The New World: Blue Moon Generatoin

by Andy Skrzynski

  "No! We've got to kill it! Get us closer!"

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Water Crawler

  Seconds Later, at the Lake of Dreams

  Thursday ~ July 23, 2093 ~ 8:45 am

  Scanning the water, Wolfuk searched for a glimpse of the mysterious creature in the lake. As Fist feverishly rowed the boat, an immense snake-like thing weaved through the churning waves ahead.

  Wolfuk gasped. Blazes! What in the world?

  Carefully standing as the craft rushed forward, his jugular throbbed against his neck. "Ease up. Get ready!" Fist raised his battle-ax high.

  As the boat closed, a gigantic, 10-foot-long tentacle with strange suction cups rose from the depths and smashed the surface. A tremendous wake rocked the vessel, tossing Wolfuk to the side, half out of the boat. He gripped the sidewall as his heart pounded against his chest like a drum in battle.

  Two bulging, black eyes broke the plane of the water, followed by a long, snapping jaw lined with several spiked teeth. Blood trickled from a shiny hook stuck through the corner of its mouth.

  Pulling against the restraint, the beast rolled several times. Four gray tentacles aimlessly thrashed about from its sides. Like a dragon from his mother's fairy tales, several rows of stiff, angular peaks lined the odd monster's leathery, light-green back.

  Fist stared at the creature for a moment. "What is that thing?"

  "I don't know! Maybe an alligator! Just get us next to it!"

  "Alligator? You're crazy! That's nothing like any picture I've ever seen!" The big man grabbed an oar and paddled.

  The nearer the vessel edged, the harder the muclone jerked, chomping at its intended prey. As Wolfuk lifted his sword, the beast rose, partially standing on its powerful tail.

  Streams cascaded along one of its snake-like arms as it weaved high in the air. In the blink of an eye, it slammed down on the boat, splintering it in half.

  Still clutching his sword, Wolfuk splashed into the lake. He gasped for air and looked at his helper. "We've got to dive and kill it from below. Go!"

  Before Fist could take a breath, the monster's tentacle wrapped around his chest and lifted him into the air. "Ahhh!" Face beet-red, the creature's prisoner slashed at the slithery restraint with his ax.

  With each stroke of the blade, blood and crimson chunks of flesh flew in all directions. The aquatic muclone's appendage moved Fist closer to the hordes of jagged teeth.

  "Hurry, Fist! Its jaws are right behind you!"

  Eyes bulging, the terrified warrior whacked at the vicious tormentor until the blade cut through and the grip gave way. The beast twisted in agony.

  Just as Fist hit the water, another tentacle grabbed him, smacking him against the surface over and over again. Choking and wheezing with each dunk, he continued to swing the ax, but the blows lessened as his body weakened.

  Near the floating wreckage, another long, snake-like limb reached for Wolfuk. He sliced through it with his sword and looked for his struggling partner.

  I've got to stop that thing! It's killing Fist! With adrenalin surging and a firm grip on his sword, he dove as his friend fought to survive.

  Wolfuk thrust his arms backward and swooshed past tall crops of duckweed. He kicked his feet and continued to swim.

  Ahead, in the cloudy water, the monster's eyes loomed. An icy chill coursed through his veins. Faster — got to kill it before it eats Fist!

  Wolfuk's arms and legs churned harder as he plunged well below the creature. From the depths, the silhouette of a massive lizard-like mutant with its limbs flailing blocked the sun.

  Pressing his lips to hold his breath, he pushed off from the lake's floor with his sword extended. The closer he got, the faster his legs and free arm pumped. As he neared, he thrust the honed blade through the amphibious monster's neck.

  It jerked, almost pulling the weapon from Wolfuk's clutch. Removing the sword, he jammed it in, again and again.

  When the beast began to twitch, he rushed to the surface as bubbles gushed from his mouth and nose. Bursting through the water's plane, he sucked air and searched for his friend.

  His chest burned as he brushed the wet hair from his face and yelled. "Fist! Where are you?" He heard nothing other than the muclone splashing in the scarlet-stained pool.

  Winding his way around the buoyant debris, he spotted his helper floating face down. "Nooo!"

  Wolfuk swam as fast as he could and grabbed the unconscious warrior's leather vest, towing him to shore. Lord, please don't let him die!

  Rolling him onto his back, he pounded his chest. "Come on, Fist, breathe!"

  He forced air into the victim's mouth, pumped his chest three times, and blew down his throat again. A spray shot from Fist's nose as he gasped for air.

  Wolfuk turned him to his side as more of the lake's mucky liquid cascaded over his lips. "That's it, push it out! Breathe!" He patted his friend's back.

  The Next Week

  Monday ~ 8:15 am

  A little over two weeks had passed since Caru's punishment began. She couldn't contain the smile that crept across her face. Free at last!

  She jogged to Proto's cabin and knocked. Panting, Chili slumped in the shade next to the porch as Ice lumbered from around the corner to join her.

  Sounds of running footsteps approached from inside, and the thick wooden door slowly creaked open. Proto's bright teeth gleamed from the dark shadow.

  Caru shouted. "It's me! I'm free again!"

  Proto scrunched his nose. "But it's only been a couple of weeks."

  "I know, but Father shortened the time for good behavior and my part in saving Wandy. I had to scrub every crack and corner of that cabin, but anything was worth getting out of that black hole as early as I could!"

  Eyes sparkling, Proto's grin spread wider. "What do you want to do?"

  "Let's climb Erik's Bluff!"

  "But how do we get the equipment? Isn't it locked in Wolfuk's training shed?"

  Snickering, Caru reached into her pocket and lifted her hand. "I've got the key."

  "What if Wolfuk shows up?"

  "Don't worry. Father sent him on a scouting mission to check out the Skalags a couple of days ago. He won't be around for a few days. Now, come on, let's get Fox!"

  Proto pivoted toward the doorway. "Mom, I'm heading out to play!" Not waiting for a response, he slammed the door and jumped off the porch.

  Caru, her cousin, and the bears sprinted toward Fox's place as Mercy's distant voice drifted from the cabin. "Who's at the door?"

  Continuing to run, Proto turned his head and yelled. "Nobody, Mom!"

  Later that Morning

  Leading the cliff-climbing team of her two buddies and three pets, Caru guided Cocoa up the rocky trail into the eastern ridge of Erik the Red Mountains. She touched her bicep.

  Getting soft already. Scaling the bluff will certainly help.

  As she bounced in her saddle, she turned toward her friends. "I've been cooped up so long; you can't imagine how good this feels."

  With a huge smile, Fox blurted. "We missed you a lot! We were goin' crazy without you — least I was."

  Proto bobbed his head. "Oh, listen to him. I wished you had been with us too. It wasn't easy spending my days with Chatterbox."

  Grinning from ear to ear, Caru shook her head. Hard to believe I actually missed all of this babbling.

  Fox nudged his mare in the ribs and Xena trotted to the front. Caru blinked, then squinted. No way! It can't be!

  "Foxy Boy, tell me it ain't so!"

  "What?" He turned to look at her.

  "That can't be the ratty ole shirt you cut up the other day?"

  "Sure is! I told you it was my favorite. I like purple, and now I've got the perfect summer shirt!"

  Frays around the sleeveless shoulders dangled over his bright white biceps — a farmer's tan for sure to go with his newly-designed, old shirt.

  Caru chuckled inside as she continued up the trail with her cousins. Clickety-clack echoes of the horses' h
ooves kept beat to the whisper of soft breezes across the canyon walls.

  Mesmerized, she hummed to herself as she gazed at the reddish-orange patterns along the cliff's facing. They seemed to dance in the sunlight sparkling through the swift-moving clouds.

  A huge shadow swooshed across her path as the leaves of the tall oaks rustled. Startled, Cocoa lifted her snout and snorted as Chili shot up on her hind paws and growled.

  "Wicked! What was that?" Sucking a quick breath, Caru scanned the skies.

  "The same thing happened last week! I couldn't tell what it was for sure." She released the air from her lungs to calm her nerves.

  Proto's eyes shifted from one end of the towering scarp to the other. "It had to be some kind of bird, but that shadow was larger than any I've ever seen!"

  Caru nodded. "Father mentioned others reporting strange bird sightings too."

  After searching a little longer and finding nothing, she flipped the reins, and the mare jerked forward. "Come on you two; let's continue, but keep your head on a swivel."

  For more than 10 minutes, Fox's gaze darted back and forth across the rust-stained bluffs of iron ore. He pulled up.

  "There it is! Above the cliffs!" He pointed high.

  Caru yelled. "I see it!"

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Sky Shadow

  Monday ~ July 27, 2093 ~ Shortly After Noon

  Caru's heart skipped a beat as a massive bird disappeared into the low-lying clouds. Thinking little of the first couple of sightings, the third gave her pause.

  Could the phantom be stalking me? Nonsense! She rolled her eyes.

  Roars and barks of the pets reverberated across the canyon, causing a few small stones to tumble over a ledge. Cocoa and her cousins' horses danced in place.

  "Shush!" Holding a finger to her lips, she stared at the bears and Ghost.

  "You're going to start an avalanche." They calmed to soft growls.

  She turned toward her buddies. "Did you see its neck? It was longer than my arm!"

  Fox flicked his straight, black hair from his face. "Maybe goose neck — didn't git a good look."

  Caru pulled her hair in a ponytail. "No way, it was huge — like a big snake!" She glanced at Proto.

  "It was too fast. I didn't get a good look."

  He stroked the mane of his jittery mount. "Maybe we shouldn't be out here by ourselves. We've never climbed the cliffs without a grown-up."

  She sighed. "Awww, there you go again. We've scaled those rocks a hundred times. Stop worrying!"

  Looking up, she scanned the sky. "Well, that thing's gone now." Not sure what to make of the winged beast but hopeful she'd never see it again, Caru clicked her tongue, and Cocoa proceeded along the trail.

  A half-hour later near a large bend, she spotted Erik's Bluff. "Finally." After dismounting, she and her cousins tied the horses to scrub trees along the ridge.

  Confident her buddies would be starving by now, Caru retrieved a brown, leather pack from her mare's back. "You guys hungry?"

  Proto's eyes lit up. "Yeah, I'm starting to get weak!" He grinned.

  "You're in luck. I brought some sandwiches and water — a treat for Chili and some bones for the other pets. I knew with our quick escape; you two wouldn't have time to bring lunch." She winked.

  Fox ran to her side. "What kinda sandwiches you got?"

  "Smoked ham with lettuce and tomatoes." She gave him one.

  "Ham, mmm, but I hate rabbit scraps." Lifting the top slice of sourdough bread, he snatched the veggies and held them up. "Who wants my lettuce and tomaters?"

  Proto reached out. "I'll take 'em. I need to build up my strength!"

  After tossing two large, meaty bones to Ice and Ghost, Caru opened the lid to a tin container. She put it on the ground and glanced at her protector. "Come here, girl." Not needing an invitation, Chili hurried to her meal with her snout sniffing all the way.

  Fox laughed. "She sure loves her chili, don't she?"

  "Oh yeah. The other two won't touch the stuff."

  Her bear scarfed down the tender chunks of venison and spicy beans with three big gulps.

  Caru watched as her pet licked what remained. "One thing's for certain, every time I set her food down, I pull my fingers back as quick as possible."

  While handing out the water flasks, she remembered running into Zo a few days earlier. She itched to tell someone about her encounter with the young Skalag.

  Who better than my best buddies? But she knew all too well where that would lead. Her cousins' jealous spats already wore thin on her nerves.

  Once she distributed all the goodies to her eager followers, Caru sat on a smooth, gray boulder. "I'm glad you guys came. I just had to get away!"

  With his mouth bulging, Fox talked between chews. "I can understand. I'd be plum loony, stuck in a stuffy cabin!"

  Proto shook his head. "I'm with Fox. I don't know how you lasted two weeks."

  Being cooped up inside felt bad enough, but not seeing her closest friends for so long was worse. "It wasn't easy, believe me. I was starting to have nightmares — scary ones."

  "Whatcha mean?" Fox picked his teeth with the blade of his knife.

  "Mostly they were about Hoot and her wicked ghost eyes."

  The dog lifted her head and whined. Caru waved her off. "Not you, silly."

  She peered into Proto's eyes. "Hey, do you remember how our stomachs started churning that time Hoot found her dead cat?" He nodded.

  Caru held her tummy. "Well, that's what happened every time I had the dreams. Hoot's eyes would go white, and I'd get sick and start screaming. I even puked all over the bed once."

  "Brutish! I'll bet your ma was none too happy." Fox ran a whetstone along the edge of his blade.

  "Aw, she understood. Mother's the sweetest person I know."

  "Sweeter than me?" Fox flashed his patented goofball look; then his eyes suddenly grew large. He threw his knife and pegged a rattler to the base of a pine.

  "Whoa, that was lucky!" Proto picked up a pebble and hit his buddy in the arm.

  "Hey, cut it out, Big Fella. Yer jist jealous!"

  "Okay, you two. I can tell it's time to get climbing before you start scrapping like a couple of five-year-olds."

  She feigned a scowl, then smiled. "Let's get the gear and have some fun, but keep your eyes peeled for those slithery things!"

  Meanwhile

  Under the light of his kitchen window, Thoruk browsed an old proposal for Ukkiville's protective barrier from last year. He struggled to decipher Storm's poor attempt to scribble words into sentences.

  Squinting, he stared at a couple of lines at the end of the second page: "Over the yeers, many of the pine logs have deteryoratid and need to be replased. Also, with more than 40 cabens being added in recent yeers, we need to finish the extention to inclose the new strucktures."

  Wow, how can Storm be such a whiz with numbers and most other things and be so bad at spelling?

  He flipped the last page. I'm just glad he's almost done with all his suggestions. No telling when those Skalags may come calling.

  As he set the plan down, a sharp knock pierced the air. He turned toward the noise. "Who's there?"

  His sister's voice responded. "It's Storm and me."

  "Don't stand there, come on in. Leave the door open. It's starting to get warm."

  Mercy and his buddy strolled across the living room to the kitchen.

  Thoruk smiled. "Sit down. Can I get you something to drink?"

  In unison, they both responded. "Not now."

  Sensing it wasn't a good time to kid Storm about his spelling, Thoruk remained standing. "What's up?"

  His sister glanced at Storm.

  Never passing on an opportunity to rib somebody, he pointed back to her. "Go ahead, Princess, you tell him."

  Mercy shook her head and looked at Thoruk. "Well, you probably know, but things have been getting worse."

  "What do you mean? What's bothering you two?"

  "It's Caru.
We love her, and she's a wonderful girl, but she's like a bee trapped in a jar. If you open it up, all hell breaks loose."

  "What has she done now?"

  Mercy's deep, sky-blue eyes grew intense. "She's always getting our kids involved with some of her crazy antics, and then they're reluctant to tell us what's going on. Half the time we're not sure what to believe."

  After brushing his long, licorice-black hair from his face, Storm pulled his chair closer. "I know Caru's been grounded, but Miss Mischievous showed up this morning with Proto, and they all ran off toward the woods. We thought she was grounded for a month."

  Blazes! Can't that girl ever stay out of trouble? Thoruk's brow furrowed. "She was, but she's been great, doing more than we asked of her. We never intended to ground her for a whole month anyway — that was her idea. So we ended her punishment this morning."

  Mercy looked at Storm, then to Thoruk. "That's fine, but she came and got Proto. When I hollered to my boy to ask who came over, he lied and said 'nobody' then sprinted off. I saw him with Caru as they headed toward Storm's place."

  She put her hands on her hips. "I know they're teenagers, but they know right from wrong. It's not like Proto to lie to me. But lately, whenever he's around Caru, he's been doing it more and more."

  Storm nodded. "Same with Fox. I'm never sure what they're up to anymore. Our kids will do anything Caru asks of them: good or bad. We're going to have a long talk with our children, but we thought we better discuss this with you too. We were hoping you would talk with Miss Rabble-Rouser about her role in this."

  Releasing a heavy sigh, Thoruk took a seat. "I'm sorry. You're right — both of you. I was hoping Caru would learn quicker from her mistakes and punishment, but it's time for a more serious talk with her."

  He looked at his lifelong friends. "Please be patient for a little longer. I'll have a heart-to-heart with Caru."

  Back at the Cliff

  Mid-Afternoon

  Leaving the pets near the trail, Caru led her buddies up the side of Erik's Bluff. Even though she'd scaled the cliffs several times before, thoughts of a mishap and her own demise tweaked her mind during every climb.