by Alan David
Clark nodded. He could understand Hanton’s feelings. It was beginning to get through to him that he was stranded for the rest of his life upon a monstrous planet that held nothing but danger and sudden death at every turn. But he could not afford to lose hope. That was the one quality they needed to help them try to get out of their difficulties. Without hope they were finished, and he accepted that.
They ate food, and afterwards Clark settled down on a pallet and slept, to awaken next morning feeling refreshed in mind and body and filled with a deadly resolve to get clear of danger. After breakfast he called a meeting, and faced his companions across the table. He looked into Kester Balfin’s face, saw determination and resolve in the Major’s eyes, and felt heartened. While he had Balfin at his side he could not be beaten.
But Magenta Sabir was looking strained and uneasy, and Clark felt a momentary pang as he studied her finely etched face. He half wished that she hadn’t come along, for this was intolerable for a strongman, but she was here and he had to ensure that her chances of survival did not lessen because she was a woman.
Gunner Hanton and Frank Searby were silent and watchful, and Clark wondered if both men resented the appearance of newcomers. They had settled into a kind of existence that was not built on hope, and perhaps they did not have the strength of mind necessary for a change of outlook.
‘How are Lieutenants Mallory and Paine this morning?’ Clark demanded.
‘Mallory has four broken ribs and concussion, Commander,’ Magenta reported. He won’t be fit to be moved for a week at least. Lieutenant Paine is still in a deteriorating condition. I don’t think he’ll live many more days. I’m going to have a talk with the Avic doctors this morning in the hope that there might be an antidote, but from what I’ve learned already from Gunner Hanton I fear there’s little hope.’
‘Hope is the one thing we must cling to,’ Clark said, and tightened his lips when he saw Hanton smile softly and shake his head. ‘I can understand how you can feel about the situation, Hanton,’ he went on. ‘I’m a new boy here, and you’re thinking that I’ll soon come to grips with the real situation and accept that we’re lost for good, with no chance of getting away from Muta. Well I’m telling you the moment I lose hope we shall be lost completely. These Brutans have some pretty efficient craft.’
‘Those skyrafts they dart around in aren’t built to leave the atmosphere, Commander,’ Hanton said. ‘We got hold of one once and tested it.’
‘If the Brutans are capable of building such craft then they have the technical know-how to build something better.’ Clark could feel his eagerness striking upwards through his mind. ‘I think we’ll find a few chances left to us. But first I want a good briefing in the local situation. Until I know exactly what is what I won’t know how or where to direct our efforts. Professor Searby, what can you tell me about the species of life on Muta?’
Searby shook his head slowly. He was medium-sized, with heavy features and unblinking brown eyes. He shrugged his thick shoulders and clasped his strong hands together, interlacing his fingers, and he leaned forward in his seat and stared straight into Clark’s eyes.
‘Commander, if you’re thinking of trying to parley with the Brutans then you’re making a big mistake. They have only one emotion, as far as I can ascertain, and that is a penchant for murder. They’re a savage race with the skills of a well developed civilization to give their thirst for blood-letting a certain amount of sophisticated methods of achieving their aims. I had thought we might communicate with them and try to arrange for some fair treatment. We are, after all, aliens and intruders on their planet, and we ought, by all rules of conduct laid down by Space Law, throw ourselves upon their mercy. But I’m afraid we would be committing suicide by making any kind of approach to them.’
‘What are they like, physically?’ Balfin demanded.
‘They’re very like us in build, standing on average around two metres, and are humanoid in appearance. They must be the true product of this planet, the Ogrins and the Avics being some kind of deviation from normal evolution, and I believe this is the reason why the Brutans are so bloodthirsty. They’re trying to rid the planet of these other species.’
‘I can understand any race wanting to be rid of the Ogrins,’ Clark said. ‘But the Avics have proved themselves friendly and non-aggressive.’
‘We have always found them so. They had no need to be disposed to friendship towards us, but they saved our lives in those first days of our being on this planet, and we have tried to repay their kindness by helping them in every way possible.’ Searby glanced at Hanton, who nodded slowly. ‘We have a debt to pay, and even if the chance to return to Earth arrived, I should feel reluctant to leave until I had done all that is possible to secure the Avics against their worst enemies, the Ogrins.’
‘The Ogrins eat the Avics, sir,’ Hanton said, his face showing revulsion. ‘I certainly agree that such a species should be exterminated without compunction.’
‘I’m inclined to agree with you, after meeting two Ogrins,’ Clark said softly. ‘But we do not attack or fight unless we ourselves are attacked.’
‘It would serve you better to talk with Pacian,’ Hanton said. ‘They have some technology at their service. We didn’t manage to save our semantics transmuter from the shuttlecraft when we landed, but the Avics taught us to speak their language with no difficulty whatever.’
‘Very well. I shall be pleased to talk with Pacian. I found him friendly and helpful yesterday.’ Clark nodded slowly as he considered. ‘But I assure you that I will work only towards one end, and that is the safe retreat from this planet.’
‘Trying to find the means of escaping might necessitate asking for trouble from the Brutans,’ Hanton said. ‘That wouldn’t be wise, sir.’
‘Perhaps not, but you may rest assured that I shall not risk our security or our lives. However the fact that we are stranded on this planet does not excuse us from the duty we have. If it is at all possible for us to quit this planet then we must do so, and not spare ourselves in effort or risk to accomplish it.’
‘I agree with you, Commander,’ Balfin said. ‘I think the first thing we’ve got to find is a different method of transporting ourselves. That stroll through the jungle yesterday is out for future movements.’
‘I’m inclined to agree with you,’ Clark said. ‘Hanton, find Pacian for me, will you, and ask him if I may talk with him as soon as possible.’
‘Very well, sir.’ Hanton got to his feet and departed.
I’d better get back to Mallory and Paine, Commander,’ Magenta said. ‘They’ll both need careful nursing for some time.’
‘Do what you can for both of them,’ Clark said. ‘We shall not be leaving this camp for a week at least. We’ll need to let the activity we caused by our arrival to settle down before venturing out, and I’ll spend the meantime getting to know what I can about our surroundings.’
‘It would solve everything if we could steal a craft that would get us out of this,’ Balfin said thinly.
‘I don’t think we shall find it so simple,’ Clark retorted.
Pacian arrived, twittering a noisy greeting, and Clark shook hands with the alien. He studied the bat-like face, and almost pinched himself to discover whether he was dreaming. But this situation was packed with stark reality, and he sat down and considered what he had to say.
‘Pacian, I want to thank you for what you’ve done for my people here. But for your help they would surely have died.’
‘We are friends,’ the Avic retorted readily. ‘We ask for nothing in return. We know that if we had been in your position you would have helped us.’
‘That is true,’ Clark said. ‘And if there is anything we can do to help you now, even though we are in a poor position, then don’t hesitate to ask.’
‘We have common enemies,’ Pacian twittered, rustling his leathery wings. His beady eyes glinted for a moment. ‘We have always fought on the losing side because our weapons have not been pow
erful enough to destroy the Ogrins. But the weapons you have are good enough for that task, and if I asked you anything at all it would be to turn your Lasers upon the Ogrins.’
‘As much as I want to help you to prove our side of this friendship business, I’m afraid I am governed by strict laws issued by my planet for conduct on alien worlds,’ Clark said. ‘I cannot use my weapons on any alien unless it is to protect the lives of my men. We can fight only in defence, and then only when all other means have been exhausted.’
‘I understand, and I agree with that. But the Ogrins will attack. They do often, and if you are here when they come, will you fight?’
‘Of course! But the real enemy, I imagine, is the race you call Brutans. They are more civilized than the Ogrins. They are the masters of Muta, aren’t they?’
‘They are. We fear them more than the Ogrins, although the Ogrins hunt us for our flesh. But the Brutans seldom venture into the forest, and if we do not stray from the trees we are generally safe from Brutan attack. They have sensors around the limits of the forests and they know when we leave.’
‘That means we are also trapped inside the tree line,’ Clark said slowly. ‘That’s not so good.’
‘If you tell me exactly what you have in mind then perhaps I can help you,’ Pacian said.
‘Sure. I’m coming to that now.’ Clark took a deep breath, restrained it for a moment, then exhaled sharply. ‘My duty is to make all efforts possible to return to Earth,’ he went on. ‘I need a space ship to get away from Muta. Do you know if the Brutans have such ships?’
‘I cannot say. We have never ventured beyond the limits of the trees. Those of our kind who have, never returned.’
‘You’ve seen those skyrafts the Brutans use,’ Clark said patiently, and Pacian nodded. ‘Have you ever seen any craft larger than those?’
The Avic shook his head, and the dull feathers on the upper half of his body rustled softly. His massive chest swelled as he breathed deeply.
‘We have never taken any interest in the Brutans,’ he admitted. ‘They kill for pleasure. They set traps just inside the forest to catch our people, and when they have caught some they kill them in cold blood.’
‘The Brutans and the Ogrins fight?’ Clark asked.
‘All the time. The Ogrins will eat Brutan flesh if they cannot capture Avics.’
‘And yet the Brutans have not wiped out the Ogrins, who are savage and barbaric!’
‘They are slowly succeeding in that. But the Ogrins are hard to kill. Only your weapons kill them easily.’
‘A fact for which I am grateful,’ Clark commented. ‘But I have to leave the forest, Pacian. I must check on the Brutans, try to discover at what level their science and knowledge of technology rests. If they have space craft then I want one of them. It’s a fact that they have a weapon powerful enough to destroy our spaceships in orbit, and we had evidence that they possess a kind of radar that tracked our shuttleship down to the ground. If we’re to get off Muta then I’ve got to find a craft suitable, and I won’t get one skulking around in the jungle.’
‘I wish we could help you, but it is impossible,’ Pacian told him.
‘It will be sufficient that you supply us with a base to work from,’ Clark said.
‘That has been arranged. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like.’
‘But I’m afraid that our presence here will bring trouble upon your people. The Brutans may start an all-out search for us.’
‘They often fly over the jungle, shooting indiscriminately into the trees, and they have killed some of our people like that, but they are content to remain outside the trees and leave us to our lives so long as we do not encroach upon their territory.’
‘Have you any idea where the towns and cities of the Brutans are located?’ Clark asked.
Again the Avic shook its head and ruffled its feathers. The nearest thing to a smile that it could manage appeared on its strange face.
‘I am afraid we are very unhelpful in this matter,’ Pacian said. ‘But I must warn you that it will be impossible to leave the trees without arousing an alarm.’
‘We can overcome that problem quite easily when the time comes,’ Clark said. ‘I shall be leaving here today, with one man, and I can’t say when I’ll get back. I would like a guide to show me to the edge of the forest.’
‘I’ll arrange for one of my people to accompany you, and you will need food and water to take with you. Do not eat any of the fruits of the trees in the jungle. Lieutenant Paine is dying because he disobeyed that advice.’
‘I understand.’ Clark started to his feet, holding out a hand to the Avic. But at that instant the hut tremored and tilted, and a strange low growling noise became evident.
Clark clutched at Pacian in alarm, frowning.
‘What is it?’ he demanded swiftly. ‘Is it an earthquake?’
‘No,’ the Avic retorted in twittering tones. ‘It’s the Ogrins! They’re attacking us!’
Clark snatched up his Laser and ran to the doorway of the hut. Outside he saw a scene of confusion as Avics scuttled and flurried hither and thither. Then he saw the massive and ominous figures of several Ogrins emerging from the denser part of the jungle. The sight of their fearsome appearance sent a pang of alarm through Clark, but he lifted the Laser, and saw out of the corner of his eye Kester Balfin emerging from the next hut, where Magenta was treating the two injured men. As the Avics deployed in terror, Clark prepared to fight.
Chapter Five
There were seven Ogrins, and they came at the huts with all the skill of natural hunters. Beams of discharged energy struck at them as some of the Avics turned to fight, but the Ogrins merely shrugged off the effects of the weapons and did not falter. Clark was frozen for a moment, but he realized the danger they were in and shook himself free of his paralysis. As he prepared to fight he saw a Laser beam flicker and strike at the foremost Ogrins, and he knew Balfin was already in action.
Clark hit two of the monsters and saw them fall dead instantly, and his confidence was restored after being shaken by the sight of the way the Ogrins shrugged off the Avic resistance. But they were no match for the Lasers, and Clark glanced around as he sized up the situation. If he were making this attack he would have sent some men around to outflank the huts. He saw movement among the trees and realized the Ogrins were thinking tactically. Three monstrous figures were appearing from the trees to the rear.
‘All-round defence, Kester!’ Clark yelled, and his voice went echoing eerily into the trees. He cut down another Ogrin making straight for him, and saw that Balfin had accounted for the others coming from the same direction. But the jungle seemed filled with the monsters, and Clark moved towards the hut occupied by his two sick men and Magenta. He caught a glimpse of Balfin turning to run towards the other flank, and he sensed that they had the initiative momentarily.
He saw an Ogrin with two Avics in its grasp, and Clark gritted his teeth as he sent a beam into the monster’s large body. The Ogrin crashed to the ground, writhing in agony and the Avics fluttered free and went squawking into the trees.
Clark saw two Ogrins approaching the side of the hut where Magenta was nursing the injured, and one of them stuck a fist through the side of the flimsy structure. Magenta screamed thinly, and Clark, aware of trouble coming up on his left flank, paused and shot the attacking Ogrin before looking around for fresh trouble. The stricken Ogrin crashed down on the hut, demolishing it, and Magenta continued to scream from somewhere inside the heaped debris.
The second Ogrin threw a short club at Clark, who ducked behind a tree. The club struck the tree with such force that it tremored, and pieces of bark flew from the point of impact. Clark was impressed by the strength of the Ogrin, and leaned sideways around the tree and shot the giant.
Balfin was calling from the right, and Clark transferred his attention quickly, then swung the Laser. Balfin was being rushed by four Ogrins, and two of the monsters were carrying a type of energy blaster.
Then suddenly the attack faded, and silence came creeping back into the area. Clark moved forward cautiously, ready for more trouble, and Balfin appeared with the other Laser, peering around, tense and keyed up for action. There were more than a dozen dead Ogrins lying around, and several Avics had fallen in the short fight.
‘Keep your eyes open, Kester,’ Clark rapped. ‘I want to check on Magenta. She had a close call.’
Balfin nodded, his eyes glinting, and he began to make a search of the area as Clark hurried back to the huts. Avics were beginning to reappear, trilling and twittering tremulously, and Clark tightened his lips as he reached the hut and saw the dead Ogrin sprawled across it.
He found it impossible to move the heavy body, and put the Laser back on his belt and used his hands to lift some of the debris. The hut was made of branches, and not difficult to tear apart. There was fear in Clark’s mind until he saw Magenta, and he slowly and carefully freed the girl. She was conscious but dazed, her legs pinned down under the weight of the dead Ogrin. Clark wrinkled his noise at the fetid stench that arose from the dead Ogrin, and he shook Magenta’s shoulder to attract her attention. She stared up at him with dull, shocked eyes.
‘I’ll get help,’ he said. ‘You’re all right. Just stay quiet.’
She nodded and he arose and looked around. Hanton was coming towards him, followed by Searby, and Balfin was in the background.
‘Over here!’ Clark called. ‘I need some help.’
They came at a run and looked down at the dead Ogrin. Clark tried to hold his breath, for the stench was terrific.