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The van rattled through the dense underbrush in the northwest quadrant of the island, its sensors humming quietly under the weight of secrets buried deep in the earth. Inside, Professor Bhattacharya and his team remained alert. Then came the voice that silenced the cabin:
“There’s a strong radioactive signature... right side of the van,” said Professor Basu, eyes fixed on the real-time data from the robotic arms mounted on both flanks of the vehicle.
The team turned as one toward Basu, their curiosity flaring. Bhattacharya, interrupted mid-sentence, froze, then sank into the chair beside his colleague.
“Really?” he asked quietly. “Please explain.”
“Radiation levels are between 50 to 100 crore counts and climbing,” Basu replied. “It's intensifying as we move.”
Bhattacharya’s concern showed. “This van is shielded, I hope?”
“Fully,” Basu assured him. “All sides—top, bottom, everything. And we’ve got protective suits for everyone. But we must trace the source. That’s the very purpose of this expedition.”
With a nod, Bhattacharya commanded the van to halt. “Who’s volunteering for ground reconnaissance?”
“I’ll go,” Raj said, ever eager.
“Count me in,” added Rohit, his loyal friend.
Dr. Gomej nodded firmly. “Me too.”
“And I’ll join,” said Jayanto.
Bhattacharya raised a hand. “No, Jayanto. You’re still recovering. You must sit this one out.” Though disappointed, Jayanto respected the professor—his mentor and future father-in-law—and reluctantly withdrew.
The four volunteers prepared. Basu added, “I’m taking my instruments. I’ll guide us to the source.”
Bhattacharya’s voice turned grim. “Be careful. The tribesmen out here are unpredictable. Their arrows won’t pierce your suits, but their axes are another matter. Mohanty, you’ll accompany them.”
“I’m not a scientist,” Mohanty said, “but security’s critical. I’ll go.”
Thus, the five-member squad was set: Basu, Raj, Rohit, Dr. Gomej, and Mohanty. Clad in radiation-proof suits, equipped with sensors, trackers, and weapons—except Basu, who bore only his instruments—they stepped into the howling wilderness.
The island’s wind screamed like an enraged elephant, sending chills even through layers of gear. They had little time: just one month, as granted by the government under strict secrecy.
Their goal: to locate the mythical Blue Rafflesia, a rare flower believed to grow only in areas saturated with radioactive materials like thorium or uranium. If found, the flower would mark the presence of immense subterranean reserves—vital for national energy and defense.
As they advanced, the signal guiding them vanished. Basu frowned, doubled back, and the reading returned. “We were going the wrong way,” he muttered. They adjusted course, now moving parallel to the van. The signal surged.
Suddenly—smoke.
Out of nowhere, a burst of gray mist enveloped them. Before they could respond, masked figures emerged from the forest, eerily silent. Each carried a peculiar device—a rod topped with a square mechanism. One by one, the team was tranquilized and collapsed to the ground.
The masked men moved swiftly, lifting the unconscious explorers and disappearing into the jungle. One of them, in a low bitter voice, muttered:
“We warned them. But they never listen.”
The others chuckled darkly, their laughter fading into the trees as they vanished with their captives.
Thus ends Episode 30.
Will the van team realize their members are missing? What secrets lie in the jungle's heart? And who are these masked figures?
Find out in the next episode—The Blur of Rafflesia: Episode 31.
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