Telto looked over her shoulder to see Timus running in the wrong direction. She yelled at Timus to turn, but she did not hear or look back to see Telto frantically waving her toward the priests.
If only Timus had not panicked and run the wrong way.
Adumie was strong and healthy, a good runner. Even if he didn’t have a spear, he hoped he would make it in time. He thought to distract the monster until the others arrived.
The tupilak quickened its steps. Its four paws moved in rhythm with each other.
Two chovis, Poulas and Addle, ran with Timus. They yelped, encouraging her to run faster. They even tried to redirect her steps toward the priests. Timus stumbled over them, almost lost her footing, but kept going. Fur boots were made to keep one’s feet warm, not to run in. Timus’ arms pumped her forward, but the heavy boots slowed her.
The monster was gaining. All it had to do was lunge and the two would plunge into the water. Timus would be lost.
Furious chovis seemed small and ineffective beside the tupilak. They nipped at paws almost the size of their heads. It ignored them and kept going.
Poulas jumped on the tupilak and tried to dig her teeth into the thick muscle at the top of the tupilak’s back. With one shake of its massive body, Poulas slid off.
Priests also wore fur boots, which slowed their running.
Adumie feared they would not be in time. “Please, God,” he prayed, “not Timus.” His heart could not stand another death. Not this day. Not ever again.
The tupilak’s right paw swiped at its victim’s legs, but missed.
Timus leaped and yelped in fear.
Poulas and Addle ran in between the tupilak and Timus. The monster snapped at Addle. The chovis bounded out of the way and landed on Poulas. They tumbled to the side. Immediately, Poulas was up, running and snapping.
Addle shook her head as if trying to clear her thoughts. Instead of joining in the chase, she sat with her tongue hanging out and watched.
Timus was running out of energy. Her next step crumbled. She fell forward. Arms flayed as she tried to keep her balance. She landed hard on her stomach. For a moment, Timus looked as if she had been knocked out, but then she scrambled to get up.
A large paw slapped at her, knocking her feet up in the air. Her forehead bounced off the ice. The sea creature used both of its front paws to swipe at Timus, playing with her. It spun her around and rolled her over.
Terror distorted Timus’ face. Her eyes bulged as if they might pop out. Timus raised her hands in an effort to ward the creature away.
Adumie’s heart pounded. “Please, God, NO.” He ran harder.
A priest’s aim with a spear was true and could bring the creature down. Chovis leapt around and onto the tupilak. They were in the way. One could not get a clear shot. The tupilak easily whacked at the chovis, sending one spinning off. Immediately, they came back to defend Timus. Poulas again leapt onto the side of the monster. She clawed her way up its back. The tupilak rose and easily shook Poulas off.
Poulas unceremoniously dropped off. She twisted around just in time to land on all fours and strike again.
Adumie saw a spear fly at the tupilak. The spear should have caught the creature in its right side, penetrating its lung. But at that same moment, the tupilak lunged forward, with jaws wide opened, and sank its teeth into Timus’ stomach.
The spear swished into the animal’s back shoulder.
Timus screeched in terror and pain, then abruptly quieted. She lay in shambles on the ice. Was she already dead? Were they too late?
Four more spears flew at the creature, but missed. One spear caught a chovis in the hind leg. It cried in pain. Chovis scattered out of the way.
Two more spears sliced into the tupilak’s side. It roared in aggravation as it turned from its meal. With one paw, it reached around its side and snapped the two spears free, but it couldn’t reach the one in its shoulder. It swayed with the creature’s movements.
Chovis again crowded around, leaping up at the tupilak, making it difficult for one to throw any more spears.
Standing on its hind legs, the tupilak tried to reach the spear in its back, but couldn’t. Now priests had a clear target. Three spears found their mark, one in the tupilak’s right chest and two in the stomach. The monster lifted its giant head, and roared as if the sound of its fury would ward off those attacking.
The creature was a fearsome sight.
The tupilak clawed at the spears in its stomach. They too snapped off. The sea creature came down and slapped a paw down, crushing the back of a chovis. It yelped once in pain and died. The monster rose again and gave a mighty howl. But it seemed less fearsome. The spears had wounded it.
Finally, Adumie reached the creature and threw himself at it. He grew in height. The seams of his pants were stretched to their limit. It was a disgrace to force one’s pants to rip open, but Adumie didn’t care and he doubted if anyone else would. Timus’ life was at stake.
Jaws snapped at Adumie. Somehow he managed to stay out of its reach. He smelled sweet copper, Timus’ blood. He saw fresh pink meat between its teeth, Timus’ flesh.
All his frustration, all his sorrow, all his hate took over. Adumie had the strength of the tupilak.
The claws of its left paw raked across his back, but he didn’t feel the pain. The monster pushed Adumie away and turned again to Timus.
Adumie jumped on the animal’s back. He grabbed the spear in its shoulder with both hands and twisted. Its left front leg went limp and it fell, slamming its left shoulder into the ice.
As he rolled free, Adumie held onto the spear. It threatened to wrench from his hands. He tightened his grip. The spear left the beast’s shoulder with a sickening sucking sound.
The animal rose with a furious roar of pain and anger.
Adumie also rose to his feet. The creature was too close to use the spear. He dropped it and raised his hands in time to catch the creature’s one good paw as it swung toward his face. He twisted the arm between them as a shield to keep those jaws from ripping into him.
Then a thought came and everything slowed down, giving him time to think.
All Adumie had to do was loosen his grip, just a little. The tupilak’s arm would be free, giving the jaws room to strike. Its claws would rip his chest and stomach. The creature might drag him into the water. Timus would be saved.
No one would know that he had given up. They would not believe he would do such a thing, but they would believe that he would sacrifice himself to save Timus.
He could loosen his grip, just a little. It would all be over within seconds. Everything would be someone else’s problem.
He could, but his hands would not. He could not force them to obey.
Moving at full force, Cameron flew under his arm, smashing into the tupilak.
The creature fell on its back.
As Adumie stumbled, he bent to pick up the spear, stood and readied to strike.
Sensing the kill, chovis yelped louder. They bit at and pulled out chunks of fur and skin, and spit them on the ice.
Back claws raked at Cameron. Only his fur pants protected his legs.
Holding the spear in both hands, Adumie quickly moved around the monster and slammed the spear into its heart. The tupilak went limp.
Cameron stood.
Chovis leaped on and off the creature in victory.
Several priests arrived at the same time. The tupilak’s paws lay lifelessly at its side. Its breath was shallow and raspy. Blood darkened its red coat and surrounding ice. It looked up at those standing over it. With one final act of defiance, it weakly growled.
The last priest to arrive thrust his spear in the animal’s heart next to Adumie’s.
The creature ceased to live.
Addle leaped onto the tupilak’s stomach and stood with her head held high as though she alone had brought it down.
Adumie turned to see Telto kneeling over her sister, holding her hand.
Barely breathing, Timus’ eye
s no longer focused.
Chovis circled Telto and Timus until they found a good place to lie down and silently watched the two. Poulas, the chovis who walked at Timus’ side, lay next to her and rested her head on Timus’ leg.
Adumie knelt to check the wound. It was deep. Part of the stomach muscles were missing or lay in shredded bits around Timus. Her bowels were badly ripped and hung outside her body. Vital fluids seeped into her exposed wound and onto the ice to mingle with her blood.
Once again, God had not answered his prayer. Adumie slumped to the ice. He looked into Telto’s worried face, and shook his head.
Telto knew and drew a weary sigh. She did not cry. Not now while Timus needed her to be strong, but later when the truth of the event and the realization that this was the last of her immediate family fully sunk in, Telto’s emotions would come.
All the priests and fishers gathered around the two and waited in silence with Telto for Timus’ last breath.
They did not bring the body back to Endurance. Telto lifted Timus and carried her to the water’s edge. Telto knelt and gently dropped Timus into the water. Timus’ chovis, Poulas, jumped in, following her into the water.
As Timus’ body sank and faded from sight in the clear water, Adumie noted there were no yellow funeral cloth, no moss mat, no flute, no singing, and no words spoken.
CAPTAIN’S LOG
Akiane Colony
Captain Faris Assetti
Year 2144
Day 156 - 5 months on planet
The ground is thawing; nights are warming. This land is harsh and desolate. There are no trees, not even a blade of a weed sticking out of the snow. Except for my dog Harrie, there is no wildlife. No sounds other than the ones we make. The quiet is unsettling.
The only good is the star with plenty of light and the hope it will one day bring life in the form of native plants. I have named it Kahair, Arabic for good.
The main ships are no longer two separate ships, but one colony. We have built several passageways at different levels to make moving from one to the other easier.
We are learning to work together for the good of everyone. People are dividing up according to their skills and likes such as: gardening produce; fishing; cleaning and gutting of fish; preparing and cooking meals; cleaning up afterward. We are learning who of us are better cooks, better farmers, and who are better fishermen.
Today we completed the base of the wall that will enclose the habitat. It should withstand the next gravitational storm. If it does not. . .
There is plenty of lava rock. We pulverize it into a fine dust and make lava concrete. We have formed meter-long hexagons, which fit perfectly together.
Fear creeps in, fear that we will not succeed, or that the next gravitational storm will destroy all we have built. Seventeen people decided this new life was too overwhelming. They took the easy way out, the coward’s way, and committed suicide.
I have declared that it is not good to dwell on what could happen, but rather on the possibilities of a successful future.
Sometimes it seems that all we do is work. The habitat must be finished before winter returns in five years. If I do not push, I fear it will not be finished in time.
Father Striken says we need some relief. It’s not as if we can go on vacation. He says I should declare a holiday, a reason for celebrating, but there is so much to do. We need to begin building scaffolding from the left over parts of Hawk’s main engine casing so we can start on the wall.
Faris’ Speech
Faris climbed up onto the base and walked along its length for several meters. She stopped and turned to face the crowd of people gathered below her.
“This is a moment of pride,” she said.
The crowd gladly agreed.
She was proud of them, those who had chosen to fight for what they wanted and refused to fail. “We should be overjoyed of what we have accomplished so far. We have endured much.” Faris projected her voice for all to hear. “But we are prevailing. We have finished the base of the dome.”
Cheers.
A sleeping baby, startled by the sudden exultation, cried out in objection.
“Yes,” Faris said, with a wide smile, “let’s not forget all of our greatest accomplishments. In the five months we have been here, 23 children have been born. Evidently, the colony was truly started aboard ship.”
Laughter.
“We must now work on the wall so it will be finished before winter returns.”
The crowd became sober.
“But we will start tomorrow.” Faris raised her voice and loudly declared, “Today we eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we work.”
The crowd erupted into cheers, cries of startled babies, laughter, and music. Soon there was dancing.
Personal Log
I cannot help but be proud of all we have accomplished. WSC should be similarly pleased.
I am torn between wanting to stay and see this colony succeed and returning to Earth.
I have left so much behind. Things I do not have here like friends and a trusted companion I can truly confide in.
If I return, I will leave much behind here. The beginnings of a new world, starting from scratch, literally from the ground up. Back on Earth, I could only read reports. It would be nothing like actually being a part of the colony’s history.
Insha'Allah I must trust Allah and place my life in His hands to help me make such a monumental life decision.
Chapter 15
Olivia’s Problems
Day Two
OLIVIA AND her crew of five had brought six large aquaria in six oversized wooden boxes almost three meters long and two meters high, including the stand, and a little less than half a meter wide. The aquaria were to hold seawater and marine life for her research.
“Why six?” I’d asked. “And why so large?”
“Not all marine life is compatible, Jessica,” she said testily.“They tend to eat one other. I have to keep them separate. The aquaria are large so the fish have room to swim.”
It made sense, but it seemed like a lot of work to bring all that water and fish from the ocean to here. I was glad it was her project and not mine.
“The aquaria crates won’t fit neatly into the cabinet wall,” someone said.
“We could leave them out,” one of Olivia’s teammates, Kai, volunteered.
“We have little room as it is. It would be better if we could incorporate them in with the rest of the crates,” Jorg said.
“What if we use them for the base?” Kai suggested.
And so it was agreed. The aquaria were unpacked. The crates were placed on the floor, lengthwise, against the wall on the work area side of the room.
That first night was rough. Most people slept in their clothes. I laughed to myself at all the whining. Even so, I’d never have admitted it to the civilians, but I was glad for their whining and the change in our living arrangements.
If they had been military, they might have been expected to live all together for their entire stay. But the captain was gracious.
Before lights out, he’d sent a team to install rods and curtains over the shower drains so each stall had its own privacy. Dorm walls would come the next day.
By midmorning of the next day, Britannia sent fabricated walls for the dorm area, but not a construction crew. It was up to us to make all improvements.
We divided the dorm room into three parts: one each for men and women, and one for couples. The couples’ section was then divided into three smaller rooms.
But as the dorm walls were being installed, Olivia quietly disappeared with her team. They took the opportunity to assemble her aquaria in the middle of the work area. She wasn’t considerate enough to place them against the wall. She placed them in the middle of the workspace, right where other people planned to set up their research workstations.
The aquaria were made of metal frames, thick clear acrylic walls and a metal stand. Two already stood side by side with enough space to co
mfortably walk between them. Olivia was just starting on the third when someone noticed what she was doing and loudly complained. Her aquaria would take up most of the work area unless someone stopped her.
“I have to observe from all four sides,” she exclaimed.
“But did you have to take up all the work area?” I yelled.
Everyone was standing around us. No one was happy.
“Move them,” I ordered.
“I can’t. They’re too heavy,” she yelled back.
“Then take them apart and rebuild them,” I said.
“I can’t. We glued them together.”
“And why did you do that?” I demanded. I knew. She didn’t want us to force her to move them. She wanted them to stay right where they were.
“It makes them stronger,” she said. “They’ll be holding large volumes of water.”
“Well, you’re not building any more. Two are plenty,” I said.
“You’re not the boss. I can do as I please.” Olivia held her head high in defiance even though, she was a full 5 centimeters shorter than me. It wasn’t much of a height difference, but she was so full of herself, I guess she thought she was more intimidating if she stretched to her full height. She wasn’t.
She took a step closer and looked up at me. “I’m assembling them and there is nothing you can do about it.”
I took a step closer. “I’ll find a hammer and smash them,” I promised.
“You wouldn’t!” Her eyes narrowed, threatening.
“To whom would you complain?” I asked.
“I have plenty of picks and hammers among my equipment,” Gino volunteered with a little chuckle. “You may have your choice, Jessica, my dear.”
Olivia gave him one of her all too familiar glares, then she turned to look at the others. The atmosphere was one of anger. No one would defend her. Even her teammates had deserted her. They’d stepped away from her and the aquaria. They knew she was wrong. I imagined they’d tried to convince her, but she wouldn’t be deterred. If she built all six, there’d be little room left for anyone else.
She was one person I would not miss when I left this place. Olivia only thought about herself. As long as she was happy, no one else mattered.
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