Phineas peered over the row of reeds lining the stony shore of the outlet. From this position, he could see the Libyan hover craft sitting obediently on the sand nearby. Around the remains of the campfire, one soldier was prodding through the ashes, looking for equipment the fugitives could have left behind. A second soldier was loitering within the open craft. The four soldiers that had been sent out into the jungle to find them had evidently not returned, and the three leaders were nowhere to be seen. With the element of surprise, Phineas reckoned that he and Eliza could overtake the guards without much risk. 

Still, the embellished lookout that Phineas searched from provided a limited view. He could only see a narrow corridor down the beach. He glanced at Eliza, who had suggested that he climb a tree for a better view. He had shrugged off the suggestion, but he realized now that the risk of running into unexpected company could prove fatal. He glanced back at the tree.

He sighed. Six bullets.

Phineas slowly moved from the ground with a grunt, crouching as he prowled to the palm tree. He wrapped his hands around it, but recoiled, finding the bark sharper than he had expected. Using a technique he had discovered as a child at play, he ripped a strip of cloth off of his shirt, wrapping it around his hands and reaching around the tree. Using it was a handle, he shimmied up the tree, careful not to make his movements too sudden.

Phineas's head brushed painfully against a solid coconut, and he could tell he was near the top. Panting, he lifted his head and looked out over the beach. The two soldiers he had spotted earlier had not moved far. Satisfied, he was about to descend when a movement caught his eye. Squinting, he could see that two more figures sat under the shade of a tree on the outskirts of the jungle directly adjacent to the campsite. He swore under his breath; now they had four enemies to contend with. They were outnumbered.

He slid down the tree and landed in the sand with a soft thump. He walked back to Eliza and sat down. 

"I was wrong, there are four of them." He said, and took a drink from the slightly salted water intermingling with the sea. Six bullets.