Slither - Edward Lee [18]
Neither of them noticed the bloated corpse just a few yards past the edge of the pond. Its mouth squirmed vigorously with shining pink worms.
"God, it's hot!" Annabelle remarked, stepping into the campsite. She unslung the expensive Nikon from around her neck, set it down on a rickety picnic table. Humidity had dampened her blond hair, showing roots. She stretched and took a deep breath, flexing her arms over her head. The pose maximized her toned physique, breasts thrusting outward in the blue bikini top. Her flat stomach stretched, rivulets of sweat trickling down. Her coltish legs shone.
Nora frowned. That prissy New York phony is doing that on purpose. Loren's eyes were hijacked.
"I thought you weren't going to take pictures today," Nora recalled.
"Nothing underwater." At the height of her stretch, the edge of one nipple showed. Nora was certain she pretended not to notice, for Loren's benefit. An absolutely unmitigated TEASE!
"The best light would be gone by the time I got set up," Annabelle went on. Eventually she fixed her top. "But I did want to get some front shots of the island interior and the shoreline. Tomorrow morning we'll start the water excursions. You and Loren can make some test dives, scout some areas first."
It sounded like an order to Nora. I'd like to kick her real-hard,- right in the ass .. .
"And the hunt for the scarlet bristleworm will begin," Loren said. "We probably won't even need our tanks. Snorkeling will do the job."
That sounds great, Loren," Annabelle beamed. Then she started stretching side to side, hands on hips.
Yeah, Nora thought. Real hard ...
"Looks like the army's new drug czar," Loren said next. Trent came out of the trail, sweating mightily in his fatigues. He was dragging the marijuana plant, which he'd obviously cut down. "Didn't see anymore, but tomorrow I'll have to check more of the island. I already called this one in."
"Bullshit," Nora said under her breath.
"What are you going to do with it, Lieutenant?" Loren asked.
"Burn it, of course." Then Trent dragged the plant to the other end of the site, began to hack it apart with his knife. It was a substantial plant; once cut up, its pieces formed a pile. Trent began to douse it with lighter fluid.
Loren smiled to Nora. "There goes your theory."
"Don't be an idiot."
"Nora, he's burning the plant with us watching him. What more proof do you need? If he was secretly growing the stuff out here, would he be burning it right in front of us?"
Nora couldn't believe his naivete. "He's doing it for our benefit-like we're stupid enough to fall for that."
"You're a laugh a minute, Nora. You really believe he's growing pot out here in secret?"
"Could be." But Nora felt certain. This little burning session's just for show. "He's probably got hundreds of plants out here, on the most secluded parts of the island. Who would ever find out?"
Loren just shook his head, chuckling.
Flame leaped from the pile, crackling. "Don't stand too close, Lieutenant," Loren called out. "You don't want to get high in the line of duty."
What they smelled more than anything were fumes from the lighter fluid. Trent backed up, watched it burn down.
Nora felt bored silly already. She looked to Loren but caught him staring more at Annabelle as she continued her "twisting" exercises. Trent, too, stole some glances back at her. Queen of the May ... in a Calvin Klein bikini. Nora smirked through the thought. I think I know how she got that fancy job at National Geographic.
The plant burned up in minutes; Trent upended a pail of water on the cinders, then sat down at the table, wiping off his hands.
"I've done a lot of strange things in the army, but that's the first time I've ever burned up a pot plant," 'he said.
"I'm sure you were right," Loren added. "Some kid dropped a seed a long time ago and it sprouted. It's been growing there for years, and it's probably the only one out here." Then he elbowed Nora.
"Yeah," Trent said. "Never knew what the big deal was with pot anyway. I tried it a couple times