by Hoover, Gary
John didn’t stop to think it through. He drew his vibro-blade and charged in. As he neared Nahima, vines wrapped around his legs. He reached down and quickly cut them as they latched onto him, but more came as quickly as he could cut them. John worked frantically to cut vines from himself and Nahima, but it seemed he was fighting a losing battle.
Jeff grabbed Dave’s huge knife from his belt and charged in.
As he ran toward them, he saw everything move in slow motion, but the vines were still coming at a good pace. John was being overwhelmed and pulled away from Nahima. For every vine he cut, three more wrapped around him.
Jeff initially headed for Nahima but decided that if he could free John first, he and his vibro-blade could help with Nahima.
Jeff started hacking at the vines wrapped around John’s arms, and that allowed John to continue working with his own blade. Jeff felt vines constricting around his legs. He cut those as quickly as he could and tried to split his time between himself and John.
“N-A-H-I-M-A”, John said. His voice was freakishly slow and low-pitched to Jeff.
“I’ll try to get us clear, and then we can both help Nahima,” Jeff said.
John responded with a confused expression, and Jeff realized his hyper-fast voice was probably difficult to understand. He didn’t try to make himself better understood but focused on cutting vines as quickly as he could. They have to be limited, he thought. Eventually we’ll have cut all the ones close enough to reach us.
It seemed there were fewer coming, and the ones that were still grasping limbs were shorter and weaker. Jeff glanced at Nahima and got a sick feeling in his stomach as he saw her body wrapped in a cocoon of vines. Her face showed extreme distress as she gasped for air.
Jeff tried to increase his already frenetic pace. He was nearly completely free. He worked to free John who had his arms re-pinned and was in danger of becoming completely wrapped. Jeff freed John’s arms and then worked his way down his legs. As he worked, Jeff could feel vines at his feet trying to latch on, but they weren’t long enough to wrap and get a good hold.
He was able to free John and help him to his feet, and then the two of them rushed to Nahima. Jeff reached her first and worked as fast as he could. She appeared on the verge of losing consciousness.
Then John joined him and worked on the ones that were closest to her body as Jeff hacked at the larger ones.
Nahima gasped and tried to get air into her lungs, but Jeff recognized the panicked desperate look of someone trying to refill their lungs while feeling that the air wouldn’t come.
Because she seemed to be moving in slow motion to Jeff, it was even more extended and difficult to watch than it would have been in real-time.
“Easy, easy,” Jeff said but realized his comically fast voice probably wouldn’t have the intended soothing effect.
She was finally able to get some air and worked desperately to regain her breath as Jeff and John finished removing vines. When she was nearly free, Jeff pulled her away from the vines, and John cut off the few that were still clinging.
“Are you okay?” Jeff asked.
Nahima nodded but didn’t speak as she continued to regain her breath.
Chapter 62:
As they continued their hike, Nahima trailed behind the others, and Jeff stayed back with her to make sure she was okay. She stepped over a log, stumbled and nearly lost her balance. Jeff rushed to her and put a hand under her arm to support her. She shook his hand off and shot him a dirty look.
“I don’t need any help,” she said through gritted teeth.
“You know for a woman, you can act an awful lot like a man at times,” Jeff said.
Nahima glared at him. He just smiled back sheepishly. As she looked at his goofy face, she couldn’t help smiling herself.
“Yeah.” She continued walking and tried to pick up the pace to prevent the others from getting away. “I guess I’ve spent too much time around men. And men tend to be tough on the outside and softer on the inside… which, I guess, is better than some women who are the opposite.”
Jeff hadn’t really intended to get into a discussion of men versus women and tried to think of a way to change the subject. Fortunately, Nahima did it for him.
“Thanks for helping me out back there,” she said.
Jeff nodded then pointed at John who was at least 100 feet ahead of them and nearly out of sight through the trees. “He’s the one who really did it. He jumped right in when I was still afraid and hesitating.”
“Yeah, well… ” Nahima said with an awkward expression. “I don’t know if I’m ready to thank him just yet. But you and me… we’re good.” She looked at him and smiled sincerely. “I’m sorry I let my anger with him spill over on you.”
Jeff nodded and smiled. “Thanks, that means a lot to me.”
“I think this is it,” Dave announced from a small clearing ahead. “I think this is a good spot to stop for the night.”
Nahima and Jeff caught up with the others and dropped their packs in a pile. Dave wasn’t wasting any time and dug through the packs for tent components. Within a matter of minutes, he had erected the large, simple shelter. There was room in the tent for six or seven to sleep comfortably, and since Benji would sleep outside and someone would be on watch at any time, there would be more than enough space.
Jeff helped Nahima and Rasp gather firewood in an attempt to make himself useful. They wanted to have enough to keep a healthy fire going all night. He collected a small armful, dropped it on the growing pile then went back for more.
After getting the easiest, most obvious pieces, finding good, dry wood of an appropriate size became more difficult. Jeff found one good sized piece and lifted it. As he did, a number of large insects scurried from under it and quickly disappeared beneath other cover.
Jeff saw another promising chunk and found it served as shelter for a large lizard – about ten inches long. It hissed loudly at Jeff and its head, which had been brown to match the rest of its body, quickly turned to a bright, crimson red. Jeff dropped the wood and backed slowly away.
“Do you think that’s enough firewood?” Dave asked Jeff while pointing at the large pile.
Jeff shrugged. “I don’t know. Why are you asking me?”
“You’re taking the first shift, right?”
Jeff thought Dave had been kidding earlier, but as he looked him in the eye, he was fairly certain Dave was serious.
Jeff looked at the large pile of wood. “I think we could use some more,” he said and went back to continue searching.
Chapter 63:
Jeff stared into the fire as he absentmindedly tossed another stick onto it. He could see an image of his father. He was on a simple wooden chair in some sort of force bubble.
He’s here. I know it! And he knows how to get us home.
The image shifted to the leering visage of Pheerion Rex. That image made Jeff shiver, though the fire kept him relatively warm in the chilly evening air.
I can sense how manipulative and powerful he is. Is he…
Jeff had a sudden, frightening concern.
Is he manipulating me?
Jeff could sense that Pheerion Rex had some access to and control over the forces that gave him his powers.
I’ve believed that he tricked my father into coming here, but am I the one being tricked? Dad is obviously smarter and more worldly than I am. What if he’s not even here? Jeff felt a surge of panic wash over him.
Then he heard a sound that brought him back to more immediate concerns.
His head snapped to the right, and his hand went to his bat as he heard what sounded like something large moving – close but far enough away to be hidden behind the trees. He let go of the bat and lifted an illumination device, aiming the powerful beam in the direction of the sound he had heard.
He couldn’t see anything but trees and other vegetation. He swept the light back and forth and saw insects gathering and swirling in the beam. Nothing… at least that I can s
ee. He continued sweeping the beam for several more minutes and used his free hand to throw a sizable chunk of wood on the fire.
There was an eerie, disconcerting silence, and the insect and bird sounds that had been constant had become greatly reduced. The hair on the back of Jeff’s neck stood up, and he began breathing rapidly.
Gradually the normal forest sounds returned, and Jeff switched off the beam – both to conserve power and avoid making a target of himself.
He exhaled and checked if he could see his breath in the firelight, but he couldn’t. He pulled his jacket tight around his neck – more of a nervous reflex than need. He could feel the heat of the fire on his face, but his hands and feet weren’t getting as much of its warmth. He put the light down and extended his hands toward the fire.
There was another sound – more to Jeff’s left than right that time. He switched the light on nearly immediately and pointed it in the direction of the sound but still couldn’t see anything other than trees. The eerie silence had returned. Jeff found himself wondering if that was in response to some creature beyond the trees or his own movement and light.
Jeff heard the unmistakable sound of something large behind him. He leapt to his feet, turned and drew his bat with one fluid movement.
He found himself facing John who raised his hands and opened his mouth in slow motion. Jeff relaxed, and John sped up to normal speed.
“Whoa, easy, it’s just me,” he said. “I was having the same old annoying dream – where I’m hollowing out people’s bodies and using them as canoes to float down a river. It wasn’t so bad the first few times, but night after night, it just gets monotonous.”
Jeff turned and sat back down on the log he had been using as a bench.
John sat beside him and began preparing a smoke.
“Are those things healthy?” Jeff asked.
John smiled. “Healthy? Life isn’t healthy. We’re all terminally ill. My doctor gives me sixty, seventy years max and tells me the end will be awful. My brain and body will cease to function efficiently, and eventually simple tasks will become excruciating if not impossible. So I’m going to live it up while I still can.”
“Spoken like a young person,” Jeff responded.
John laughed as he lit his cigar. “Well at least I am a young person. What’s your excuse for acting like a depressed, bitter old man most of the time? Oh, yeah, right.” John raised his hands in a mocking gesture and spoke in an exaggerated imitation of Jeff. “Oh no, I’ve lost my father.”
John blew a long stream of smoke. “Welcome to life, kid. Get over it. There’s nothing magical and no happy endings. If you want that, stick to books… and make sure you read the end first so you’re not disappointed. Sometimes even those don’t end the way you want them to.”
Chapter 64:
Jeff managed to get a few hours of sleep between his shift and morning, but he was still very tired as they began walking again. He stumbled when his foot landed awkwardly on a large rock, paused to reposition his pack and then continued.
He scanned his surroundings not only for signs of motion, but after their experience with the vines, he also looked for any suspicious plant-life. He looked ahead at Rasp and then picked up his speed until he was beside him. “When we get to the pheerion village, is there anything special I should do or say?”
They walked in silence for a while as Rasp considered the question before speaking. “Talk… not much. Humanz talk too much without listening.”
Jeff nodded.
“Be… ” Rasp continued. “Not proud. Don’t act azz if you are… too smart. Not dumb… but… I’m not sure word.”
“You want me to be humble, not arrogant?”
“Yes,” Rasp said. Jeff could see his concentration as he tried to remember the words for future use. “Pheerionzz believe humanzz are arr-o-gant. You will imprezz them if you act not arrogant… humble. Be strong, but show strong by doing… not talking.”
“Something’s not right,” Jeff said suddenly and stopped walking.
The others also stopped and scanned their surroundings. They were in an area with scattered trees but otherwise light vegetation. Jeff couldn’t spot anything and eventually continued cautiously.
The group walked slowly with weapons drawn as they scanned the surrounding trees. Everyone seemed to sense that something was wrong.
Dave stopped and pointed. Jeff squinted and could see a huge cat seventy-five feet away and mostly obscured by a tree. It looked similar to a tiger but was nearly twice as large and with brown, tan and green stripes rather than orange and white.
Jeff’s heart began pounding. He gestured to the others to stay where they were as he took a few steps forward. He holstered his gun and drew his bat. He would be no match for the cat under normal circumstances, but he expected his new abilities would allow him at least to have a fighting chance if it came to that.
No matter how much confidence his logical mind had, his body reacted as it normally would to a massively powerful predator. His legs felt weak as he willed them to push him closer.
“I’m going to try to communicate with it,” Jeff said quietly to the others.
His abilities had allowed him to communicate with Benji when they first met, and while it didn’t work on low-level creatures like the crabs, he hoped it might for a more advanced animal like the cat.
As he approached, the cat stood its ground, watching him but not moving one way or the other. It made a low, guttural growl Jeff could understand as a warning.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Jeff said.
The animal became silent and listened as it moved away from the tree and turned to face Jeff.
“We’re just passing through. We don’t want to fight. We just want to continue on our way.”
The cat growled again. Jeff could register a mixture of comprehension and confusion. It understood what he said but was confused as to how it was possible.
“If you’ll just let us pass, we won’t hurt you.”
The cat walked toward Jeff while growling quietly.
The hair on the back of Jeff’s neck stood up.
He could understand the growls. The cat wasn’t the slightest bit afraid. It knew itself to be bigger, stronger and faster than Jeff and the members of his group. It intended to eat as many of them as it desired.
It was cold and emotionless. The cat neither feared them nor had any animosity toward them.
It was simply going to eat them.
There were no deeper thoughts than that.
Having that insight gave Jeff a kind of fear he had never experienced before.
Chapter 65:
Bigger and stronger maybe… but faster?
Jeff rushed directly toward the cat. As he did so, he saw it begin to rear, ready a paw for striking and bare its enormous teeth – all in slow motion.
Jeff moved to the side and got around behind the cat. He considered jumping on its back to try to get his bat around its neck in a strangling position. That might not be smart. If I engage it physically, anything could happen. I could lose my balance; the cat might be able to twist around…
Jeff realized he needed to treat those paws, teeth and muscled, agile body with extreme respect.
He kept a safe distance while the enormous tiger turned 180 degrees to face him.
Jeff tensed, preparing to move quickly if the cat charged.
It didn’t.
It looked him in the eye and growled, and Jeff could tell then that its confidence had been shaken. It had probably never seen an animal move so quickly, and it had one in front and several more behind.
Jeff could tell it wasn’t quite afraid, but it was less sure than it had been.
Jeff had serious concerns himself. I haven’t fought anything nearly as dangerous as this. This is a skilled and intelligent animal designed to kill. One mistake and…
Jeff looked at the tiger and considered his next move. They were separated by about ten feet. The cat could likely cover that distanc
e with one quick lunge.
Jeff didn’t want to wait and end up on the defensive, so he took the initiative. He lunged forward and the cat responded by backing up awkwardly and nearly losing its balance.
Jeff didn’t continue his advance, and the cat carefully moved away to put some more distance between them.
The two of them continued to face each other. Jeff feared a stalemate. Neither of them seemed anxious to engage in a physical contest and really find out which one would win.
There was a good-sized boulder several feet to Jeff’s right. He decided to take a chance at something and took a few slow steps toward the boulder.
When he was within range, he raised his bat over his head and brought it down on the boulder with all the force he was able to manage.
When the bat contacted the boulder, there was an ear-numbing sound as the boulder shattered into several pieces.
Jeff looked at the cat and tried not to look too impressed that his display had gone better than he expected.
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I have to.”
The cat continued to look at him for several more tense moments, and then it turned and began to walk casually away. It looked back over its shoulder several times and then picked up speed as it disappeared into the forest.
Chapter 66:
Jeff motioned to Dave to indicate he wanted to have a private word with him.
“I don’t want to upset the others, but there’s something I thought you should know,” Jeff said very quietly so that only Dave could hear. “When I was fighting the cat, it was able to communicate some things.”
Dave listened and nodded but didn’t speak.
“It was just a scout. There are others… a lot of others.” Jeff paused and looked around. “They hunt in groups and the others just held back… waiting.”
Dave looked around nervously.
“What we saw wasn’t the attack at all. It was just here to gauge us. When the others come, they’ll come in force.”