Chapter Seven
‘Friends’
Jason and the dinosaurs had returned
safely to the cave. Harpi was also
there and the air between him and Jason was somewhat frosty.
Jason slumped glumly on to one of
the beds. Bonta sat next to him.
“You should eat something,” she
said. “It will keep you strong.”
“I’m not hungry,” said Jason.
Bonta frowned. She felt so bad for him. She knew what it was like to have someone
she loved taken away by the Myrites.
Realizing that Jason wasn’t going to listen to her, she joined the
others around the warming stone in the center of the cavern.
Jason was frustrated and very
angry. He couldn’t just sit here
worrying about Tommy. He had to do
something before it was too late.
“I’m going to look for Tommy,” he
said as he got up from the bed. “He’s
probably wondering around the jungle lost and scared. I’ve got to find him.”
Kypou immediately got to his feet.
“Jason please be reasonable,” he
said. “There in no way you can do that
on your own. We’ll come with you and
help. Won’t we?” He looked at his companions.
It was obvious that Harpi wasn’t
going to offer his help. He’d made his
position about Tommy and Jason quite clear.
But Kypou was surprised at the reaction of the others. None of them seemed to want to help either.
“Won’t we?” Kypou said again trying
to encourage them.
Bonta looked apologetically at
Jason.
“Jason you must understand,” she
said. “It’s not that we don’t want to
help you. It’s just that--,”
“Bonta what are you saying,” said
Kypou. “Jason needs our help.”
Jason didn’t say anything. While a part of him was disappointed, a part
of him understood.
“Harpi does have a valid point,”
Bonta said to Kypou. “What if we all
got caught? Who would fight for our
freedom?”
Kypou was speechless. Harpi stood up. His demeanor was calmer then it had been.
“Kypou you can’t expect us to risk
our lives for something that doesn’t concern us. It’s not fair,” he said.
Kypou lowered his head and sighed
deeply.
“Typhoo?” he said quietly. “Will you help?”
The shy dinosaur shook his head sadly. “No,” he said and looked away.
Jason placed a hand on Kypou’s
shoulder.
“It’s okay Kypou. I understand. If this valley is where I’m going to spend the last moments of my
life then I’m going to spend that time looking for my brother. Thanks for all the help you’ve given us so
far.” Without another word, Jason
walked up the stairs and out into the jungle.
Kypou looked around at his
friends. They all avoided his gaze.
“I can’t believe you won’t help
them. Whatever happened to the promise we
made, to help all those who are threatened by the Myrites. Just because they’re not one of us doesn’t
mean we should just abandon them.”
“You can’t blame us,” said
Harpi. “We have to look out for
ourselves.”
Kypou shook his head with deep
disappointment and walked towards the stairs.
“Well, I’m going to help them
because I still believe in that promise.” Kypou left the cave.
Once in the jungle Kypou ran to
catch up with Jason.
“What are you doing here?” Jason
asked him with surprise.
Kypou slapped Jason on the back.
“Friends help friends,” he said with
a smile.
“Gee, that’s great,” said
Jason. “Really great.”
“The first thing we should do,” said
Kypou as they walked together through the damp jungle. “Is go back to where the Myrites attacked us. If we’re going to find any sign of where
Tommy’s gone, we’ll find it there.”