There was a hiss from across the stream like that of some over-sized viper. Branches parted and it stepped from the shadows, eyeing us, eyeing me in the light of the fire.
There was no hesitation on my part, I aimed my rifle and squeezed off three quick shots. What it looked like, and I couldn’t believe it, was that the creature dodged each blast. It seemed to know when I pulled the trigger and would step away, or turn to the side, and the last time, it simply moved its head out of the way of a projectile that screamed past at two thousand six hundred and fifty feet per second. How could it do that?
Then there was something else that frightened me even more. The night was dark and although the lizard was enormous, its black skin blended with the shadows behind, making it difficult to see properly. However, I could have sworn that its snout appeared flat and pale. In fact, in the dancing light of the fire, the lizard looked like it had a face, a human face. I think its eyes glowed.
I staggered backwards a few steps, switched to full automatic, and emptied the magazine in a six second burst of Vimbacher fire power. I yelled at Michael to shoot the blaster and he obeyed, firing three successive shots.
After the smoke cleared, my ears still rang. The kitzloc had disappeared. My first thought was that we had done it, we’d wounded it so severely, the creature had high-tailed it out of there. Even now, it could be on the opposite side of the natural high bank, lying under the trees in the snow, life draining from its battered form.
I watched and waited. “Did we get it?” I said, more to myself than to Michael.
Michael replied anyway. “I do not know,” he said.
I checked the mass detector and was disappointed with another null reading.
Grandpaw’s sawed-off shotgun was fitted into a custom-made nylon scabbard with a single, looping strap. I hung the weapon crossways across my back so it would be out of the way but still convenient enough to grab at a moment’s notice. As usual, I held the Vimbacher. I told Michael to wait by the fire.
“When I get across the creek,” I told him, “shoot two flares into the air.”
“I can only shoot one at a time,” he said, displaying the single shot flare gun.
Once again I was reminded of Michael’s restricted thinking. Well, I knew he wasn’t top of the line when Kaliis brought him home. “That’s fine. Re-load after the first shot and I’ll tell you when to fire the second.”
I splashed across the stream and stepped onto the far bank. There was a rise of about six feet and behind the berm were trees and brush. It was thick back there and something as large as the lizard would make a considerable amount of racket moving around. I paused and listened. The woods were still and quiet.
The wind had died but the snow still fell. It was beginning to pile up in places and I approved as it would make tracking the beast that much easier. I could already see prints all around the creek side. They led up the shallow incline and disappeared over the top.
Michael fired the first flare and placed it perfectly in the sky so that it shined down on my side of the creek. Shadows disappeared and mysterious shapes turned into stunted trees and bushes. One careful step at a time, I went up the slope until I could see over the top.
When I told him, Michael fired the second shot while the first flare was still floating down. The area behind the berm was illuminated, exposing the tracks of the creature. They led due north, directly away from us. However, I didn’t believe for a second that it intended to retreat. I looked left and right, searching, but I couldn’t tell if the tracks broke either direction and I wasn’t going to follow alone into the night.
The first flare went out. I stood atop the berm and wondered if the kitzloc was watching me. The mass detector beeped once and I jumped. Facing right, I peered into the trees and brush, searching for my target, listening for a sign. I stood there a full two minutes. The second flare went out and darkness enveloped me. Still, other than the single alarm, there was nothing.
Glancing behind, I backed away from the top of the slope. Michael stood exactly where I had told him, the blaster in one hand and the re-loaded flare gun in the other.
I was about to cross the shallow creek once again when I heard a small voice in the distance. I froze and strained to listen. It came again, distinct against the still background of the forest. “Hello?” it said. “Is anybody there?”
I couldn’t see him, but I recognized the voice. It was Toby.
Chapter 29
By the time Jonah and the doctor arrived at the house, dawn was less than an hour away. They waited at the edge of the shimmering blue shield after contacting Liza by radio.
Liza was wary of allowing them inside and so made the two wait in the cold. She went so far as to sneak from the house so she could take a peak down the hill to the end of the driveway.
Jonah didn’t bring his usual contingent of men. He and the doctor stood in front of their horses, holding their bridles, and waiting for the shield to be turned off. For once, Jonah wasn’t smiling.
Liza returned to the open front door and shouted for Kaliis to turn off the plasma generator. The Frisco kids, awakened by all the fuss, had spilled out into the yard and were chasing one another when the shield shut down. It startled them and they ran back inside the house past Jennings who was prone on the couch under a heated blanket.
The doctor and Jonah came up the hill together. Jonah spoke first. “Hello Liza.”
She nodded and spoke his name in an effort to be civil.
The surgeon was a relatively new addition to the citizenry of Summit and Liza could not remember his name. It didn’t matter. Jonah introduced him as Dr. John Ford. “Call me Dr. John,” he said, shaking her hand. “Everyone else does. Where’s our patient?”
“Inside. On the couch.”
“What’s the problem?”
Liza told the doctor about the gunshot wound but then went on to say that wasn’t the problem. “He got himself stung,” said Liza.
“Stung? By what?”
“By a lizard.”
“A kitzloc?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know those things had stingers.”
“Most don’t. This one does.”
“Was the lizard killed?”
“Not yet.”
Jonah looked about the yard and toward the barn. “Where’s Pat?”
Liza looked at him without blinking. “The lizard killed him.”
Jonah didn’t know what to say and merely stared at Liza.
The doctor broke the tense moment by suggesting they go inside and see to the patient.
Liza nodded and led them indoors. Kaliis stood in the kitchen opening, frail arms crossed.
Jennings cranked his head around when the three adults walked in. Dr. John introduced himself and Gary looked at Liza. “What have you done?” he said in an accusing voice.
She told him he was going to die if he didn’t get proper attention. “Then what’ll I do? Raise these kids by myself?”
Gary looked at Jonah but spoke to Liza. “I guess you could always move to Summit,” he said.
“Oh, shut up,” she replied, and then she started crying again and walked out of the room into the kitchen. Jonah followed her and Kaliis went to Gary’s side as the doctor commenced his examination.
Dr. John pulled back the blanket covering Jennings and paused. As before, the old man’s leg was abnormally large with swelling. With Kaliis’ help, Dr. John rolled the old man over to reveal black streaks running from the puncture wound in a radiating pattern. There was a strong odor of corrupted flesh coming from the leg and Kaliis covered his flat nose with the back of his hand. Gary lay with his face to the wall and didn’t see.
In the kitchen, Liza stood at the sink with her back to everyone, wiping her eyes. Jonah came up behind her and stood for a moment as if he didn’t exactly know what to do. Finally, he said, “I’m sorry, Liza.”
The sound of running feet came from overhead. Simultaneously, Liza and Jonah craned the ne
cks to view the ceiling. Liza gave a half-laugh. “We buried their parents yesterday and they’re playing today.”
Jonah nodded. “Kids.” he said, as if the one word explained everything.
Liza faced Jonah. “I expect you’ll want to take them back to Summit with you.”
Jonah looked at the floor and then back at Liza. “I can’t say I haven’t thought about it.”
“Why didn’t you bring your posse with you?”
Jonah shrugged. “Where is Amanda?”
“Where do you think she is? She’s out after that lizard.”
“In this weather? By herself?”
“She’s got a bot with her.”
“A bot?” Jonah’s famous smile finally made an appearance.
Liza looked at him. “What do you expect? Pat’s gone. Gary’s hurt. You’ve got Phineas in the slammer… for nothing.”
“He broke the law, Liza.”
“Years ago. Can’t you let anything slide? What difference does it make, anyway? Amanda’s out there by herself.”
“You said she had a bot with her.”
“Oh, yes, I did. So she’ll be fine because she’s got a robot that was originally programmed to entertain children.”
Jonah started to say something, but the doctor entered the kitchen and gently rapped on the countertop for attention.
Liza and Jonah faced him. Liza said, “Well?”
“He’s pretty sick,” the doctor admitted.
“Can you do anything for him?”
Dr. John nodded. “Yes. I think so. I’m sedating him through the IV now.”
Liza looked out of the kitchen at Jennings lying on the couch. Kaliis sat beside him in a chair pulled up next to the couch. Kaliis’ legs weren’t long enough to reach the floor and his feet dangled. “Is he asleep?”
“Not yet.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to amputate the leg. He will die if we don’t. It’s possible he will if we do.”
Liza sighed.
“I’m sorry,” said Dr. John. “I’m unfamiliar with the poison, but it is aggressive and it’s attacking Mr. Jennings very hard. We’ve got to act quickly.”
Liza placed a hand over her face like she was about to start crying again. She didn’t, though. She took a deep breath and asked the doctor “How can I help?”
“All right,” he said. “First, let’s move him in here. We’ll put him on the table.” Dr. John looked at the ceiling. “The lighting is better in here.”
“What else?”
“Clean sheets, sterilized water. I have instruments and medicines, so, just keep everyone out once I get started.”
“Anything else?”
The doctor shook his head.
“There’s one thing I would like to do, if you don’t mind,” said Jonah.
“What’s that?”
“I’d like to say a prayer before we begin.” He looked at Liza. “If you don’t mind.”
Liza shook her head. “Of course not.”
They joined hands and Jonah led Liza and the doctor in prayer for the old man. Kaliis watched and listened with curiosity but remained by Jennings’ side.
When they were done, it took all of them to lift their sedated patient and carry him to the kitchen table.
*
The trail followed the creek, winding like a snake through the countryside. Nearly ten kilometers to the southeast, the creek emptied into a river the locals called Mon Frere that was used to float lumber to sawmills closer to the coast. Thanks to Grandpaw and Uncle Pat, the lizards had been wiped out along the river for a number of years. Some had fled up the various creeks and valleys that led to the Mon Frere and hunters followed the creatures, often finding themselves in thick brush and in deeper trouble than they expected. The thing was, it was difficult to see in the area because of the dense vegetation. The natural, raised berms along the creek prevented clean ground signals, so oftentimes, mass detectors (motion sensors) and radio gear didn’t work so well. As a result, not many knew the area.
Hunters steered clear of it. The boys and I, however, had grown up exploring all around the Folly and Jennings’ Creek. It was a place with which we were very familiar. As I said earlier, at one time or another, we’d been over every inch of it. Indeed, I’m certain we knew the area better than anyone else, even Grandpaw and Pat.
I knew where the boys were. I think I had known it all along. There was only one place where they could be. The old ruins.
I heard Toby call out. His voice rang through the woods.
Michael asked me if I had heard. It was unusual for Michael to ask anything. I told him I had. We both looked to the southeast, the direction the creek flowed, and the direction of the ruins.
“Get my kit and the other bag,” I instructed him. He stuffed the blaster into the belt of his pants and picked up the two bags. I splashed back across the stream, disarmed the explosives, and told Mike to follow me.
The snow along the trail was fresh and smooth until we got around the bend. There, I began to see lizard tracks. Most were rubbed out. A conscious effort had been made to conceal them. Again, I wondered what kind of creature we hunted.
The lizards had shown time and again they were cagey, even clever, when it came to survival. Yet, it was an animal type of cleverness. This big black one showed an intelligence I had never before seen among the kitzloc.
Michael followed three paces behind me because I told him to do just that. Like most robots, he was as precise as the instructions issued to him. The snow crunched under our footsteps. We switched off our lights and I led the way through the vision provided by my nightshades.
I wanted to call out to Toby but didn’t want to reveal our position, even though there was a good chance the monster already knew where were and what we were up to.
The ruins were close, no more than two hundred meters ahead. The trail alongside the creek vanished as we were forced to walk along an incline that was covered by water in the spring and every time there was a good rain upstream. It was slippery so Michael and I eventually climbed to the top by grasping exposed roots and overhanging tree limbs. In the summer, the foliage was so thick, the only way to pass was to wade the stream. In the winter, nobody with sense would try to pass through.
From the top of the inclined bank, I could finally see the big tree that stood beside the pyramid. The overgrowth had covered the top of the ruin but I could see stringers of vines leading from tree branches down to where I knew the pyramid squatted.
I took off my shades to check the natural light and found it just as dark as it had been at midnight. Always darkest before the light; that’s what Papaw said.
Michael was behind me. I reached and pulled him close to whisper in his ear. “Can you see in the dark?”
He began to answer in a regular voice and I shushed him. “Speak in a whisper,” I told him.
“I cannot see through darkness in my current configuration,” he admitted. “However, with advanced optics I could…”
“Never mind,” I told him and he shut up. “Just follow me and try to be quiet.”
Once again, I was tempted to call out to Toby. I could be at the pyramid in minutes but there was no need to push it. Michael and I pressed on.
Even a hundred meters from the big tree that marked the spot, I couldn’t see the structure. I could, however, see a mound covered with snow beside the tree.
We found an area protected on three sides – not much more than a depression in the hillside – and we made the spot our makeshift base. If I was to have a fallback position, that’s where it would be. Michael set the bags on the ground and I pulled him close and told him to remain quiet, stay in the depression, and wait for me. “If you have to discharge your weapon,” I said, “make sure I’m not in the way.”
“Of course,” he whispered; then added, “Another thing, Miss Amanda?”
“Yes?”
“Not to play on doubt, but what if you do
not return?”
I stared at the robot. It was hard to believe he had come up with the question on his own. “I will return,” I told him.
He didn’t pursue the possibility and, leaving Grandpaw’s kit with the explosives, I handed Mike the shotgun. I took my own weapon and turned away.
Choosing my steps with caution, I picked a path closer to the site. I found a place fifty meters or so from the pyramid that concealed me while I watched. Glancing behind, I could see Michael’s heat signature. In infrared, he looked human. Elsewhere, there was no sign of anything alive.
My heartbeat was loud in my ears and I held my breath to listen more closely to the forest sounds. It didn’t help. There was nothing to hear. The woods were cold and quiet. Occasionally, the sound of collected snow toppling from tree branches came to my frozen ears.
I wished I had my winter suit. I tried wiggling my toes, but I could no longer feel them. It was all right as long as I was moving, but when I stopped, the cold crept over me. If the boys were still alive, and I couldn’t bear to imagine otherwise, they had to be freezing as well.
From my hiding place, I watched the mound of snow for movement. Even though it had collapsed long ago, and branches, vines, and foliage had filled in the space, the top was covered with snow. I remembered climbing the tree next to it and lowering myself to the wrecked roof. The boys had been with me that day, but it all seemed so long ago.
The entrance was on the opposite side and when I finally moved, that was where I went.
Moving cautiously, it took ten minutes to get to the opening. Of course, if nothing was there, it would have been blocked by drifting snow, but that was not the case. The opening to the pyramid, round and low to the ground, was fully exposed. Furthermore, there were kitzloc tracks all around.
My heart beat fast as I approached the opening. Six feet away, I paused and quickly scanned the woods. Was the creature hiding nearby, waiting for me to walk into its trap?
I didn’t see the beast, so I pressed on, dropping to hands and knees and peering into the short tunnel that led into the ancient pyramid. Not knowing what awaited me, there was a tricky moment as I screwed up my courage to crawl inside.
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