by Aaron Hubble
It was her turn to do what she did best. Gripping her rifle, she looked in the mirror one more time, pulled up the hood, and ceased to be Ammaya, the Ma’Ha’Nae woman, and became Ammaya the Ma’Ha’Nae huntress.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Things were definitely looking up.
Two days of full meals had returned strength to Calier’s legs. There was surprising bounce in his step. He wasn’t the only one feeling better. Conversation had returned, at least to some degree. There remained an oppressive pall over the group, the result of Nasia’s and Tehome’s deaths, but the group was pushing on. Calier felt they hadn’t had significant time to mourn the loss of those men who had become friends, but time wasn’t a luxury they could afford right now. Perhaps when they reached the cave, and the group was able to take a breath, then maybe they would be able to properly work through all of the horrors they’d faced.
The forest had opened up over the last day, allowing the sun to shine through. Maltoki and Denar had also seen a little luck while hunting, taking down a small woodland antelope and several large rodents. They had made a tasty stew supplemented with a few edible mushrooms and more nuts.
“Heads up, Professor!” Maltoki’s voice came a second after something flew over Calier’s head followed by a galloping umbaku ridden by the young teenager Anoki. Calier watched the teen lean over the neck of the umbaku and snag a ball out of the air. Turning around, Calier saw Maltoki standing with arms raised triumphantly. In one hand he held a crossbow.
“Yeah! That’s how it’s done, Anoki! Nice catch.” Maltoki pumped his fist and then saw Calier looking at him. “What?”
“What? Are you kidding me?” Calier said in an exasperated tone. “By all that is good and right in Aereas, what are you doing?”
“Bow ball,” Maltoki said as if it was the most logical thing in the world. “The kid’s a natural athlete and all this walking was getting a little monotonous. So we wrapped a rock in some socks and rigged up the crossbow to shoot it. Then we keep track of who catches the most on the umbaku.” Maltoki smiled. “Wanna try?”
“No, I like my bones all unbroken, thank you very much. Are Bormar and Sulhan okay with this?”
Anoki threw the makeshift ball back to Maltoki, who loaded it back into the crossbow. “Bormar was, but Sulhan hasn’t quit covering her eyes yet. But I think I caught her peeking through her fingers and cheering when Anoki caught one.”
“Why don’t you try to make it challenging this time?” Anoki said with a grin.
“Don’t get cocky, kid. I was just starting to like you.” Maltoki jogged past Calier and yelled at Anoki. “You better get on that umbaku, because this one is going long.” He raised the crossbow and squeezed off a shot sending the ball soaring through the air. Anoki whistled and dug his heels into the side of the umbaku, sending the animal plunging after the projectile.
Berit slid her arm through his. “Kids.”
“I have double the gray hair now than I did before I met that boy,” said Calier.
“Anoki?”
“No. The other kid. The one who should know better.”
Peals of laughter erupted from Berit. Her unexpected mirth infected him, and sent him into a fit of laughter. After several minutes, they collected themselves and wiped the tears from their eyes.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” she said, looking at him.
He nodded, watching Maltoki race after a launched ball from Anoki. “It does. It surely does.”
“We’re going to make it. I can feel it, Professor. We’re going to make it to your cave and then we’re going to start over.”
He nodded and smiled. He looked at her and she smiled back. Her smile faded as suddenly as it had appeared.
She stopped walking. “Something’s coming. I can hear it.”
They had walked into a clearing stretching for a distance in either direction. Berit began searching the sky and Calier followed her gaze.
Then he heard it too. The roar of engines filled the air around them as the umbaku whistled in panic, and the ominous black shape of an enemy ship filled the sky.
****
The air was filled with the panicked whistles of the umbaku, the frantic screams of the Am’Segid sojourners, and the terrifying popping sound of enemy gunfire.
The ship had come fast, dropping out of the sky before they knew it was there. The blast of air from its powerful thrusters bent the branches of the trees around them and sent dirt and debris swirling in the air. Calier shielded his eyes, trying to keep them clear.
He heard Ibris’s voice straining above the tumult of noise. “Run and keep running. Do not stop!”
Calier pushed Berit in front of him and yelled, “Get out of this clearing and into the thicker trees!” She nodded and took off.
Something whizzed past Calier’s ear. Twenty yards ahead of him he saw Mina pitch forward, crashing to the ground. He stopped and was almost run over by the panicked umbaku whose lead rope he still held in his hand. Mina was trying to regain her feet, but her limbs flailed and moved in a spasmodic, uncoordinated fashion. Berit diverted her course to try to help Mina. Calier followed her closely. He dropped to the ground beside Mina, whose glassy eyes looked into the sky.
“What’s wrong with her?” Berit said trying to steady Mina’s flailing limbs.
Calier saw something red on her neck. Taking a closer glance he saw it was a red-feathered dart. He pointed at the dart and yelled into Berit’s ear, “It’s a dart. There must be some sort of poison or tranquilizer in it. I’ll get her on the umbaku; you keep running toward the thicker trees.”
They were being tranquilized like animals. Animals that needed to be taken alive so they could be studied.
Or experimented upon.
He didn’t have time to ponder mysteries, not when there were soldiers shooting at them. Lifting Mina, he tugged on the lead rope of the umbaku and gave the command for it to kneel. He hoisted her up and onto the back of the animal, then slapped the flank of the umbaku and to get it moving toward the forest. He started running again, Berit a couple of feet in front of him. The violent wind from the backwash of the craft engines whipped the grass. Dirt erupted around him as projectiles from their weapons ripped into the soil. He covered his head and continued running toward the forest. On his left he saw Bormar go down, his chest torn by the guns of the aircraft.
Horror and the desire for self-preservation drove him forward. At the edge of the clearing he saw Maltoki, Denar and Ibris kneeling on the ground and aiming crossbows at the craft. They let fly with a volley that clanged harmlessly off the metal hull. The lead rope of his umbaku was violently pulled from his hand. The animal crumpled and crashed to the ground, its legs shot out from underneath it. Mina was thrown forward and tumbled like a rag doll into the grass. Calier tried to reach the woman, but weapons fire ripped through the grass around him and exploded a stump. The way was cut off and he cursed under his breath at his inability to reach Mina.
Chaos reigned.
Kan had seen Mina go down as well and ran toward her. A spray of red mist erupted from his abdomen as the man was cut down. Calier screamed and began to run toward Kan and Mina again, but someone gripped his arm and pulled him toward the trees. He saw Berit’s face pleading with him.
“We can’t save them, Calier! We need to go now!”
Her words cut through him and he knew she was right. Turning, he began following Berit toward the trees again. Weapons fire continued on all sides of him. There were the quick staccato bursts of an automatic rifle while underneath he heard the single reports of a much more accurate weapon. The pages of history books flashed into his mind: reports of highly skilled marksman who could decimate a company of soldiers before they even knew what had hit them. Now he was experiencing it firsthand.
Chan’ti and Emura passed out of the clearing and into the trees, disappearing from view under the dense foliage. A sigh escaped his lips.
Live on, little one, he thought.
More wea
pons fire roared behind him and he stumbled, tripping on a rock. He tumbled to the ground, losing his grip on Berit’s hand.
“Calier!” screamed Berit.
“Keep going!” he yelled at her. She didn’t listen, of course, and came back for him. She helped him to his feet, and Calier began running again. Berit pulled him toward the trees. An explosion in front of them rocked the ground and sent them careening into the grass. They lay stunned and motionless for several heartbeats. Calier pushed himself up and looked around frantically for the raven-haired woman who had become so important to him. He saw her sprawled in the grass several steps away.
He crawled toward her and tried to pull her to her feet. “Come on, Berit! We need to move!” Berit’s eyes were closed, and she mumbled incoherently. Standing, he tried to lift her, but he was weak from the explosion.
“Professor, look up!” yelled Maltoki.
He looked up in time to see two soldiers jump out of the hovering aircraft from an impossible height and land effortlessly, as if they had simply descended off one step to the next. Their faces were hidden behind visors as they began running toward him, weapons raised. The first stopped and trained his weapon on Calier.
Time seemed to slow down for Calier and the noise of the skirmish disappeared as the realization of what was about to happen struck him full in the face. He had looked down the muzzle of these weapons once before, in the hospital of Gadol City, and escaped. He didn’t think he would be so lucky again. There was almost a feeling of relief he wouldn’t need to continue on. Wouldn’t need to try so hard to keep himself and the others alive. It was exhausting, and all he really wanted was rest. Perhaps this was the best way, he thought. Surely someone could do a better job of leading than he had. Hopefully, the end would be quick.
Death moved in close only to be thwarted once again.
Calier saw the soldier drop his rifle and begin shaking his hand furiously. A crossbow bolt had impaled the black-gloved appendage. The world seemed to come back into focus for Calier; the harsh sounds of gunfire struck his ears, while the blast of the powerful aircraft engines threatened to knock him over. He was alive, having sidestepped death once again. Calier exhaled and almost smiled until he saw the wounded soldier stand and begin running toward him.
He let go of Berit’s hand, her arm dropping lifelessly to the ground, and a paralyzing panic coursed through his body. His first instinct was to run, because he didn’t know how to fight, but then he looked down at Berit and knew he would never leave her defenseless. Calier remembered the short sword he wore on his side. Drawing the weapon, he held it awkwardly, but stepped in front of the downed woman. He would defend her until he drew his last breath.
The man launched himself at Calier. The sword flashed up and across the helmet of the soldier. Vibrations traveled through the handle and stung Calier’s hand. The soldier tumbled out of the way and was back on his feet, advancing on Calier, the sword having no affect against the helmet. Calier swung at the man once again, but the soldier easily sidestepped the swipe and landed a lightning-quick jab to Calier’s jaw, sending him reeling to the ground. The sword had gone, careening far to his right, out of his reach. Dazed, Calier tried to push himself up from the ground, but a black boot caught him in the ribs. The wind rushed out of his lungs and he vainly tried to draw precious oxygen into his chest.
The soldier turned from him and moved toward Berit. Calier tried to yell, but no sound would come out of his mouth. This murderer was taking his adopted daughter.
The head of the soldier snapped up, but not in time. Two terrified umbaku thundered out of the grass and ran over the soldier, knocking him to the ground. The soldier lay supine on the ground and Calier stared in disbelief at what he had just seen.
Rough hands grabbed him and he looked up into the face of Ibris. Beside him, Maltoki had lifted Berit onto his shoulder and was already running toward the forest.
Assisted by Ibris, Calier willed his feet to move. They reached the trees and kept moving deeper into the darkness of the forest.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Calier followed Maltoki. He ran through the forest, branches whipping his face. Every breath was agony. Calier’s ribs were on fire where the man’s boot had connected with his side. His ribs had finally stopped aching from the first attack in the METS car three weeks ago. Now the pain was starting all over again. If his ribs weren’t broken, they were severely bruised. He tried to block out the pain and continue running.
They approached several downed trees and he saw Denar’s head pop up from behind them. He waved them over. Calier dove over the first log and tumbled to the ground, groaning in pain, clutching his ribs.
He looked up and saw Maltoki standing over Berit. She had regained consciousness and was holding her head in her hands, trying to recover from the blast that had rendered her unconscious. Calier crawled toward her.
“Berit, are you okay?”
She shook her head. “I think I’ll be fine.”
Calier breathed a sigh of relief.
Rohab was tending to Ibris, who had a deep gash on his arm. Blood soaked his shirt and dripped on the ground. She was applying pressure and wrapping the wound in a bandage.
Calier looked to Denar. “Any sign of them?”
Denar shook his head, but kept his eyes scanning the forest in front of him.
“Who did we lose?” Calier asked.
Ibris looked up. “I saw Kan and Bormar go down.”
“I tried to help Mina,” said Calier. “But the umbaku she was on was shot out from under her. I lost her after that.”
Rohab looked at Anoki and then at him. “Sulhan is missing as well.”
Calier closed his eyes. Four gone, four more lost to the invaders. He saw Maltoki move to Anoki’s side. The youth was staring at the ground with vacant eyes. Maltoki wrapped an arm around the teen and pulled him close.
Calier glanced around and spotted two adult umbaku and Chan’ti. The rest must have scattered into the forest. Very little of their supplies remained on the pack animals still with them. After finally having enough food to live on, it was all gone again.
He looked into the trees and strained his ears, but didn’t catch any noise indicating the soldiers were coming after them. Maltoki looked to him.
“I’m going back the way we came,” said Maltoki. “Somebody needs to see if they’re coming after us or if they’re content with their capture.”
Ibris shook his head. “No. It’s too dangerous. I don’t want to lose anybody else today.”
Maltoki climbed onto the back of one of the three remaining umbaku. “Sorry Ibris. I couldn’t hear what you were saying.” He whistled and the umbaku leapt off into the forest.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Is everyone here?”
Dillon looked around at his gathered men. “Is anyone hurt?”
“Kane has a boo-boo,” said Morris.
Kane held up his hand. A short arrow protruded through it. “Something bit me,” he said.
Dillon nodded. “Get that taken care of. We don’t know what kind of microbes are floating around in this air. The last thing we need is for you to blow up like a balloon and die on us.”
Kane moved off with another soldier who had offered his assistance.
Dillon turned to Parker and asked, “How did we do?”
Parker nodded to the prone figure lying on the ground. “We captured two females and killed two males. I guess that leaves fourteen who escaped.”
“Not bad, but we should have been able to get them all,” Dillon said. “For crying out loud, they were unarmed and we surprised them.”
“I think Kane would argue the ‘unarmed’ point,” Parker said.
“Alright, they were barely armed. The fact remains, they were outmatched.”
“We forgot to figure their animals into the equation,” Parker pointed out. “When they started stampeding and running wild, it created enough chaos that the indigenous were able to flee into the denser part of t
he forest.”
“Okay, point taken,” Dillon conceded. “We need to load these females. I’ll have Pilot hover and lower the sling.”
A tone interrupted Dillon. He touched the comm unit on his shoulder. “Yes, Pilot?”
“Commander, there is an incoming transmission from Colonel Shepherd.”
Dillon groaned. No matter how successful a mission, Shepherd always found something to scream about. They could have captured every indigenous in the forest and he would have asked why they hadn’t done it faster.
Parker chuckled. “Give my warmest regards to the colonel.”
Dillon flipped him off.
The Pilot’s voice sounded through his com. “Are you there, Commander? The colonel is becoming…agitated.”
Dillon sighed. “Put him through, Pilot.”
There was a moment of silence and then the harsh voice of the colonel stung Dillon’s ears. “Commander. Why are you in the middle of that godforsaken forest?”
“Sir, our orders were to patrol the forest and engage if we located any indigenous. Pilot picked up life signs and I gave the order…”
Shepherd cut him off. “I could care less what you ordered. Were you successful? Because if this was a sightseeing tour and you’ve wasted our time then you’ll be grounded when you return.”
Dillon ran a hand over his face. The challenge was keeping the frustration he felt for Shepherd out of his voice. “We captured two females and killed two males.”
There was a pause. “Were there more?”
He grimaced; he’d been hoping this question wouldn’t come up. “Yes, sir. Fourteen escaped into the forest. We’re in the process of loading our capture and coming back to base.”
“Belay that, Commander. Command is interested in the forest, but has been unable to get accurate scans. Since you seem to be conveniently located there as we speak, you’ve volunteered to go on a reconnaissance mission. While you’re at it, try to find those indigenous you lost.”