Jack

Biodata

Background

Jack Byron founded Byron-Mitch Biological Company and served as its chief scientist. He organized an expedition into Borneo’s virgin rainforest to locate the Blood Orchid, a rare plant that blooms once every seven years for only half a year. He considered obtaining it essential to turning his situation around. 29 30

He hired Meng Zu as the expedition’s protector through Randy Austin’s mercenary network. The protection contract covered Jack and six companions leaving Borneo safely, with the reward reduced for every death. 29

Personality

Jack is driven, impatient, and willing to accept severe risks in pursuit of the Blood Orchid. He insists on entering the rainforest during the rainy season rather than waiting, even after being warned about the river’s dangers. 30 31

As the expedition deteriorates, his determination becomes obsession. He secretly arranges for Bill to alter the route in exchange for an additional payment, later steals the group’s raft and ammunition, and endangers the others to secure the orchids. 36 37

Story Role / Major Arcs

Blood Orchid Expedition

Jack leads Meng Zu, Bill Johnson, Achuan, Gordon Mitchell, Kerr Burroughs, Ben Douglas, Gale, and Sam Rogers toward Satan Basin in Borneo. He accepts Bill’s costly offer to navigate upstream during the rainy season because the orchid’s limited flowering period makes delay unacceptable. 29 30

Before departure, Jack agrees to acquire six double-barreled shotguns for the group. He is impatient when Bill estimates that the safer route may take five days or longer. 31

The expedition’s boat, the Bloody Mary, loses steering after an engine failure and plunges over a waterfall. After the shipwreck destroys most supplies, Jack agrees to continue through the jungle toward Danaga Rock rather than abandon the search. 33

Obsession and Betrayal

Jack secretly makes a deal with Bill to alter the boat’s route for an extra $50,000, hoping to reach the Blood Orchid faster. Bill does not disclose the arrangement after the expedition fails and Jack dies. 37

After Gordon is incapacitated by a Stone Spider bite, Jack disappears. The others suspect his involvement; later, they find a captured Stone Spider in his belongings. 36

Jack steals the completed raft, most of the group’s ammunition, and Meng Zu’s Remington M870 shotgun. When the group reaches the Blood Orchid site, he takes Sam hostage and forces Meng Zu to collect the flowers from a slippery log spanning a pit full of Giant Pythons. 36

Jack fires at Meng Zu to compel him to return with the orchids, damaging the unstable log and awakening a Giant Python. The snake bites Jack and falls into the pit with him after he shoots it. 36

Aftermath

Meng Zu destroys the remaining Blood Orchid site while escaping the awakening pythons, leaving Byron-Mitch Biological Company without its target plant, equipment, or chief scientist. Gale reports Jack’s actions honestly, and his death is judged to be the consequence of his own reckless choices. 36 37

Relationships

• Meng Zu / Evan — Hired him as the expedition’s mercenary protector; later stole his shotgun and forced him to retrieve the Blood Orchids at gunpoint. 29 36
• Bill Johnson — Hired him as the expedition’s river captain; secretly paid him extra to alter the route and reach the orchids sooner. 30 37
• Gordon Mitchell — Expedition financial officer; Jack’s disappearance after Gordon’s Stone Spider bite led the group to suspect Jack had endangered him. 29 36
• Gale — Company representative who opposed his increasingly reckless pursuit of the Blood Orchid and later reported his actions. 29 36 37
• Sam Rogers — Research assistant whom Jack took hostage to force the group’s compliance at the orchid pit. 29 36
• Achuan — Bill’s first mate and a member of Jack’s expedition. 31 33
• Kerr Burroughs — Expedition engineer who supplied route calculations and later survived Jack’s betrayal. 29 31 36
• Ben Douglas — Expedition doctor who survived Jack’s actions and condemned him after the raft theft. 29 36

Trivia

• Jack traveled with a monkey named Xiaogang. 33
• His expedition’s boat was named the Bloody Mary, despite being described as a shabby small fishing vessel. 30 31
• Meng Zu secretly preserved more than twenty Blood Orchids in storage before the remaining site was destroyed. 36 37