Page 8 of Heat Force

He snorted.

Minutes later, Hawk heard the sound of rushing water, and almost like a smoke screen, the vegetation parted, and they were facing a river about the width of a narrow street. It flowedquickly, spurred on by the sudden rainfall. On the banks foraged a group of mountain gorillas.

“Holy shit,” he whispered, coming to a stop. They looked so majestic against the backdrop of the forest, that for a moment, all he could do was stare.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Lexi murmured, her eyes gleaming.

“That guy is enormous.” Hawk stared at the head of the family, a majestic adult male reaching up into the branches in search of food. He was easily Hawk’s height and must have weighed close to three hundred and fifty pounds.

“That’s Bongi,” she said almost lovingly. “He’s the leader of the group, the alpha male. Excuse me.”

She moved over to where Edmond stood, watching a female and two infants who were playing at her feet. She looked sluggish.

“That must be the injured female,” he heard Lexi say.

Edmond began moving toward the injured female. The gorilla retracted her lips over her teeth and made a sound that was a cross between a wince and a growl.

“She’s hurt her leg,” confirmed Philipe.

Bongi, the head of the pack, was studying them closely, deciding whether they were a threat or not.

“Big Daddy’s seen us,” Hawk warned, standing very still.

“Keep watching him,” said Lexi, “and if he makes any sudden moves, yell.”

Hawk nodded, his eyes glued to the male.

Edmond raised the rifle to take a shot at the female. He pulled the trigger, releasing a sedation dart with a soft pop.

Hawk didn’t take his eyes off the silverback, not even for a second. Adrenaline made his heart thud in his chest, and he relished the sensation. The female made a low growl, so he figured Edmond’s dart had hit its mark. Moments later, there was a soft thud as the gorilla keeled over. Big Daddy took a fewsteps toward her, then stopped again. He looked wary, but Hawk didn’t think he was going to charge them. Not yet, anyway.

“Let’s go.” Lexi crept through the low-lying bush toward the unconscious gorilla, Philipe close behind her.

Before she touched the animal, both she and Philipe pulled on surgical masks and gloves. Hawk knew this was more to protect the animals than themselves. He’d heard gorillas were very susceptible to human bugs.

He watched as Lexi checked the gorilla’s vitals to make sure it was sufficiently sedated. It was. Then they went to work.

Hawk was impressed—that didn’t happen often. Not only had Lexi shown stamina and courage by coming out here, but she was also now attending to the wounded animal with its three-hundred-and-fifty-pound mate looking on. That took guts.

Edmond had repositioned himself, his rifle now locked on the male.

Hawk relaxed and watched Lexi inspect the wound. Maybe there were other ways to make a difference. She was making a difference to this gorilla’s life, ensuring it would live another day, raise its young, continue the species, which were close to being endangered. Still, she wouldn’t be able to do it without the resources he was providing to the sanctuary.

“It needs stitching,” he heard her say to Philipe, who delved into his medical bag to retrieve the necessary tools.

Lexi cut the hair back around the wound and sprayed it with a strong disinfectant, or at least, that’s what he presumed it was. Philipe handed her a curved needle, and she got to work. Carefully, with absolute concentration, she stitched up the skin on the prone animal’s leg.

The entire procedure took about fifteen minutes, during which time Big Daddy got increasingly restless. The massive ape shifted from foot to foot and began circling the group of humans.

“He’s on the move,” warned Edmond in a low voice. Hawk felt the hair on his arms stand up. He braced himself for the charge.

Lexi glanced at the male gorilla but didn’t stop what she was doing. “I’m almost done. A few seconds more.”

The gorilla made low, threatening noises and beat his chest, clearly agitated. Philipe put a hand on Lexi’s shoulder. “We go now.”

“Give me the antibiotic.” She held out her hand. “Quick, I don’t want this to get infected.”

Philipe handed her a vial of amber liquid, which she quickly injected into the gorilla’s thigh. She was barely done when he retrieved it from her and shoved it, along with the rest of their equipment, back into the backpack and zipped it up. He knew the silverback was going to charge.