Under the Canopy

by Sorokin, Serg

  'What the…' I said under my breath and dropped into the chair. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The alien came to visit me.

  Meanwhile, R'lok stopped throwing rocks and took the flashlight out of his belt. He started flashing it right into the camera. The image blinked like stroboscope.

  I looked at him. R'lok looked rough, but not as repulsive as the first time. I remembered Heap, the old drunk, and his alienist masters. What if this man wanted my help? After the sawmill affair I had a bad taste in my mouth, like it was me who shot those natives. And he helped me in the pit. I drummed my fingers on the table and then decided to meet him eyes to eye. I got up and went for the rifle. The second rule, baby. However, when I opened the armory, I opted for a shotgun.

  On the way to the garage I realized the aliens couldn't be ignorant of the cabin's location. After all, it was their forest. I pushed the button, and the platform started its descent.

  The motors buzzed, the platform clicked as it went down, and I grabbed my weapon tighter. I could see the alien on the ground, he stopped signaling with the flashlight and was looking right at me. I must have looked imposing. Thunder-weapon in hand, coming down from the heavens. I almost expected him to sing Hosanna at me, but instead he waved. You know, like regular people do. When he raised his hand, I saw a shiny ax tucked into his belt. If the alien jumped at me, I would blow a hole through him or two. I instantly reproached myself for such alienist thoughts. He obviously had come in peace.

  The platform touched down. We looked at each other. Finally, I had a better look at him. R'lok was scarred, to put it mildly. He had cuts on his naked arms, neck and face. The covered parts of him probably had more marks. The eye wound looked like someone stuck a burning twig into his socket and dragged it to the side. The eye socket was torn open near the temple, giving his face asymmetrical look. The flesh around it froze in flesh bubbles. I checked the ax, it was a regular metal hatchet you can buy at any craft store. That added another level of weirdness to the whole situation.

  R'lok inspected me in turn, I could see his eye dart over my clothes and the shotgun. Then he spread his arms and dropped a quite elegant curtsy.

  'Hello, thundergod. My name R'lok.'

  'Hello,' I said and awkwardly smiled. 'My name is Wealder.' I still held the shotgun between us. 'Do you like my gift?'

  R'lok made another bow, waving the flashlight in the air. 'Yes, Wealder. Lightstick good and pretty.' He made a rotating palm gesture in the air. 'You like ax?'

  I remembered how I tripped over it. The scratch on the wall. 'Yes. I find it a beautiful piece of work.'

  He seemed a bit confused by that. Maybe, the alien didn't attach beauty aesthetics to the weapon. R'lok made a furtive glance at the muzzle of my shotgun. 'I come in peace,' he said, 'I seek help from you, thundergod.' He stopped waiting for a response. When none followed, he looked up.

  The ax made me remember another thing that should have jumped at me right away. I was looking at him, my eyes squinted, and the mouth slightly open. 'Answer me one thing, R'lok. Does it concern a weapon just like this one?' I shook the shotgun in my hands, still aiming.

  R'lok watched the black muzzle dancing before him. Then he turned and looked into my face. 'Yes,' he said.

  I was thunderstruck, but tried not to show it. I felt for the trigger. 'Did you take it from me? Answer honestly, R'lok.'

  R'lok obviously saw the change of mood in me. I was ready for anything, but what he did next. R'lok dropped on his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground. 'Do not destroy me, o mighty thundergod. I but humble man and would never dare to cross you.'

  I saw the shriveled figure before me and remembered the warrior I saved. The alien was stepping over himself to stay on my good side, possibly embarrassing himself. I felt sorry for him and lowered the shotgun.

  'Get up, R'lok,' I said. 'Let's talk like men.'

  R'lok glanced upward, his face the image of obedience. 'As you say, thundergod.' He got up on his feet.

  'Tell me, R'lok, who took my weapon?'

  'Bad man,' R'lok said. 'Warrior, strong and mean. He stole your thunderstick. He used it to gain power. He invaded other villages and took over them. That should not be. Stop him. Please.'

  I couldn't answer right away to that plea. On one hand, I wasn't supposed to intervene in their politics. The humans didn't care who ruled whom in the deep woods. On the other hand, R'lok came to me in person and asked for help. The disaster he spoke of was caused by my carelessness. I remembered the massacre at the river, how the spear went up and down, stabbing the woman on the ground. This conquest was on my conscience.

  'Listen, R'lok,' I said. 'I will help you. Word of a thundergod.'

  R'lok beamed. 'Honorable thundergod!' He clapped his hands together. 'Brave thundergod!'

  I raised my hand, and R'lok silenced himself. 'But first, I need to talk to other thundergods. I can't do it alone. Meet me at the place where I saved you. This evening, when the sun will be close to the horizon.'

  R'lok gave me a questioning look. 'What means horizon?'

  I stalled and raised an eyebrow. Fucking forest people. 'Forget about it. Just come here when it gets darker. There will be a meeting.'

  'Yes, I will come.' R'lok started to back away in a half-bow. 'I will not forget your help, thundergod.'

  My first inclination was to wave him goodbye, but I thought it too silly and didn't do it. Instead, I just pushed the button and ascended back into the cabin. R'lok's eye followed me as the elevator went up until I disappeared inside.

  I couldn't waste a second. As soon as the platform entered the garage, I jumped up on the edge and dashed to the elevator. Ascending to the crow's nest, I dropped the shotgun near the computer and sent summoning calls to Edlon and Ort. In just a few hours there would be a war council at my cabin. The thought thrilled me.

  While I waited for my colleagues to answer, an unexpected message reached my computer. From the sawmill. I smirked and stroked the cursor ball. I didn't want to open. My first urge was just to delete it and cut all communication with them. But then I reasoned that it was better to stay politely cold and know the enemy, so I opened it.

  'Greetings, Wealder,' it read. 'We at the sawmill hope that you are in good health and enjoy your job. We fear that a certain misunderstanding took place the day we first met. Don't think that we are all alien haters here. Quite the opposite, we respect every sentient species, and—'

  I looked away from the screen. Blah, blah, that's was it told me. They were alienists alright and didn't even try to conceal it. I could forgive Heap, free will and all, but the pole spoke for itself. Morkan even justified it herself! Now they were trying to coax me into further cooperation and "friendship." Bullshit. This piece of crap was as personal as a postcard you buy in a vending machine at the last moment. "We hope you get well!" and a picture of some puppy with flowers. I scrolled down and found no dogs, cats or other animals in the note. However, I saw that it was signed by Morkan herself. Figures.

  Just to make sure that I wouldn't miss anything vital, I jumped to the last part.

  '… We hope that we will have a long and fruitful relationship with you, Wealder. We don't insist that you visit us every week or anything of that kind, but we feel obliged to offer you an invitation. On the last day of winter, which is also the end of this logging season, we will have a closing party. You and other rangers are most welcome to visit and join the fun. Your participation will lay the foundation for our rebooted relationship in the next season.'

  A party. It was still more than a month before it. I didn't want to go right now, but future me might change his mind. After all, living in the woods can get monotonous, and any change would be welcomed.

  I typed 'We will see.' and sent the reply back to the sawmill.

  The sky was darkening. Pacing the roof of the cabin, I considered the present situation.

  First, I called Ort, but the man didn't answer. To me, he was the only one who could help me in such a crisis.
I felt naked without him.

  Second, Edlon. He promised to arrive in time and was already ten minutes late. I was already considering the worst.

  And third, R'lok. My view of him kept shifting. Hero, monster, weirdo, hero again? Who was this man? And his human manners… I couldn't understand why a forest man would imitate us, it didn't make sense. Did he have no pride, like Heap? R'lok remained a mystery to me.

  I heard humming echoing down the forest and looked up. I saw the sun blinking off the hull of Edlon's scooter. Edlon was here.

  He arrived at the platform and circled over it. I waved to him and lowered the palms down - land. Edlon grinned and showed me his thumb. His scooter touched the concrete with its pegs.

  Edlon walked to me, grinning and adjusting the rifle. I could bet he wouldn't even try to explain himself.

  'Howdy, roomie,' Edlon said, looking me over. 'Why so gloomy?' He tried to sound cheerful, but I could feel stretched strings in his voice.

  I sighed and gestured to the elevator. 'Come. I'll tell you on the way down.'

  Edlon shrugged and pushed his goggles on the forehead. We entered the elevator, and I sent us to the garage. After that, I turned to Edlon and told him about the night camp.

  We stepped out of the elevator into the garage. Edlon was hysterically laughing, and I followed him, sullen. Ha-ha, you ass… Edlon gulped for air and stopped. He sidestepped and looked at the lone scooter. After that, the fucker began to laugh again, doubled over and propped himself against the wall. He stopped and wiped away the tears.

  Edlon took a deep breath through the nose and looked at me. 'I knew that there was something,' he said. ‘But this!'

  'Yeah-yeah,' I said, embarrassed and tired of this. 'I acted like an idiot, it happens. That's not the point. I know who has the rifle.'

  Edlon underwent a startling change. Anything jolly in his face was blown away, and a hard crease appeared around his mouth. 'Who?' He walked towards the elevator platform, his steps too loud in the uneasy silence.

  I think he knew what I would say. 'An alien. A chief on the war path.'

  Edlon looked at me, not believing and believing at the same time. His palm squeezed the shoulder strap of the rifle all by itself. 'So what do you propose we do now?' Edlon spoke low, almost a whisper. 'Does Ort know?'

  I gave him a sad smile and put my hand on the platform control board. 'My answer to both questions — I don't know. First, we go down.'

  Edlon looked at the platform with disquiet, but stepped onto it nevertheless. I pushed the button, and the elevator started its descent to the surface.

  The platform touched the grass, and we stepped off it into the fine layer of snow. I walked forward, scanning the premises for the alien. Edlon looked alarmed. His eyes darted here and there, and his thumb slid beneath the shoulder strap of the rifle, ready for action.

  'What are you looking for?' Edlon said, frowning.

  'An ally,' I replied.

  Even though my back was turned to him, I knew that Edlon stopped in his tracks. 'You didn't talk to him, did you?' he said with a metal lash in his words.

  I looked around as if afraid of being heard and walked to Edlon. 'He came to me and told all this. I know that it's dangerous, but we have to sort this problem out.'

  'He…' Edlon said under his breath.

  A barking voice came from behind us. 'Hello.'

  I flinched and turned to the sound. Edlon jumped back, throwing the rifle off his shoulder and into his hands. He clicked the safety and raised the weapon to his eyes.

  R'lok had stepped out of the brush and was now standing in the open. He looked at the alarmed humans and read us perfectly. Slowly, moving only his limb, he raised the right arm and touched the ax in his belt. He stopped.

  Edlon's finger danced over the trigger. I saw that and raised my hand - wait.

  R'lok saw that. He slowly pulled the ax out of his belt and held it up with the tips of his fingers, showing it to us. R'lok jerked his arm, and the weapon flew to the side. It landed with a soft thump in the grass powdered with snow. After that, he raised both arms in the air and walked forward.

  'I have come to talk,' he said. 'No shooting.' R'lok kept on walking and looking ahead, right at Edlon.

  'Lower your weapon,' I said coarsely. 'We need him, and he needs us.'

  'Riiight,' Edlon said, and the barrel of his rifle turned skyward. 'Hello, R'lok. Long time no see.'

  R'lok approached the rangers and lowered his hands. There were several feet between them. 'Hello, Edlon.'

  'There will be only two of us, R'lok,' I said. 'That will be enough.' I hope.

  R'lok bowed his head. 'I believe you, thundergod.'

  At the sound of that, Edlon burst out a single laugh. 'Look at him, so mannered.'

  R'lok didn't pay attention to that. 'I have come for help, and I will accept anything you have to offer.'

  At that moment, we heard honking from above. The three of us looked up and saw Ort coming down. He circled over us and landed on the ground. The big man dismounted and walked to us like there was nothing strange happening. 'Wealder, Edlon,' he acknowledged our presence with a nod. 'R'lok.' He gave the alien the same courtesy.

  'Why didn't you answer?' I said. 'I thought you didn't receive my message.'

  'I did. I'm here.' Unbeatable logic. 'So what's happened?'

  Before I could say anything, Edlon filled him in. 'The idiot here went on a picnic, got lost, walked back, shot some tikilis and had his rifle stolen by a native.'

  'Ah,' Ort said. Not a muscle moved on his face. 'That's why there are more of them.'

  Edlon and I exchanged glances and waited for an explanation, but Ort didn't give one. A bird hooting somewhere in the woods filled the silence.

  R'lok coughed. 'D'lem has thunderstick now.'

  'That bonehead, hurm,' Ort said and spat on the ground. 'How many?'

  'He has taken over four villages already. Took warriors as hostages, they will fight for him now. Force gathered at river. More conquest soon.'

  Edlon and I had been completely excluded out of the conversation. Ort and R'lok seemed to understand each other with minimum words. I could feel fat chunks of information flowing through the air, but couldn't grasp them.

  Edlon stepped forward, holding the rifle in front of him like a shield. 'Whoa, whoa, back up. You want us to do the dirty job, but what will you do?'

  I didn't like that Edlon berated the alien like that and threw a dirty look at him. 'He is here because of me,' I said. 'Don't push him.'

  R'lok turned to me. 'I will bring allies from villages beyond river. They not want guidance from D'lem.'

  Hearing that, I sounded my surmise. 'We have to kill only the chief, right?'

  'Right,' R'lok said. 'When he dead, hostages will be released from oath of power. New guide will take his place.'

  'You,' Edlon said, smirking.

  There was ringing silence beneath the cabin.

  'Maybe,' R'lok said, looking straight at Edlon.

  Edlon laughed, baring his teeth. 'I knew it! You conniving piece of shit…' He sipped the air through his teeth and raised the rifle. The barrel looked right into R'lok's face, but he didn't flinch. 'I say we kill him now. Let the freaks deal with it themselves. It has nothing to do with order and peace. It's just this fuck over here trying to get ahead in life.'

  What the fuck?! I couldn't believe my ears. Edlon had just left the whacko territory and mounted the psycho train. I unconsciously shifted away from him.

  'D'lem danger to thundergods too,' R'lok said, looking past the barrel. 'He sent men to steal metal from tree-eaters. Make new weapons. Gather army. He not afraid of you.'

  'We must stop the heresy,' Ort said. 'As fast as possible. D'lem can bring about a catastrophe. For everyone.'

  Edlon balked. His lips moved, searching for words, but didn't find them. He lowered the rifle. 'Alright,' he said and looked into the ground the back at the alien. 'When will you have those allies?'

  'Tomorrow at d
ay,' R'lok said. 'I offer attack when light will start to dim. D'lem and men will be crossing river for night attack.'

  Another thought occurred to me. 'Does any of them understand human?'

  This time Edlon answered. 'No. He,' Edlon nodded at R'lok, 'is the only one. We have tried teaching them, but the whole affair crashed and burnt.'

  I saw that something dark passed at that moment between Edlon and R'lok. Something from their shared past.

  'That doesn't matter,' I said. 'You will be our inside man.'

  Ort looked at the flashlight tucked in R'lok's belt. 'Can you give signals with light?'

  R'lok raised his fist into the air and waved the other palm over it.

  'Great,' Ort nodded. 'We can use that.'

  Edlon looked at that exchange and bitterly smiled. 'So we are a go,' he said with weary resignation in his voice.

  'Yes,' Ort said. 'Now we should discuss the plan of our attack.'

  And so we did.

  On the River

  When I woke up the next day, I felt a tingling in my whole body. In the back of my mind, I knew this could be my last day in this world. However, there was no turning back.

  I checked the cameras and the weather forecast. All clear and ready to go. I went on a patrol, but my mind was so concerned with the battle ahead that I nearly drove into the crown of a young tree. Returning home, I tried to read, but it didn't work out too. So I got busy with maintenance. I checked and refueled the scooter. Afterwards, I dismantled the rifle and cleaned its every part with oil. Such meticulous work soothed my nerves, but it was over sooner than I wished. After that, I just sat in the living room and stared at the ax on the wall. It promised nothing good in my immediate future. We were about to journey into our primeval past.

  The departure time was approaching. I took a shower. There was the feeling that I should be clean if… something happened. I stood in the tub, propping myself on the wall with the forehead, and watched the water flow and circle down the drain.

  The plan was rather simple. D'lem and his troops would cross the river upstream from us, gather their forces and move on the villages in that part of the forest. We would descend upon them during the crossing. The idea was to break the forces into two parts. R'lok said that his allies on the other bank were outnumbered by D'lem. That way we balanced the odds a bit. When some of them would be left on our side or stranded on the river, R'lok would attack on land and kill the chief. The whole plan hinged on the assumption that when their leader was dead, the rest of the army would surrender. Ort said it would be so. I hoped he was right.