John Townsend - Terror of the Swamp

The campfire crackled as a pot above it simmered.

Drink this, Greg. My brew will make you feel better.

With a bandage on his head, Greg sipped from a tin mug.

Thanks, Dad. Ill be OK. Hey when I asked to come on a jungle trek, I thought Id see wow stuff but not a snakes tonsils from the inside!

His dad, whose name was Baron, sighed. When I did my SAS jungle training, we never saw a brute that size. That was the biggest rock python Ive ever seen. I thought our main risk would be crocs, hippos and biting mozzies. This part of Africa has more surprises than I thought. The swamp stretches for hundreds of miles across Congos rainforest.

Greg sat in a daze, staring into the flames.

I dont want to give up, Dad. I want to keep going. Youve got a job to do. Im glad you let me come with you. Dont let that stuff with the snake change anything.

His dad put down his mug.

Youre a brave lad. Your mum didnt want me to bring you. Nor did my commanding officer. He said army work isnt for kids. I told him he didnt know my son. If anyone can help me find the missing explorers, you can.

Unless theyve been eaten by that pythons twin sister! Greg smiled for the first time. How come you didnt bring lots more SAS men? More troops would be better at finding the guys were looking for.

Greg watched his dad prod the fire with a stick before sitting beside him.

The thing is, Greg, I havent told you all the facts. I guess now is the time. You see, its safer to get through this jungle with only two of us. The more men, the more risks. More noise might wake the monsters.

Greg stared in disbelief as his dad added, My commanding officer said he couldnt risk other men. Just me, of course! He said I was the best man for the job, as I know about jungles and their dangers. Im mad with myself for messing up just now. I should have dealt with that snake quicker. Sorry, Greg.

Before he could say more, a roar filled the night. A sudden rumble shook the trees.

Then deathly silence. The frogs stopped croaking and the crickets fell silent. Monkeys no longer shrieked in the moonlit treetops.

What was that? Greg gasped. It didnt sound like a lion or an elephant.

More likely an earth tremor. Mind you, jungle animals make weird noises under a full moon. His dad paused before whispering, Unless it was the beast. The monster. A living dinosaur known as the beast that stops the river. Or as the locals call it Mokele Mbembe.

Dont wind me up, Dad. Ive been wound up enough for one night!

Baron smiled.

It isnt a joke. Experts have come here looking for it for years. With all the dense tree-cover and deep lakes, not much can be seen from the air even monsters. Its like looking for a needle in a sea of haystacks. Dan Reeves came out here last week to try and film it. He wanted to be the first star to make it to the middle of the swamp.

That guy off the TV? Hes here?

Yeah with a TV crew and his daughter. Three days ago they vanished. All contact lost. Nothing.

Thats why I got the call in secret. The TV bosses fear the worst. Armed bandits can hide here. Or maybe one of the many quicksands got them. Or a killer disease, a man-eater or deadly thorns. Its our job to find them, Greg. Are you still up for this? It could get scary.

Greg smiled again.

Well it hasnt exactly been a picnic so far! But as I begged you to let me come with you, I cant get stressy now, can I? Anyway, you said you need me to climb trees and be a look-out. Im much better than you at climbing trees. You always say Im a super-ape!