That man looked very weak and pale as she went near him. She couldn"t see his face until she faced him.He wasn"t Jai.
His half-open eyes looked at Sky and mumbled which Sky didn"t understand and guard said, "Young madam, he knows your name."
Sky didn"t know his face as all were wearing masks when she saw them. Seeing his height, Sky asked gingerly sitting next to the man, "Are you the one who fly kicked a man who was running out of the shed when I was kidnapped?"
Others looked at each other before resting their eyes on Sky in amus.e.m.e.nt. They were amazed to know how Sky remembered the details. That man"s lips curled slightly, "Jai"s training paid off. You are a smart one. How did you find out?"
"Jai"s training" Other"s understood why Sky was good with details and she was trained before she came to the capital.
Sky pursed her lips hearing Jai and nodded controlling herself, "You are the tallest one in the group."
He hummed and spoke after gaining some energy, "Two Arsons were behind us and we didn"t have any weapons. Since I got hurt, They made me cross the river to reach here and they followed the river. Jai..."
Sky widened her eyes in shock, "Followed the river? There is a ridge ahead."
Other reactions were the same, that man nodded and his weak hand patted her hands. "You know Jai well than anybody. Do as your heart says. Sky, be strong for whatever I say."
He held her fist tight and continued, "Jai had got shot on the left shoulder while saving me. He removed the bullet but it should be treated soon. You have to find him soon."
Sky bit her lip hard and nodded at that man holding her breath. "Ar... Arlo!"
Arlo pulled her up, "Helicopter will pick him. Let"s go." Sky bowed her head at that man and turned around and left with others.
All thought Sky would break down but seeing her determined, Sam pulled her to stand, "Sky, cry it off."
Out of his expectation, Sky gave a faint smile, "Didn"t you hear, Brother Jai was fine when he saw him. We have to find him soon. Let"s move quickly." She was optimistic and wanted to be rational.
Sky pulled him ahead and in half an hour they reached the cliff. Sky tried to a.n.a.lyze what Jai could have down during that time. Everyone was saying to go right or left but Sky"s eyes fell on cutting pieces of bine. "We have to go down." Sky pointed at a tree that had bines.
Whoever said right or left with their a.n.a.lysis, quietened down. The guards who had chords quickly tied one end to rock and dropped down the cord which reached a few feet above the ground level.
A few guards rappelled down before Sam went next saying, "I will see you down." to Sky.
A guard pa.s.sed belt for Arlo to tie Sky for two going down together but all saw Sky locking the hook on her belt, "See you."
Arlo nodded, "Careful."
He and the other three knew Sky learned rappelling long back. But the guards peeked down with astonishment seeing her fluently descend down.
If the situation was different Sky would never rappel next to falls where water was spilling on her but she didn"t stop anywhere and continued.
Sam held her before unlocking the hook and led her towards the bank. Sky saw many floating animal bodies in the water which must have killed by Arsonist and Jai"s team to save themselves. But seeing them, Sky involuntarily trembled. She saw an Arsonist who was deathly pale as a white sheet under the waterfalls who must have fallen from the cliff which meant one more arsonist was safe.
Sky saw twined bines that were used by Jai and another man. If one man was under falls, Jai and others would definitely break the bine without letting arsonist to safely reach the ground.
"Sam, what is the depth of water here?" Sky dried the jacket and asked.
Sam was thinking the same, "I think one of the arsonists must have followed Jai who would definitely go after his teammate when he broke the phanerogam, An arsonist must have jumped to water to save himself so if Jai"s teammate saved himself, Jai"s path was known to the arsonist."
Sam said exactly what went on her head. While waiting for the rest of the people to reach, Arlo tried to dry her hair thinking she might get cold as it was already five in the afternoon and temperature would plummet soon.
He didn"t listen to her and Sky couldn"t do anything and started to think which way Jai must have left. First team members didn"t get anything else on their route and were retracing back to reach the team.
All heard a helicopter reach the forest and was in the air for sometime before it left after taking Jai"s teammate. Sky wanted to find Jai before sunset as Arlo and Sam won"t leave her to continue their search after it gets dark.
Maxwell ordered to leave the riverbank soon as animals would go near the river to drink water. All started to go towards dune but Sky stopped.
"Max! Do animals stay in the lower area or upper area to the river?"
"Higher-level" Maxwell responded not particularly understanding why Sky asked.
"We have to cross the river. Arlo! let a few members take this route." Sky pointed towards dune.
Even though they weren"t sure what Sky was up to, they followed as she said.
Sam tested and pointed ahead, "We will cross there." There were rocks about water level which would make it easier for them to pa.s.s without entering the water.
All quickly teamed up and spread out. While crossing the river, they found dried blood drops and all looked at Sam and Sky who were in sync. They walked for more than half an hour when they found An arsonic"s body whose neck was slit brutally. Sam who saw first, covered Sky.
Everybody"s heartbeats were at a very high rate. Arlo"s bodyguard whispered to Arlo and the latter told to Sky, "Another teammate is alive."
Sky pushed Sam little aside, "I will not see the body. Let"s find a clue."
Sam nodded and left her when Clark covered the dead body with wide leaves. All suddenly heard Sky yell, "Brother Jai!"
But all turned and made noise seeing her. "Shhh! Don"t make a noise." Sky said loudly and all stationed in their place holding their breath. They didn"t dare to take a deep breath either.
Sky took a deep breath and again hollered, "Brother Jai!"