The Smell

In front of us was an old and worn-out van.

Rust was all over it, metallic orange showing through the white but now yellowish paint.

At the back was a refrigerated compartment, inside filled with fish.

The smell of the fish was overwhelming.

Hamood's man cleared out the fishes, opened the floorboard.

Beneath the floorboard was a secret compartment, just barely enough for the three of us.

We had to lie down in the compartment, with all the smell and stench from all the fish.

I used all the distraction tactics I could to try to keep myself from puking.

At first holding my breath, didn't work.

Next tried to think of other things, no go.

My senses kept coming back to the smell.

Lastly, I thought about women, all the things I had not done with them.

Somehow only thinking about Amy Lee worked best.

When it was not enough, I turned and took a glance at her, to 'enhance' my visualization.

Her long legs, nice curves, seducing lips inviting you to kiss them and her long hair.

I took in everything to distract myself as best as I could.

"We will cross the Landak twin bridge, then proceed to Mandor. After that you bring me to where the murderer is buried," Hamood said as the van started its engine and drove off.

Landak twin bridge was the only way to cross the river to Mandor.

If we didn't want to take the bridge, the land route was the only other option.

That, however, meant we would have to detour a few thousand kilometers.

After travelling for around half an hour, the van stopped.

I then held my breath.

Listened very carefully to what was happening outside.

There was barking outside.

It got closer and closer.

Hamood then started talking.

"Good day Sir, we are making a delivery of fish to my restaurant at Mandor."

Then lighter sound, presumably to offer and light the cigarette for them.

"Thud."

The van's back door opened forcefully.

Then I could hear the barking getting closer.

Suddenly, the dogs kept barking much more intensely.

"Stay down!" The soldiers shouted.

"Sir, if the dogs like the fish, please take whatever you need," Hamood said.

"Why would anyone want your fish? It stinks so bad."

"Ah, how about this?"

I could then hear the distinct sound of cash being counted.

"Thud."

After that, the van's back door was closed.

We sighed with relief silently.

Just when the van's engine got started again, I could see Bobby's eyes opened wide, his Adam's apple moved up.

I knew he couldn't hold it in anymore and quickly pinched him hard to stop him.

Luckily it worked, Bobby swallowed it back.

However, the soldier shouted, "Stop! I heard something."

"You must have heard wrongly," Hamood quickly tried to explain.

"The smell was too much; I nearly puked because of it. Thinking of it now, I…"

Then all I could hear was Hamood puking.

It nearly triggered a chain reaction for all of us.

I too had to pinch myself hard to stop the urge.

"Go, go!" The soldier's voice said with a nasal pitch.

He must have pinched his nose as the thought of the smell was too much for him.

Hamood got into the van, and the driver quickly drove off.

After travelling for around ten minutes, the van stopped.

The back door opened.

Hamood and the driver cleared the fish.

Finally, the floorboard was removed.

I had to close my eyes when the light shone into it.

My eyes had gotten accustomed to the darkness.

I wasted no time in lighting up a cigarette to clear off that lingering smell in the van.

Bobby couldn't stand it too, joined me in the huffing and puffing trying to smoke up the van.

We then got to work, discarding the fish into the thick bushes by the side of the road.

With the fish out of the way it was a much more comfortable ride from then on.

…

"In front, turn left." Amy Lee looked out through the windshield from the back, pointing and directing Hamood to where we had entered the jungle.

Our jeep was right where it was, hidden among the bushes.

We got out of the van, took our stuff and started trekking into the jungle.

"How much further?" Hamood panting, due to the long and tiring trek, said impatiently.

He glanced at the driver, most likely having second thoughts about where we were leading him to.

The driver took his cue, moved his hand to his waist, where his pistol was hidden.

"It's just right in front." I pointed ahead to the clearing where we killed and buried Clement.

When we got to the clearing, we wasted no time and started digging.

"Argh. And I thought the smell of the fish was bad," Bobby said, pinching his nose.

The bodies we buried were now rotting.

All of them bloated with liquid oozing out of them.

Finally, we couldn't hold it anymore.

Everyone started to violently vomit.

The air started to smell of rotten carcass and putrid sour smell of vomit.

"Cover them up!" Hamood, after seeing Clement's body, or what was left of it, was satisfied.

We were more than happy to oblige.

Me and Bobby quickly got to work and covered up the hole with the bodies in it.

With the deal done, Hamood trekked back to the van, while we continued our way back to meet up with the rest of the team.

…

Soon, we reached the longhouse.

The village head welcomed us, now that he knew his son was working with us.

Henry was at the longhouse when we arrived.

They had taken turns to rest and replenish supplies at the village.

After all, the cave wasn't exactly a five-star hotel.

"How is everyone?" I asked.

"Great, just that having no sunlight in the cave did weird things to your mind."

I nodded and agreed wholeheartedly.

How else could I explain about seeing Snookey's and now, Kurnawan's appearance?

It must have been my mind playing tricks on me.

I shudder to think about the other possibility…