Comments are welcome, and indeed encouraged, but do be aware that I am writing in UK English and what you think is a typo may not be.
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Mark stumbled over a rock and pushed the branch of a tree out of his face as he tried not to lose sight of Amanda. They had been in South America as part of the research team for three weeks now and Amanda was impossible. It was as if she were going out of her way to break as many rules as possible, and make his life a living nightmare.
"Amanda, wait," he called, as loudly as he dared. She stopped and turned her head to look at him.
"What is it?" She replied disdainfully.
"You know that we're supposed to stay in sight of each other at all times."
"Then you'll have to start moving faster."
"This isn't a joke, the rules are in place for everyone's safety. This isn't a safari park, it's dangerous out here."
Amanda's response was to glare at him resentfully. "Don't patronise me Mark, I'm a trained botanist with as much right to be here as you."
"A botanist with no prior field experience," Mark retorted. It was uncharacteristically spiteful of him, but Amanda was really starting to get to him.
"That's the route of this isn't it Mark," Amanda snarled. "You've never taken me seriously. You know, three research trips doesn't make you Indiana Jones."
"I am perfectly aware of that Amanda," retorted Mark, "that's why I take the rules seriously."
They carried on in silence. Amanda was seething. Mark didn't know what was going on. They were both adults, and capable, more than capable scientists. What it was about each other that caused them to behave like petulant children he had no idea.
"You know it's not just animals you have to worry about out here," he said lightly, trying to break the tension. "There's also the legendary Chala tribe."
Amanda snorted derisively.
"Seriously, it might not be a legend," Mark continued, there have been findings, sightings even. Some people have dedicated years to finding them. But no-one has ever seen a member of the tribe and returned."
"Are you seriously suggesting we could be eaten by cannibals?" Amanda asked.
"That or each other," Mark replied. Amanda smiled slightly, and then tried to hide it. "I saw that," he pounced. "You smiled, I caught you."
"Just humouring the idiot," she snarked. But it was a gentle snark. "Look Mark, we're going to have to find some way to get on. You need to take me seriously as a scientist..."
"And you need to take the rules seriously," he interrupted.
"A bit of give and take would be nice," she sighed. "Some of the samples I've managed to get out here have been amazing. I know you're an anthropologist, but you could try a bit harder to drum up some enthusiasm."
That touched a nerve. Maybe Amanda had been just a bit right, Mark considered. Maybe his lack of success on the trip was causing him to drag his feet a little. He made a conscious effort to pick up the pace and adopt a more enthusiastic attitude. The afternoon went a little better. Amanda found more samples and Mark tried his best to help and stop nagging. For her part Amanda tried not to leave him behind.
The afternoon drew into evening and the jungle was bathed in a faint orange glow. It was time to head back to camp. Amanda was still retrieving a sample so Mark squatted down next to her to remind her of the time. Amanda sighed, but didn't argue. They turned to go, when...
They were surrounded by a group of people. Armed people, each held a spear. Mark had no idea how they had managed to sneak up so silently, the had just stepped out of the trees. They were a mix of men and women, aged from late teens all the way to early middle aged, though all were lean, healthy, physically fit and youthful. Apart from a few decorative markings they were completely naked in the evening sun. Mark tried not to notice, but several of the men were hard. They were looking straight at Amanda and Mark, silent, they did not speak a word.
Mark raised his hands carefully, trying not to make any sudden or threatening moves. Amanda was standing dead still, as if in a state of shock. Strangely Mark was quite calm. For some reason he didn't feel threatened by these people.
"We mean you no harm," he said as gently as possible. It was a pretty corny line, but he hoped it would work.
"They're hardly going to speak English," hissed Amanda, snapping out of her daze.
"It's not about what I say," Mark replied as calmly and passively as he could, "it's about the tone I use. Why don't you try thinking about that before you open your mouth?"
Amanda opened her mouth to speak and then shut it again, thinking better of it. Mark let out a silent sigh of relief.
One of the men stepped forward. Mark guessed he was they're leader, although nothing about him marked him as special. Like the rest he was tall and well muscled. He had dark hair and olive skin. His penis was erect, and Mark was seized by a momentary fear of what he might do to him or Amanda. Fortunately all he did was step to one side of Mark and nudge him gently with a spear. At the same time a woman nudged Amanda in the same fashion. Mark guessed that they wanted him to walk forward. He decided it was better not to argue with a man who held a spear in his back.
The group walked through the jungle in silence. Mark kept his hands up, he didn't want to give them any provocation. Amanda walked alongside.
"Mark," she whispered, "I'm scared."
Mark hadn't expected this, independent minded Amanda admitting a weakness. Mark checked himself, now was not the time to be petty.
"Don't worry," he said, softly, "if they were going to kill us they would have already done it. There's no reason to drag us along like this if they mean us any harm... I think."
"That sounds very reassuring," Amanda snarked. Mark smiled slightly, for some reason it felt good that Amanda hadn't completely lost her attitude.
After about twenty minutes walking, the group entered a clearing giving Mark and Amanda their second huge shock of the day. The clearing was clearly some kind of settlement, it was filled with dozens of people. All of them naked, like their ambushers. They ranged from all ages, young children to old people. None of them seemed in the least bit concerned about their nakedness, in fact, Mark realised, some were actually having sex in the open, utterly ignoring their surroundings. As Mark looked around, he saw that although the majority were olive skinned and dark haired, they're was some ethnic variation. Some black people, some white, one or two Asians. Mark had no idea how this was possible in what must have been a completely isolated community.
Their captors continued to herd Amanda and Mark onwards, past the assembled group who paid them no attention at all, until they came to a small cave cut into a rocky hill side. Amanda and Mark were nudged into the cave and then the group stepped back from the entrance. Three particularly strong and well muscled men rolled a large boulder towards the entrance of the cave. Amanda gave out a scream as the boulder was rolled in front of the cave sealing them in.