He feigned the same gesture. "Pa's always sayin' she's up to no good wherever she goes. He must think Caru's purdy wild, given the way others talk about how rowdy he used to be."
Picking up a rock, Proto threw it at a squirrel in the distance but missed it by at least ten feet. "My mom feels the same way. She dreads when Caru comes knocking! Mom rarely says anything bad about anybody. Caru's the exception."
Fox shimmied up the white and black-speckled bark of a small aspen. "She's not all bad. For all her troubles, and there's plenty, she's always tryin' to help others when they git stuck."
"True, but she's a whirlwind — always sucking us along!" His smile grew wider as he talked. "I just wish she'd slow down a bit and not get us in deep muck all the time."
"Fat chance. She's all knuckles and elbows, scramblin' against a tornado! There ain't another girl like her in Ukkiville."
Watching his buddy's expressions as he talked, Fox knew for sure Proto liked Caru every bit as much as he did. His burly friend's sky-blue eyes unveiled any and all secrets he ever attempted to hide.
The big oaf's desires couldn't be any plainer than if they were written on a note pasted to his forehead. Fox just wished it wasn't his closest friend who pined for the same spunky girl.
Testing his friend's resolve, Fox peeked out from around the trunk. "Don't you have yer eye on Rosa?"
Proto pivoted with his mouth ajar. "No. What are you talking about?"
"You know. The new girl, who moved from another village two weeks ago — short, blond hair — humongous smile. She was flirtin' with ya big time at the farmer's market yesterday!"
"Get out of here! You don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure do. You jist can't admit it." Jumping from the tree, Fox scraped his legs. "Ouch." That's gonna hurt for a while.
He glanced at his buddy. "Let's stop talkin' about girls and hike further down the trail to Big Buck Glade."
Ice growled as always when hearing the word 'buck.' Proto grabbed her fluffy cheeks. "Yeah, you'd love to sink your teeth into one of those big ones."
After rubbing Ghost's head, Fox jogged along the trail with his dog at his heels.
An Hour Later
Bored and a newcomer with few friends in Ukkiville, Teerha had convinced her younger brother to explore the forest that afternoon. "Jukko, over here! I found something. It's kind of weird!"
Tossing a rock into the creek, the nine-year-old ran up behind his sister. "Where? What is it?"
She pointed to an area 40 feet away, near the edge of a large opening in the heart of the woods. "Over there, can you see it?"
The lad squinted and shook his head. "No, not yet. Let's get closer."
"I'm not so sure." She clutched his hand. "I haven't seen anything like it before."
"Aw, Teerha, pleeease." He flashed his sad-looking eyes. "You made me come out here, and we haven't found a thing except a couple of crayfish."
Four years younger than she, Jukko always tried to twist her around his little finger. She knew better most times but decided to go easy on him since he had a hard time adjusting to his new surroundings. "Oh, alright, but stay behind me while we check it out."
As she gingerly stepped closer, a snake-like protrusion extended upward from an area of matted pine needles. The nearer she approached, the more the long, narrow pink thing looked like a tongue, dancing with enticing moves.
Perplexed by the strange but alluring wiggle, she held her arm out. "Stay behind me."
Jukko's eyes widened as he poked his head around her hip. "Finally! Something interesting!"
Unsure of its intentions, but more curious with each passing second, Teerha knelt down about three feet away from the peculiar attraction. It seems harmless enough.
She glanced at her brother. "Okay, we'll watch it for a while."
"Yay!" He peered into her eyes. "Can I touch it?"
"No!" She shook her head. "I don't think we should. Just keep an eye on it for a few minutes."
"Ohhh, okay." The youngster sat with his arms and legs crossed.
Five minutes passed, and the wormy curiosity kept writhing in place, never showing any aggression or threat.
Jukko extended his lower lip. "Pretty please, Sis. I just want to touch it once."
He'll never shut up if I don't! Teerha sighed.
"Just once, real quick. Then we've got to get back home."
A Second Later
Jukko stretched his finger toward the squirmy allure.
He smiled at his sister as he touched the pink wiggler. "See, there's noth..."
Bursting from the carpet of pine needles, two huge, green pads slammed shut around his arm. "Ahhh! It's got me!"
Jukko's eyes bulged. What's happening?
One of several long, curved spikes, which lined the outer rims of both semi-circular pads, pierced his skin near the elbow. "Teerha! Help me!"
From the creature's depths, something sticky burned as it snaked around Jukko's wrist. A gooey substance oozed down his fingers as the strange being's grip tightened.
Grimacing, Jukko clutched his sister's arm. "Hurry, it stings!" Tears gushed down his cheeks.
"It hurts bad!" The more he floundered, the greater the long ivory barbs tore at his flesh.
Am I going to die? Blood dripped down his arm.
Angry, Teerha gripped each pad and tried to pry them apart, but they barely moved. She clenched her teeth and pulled harder, spreading the gap less than an inch. Her arms shook from the strain.
Jukko gasped and screamed as the sharp barbs ripped at his skin and his scorching fingers felt as if held over a fire. Squirming from the torture, he cringed. "I can't take this much longer!"
He glanced at his sister. With terror etched on her face, she yanked harder but couldn't budge the monster's hold. "Help! My brother's dying!"
CHAPTER TEN
From Venus with Malice
Wednesday ~ July 15, 2093 ~ 3:15 pm
Continuing the long hike, Proto stopped near the clearing of Big Buck Glade. He spun toward his buddy who was involved in a one-way talk with Ghost and Ice as if they could understand.
He placed his finger over his friend's mouth. "Fox! Quiet! I hear something!"
Proto cupped his palm to an ear. "Over there! Somebody's crying!" Pointing, he sprinted toward the noise with his friend and the pets on his tail.
Another voice cried out from a distance. "Help!"
Determined, Proto lowered his head. "We're coming!"
Lighter and much quicker, Fox zoomed past him. "Faster, Slow Poke!"
As Proto approached the commotion, he noticed a young boy writhing in pain, flopping back and forth. Kneeling on the ground next to him, a teenage girl with long, blond hair attempted to pry open something clamped to the boy's bloody arm.
She yelled. "Hurry, my brother's dying! I can't get this thing off him!"
Arriving first, Fox plopped on the ground and looked at the girl, grimacing with dread. "Yank on one side while I git the other."
The opening spread but not enough to release the victim. The creature's grip pressed harder. Proto helped the girl from her side, but once again its firm grasp slammed even tighter.
The youngster's eyes bulged. "Stop, it hurts more!"
As the trio struggled to free the lad, Proto peered through the opening of the monster's clamps. Blood dripped down the boy's pale arms to his blue fingers, graying near the tips where a milky substance bubbled.
"Hurry, we don't have much time if we want to save his arm!" Passing out, the youngster's body grew limp.
Proto quickly scanned the botanical beast. Firmly planted, a stout root extended from its bottom.
He laid on the ground for a closer look but jerked back and gasped. Two sinister, black eyes with vertical, green slits, much like a devil's version of cat eyes, glared at him from the base of its thick stem.
Snatching the battle-ax from his belt, Proto sliced the feeder line near the soil. The barbed trap finally relaxed its tortuo
us grip on the boy.
Fox and the girl gently laid the unconscious victim on the soil and rubbed his arms. As the color slowly returned to the injured arm and the youngster came to, his relieved sister gently squeezed Fox's hand. "Thank you. I don't know what we would've done without you."
He grinned wider than Proto ever remembered. "Let me help tend to yer brother real quick. Then, we'll take him to Doc's."
Gleaming with gratitude, she gazed at Fox. "That would be great. I can't ever thank you enough."
She glanced toward Proto. "Both of you."
The Following Week
Monday ~ July 20, 2093 ~ 11:30 pm
Frustrated from being cooped up inside for several days, Caru tossed and turned in her bed. Why can't I sleep?
She ground her teeth and punched her pillow. Flat on her back, she looked up at the ceiling.
I'm so tired; I've got to get some rest!
She closed her eyes and drew three deep breaths. Within minutes all thoughts disappeared.
A Couple of Hours Later
Growing more confused, Caru stared at Hoot. This makes no sense. Why is she here in the middle of the night?
The youngster cried as she sat near the forest with her arms and legs crossed. A thick fog rolled in making it difficult to see.
"Hoot, what's wrong?" The little girl closed her eyes while her face and jaws tightened in anger.
Caru's stomach churned. "Hoot, why won't you say anything?"
Without a peep, the youngster's head began to quiver, and the surrounding trees shook.
Caru covered her mouth as she gagged. "Hoot, what are you doing? I feel sick!"
Eyes still shut, the girl's head shuddered harder. The branches and trunks vibrated vigorously until deafening cracks pierced the air.
Hands shaking, Caru fell to her knees. "Hoot, stop it!"
Extreme pressure knifed her ears, and the oaks exploded into millions of splintered shards. Caru ducked.
Her chest pounded as if ready to burst. Clutching the child's shoulders, she yelled. "Hoot!"
Slowly the youngster's lids opened — no color, just ghostly white eyeballs. Caru screamed.
Moments Later
Pushing the door open, Charilulka ran into the bedroom. "Caru, what's wrong?"
Soaked in sweat, her daughter woke up crying. "Something's not right with Hoot! Her eyes — they're scary white!"
"Honey, what are you talking about?"
"I told you! Her eyes!" Tears streamed down Caru's cheeks.
"It's okay, Honey, you were just dreaming."
"Nooo! It felt real! Something is wrong!"
Wiping her eyes with her pajama sleeves, she sat up. "Check on her! Make sure she's okay!"
"It's still dark out, Sweetie. I'm sure she's fine. I'll check with her mom in the morning — I promise."
The Next Morning
Tuesday ~ July 21, 2093 ~ 10:30 am
Enjoying the croaking frogs coaxed into action by the warmth of the morning sun, Caru sat near the edge of the Lake of Dreams. I'm sure glad Hoot's alright.
Happy her father let her fish by herself, she couldn't understand why she couldn't swim. We already removed that monster fish a few days ago.
She huffed as she sat taller against the gnarled trunk of an old willow. I guess I should just be thankful he took the pastor's sermon of forgiveness to heart. Why else would he give me part of the day off from my punishment? Maybe the nightmare?
As Chili rolled in the tall grass by the shore, Caru lifted the bamboo rod and swung the line toward her. Grabbing a long, slimy night crawler from a jar of moist mulch beside her, she stuck the hook near one end and ran it through three points along the body.
Once baited, Caru dangled the line out over the water and plopped the wiggly sacrifice into the lake. It sunk until a hollowed bamboo segment, plugged at both ends, floated on top, suspending the bait off the bottom.
I wonder what Proto and Fox are doing? I actually miss those goofs. Who would have thought?
A breeze drifted from tangled clumps of flowering vines along each side of the sandy beach. Mmm, love the smell of hyacinths.
Jiggling for a moment, the buoyant stick bobbed with the gentle waves. Caru shook her head.
Come on fishy, stop playing with it. Grab that sucker! She raised the pole and plopped the worm over another foot or so.
Blazes, I've been alone way too much! I'm starting to talk to myself! She sighed.
A huge swirl stirred several yards from the bait. The line straightened, and the rod tip bent hard. Yay, that's bette...
A dry twig snapped behind her, and Chili growled. Startled, Caru turned and detected movement from the edge of a nearby walnut tree. "Who's there?"
Nothing stirred or responded. The polar bear lifted her snout and sniffed.
A tremendous splash pierced the air behind Caru, and the fishing pole shot from her hand, disappearing into the water.
With her eyes widening, she unsheathed a knife and sprung to her feet. "Brutish! You made me lose my fish! Come out, whoever you are!"
A tattered moccasin stepped from around the trunk. Slowly, a figure standing almost six feet tall, dressed in smudged, ragged clothes appeared. The young man looked to be in his mid-teens with a half-shaved scalp and nubs of whiskers dotting his face.
It's that same boy we keep seeing! He's filthy — looks like he hasn't been in a lake since dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Caru gingerly moved closer. "Who are you? Why were you watching me?"
Like a magnet, intricate, black swirly designs across his forehead and around his eyes drew her focus. Wow. I've never seen anything like that!
He stuck out his chest. "I'm Zo." His voice resonated, deeper than most boys' his age.
Her grip on the knife tightened. "Why are you here?"
The stranger glanced at her hand. "I won't hurt you — just curious about who you were. I've seen you before." His smile spread wide, lighting up his face into something almost handsome with his straight white teeth.
"I know, I've seen you too — when we caught that muclone fish and at the earthquake."
With his intense stare locked on her eyes, he nodded. "I accompany my ma to watch you Ukes fight the denamods and deal with my uncle's envimods."
Zo scratched his head. "What's a muclone?"
"You should know. Your clan creates those cloned mutants!"
"Oh, you mean denamods: creatures Ma makes from DNA modifications."
Caru cocked her head. "Who's your uncle, and what's an envy mod?"
"Ma's brother, Scientokt. He modifies the environment. The earthquake you saw is one of his doin..."
The enemy boy bit his lip. "I shouldn't say anymore."
"That still doesn't explain why you've been watching me."
"I told you, I was curious. Ma's always saying, 'curiosity will be my death.' She's probably right."
Zo peered into her eyes. "You Ukes are sort of strange — in a good kind of way."
As if something bitter nipped her taste buds, she gritted her teeth. "Stop calling me a Uke. I have a name. It's Caru!"
She scrunched her nose. "What do you mean, 'good kind of way'?"
"You're all so clean — no shadow markings."
Caru crinkled her face. "What's that?"
He touched his forehead.
"Oh, you mean war paint!"
Zo wrinkled his brow. "Why do you call it war paint?"
"Whenever you Skalags attack us, you're always painted — you look awful scary! At least that's what our parents say."
Her face relaxed as she forced a smile. "But not you. I'm not scared."
His dark, almost black eyes sparkled. "Me neither. We always wear shadow markings, not just during battles."
With a courageous voice she rarely heard from other teenage boys, he blurted. "You're pretty, not like the girls in my clan. They're mostly dirty, and their hair's always tangled and oily. But yours is beautiful — so red."
Caru blushed. "Got that from
my father."
After a slight hesitation, she squinted. Did he just call me pretty? He's not bad himself for being so filthy. Not like Father described Skalags.
She cocked her head. "How old are you?"
"Just turned 16, and you?"
"I'm 15, but I'll be 16 in no time at all." Her neck warmed, knowing her birthday was only a month ago; but he didn't need to know.
A woman's voice boomed from the forest to her left. "Zo! Where are you?"
Zo's head jerked in the direction of the call, then back to Caru. "I've gotta run. Ma would kill me if she knew I was talking with a Uke! By the way, I wouldn't swim in that lake anytime soon. Denamod!" He winked.
As he sprinted off, he turned his head and yelled a whisper. "I hope to see you again!"
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Scavengers
Tuesday ~ July 21, 2093 ~ 11:30 am
Teli stepped onto the porch outside the makeshift lab. "Thanks for taking me along today. I've always wanted to see how you barter with those traders."
Reading his list for the umpteenth time, Queasy stepped over the threshold. "Well, it's the only way you're going to learn how to get the items we need. We'll search for old solar panels and maybe a pump or two. A few spare parts and perhaps some windmill blades and seals would be good. The village is growing so fast it's hard to keep up."
After walking down the steps, Teli looked at Queasy. "What do you make of that weird muclone Proto and Fox brought in last week? Those eyes were creepy!"
"Well, I'm not done studying it yet, but it's certainly a mutation of a plant called 'Venus flytrap,' but much larger than normal. I'm still trying to figure out the other part — maybe a turtle or fish that uses its tongue to lure its prey. I should know more in a couple of days."
Teli strolled across the school's lawn. "That thing hurt Jukko pretty bad."
His mentor nodded. "He was lucky. If his arm had been trapped any longer, the acids and enzymes the creature secreted would have broken down his skin's tissue further. His hand could have been disfigured. As it is, he'll have some nasty scars when they heal."
The New World: Blue Moon Generatoin Page 6