Loneliness within the vast sea of people.

A jungle where the most dangerous animal was man.

THG SOTRNT>S Or rn JVIVOCG faded in my ears as my concentration turnedto survival. I ducked into the supply tent seconds before the sentryrounded the comer. Swallowing a tide of revulsion, I removed the heavyLuger from the holster strapped to my waist. Should the situation arise,I doubted I could fire the gun. I wouldn't even have known how to loadthe weapon if Jack hadn't shown me.

Jack.

I swallowed once more when sorrow unseated fear. He was gone and therewasn't a damn thing I could do about it..

A sudden noise caught my attention. It came from behind me. I wasn'talone.

Circling through the maze of boxes, I spotted a dark form leaning.against one of the tent poles. At first I thought it was a sack. But itwasn't; it was a man, sitting on the dirt floor and leaning against thepost. Thick ropes were knotted around his wrists and another around hischest, pinning him to the upright support.

I walked around the body, keeping my distance. A shadow covered theman's face. In the pale light I noticed a golden object dangling from aleather thong in the open neck of his soiled shirt.

Jack's crossl I almost shouted the words. The dirty SOB. must havestolen it from Jack after he died. I reached into my boot top andgrabbed the knife.

I want to see the face of the man who killed my Jack. I slipped thebroad side of the blade beneath his chin and 136 A Killer Smile lifted his head.

He met my anger with what little life he had in his eyes.

Brown eyes with gold flecks. Jack! My heart accepted what my mindcouldn't fathom; Jack was alive "Jack, "I whispered hoarsely.

"It's Tess. Can you hear me?"

He groaned- in response.

"Wake up, Jack. We've got to get out of here" I touched his face;expecting him to feel deathly cold. Instead, his skin was hot andfeverish. Too hot.

"T-Tess ..." The blank stare faded and a small gleam of recognition grewin its place.

"Tess?" he croaked.

"Yes, Jack. It's me." I lowered my voice, remembering the dangers beyond the tent.

"We've got to get out of here," I repeated.

He looked up, and I began to see the cunning Jack Benton reappear before

me.

His flecked eyes came to life. "Yeah ... get out of here."

He looked around the tent, then returned his bronzed gaze to me.

"Where are the others? Standing guard?"

"No. It's just me."

"What?" He drew a shaky breath and pushed himself into a straighter

position against the pole.

"You came into the compound by yourself?

Are you crazy ? You could have gotten killed!" HIS voice grew

uncomfortably loud.

I raised a finger to my lips.

"Shh ... our. compatriots are gone. ' Shock flooded his face.

"D-dead?" he stuttered.

I nodded.

"It's just you and me, and we're getting out of here--now" l picked up

the knife, wiped the dirt from its blade and started to saw through the ropes.

"Tess ..." He squirmed around to peer at me from over his shoulder.

"Stop. Don't cut them. I can't ... can't make Killer Smile 137 it back to the village." He sagged against he strap that pinned him to the support post.

"Hell, I couldn't even make it to the edge of the compound. ,4111 would do is slow you up and get you caught."

"So ..." My voice cracked along with my heart.

"You expect me just to leave you here?"

"You have to, he pleaded "C'mon, Contessa. I know you've wanted to see me strung up once or twice since we've met." His attempt to laugh came out as a cough. "Remember the lizard in your sleeping bag?

You mentioned something then about a rope and my neck." He shot me a

puffy, insolent wink.

"Jack ..." Choking back another sob of emotion, I found I couldn't continue.

"Shh, kiddo. It's okay. Nothing will happen to me."

I caressed an unbruised spot on his cheek.

"I don't want to leave you here."

"I know. ,"

"Damn it, Jack/ " re you just going to sit there? Can't you get angry? I

know I'd feel better if you were mad about all this. Jack?

Jack?"

HIS eyes flickered, then closed, and his head slumped to his chest. I

stared at him for a moment, then leaned forward and kissed him. '7 love

you, Jack.

" I sheathed the knife and slipped it into the top of my boot, then moved cautiously to the tent flap. Before I could melt into the quiet darkness of the jungle, I heard his whisper.

"I love you, too, Tess."

"I LOV YOU, JACL".

She rested on her elbow as she addressed the man who slept beside her. I

hope you're still Jack.

He shifted in his sleep, rolling over toward her. A patch of sunlight brought out hidden highlights in his dark hair.

138 Killer Smile One eyelid opened, and a lazy smile filtered across his

face. "Good morning. Do you know you snore?"

His grin scattered her fears to the winds before they had time to completely form. She. crossed her arms and tended to pout.

"Hermitt's never complained."

"Hermitt's practically deaf."

She shrugged.

"How did you sleep?"

"Better than the last couple of nights. I almost feel to normal.

Whatever my normal might be." He over and ran the pad of his thumb over her lips, yffu for last night. It was quite a last hurrah:' Last?

"It ... it doesn't have to be."

His smile faded as sweet turned to sad, "Yes, it You made me a promise last night, and I'm it.," But"--" But nothing. After breakfast you'll bundle up that hike."

"Then I won't eat breakfast."

"Childish smantics won't change the situation; really want to hike on an empty on this, Ellen. Both of our futures depend on it."

"Sack ..." Overwhelmed by a sudden decided to make one last effort to

change shifted closer to him, capturing his mouth He pulled away fromher and shook his head.