“I checked for them, and I didn’t see any,” the set designer, Roland, said.
“Pit vipers are pretty sneaky and deadly. They have excellent camouflage, and you need to always double-check. Okay?”
“I already did,” Roland said, giving a shrug.
“That’s enough,” Ben said. “Come on. We’re burning daylight, and I’m sure you have someone to get back home to.”
Kate sighed. “Just keep an eye out, okay? I’d like us all to make it home.” She gave me a glare, and I had a feeling that she was still nervous.
“Thank you, Ms. Bridges, but we’re on it. Thanks.” He shooed her away, and they got ready.
I found my mark, and while I looked around, I didn’t see anything. I positioned myself the way I was supposed to be while Ben lined up the shot to match it as closely as possible with the last.
I could feel my stomach grumbling, and I hoped that I’d get a chance to eat again. “Hey, could someone tell Roxie to put me a plate aside, please? I’m starving.”
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, Ally took off for the craft services cabin. Thankfully, our shoot wasn’t that far into the jungle from our home base.
“And action!”
The camera was rolling, and I remained focused, knowing I didn’t want to have to do the shot again. In the scene, I came upon one of the supporting characters who had been killed by wild animals. There were only a few scraps of him left, and I drew back in disgust and then knelt down to move the dummy. “You fought the brave fight, brother.” Then I picked through what was left of his pockets, looking to find the amulet, and while I was down there, I thought I heard something move.
“Son of a bitch,” I said, breaking character. I got to my feet and moved away from the area. “I could have sworn I heard something.”
“Cut!” Ben yelled. “I hope you’re happy, Kate. You have my leading man paranoid now.” He called the set man over to check the area, and Kate followed.
“I’m not paranoid,” I said. “I’m not sure if it was a snake, but I don’t want to find out the hard way either.”
“I don’t see anything,” Roland said.
“There’s nothing here,” Kate said. “It may have slithered away.”
“Or there was never any snake to begin with,” Ben replied. “Let’s take this from the top!”
I looked into Kate’s eyes. “Thanks for the help,” I said, ignoring Roland, who was already on his way from the area.
Kate smiled and stepped over behind Ben to watch in the monitor.
Chapter Eighteen
Kate
I had not taken too fondly to Ben’s attitude about the snake, and I always felt that in the jungle, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Jake could get bitten and be dead before we could get him to the medic, who may or may not have the right antivenin.
I watched as they staged the area, and soon, Jake was repeating his motions, and he had actually made it past the scene.
“Cut!” Ben called. “Perfect.”
“Can we take a break so I can eat now?”
“Not so fast,” he said. “One more while I have you over here. I want to get one more angle of the same shot.”
“Say the word,” Jake said. He was revving to go and bouncing on his feet between takes. “I’m pumped.” He didn’t seem as pumped as he sounded, and I had a feeling that was him lying to Ben to tell him what he wanted to hear.
The heat was getting miserable, and Ben made a face as he went back to looking at the monitor. “Makeup. He’s got a glare.”
“It’s sweat,” Jake said. “I’m afraid that I’ve gotten a bit overheated.”
The makeup lady, Kayla, hurried to blot his face and then smoothed down his makeup a bit around his nose and forehead. “That should do it,” she said.
“Okay, three, two, and action.”
I watched as Jake went through all the actions of the scene, and just when I thought he was home free, I spotted movement on the ground. When Jake went to kneel, I screamed.
But it was too late. The snake popped him on the right hand, and Jake jerked away. “Son of a bitch!”
He jumped back as the snake coiled at his feet. Everyone on the set took about two big steps back, and Jake hurried to get away from it.
I knew what it was immediately. “Medic!” I screamed. “It’s a forest pit viper.” I could tell by the pale green of its color that was the perfect camouflage for the pile of leaves the set designers had raked around for the scene.
“A what?” Ben asked, rattled.
“Am I going to die?” Jake asked, looking at his hand, which had already turned bright red and was swelling.
“Not if I can help it,” I said. He wasn’t getting away from me that easily. My heart was racing as I hurried to help the medic. A couple of the locals who owned the cabins wrangled the snake with Austin’s help. It didn’t take any time, and they chopped its head off with a super-long machete.