer.

“Uh-oh,” Kevin said. “This doesn’t look promising after all.”

The truck came to a halt. Dave hopped out and came around to put down the tailgate. Kevin was the first to climb out on stiff legs. Melanie and Candace followed.

Preparing himself for the inevitable, Kevin walked over to where Siegfried and Cameron were standing. He knew Melanie and Candace were right behind. Bertram, who’d parked in front of the pickup truck, joined them. No one looked particularly happy.

“We had hoped you’d taken an unannounced holiday,” Siegfried said scornfully. “Instead, we find you have willfully disobeyed standing orders not to trespass on Isla Francesca. You’re all to be confined to quarters here, in this house.” He pointed over his shoulder at Kevin’s.

Kevin was about to explain why they’d done what they had when Melanie pushed past him. She was exhausted and irate.

“I’m not staying here and that’s final,” she spat. “In fact, I quit. I’ll be leaving the Zone just as soon as I can make arrangements.”

Siegfried’s upper lip hiked itself up to exaggerate his sneer. After a quick step forward, he backhanded Melanie viciously, knocking her down. Reflexively Candace dropped to one knee to aid her friend.

“Don’t touch her,” Siegfried shouted, as he drew his hand back as if to strike Candace.

Candace ignored him and helped Melanie up into a sitting position. Melanie’s left eye was beginning to swell, and a trickle of blood slowly ran down her cheek.

Kevin winced and looked away, expecting to hear another blow. He admired Candace’s courage and wished that he shared some. But he was terrified of Siegfried and afraid to move.

When another blow did not materialize, Kevin looked back. Candace had Melanie standing shakily on her feet.

“You’ll be leaving the Zone soon enough,” Siegfried snarled at Melanie. “But it will be in the company of the Equatoguinean authorities. You can try your insolence on them.”

Kevin swallowed with difficulty. Being given to the Equatoguineans was what he’d feared most.

“I’m an American,” Melanie sobbed.

“But you are in Equatorial Guinea,” Siegfried snapped. “And you’ve violated Equatoguinean law.”

Siegfried stepped back. “I’ve confiscated all of your passports. Just so you know, they will be given to the local authorities along with your persons. In the meantime, you are to stay here in this house. And I warn you that these soldiers and this officer have been ordered to shoot if you so much as take one step outside. Have I made myself clear?”

“I need some clothes,” Melanie cried.

“I’ve had clothes for both of you women brought from your quarters and thrown into upstairs guest rooms,” Siegfried said. “Believe me, we have thought of everything.”

Siegfried turned to Cameron. “See that these people are taken care of.”

“Of course, sir,” Cameron said. He touched the tip of his hat before turning to Kevin and the women.

“Okay, you’ve heard the manager,” he barked. “Upstairs you go and no trouble, please.”

Kevin started forward but he detoured enough to go by Bertram. “They were using more than fire. They were making tools and even talking with each other.”

Kevin walked on. He’d not seen any reaction in Bertram’s face other than a slight movement of his perpetually elevated eyebrows. But Kevin was certain Bertram had heard him.

As Kevin wearily climbed to the second floor, he saw Cameron already organizing an area for the soldiers and the officer to occupy at the base of the stairs.

Up in the front hall Kevin, Melanie, and Candace eyed each other. Melanie was still sobbing intermittently.

Kevin breathed out. “This is not good news,” he said.

“They can’t do this to us,” Melanie whimpered.

“The point is they are going to try,” Kevin said. “And without our passports we’d have trouble leaving the country even if we were to walk out of here.”