Nibiru Returns

by Tod Eten

  ‘This will lead us to the other side of the mountain’ Aya said simply.

  Out of respect they tidied up the Neteru home as best they could and with their back packs and newly acquired armour and weapons, they all gathered by the entrance to the passageway that lead through the mountain.

  ‘Are you sure it is safe in there Aya?’ Faith asked uncertainly.

  ‘It will be but you all must be as quiet as possible and do as I say’ Aya said not at all reassuring Faith. ‘Now I want you all to look at me’ and when she was sure she had all their attention Aya muttered some words in a strange tongue and moved her hands in much the same way she had when she had first shown them the Pricolici.

  ‘What did you do to us?’ Demitri asked when Aya had finished.

  ‘It’s just some charms to protect you ‘ she assured him.

  The passageway that they followed was not as brightly lit as the Neteru home had been providing them with just enough light to see where they were going. The tunnel just wide enough for two people to walk a breast. It was definitely not natural for it traveled straight as an arrow through the mountain for 50 paces then it would turn at right angles for another 5 paces, then turn back on its original path again for another 50 paces after which there was another left hand turn and as before it would contine on for another 5 paces before resuming its original course. Aiden wondered why the passage did not just run straight and then he realised why, the kinks in the passage would allow someone to defend it. After they had been walking through the passage for nearly 30 minutes Aya stopped them all.

  ‘We are about to leave the passage and I want you all to keep quiet and follow me and whatever you do you must stay on the path!’ Aya instructed and made a strange sign with her hands. Aiden felt his ears go the same way as if he was on a plane coming in to land, it was as if he had been put in some kind of bubble of much denser air. They began walking on with Aiden at the rear and he noticed that he could no longer hear his footfalls or any of the others for that matter as if all sound had been muted. The passage soon opened out into a vast natural chamber. Aiden could not tell how big it really was as the darkness hid its true size. Aya now led them along the edge of the cavern still following the path which was still gently lit by the alien fungus. Aiden had gone just over 100 paces when he felt something out in the darkness tugging at his mind and with each pace he took the stronger the feeling got. There was something out there in the darkness and it was calling to him. Aiden’s step faltered and finally he stopped and stared out into the depths of the cavern. Aiden stood there transfixed for several minutes not even noticing that he was now on his own, the rest of the group still moving forward along the path disappearing into the darkness. Aiden his friends forgotten and his mind concentrating solely on the darkness continued looking out into the emptyness trying to see whatever it was that was out there. But he could not see a thing. He then took one hesitant step toward whatever was that called to him, then another and another, on the forth step he moved off the path completely into the darkness of the cavern beyond which enveloped him like a blanket. Aiden still could not make out anything in the space in front of him but undaunted he continued to slowly walk forward towards whatever it was that was calling to him. As his eyes began adjusting more to the darkness Aiden began to see more of the chamber he was standing in. The floor of the cavern was covered in what felt like fine sand that seemed to have a silvery luminescence about it. In the middle of this sand he could now make out a large formation of rocks that seemed to be of a deeper black than even the darkness that surrounded him. Aiden looked at the rock formation more closely, his vision adjusting to the darkness allowing him to see things more clearly. He could see that the rocks were smooth even polished and at least 100 feet in length. They consisted of a small hill that was 20 feet in height and 40 feet in length. On one side of the hill a rough ridge led to a smaller hill and on the other side another ridge gently tapered down to the sand. Aiden again felt the tug at his mind. He was now certain it was coming from the rocks ahead. Aiden was about to move towards the rocks once more when a thought unbidden came into his mind. Aiden hesitated for the thought was a warning for him to be cautious. Aiden looked again at the rocks. There was something unnatural about them! They looked like rocks, yet he had never seen rocks as smooth and polished like that before. It can’t be natural Aiden thought, it must be some kind of sculpture. Yes thought Aiden it must be the work of the Neteru. But it was more than just some strange art work for Aiden felt that the rocks were somehow alive. Aiden felt the object in front of him call to him again. This time he was unable to resist the call and was about to walk towards the strange object when someone grabbed his hand. Aiden spun round in shock to see Aya standing beside him. With a firm hold on his hand she led him back to the path like a mother would her child. Not a word was spoken, not a sound did they make as they walked back. Once they found the path once more Aya continued to lead Aiden still keeping a firm hold of his hand. All Aiden could see in his mind’s eye was the strange rock sculpture and then like a one of those pictures that you can only see when you try not to focus on it Aiden knew what he had been looking at and a shiver went down his spine.

  After another hundred paces or so along the path they came once more to a passageway cutting into the mountain which they both entered leaving the large cavern behind. The passageway continued on for another 100 paces and then emerged out onto the mountainside which was bathed in bright morning sunshine. Aiden shaded his eyes getting them accustomed to the bright glare of the sun.

  ‘Aiden I sometimes think that you are more trouble than you are worth!’ Aya rounded on him once they were out of the passageway. ‘I told you to stay on the path’

  ‘Was that what I think it was out there’ Aiden said completely ignoring her.

  ‘You were in great danger’ was all Aya would say.

  ‘But that was what I think it was, that was a dragon wasn’t it! It was a bloody dragon’ Aiden said

  Aya looked at Aiden anger in her eyes, ‘yes you fool and you were this close to becoming its breakfast! If you do not wish to follow my instructions then maybe you should make your own way from now on’

  ‘Fine I just may do that’ Aiden angrily retorted fed up with the way she kept treating him.

  ‘Good ‘ Aya said and stormed off, the rest of the group quickly getting up and following after her.

  Aiden stood watching Aya as she disappeared into the distance with the rest of the group trying to catch up with her. He was tempted to just go in the opposite direction such was the anger inside of him but eventually common sense prevailed and he reluctantly set of in her wake.

  Chapter 15 - Nimrod

  The land before them now consisted of a range of hills that stretched as far as the horizon in between which lay heavily forested valleys. Aya kept the party on the hills avoiding the valleys where Aiden assumed the going would be much harder. The group travelled in silence for the rest of the morning everyone sensing the tension between Aya who was at the front and Aiden who was bringing up the rear. They finally made camp in the early afternoon next to a small stream in a stand of trees that gave them some shade from the heat of the sun. Aiden sat himself down as far away from Aya as he could still angry with her and her treatment of him. Aya for her part now seemed in a better mood and began playing with the children. Aiden decided to turn his attention to the bow he was carrying in order to take his mind off Aya and decided that he better get some practice using it. Picking himself up he wandered away from the rest of the group in search of a safe place where he could practice with the bow in private. On finding a suitable area Aiden selected a tree trunk that was twenty paces away and notched the first arrow to his bow and drew back the string. Aiden’s first surprise was how much effort it took to drawing the bow. Try as he might he was unable to draw the bow fully back. The best he could achieve was just over halfway. Undeterred Aiden fired his first arrow and he was more than pleased that it actually hit the tree trunk, ev
en though it was a few feet below and to the left of the spot he was aiming for. Aiden fired a few more arrows with his aim improving each time.

  ‘My friend you are a natural’ Demitri said

  Aiden spun around to find a grinning Demitri behind whom Li, Long, Aaron, Gagan and Seth were standing.

  ‘Mind if I have a go’ Demitri said holding up the bow he had taken from the Neteru home and soon they were all taking turns firing arrows. Each of them tried Aiden’s bow but like him none could draw the bow fully not even Aaron though he did manage to draw it further than anyone else however his aim was the worst of all of them.

  As Aaron was just about to fire another arrow a stranger’s voice interrupted him ‘Keep your arm straight’

  Turning they saw a handsome fair haired man nonchalantly leaning against a nearby tree watching them with an amused look. The stranger had curly fair hair and wore a breast plate similar to the ones they now wore under their clothes except the strangers armour was white and had some fancy gold patterns depicting a bird or an eagle of some sort. He had similar looking armour on his fore arms and ankles and carried a spear in his right hand and shield in his left. The stranger looked like he had just stepped straight out of some ancient Greek epic. All guessed that the stranger must be a Neteru or maybe even one of the Demos. Aiden’s hand went towards his sword in case he was the latter.

  ‘Do not be afraid’ The Stranger said as if reading Aiden’s mind, ‘I mean no harm, I was only noticing that you could use some help’ with that the stranger with surprising speed walked over to where Aaron was standing and before anyone could say a word was showing Aaron how to stand and draw the bow.

  ‘OK now release it as you breathe out’ he said.

  Aaron did as he was told and the arrow hit the tree trunk dead centre.

  ‘There see how easy it is’ The stranger smiled as did Aaron. ‘My name is Nimrod’ he introduced himself.

  ‘I am Aaron, this is Li, Demitri, Seth , Long, Gagan and Aiden’ Aaron introduced them.

  ‘But please do not stop, come let me see you fire another’ Nimrod said. Soon Nimrod had taken charge of the group correcting each of them as they used their bows and improving their aim considerably. He then began showing them how to use their swords teaching them some basic moves both defence and attack. If Nimrod had noticed that their weapons were Neteru he did not say a word but happily continued to instruct them. After nearly an hour Aiden’s arms felt as if it would soon drop off and together with their new found friend they decided to make their way back to their camp, though Aiden still felt uneasy about this stranger.

  ‘You’re a Neteru aren’t you?’ Aiden said as they walked back.

  ‘I am’ Nimrod bowed, ‘I see that you have got your selves some of our weapons?’

  ‘We found them in one of your old homes, the home was deserted!’ Seth said added quickly.

  ‘We had to take them to defend ourselves from Silenus’ Aiden explained.

  ‘Ah Silenus that old goat’ Nimtod laughed, ‘but do not fear the Neteru are here to aide you, as are our weapons’

  ‘Were you the one that built the tower of Babel?’ Gagan suddenly blurted out.

  ‘The tower of Babel that was many turns ago, but no I did not build that. But it was a great building!’ Nimrod replied.

  ‘But according to the records you were the King of Babylon when the tower was built’ Gagan said scratching his head.

  ‘There was a king called Nimrod but it was not I! He was a rather angry sort of human I seem to remember, always shouting and stamping his feet’ Nimrod said thinking back.

  ‘The story says that he built the tower to reach heaven but God came down and made everyone speak in different languages so stopping the tower from being built’ Gagan stated looking at Nimrod for confirmation

  ‘That is a good story, better than what really happened. I did warn him but as I said he was too busy shouting at others to listen. I told him that he should not build the tower over a certain height as they did not have the right material. But he would not listen. Mind you it did last longer than I had guessed it would. But then one night the whole thing broke apart, bad materials as I said’ Nimrod shook his head with a sigh.

  ‘But the tower did once exist then!’ Gagan said with a distant look in his eyes, ‘I wish I could have seen it.’

  ‘There are the others’ Demitri pointed as they approached their camp.

  Aya on seeing Nimrod gave a cry of joy and jumping up she ran and embraced him burying her head against his neck with Nimrod hugging her back. Aiden despite himself felt his heart miss a beat as he watched them embrace and he tried to remind himself that she was a Neteru and he was just a human and to stop thinking about her.

  ‘Everyone this is Nimrod’ Aya said with a smile once they had finished embracing, ‘what are you doing here?’

  ‘Well these are my lands’ Nimrod laughed ‘well nearly my lands anyway’ and he laughed again.

  ‘Come let us talk’ Aya ordered and taking Nimrods hand they set off out of the camp and into the trees suddenly oblivious about the rest of the group. While Aya was away the rest of the group set about preparing a meal with their dwindling supplies and of course discussing the arrival of Nimrod many speculating whether he was her lover or not. Aiden wishing he was anywhere but there lay on his back some distance from the others watching as the stars slowly started to appear in the night sky. He saw as normal the north star which was always first to appear but this time it was not alone for above it shone another star that he had never seen before and Aiden guessed it must be Nibiru. It was fully dark when Aya and Nimrod returned once more to the camp still hand in hand and sitting themselves down somewhat apart from the others they carried on talking privately with each other. Aiden had been counting every minute that they had been away, also guessing that the pair must be long most lovers and he closed his eyes and eventually fell asleep. Aidens dreams were full of battles and blood and for the first time Aiden revelled in them.

  The next morning after a meagre breakfast and with Demitri moaning about their food supplies, which were nearly gone they set off once more with Aya and Nimrod leading the group and Aiden as he had done previously bring up the rear on his own. As before they mainly followed the line of the hills and avoided the forested valleys only crossing them if they had to. Around midday Nimrod led them to a grove of orange trees full of ripe oranges that were sweet and juicy which helped fill the travellers empty and grumbling stomachs. Having eaten their fill of oranges they set off once more.

  A good while after their stop at the orange grove Demitri gave a sudden cry and pointed down into a valley they were passing. Looking to where he pointed Aiden saw that there was meadow in the middle of the valley which had many sheep grazing in it.

  ‘Let us get one of them’ Demitri said starting to make his way down the hill.

  ‘Wait’ Ordered Nimrod ‘we must not go down there’

  ‘But we need food’ protested Demitri.

  ‘We cannot go there ‘Nimrod said firmly they are not ours to have and great is the danger should we try and take that which is not ours’

  ‘But’ Demitri said looking longingly at the sheep in the distance.

  ‘Come we will find food soon fear not’ Nimrod said with a smile and so they set off once more.

  Aiden was tempted to shout out to the others that they should do what Demitri had said! Who was this Nimrod to give orders Aiden thought angrily. He was getting sick and tired of these Neteru ordering him about, after all this world was man’s not the Neteru’s! What right did they have to tell us what we could and could not do Aiden fumed as he followed the group. Nimrod true to his word led them to a small valley where there were not only oranges growing, but olives, lemons and even grapes that were in abundance all around which the travellers set about gathering for dinner. All except that is forAiden who quietly slipped off back the way they had come.

  Aiden soon found the valley where Demitri had earlier seen the sh
eep grazing and his mind made up he made his way silently towards the meadow down below. Aiden made it to the edge of the meadow without a sound and notching an arrow to his bow. He now waited patiently beside a tree not moving a muscle. His hope was that one of the sheep would wander near enough for him to take a shot. His patience in the end paid off as one of the animals wandered in his direction. It found a particularly nice patch of grass to graze on not more than 20 paces from where Aiden was hiding. Aiden drew back the bow as far as he was able and taking aim he fired the arrow which flew true piecing the animal’s chest, which with a grunt dropped to the floor dead. Without any further hesitation Aiden quickly ran out to where the dead animal lay scaring away the other sheep nearby and suddenly saw his first problem for he had never butchered an animal before. Aiden stared at the carcass in consternation he guessed he would somehow have to gut and skin it, but the thought of doing this held little appeal for him. Aiden was just making his mind up that it would be OK to just chop off one of the animals back legs. Figuring it would be more than enough for the rest of the group, when the most foul and putrid smell he had ever know wafted across his nose making him gag. Looking up Aiden saw that something was moving through the trees on the other side of the meadow. Aiden quickly notched another arrow to his bow his heart now hammering in his chest. Out of the trees opposite emerged a hideously deformed, man shaped monster. The creature stood at least 9 feet tall with two stumpy legs and two over long arms, one of which dragged an enormous club along the ground. The monster had a small head with two small black eyes that started at Aiden malevolently. It skin was a sickly bluish green and the stench that came off the creature was nearly enough to make Aiden pass out.

  ‘Who gave you permission to kill that which is mine?’ the creature rumbled as if it had a mouth full of rocks. ‘Who gave you permission to kill that which is mine?’ the creature repeated this time louder.