by Tom Johnson
When two of the multi-colored lizards started mating, Colonel Peterson blushed, and groaned, "That's gross!"
Cooper burst out laughing, "Just nature, Colonel. Without reproduction, life would quickly cease to exist."
"Some species shouldn't breed," she said, "majors are one of those species."
"Oh," he grinned, "and where would colonels come from, if we didn't?"
“That’s an old joke, Major,” she smiled. “But it goes something like this, instead of ‘where do colonels come from’; it is ‘where do corporals and sergeantscome from’?”
“Again, I stand corrected by my elders,” he grinned.
“Your betters,” she smiled.
"Look how their skin is drying up," she changed the subject quickly.
"Born of the water, they need the water to survive," Cooper said. "These creatures are going to have to return to the swamps soon, or they'll die out here in the dry heat of the desert."
"There's probably moisture underground," Colonel Peterson suggested. "That's why the frogs buried themselves."
"These reptiles will likely do the same thing before too long," Cooper said, squinting at the sun. "Or find shade under the sides of the spaceship."
"They're survivors," the colonel nodded. "They've probably all ready had a billion years of evolution."
"At least from single cell life forms," he admitted.
"We'd better check inside the bio-dome while we're outside," she suggested.
Nodding his head, they stepped towards the entrance, where he opened the outer door for her. Once inside the colonel opened the second door that let into the garden area, and with a sudden gasp, jumped backwards, where Cooper caught her in his strong arms.
Glancing inside, they saw numerous frogs and reptiles that must have tunneled into the garden from below.
After several long seconds, the colonel noticed that Cooper was still holding to her tightly, and she gently pulled away.
"I'm all right, now, Major," she said. "I just wasn't expecting the bio-dome to be occupied."
"Hmm?" he asked. And then, "Oh, sorry, Colonel. I didn't notice the animals inside," he grinned.
"I think we'd better go back outside, Major, before Manning becomes worried," she caught her breath slightly.
"Or suspicious," he grinned.
"That's enough, Major," she ordered.
"Yes, ma'am," he saluted.
As Major Cooper and the colonel returned to the outside once more, Cooper waved towards the spaceship, and grinned up at one of the cameras. The commander scowled at his action, but didn't reprimand him again. Back inside the Galileo Two, Colonel Peterson told the engineer, "Manning, there are creatures taking over your garden."
"I'm not surprised that they found a way inside," he told her. The garden is watered daily, and the moisture in the soil will attract all type of species. For them to survive, we may have to allow a few species of insects inside the bio-dome, though."
"None that will destroy the plants, I hope," Cooper told him.
"Without Sheri to identify the insect species, I'm afraid we'll just have to take our chances," the engineer told them.
"How was it, Cooper?" the engineer asked, suddenly.
"How was what?" Colonel Peterson snapped.
"How was the air inside the dome?" Manning asked, curiously.
Cooper was bent over laughing to hard to answer.
"Oh, knock it off, Major!" she ordered.
"What is it?" the engineer asked, not understanding.
"Huh uh," Cooper laughed, "I'm already in enough trouble. Ask the commander.”
"The air was just fine, Manning," she snapped.
"Better than fine," Cooper laughed, and then dodged a flying metal weight the commander threw at him.
"I wish y'all would let me in on your little secrets," the engineer grumbled.
"You shut up, too, Manning," the colonel growled. “There are no secrets!”
By nightfall, the reptiles had all disappeared, either finding shelter near the Galileo Two, or returning to the swamps.
As the three survivors ate their MREs, they discussed the latest problem, and decided another trip to the forest would soon be necessary if the frogs and lizards returned the next day.
The next day the frogs had returned to the compound, and in even greater numbers than before.
"Something is happening out there," Colonel Peterson said.
"Shall we go into the forest today?" Cooper asked. "That's the only way we'll find out."
"The problem has to be in the swamps." Manning," she called, "prepare one of the ATVs, we're going on a trip today!"
At first they couldn't see anything wrong in the swamps when they arrived later that afternoon, but then Manning pointed out that the animals appeared to be avoiding the water in the lakes, preferring to remain in the separate pools of mud. Even the Dimetrodon and crocomanders were absent in this particular area.
"There!" the engineer pointed out. "The water looks like it's boiling. It's bubbling at any rate. Maybe there are poisonous gasses surfacing from below."
Approaching the nearest shallow lake, Cooper cupped his hand to capture some water, and then pulled his hand back out quickly.
"Damn!" he gasped. "The water is boiling hot. What could be causing that?"
"Check the mud pools also," the commander suggested.
Manning did as he was told, picking up a handful of the muck and grimacing, "It's only mildly warm, Commander."
"Stick your hand in deeper," Cooper suggested.
The engineer complied, lowering his arm elbow length, and then he, too, pulled his arm out quickly.
"It's hotter than blue blazes down there, too," he said.
About then the ground shook and there was a loud rumble from the east, and they saw a billow of smoke rise into the sky.
"It’s the volcano!" Colonel Peterson ejaculated.
"She does appear to be a little more active than before," Cooper said.
"It might be a good idea if we had another look at it," the commander agreed.
With Manning at the wheel of the ATV, and Cooper riding beside him, the commander held on in the back seat as the engineer retraced the original path back to the volcano. This time, he found the natural bridge over the river without any difficulty, and they found it still serviceable. But as they observed the flowing water below them, they saw dead fish and reptiles being carried downstream.
"I don't like the looks of that," Cooper said.
But they continued, soon coming within sight of the small volcanic cone. However, now there was a trace of a thin red line creeping slowly down the west side.
"Lava has found a way out," the commander said. "That could be a good sign. With the lava flow, the mountain may not blow."
"Don't be too sure of that, Colonel," Cooper said. "Look at the north wall of the cone, doesn't that look like a bulge to you?"
Even as they watched, it appeared the bulge was swelling outward.
"It's getting ready to blow!" the colonel told them. "Let's get out of here, and fast!"
Manning swung the ATV around and headed back towards the swamps as fast as he could safely negotiate the terrain. The ground began to shake even worse now, and a loud rumble could be heard from deep below the ground. Suddenly, the air became incredibly hot, singing the back of their necks, and an enormous explosion ripped the air from behind them.
Cooper tried to look behind them, but the heat burned his eyes, so he turned back around just in time to see the land bridge starting to crumble before their eyes. The engineer stepped harder on the accelerator, and the ATV crossed the span with it falling apart mere feet behind them. The back wheels just barely reached solid ground when the bridge disappeared in the river below.
"That was a lucky break," the commander yelled, "the mountain blew its north wall instead of the west side, where we were!"
"Don't speak too soon, Colonel," Cooper advised. "Look around us!"
Burning chunks of
rock were hitting the landscape all around them, being thrown from the erupting volcano. Fire and ash were now setting trees and brush aflame, and the animals were becoming excited, running to and fro to escape a fiery death.
And then the ground opened up directly in front of them. A chasm ten feet wide appeared, threatening to swallow their vehicle whole. The driver swerved just in time to miss the deep crevice, but one wheel snagged, dropping the back end to the axle, and the ATV refused to move any further.
"Get out," Manning yelled, "and run for it!"
The three made it to the tree line before the crevice swallowed the ATV, but they still had to dodge fireballs and burning trees as they crashed to the ground. To add to their worries, the air was becoming nauseous, and thick with smoke. Coughing as they tried to shield their eyes, they ran onward, hoping they wouldn't accidentally stumble into an open chasm.
It was then that the Darwis attacked from the forest. Fully a dozen of the man-like creatures came out of the trees before anyone saw them, some running on two back legs, others on all fours. Two of the monsters fell on Colonel Peterson without warning, and when she screamed, Cooper and Manning turned quickly to assist their commander, only to be met by savage attack themselves. It was then that Cooper remembered leaving the spear in the vehicle when they abandoned it.
Pulling the deadly ray pistol from its holster at his side, Cooper fired quickly, killing one of the creatures that had attacked him, then he turned and fired at the two that were grappling with the commander, firing almost point blank. Just as she was released, the commander pulled her ray gun and fired towards Manning, killing a monster that had grasped him from behind.
But the fight wasn't over. Man-like lizards continued pouring from the trees, attacking the three that were now huddled close together for protection, their backs to each other, guns aimed at the attackers. The laser guns were very effective, slicing through skin, scale, and hearts, killing the monsters as they came forward. But there were only two weapons against many creatures, and the smoke made it terribly hard for them to see the attackers until the Darwis were already on top of them, their teeth and claws slashing with cruel intent.
When it was finally over, fully two dozen monsters were scattered around the little battlefield, dead or dying. And the humans had to be careful as they stepped over the fallen lizards, as they couldn't be sure they were dead.
Reaching the swamps, they found another hazard confronting them. The volcanic flow from below was causing great geysers of steam to shoot out of the lakes and mud pools, and the scalding spray from the eruptions was extremely hot and gaseous.
Just as they thought they had reached the safety of the surrounding desert, a giant Gorgon, fully twelve foot in length, came out of nowhere suddenly, its long saber tooth-like tusks reaching for them. Both the colonel and Cooper had already re-holstered their deadly ray guns in order to run unhampered, and the creature was upon them before either could draw a weapon.
Without hesitation, Manning smiled as he said, "Everyone has a purpose," and stepped between the monster and his shipmates. The dragon-like predator cramped its jaws over the small engineer, sinking its tusks into his chest as it shook the human viciously.
The colonel and Cooper both fired their lasers at the same time, killing the terrible beast with twin beams of deadly ray. But rushing to the body of the engineer, they found that his life had been forfeited to save theirs.
"Why did you do it, pal?" Cooper screamed at the dead man.
"He can't hear you, Major," Colonel Peterson groaned. "He's dead."
"We can't leave him here for the lizards to eat," Cooper said, as he lifted his friend in a fireman's grip and started carrying his dead weight into the desert.
"There's another vehicle at the spaceship," the commander said, "we can come back for him."
"No!" Cooper insisted. "I can manage. The little guy doesn't weigh much, anyway."
Colonel Peterson watched her second in command carrying the little engineer, and remembered the military creed that ‘we leave no one behind’. Major Cooper was proving to be a stanch friend.
They had to stop several times to allow Cooper to rest for a few minutes, but he refused to go on without their companion. Though the volcano was still spewing deadly fumes and ash, the thundering rumble underground appeared to have ceased for now.
It was a long journey on foot, but they eventually made it back to Galileo Two and refuge from the elements.
Chapter Nineteen
A New World
The burial of the engineer was a somber occasion, and the two survivors knelt and said a few words over him as they said goodbye to their final crewmember.
"I find myself not even questioning his God any more," Cooper laughed. "I guess it no longer matters what we think, or if he was right or wrong. God or no God, I don't think it is up to us any more."
"We'll beat this world yet," Colonel Peterson told him. "I'm not ready to put my destiny in the control of someone—or some thing else. I will be the one that guides my own path."
Looking at her closely, Cooper had to admire the commander's spunk. She wasn't a quitter, and she was certainly strong willed. He understood now how she had achieved her high rank in a man's world, both as an officer and a fighter pilot. He knew that she would never be subservient to him or any man.
Smiling, he nodded, "I pity this world if it doesn't come around to your way of thinking, Colonel.
"But right now, I think it would be best if we left Pangaea to the beasts, and go inside the ship. Darkness will likely bring the Gorgons around soon, and I'm too tired to fight any more of them tonight."
Nodding her head, she said, "I thought we were experiencing that mass extinction we've been talking about out there today, Major. The world did look like it was close to extinction for a while."
"We showed it, though, didn’t we?" he laughed. "We fought back, and the Darwis lost."
"This round," she said. "I have a feeling there'll be more rounds, though. And we may not fare so well the next time."
Shaking his head, Cooper laughed, "I'll stack you against the whole Darwi species, Colonel, and I bet you'll win every time!"
"Why, Major, is this a new you?" she asked. "I'm not sure I like you this way. I was just getting used to your vulgar insinuations."
"Really?" he grinned. "Say, where are you going to sleep tonight?"
"Alone," she snapped.
"It's good having you back, Colonel," he laughed.
Sleep didn't come easy for either of them that night, though. Both had much to think about, and most of it involved their current situation, and the future that awaited them both. To a degree, there was no longer any individuality. Now they were two, and they had to rely on each other for everything. They had to be doctor, cook, and inventor, if they were going to survive without help. But the one subject neither wanted to think about kept them awake the longest.
That morning, at breakfast, neither looked directly at the other, and both ate in silence, each with their own thoughts and concerns.
"I may return to the swamps today," he said after breakfast, "and retrieve the spear I lost yesterday."
"It's probably lost for good," she told him. "It was in the vehicle when it went into the crevice. Besides, you can make another one, if you really want one."
"I know," he said. "But I'm curios about the damage to the forest, and wanted to see about the ATV anyway."
"I don't guess it would hurt if we had a look," she agreed. "But no exploration today, we just look for the ATV, that's all."
"Yes, ma'am," he smiled.
Entering the forest later that day they saw complete chaos everywhere they looked. Great gorges had been created by the splitting earth as the crevices formed during the quakes. The lakes had poured out their contents, leaving the water-bound fishes to die on the dry bottoms. A natural dam had formed on the river, where the land bridge had once been, causing the river to spread out even wider at that point, and a small waterfall wa
s created by the change.
When the ATV had been swallowed by the giant crevice, they thought the vehicle was probably lost for good. The ground had now closed again, leaving only a back wheel of the vehicle exposed, so they at least knew where it was. There was no sign of Cooper's spear, nor any of the equipment kept under the back seat.
Dimetrodon and crocomanders were plentiful in the area, as were the frogs, lizards, and various amphibians, including the Seymouria and Gorgons. There was no evidence of the Darwis in the area, but they weren't sure if the creatures had been wiped out, or just relocated after the recent catastrophe.
Trees had been flattened, or burned by the flaming rock and ash from the volcano. Although the shallow lakes had been drained, the surrounding grassland was flooded with lake and river water. The mud pools were thriving with activity, not only thick with giant worms, but amphibians and other water-born creatures that had been washed from the lakes.
Colonel Peterson drove the ATV around the edge of the forest while Cooper kept an eye out for any possible danger. However, the giant predators paid them little attention today, instead they appeared to be returning to their natural behavior.
"Have you seen enough?" the commander asked.
"I think so," Cooper told her. "There's nothing we can do about the ATV we lost. I imagine a lot of these creatures died during the eruption of the volcano, but their carcasses likely provided meals for the ones that survived."
As they headed back toward the spaceship, they noticed clouds building to the west, and the colonel said, "Looks like another storm building off the coast. If it's like the last hurricane, we'll be in for another period of isolation."
Nodding his head, Cooper agreed, "I can feel moisture in the air all ready. It's being sucked out of the ocean and taken aloft. We'll be in for a big blow in a couple of days."
"It's a good thing we have a store room full of MREs," she grinned.
"We'll always have those damn things," he laughed.
Approaching the Galileo Two, Cooper suddenly pointed at a small, dark object lying on the ground some distance from the ship."What's that?" he asked.