It looked just like something out of the Swiss Family Robinson tale; huts built up on stilts, primitive living everywhere. It was so quaint it could have walked out of a storybook. People were working on various tasks, mostly wearing khaki shorts and tank tops with a white long sleeved thin shirt. It was like the unmentioned uniform in the jungle, anything to stay cool and protect your skin at the same time.
Samantha had been traveling for a week to get to the nearly unspoiled island. A small community was formed so scientists could survive in the wilderness year round while exploring the ecosystem and discovering new species. She had worked hard for the past five years, waiting for this moment. Only a select few would be chose to work on the island.
"I'll introduce you around and take you to Jase. He runs things around here, kind of like the head scientist. He'll know where to put you up at as well. If you have any problems, go to him, He'll get you anything you need." The guide grabbed her overstuffed duffel bag and walked in front to lead the way.
Winding through the camp, Samantha nodded to the friendly men and women as she passed. Making their way to a large hut, the guide called out.
"Sir, the company you were expecting is here." He nodded to Samantha and dropped her bags, walking away. "Good luck!" he called out over his shoulder.
Samantha looked back into the hut, slowly stepping in. The cool breeze captured her attention and she instinctively walked over to the fan to cool off.
"Well, hello to you too. Please make yourself at home and stand in front of my fan." Jas called from a corner.
Samantha forced a smile. She wasn't usually to help herself to anything, but the heat was overwhelming. "Sorry about that. I wasn't expecting the heat to be so intense, and I felt the breeze...."
"You must be my new biologist.... Samantha, is it?" he continued to peer at her, looking her up and down. The woman's brown hair hit below her shoulders and flew in the breeze. She was curvy in a sexy way, muscular even. But best of all he noticed her round, firm breasts jotting out from her shirt.
"Yes, Samantha." She didn't even notice that she was licking her lips, looking over at who must be Jase. He was just a bit taller than her, muscular and sporting a sexy shaved head. He was standing there, looking like he had walked out of any woman's fantasy. Cut off jeans, sandals, and a blue and white shirt hung open in the breeze. He had a days' growth along his jaw line, giving him a rugged look.
They stared at each other for a while, both wondering who was going to speak first.
"Are you feeling okay? You look a little dazed." He said, wondering if she was already heat sick. It wasn't abnormal for the newbies to take a week to adjust.
"I'm fine, just a little tired." Samantha was embarrassed and quickly looked down.
"Let me show you to your new home. Then I can get you started in the field, unless you wanted to wait until tomorrow."
Samantha followed Jase as he took her to a small hut that was apparently next to his. It was bad enough that she was going to have to work with him, but be so close to him at night? This had to be a joke.
Jase made sure she was comfortable and got her started on her work. She worked hard, day in and day out. Time seemed to be in fast forward. Samantha worked with Jase a lot, and with the heat they often ended up picking at each other. Some days Samantha found him incorrigible, while Jace found her impossible to reason with when she had an idea in her head. Both always felt the need to have the final say. The worst was when Jase thought that there were things she didn't need to do, or 'men's work.' Samantha fought back that much harder and took chances, often hanging miles over top the jungle canopy. She decided that anything he could do, she could accomplish ten times better and at a faster speed. And there wasn't a damn thing that she was scared of.
It had been a rather long day, and Samantha was in a mood. She had been sweating to death in the laboratory, trying to make her data match up. In frustration she walked out and vowed to work on it in the morning. It was dark, and most had either headed to their cabins or relaxed by the kitchen area playing cards. All that she wanted to do was get into something completely comfortable and go to bed, forgetting that today had ever happened.
Samantha flipped on her small light and pulled out a pair of panties and a matching tank top; the less to sweat in, the better. Pulling her hair atop her head, she made her way to the bed. Something moved out of the corner of her eye and she immediately froze. She looked to her left.... in between the door and her bed slithered a snake. It wasn't a huge man-eater, but it didn't matter. It was a snake, her one and only true fear. Go figure....as if she didn't know there would be snakes in the jungle.
