by Julie Parker
“Bulls eye!” he cried. The bird voiced its fury in an ungodly scream and then flew off.
Panting heavily, I climbed to my feet and leaned against the rough bark of the tree. “Okay…this world…not so good.”
“The smell of the fish probably attracted it.” Logan kept watch on the sky. “It’s gone now.”
“Whatever. Let’s go. I’d rather take my chances sleeping in the tunnel than in this place.”
He shrugged. “You loved it five minutes ago.”
“Well, I don’t now.” I pushed away from the tree and strode out from beneath its protection, heading in the direction of the tunnel. When I didn’t hear Logan’s footsteps behind me, I turned around and put my hands on my hips in an angry pose. “Aren’t you coming?”
He was staring off to the left of me, and as he continued to ignore my question I followed his gaze. “What the…?”
“Come back, Payton.” He gestured to me with his hand; I didn’t hesitate to obey. When I reached him, he led me over to the trunk of the tree. “I’ll hoist you up, then climb up after you. I don’t think it’s seen us.”
He leaned down, and when I put my foot into his palms, he hefted me to the lowest branch on the tree, which was still way over my head. It was a stretch to reach, but moments later I held it firmly. Logan still had my foot. He stood and pushed, allowing me to pull my upper body over the limb and then swing my legs around. Soon I was sitting completely on the branch. I scooched over until I was close to the trunk of the tree. Using it to steady myself, I stood and grabbed hold of the limb above me and began to climb. Logan jumped and grabbed the first branch. By the time he pulled himself up I was above his head.
“Keep climbing,” he said. “Stop about half-way.”
The tree was high and super thick. It reminded me of one in a picture of a prehistoric forest I’d seen at the Toronto Zoo. After what we’d just witnessed, I began to fear we’d landed in such a place. Logan climbed up beside me and leaned his back against the trunk while I, on the same big branch, braced myself against another limb. “I guess there’s more than one prehistoric exit.” We’d deliberately avoided the other one we’d stumbled upon earlier.
He shrugged. “Looks that way.”
I twisted carefully to peer through the leaves, gaining a glimpse of the beast we’d seen and narrowly escaped. “What is that?”
“Dunno. But it looks hungry.”
“Perfect.”
“It’s okay. We’ll wait it out and then make a break for the exit. It’s not too far.”
In the meantime, we had to sit tight. In a tree. And wait for a dinosaur-like creature that was about two stories high to move along. Finally it did just that, strolling merrily towards us and then right past, its giant footsteps shaking the ground with each step.
As it disappeared from sight and I allowed myself to breathe, the ground began to shake again. I twisted around and noticed a large herd of what appeared to be wooly mammoths ambling along nearby.
“Now what?” Logan wiggled around until he could get a view of what was going on beyond the tree.
“Take it easy,” I hissed at him, nearly losing my seat.
“Are those mammoths?”
“Looks like it. Better settle in for a long wait.”
He watched in silence for a moment and then began to jiggle around again. “Holy cow. Check it out. It’s the cavalry.”
“Hold still.” I steadied my bottom and then proceeded to turn around once more. Logan was right. It was the cavalry.
“They must be prehistoric natives out for a hunt.”
We both watched intently now. There was a group of about twenty or so men. Half of them rode on primitive looking wild ponies. Others ran on foot. They approached the herd of mammoths from the back, and it appeared they were attempting to separate one that had been straggling behind the rest of them. A particularly interesting sight, at least to me, was their obvious leader. His horse seemed more modern, and was huge and pure white. Even from where I sat, mesmerized high up in a tree, I could see the man was extraordinarily handsome.
My heart skipped a beat.
I watched as he rode perilously close to the mammoth’s head and giant, sharp tusks, risking his life as the beast slashed from side to side trying to escape. The animal became separated from the fleeing herd, and was soon hit from all sides with sharp spears thrown by the tribesmen. A young man, the smallest in the group, who ran alongside the mammoth on foot, stumbled suddenly. The mammoth, terrified and hurt, reared up over the young man, who cowered before it.
I covered my mouth with my hand in fright. The scene below was awful to witness. I could tell with a quick glance at Logan’s expression he felt as helpless and I did.
Just when we thought the young man was surely a goner, a shot suddenly rang out. I felt my eyes bulge in disbelief. “Was that a shot? From a gun?”
“Sure sounded like one.”
Now that the herd had rushed past us, we climbed down from our perch and watched the hunt from the ground. Looking back now, I suppose we should have exercised more caution in this situation. After all, hearing a modern weapon being used in this primitive place should have been a warning in itself.
We hid ourselves behind the huge trunk of the tree and peered around to watch the excitement. The shot from the gun hadn’t killed the mammoth, but it stunned it long enough to allow the young man to roll away to safety. The tribe then moved in for the kill. I turned my head away until I heard a loud thump, and knew the poor animal had hit the ground.
Unlike the tournament with the bear and the dogs in the medieval world, I knew what I’d witnessed here was not a game of sport. This was an act of survival. I’d read about how mammoths were hunted in primitive days, and how every part of them was used. The people only killed from necessity.
But that gun was a definite surprise.
“What should we do?” I asked Logan, who still watched the men cautiously.
“Wait till they move on.”
“Aren’t you curious about the gun?” I asked.
He stared at me in exasperation. “Of course I am. But I also don’t want to risk being seen. I’d rather have unanswered questions than be dead.”
What a smart ass he was.
Anything I said at that point would have been sarcastic, so I just glared at him instead. Maybe being angry made me poke my head out a little farther than I should have. After watching the tribe for a few seconds, the leader suddenly turned his gaze directly on me. I wasn’t swift enough to pull my head back in time. But looking into those eyes, they held me captive, and I was helpless to do anything at that point. I stepped out from behind the tree.
Logan latched onto my arm. “What are you doing?”
“He’s seen me.” If we broke and ran now, we’d appear to be the enemy, which wasn’t something I wanted. So, with Logan sighing in frustration, we walked toward the group of men. Some of them looked up from their work and stared at us.
The leader, who was now standing beside his horse, made a motion at the others around him to stay put while he strode toward us.
The look on his face wasn’t quite grim, yet I wouldn’t describe it as friendly either. I’d say it was more guarded. I couldn’t see the gun; he’d probably tucked it in the back of his pants the way the fed had. When he got right before us he stopped.
“Friend or foe?” he asked, staring at Logan.
“Ah…friend. You?” Logan replied.
“Friend.” He eyed both of us for a few seconds, sizing us up, I think. Then he put his hand out for Logan to shake. “I’m Hadrian, and something tells me you two are not from around these parts.”
Logan reached out and shook Hadrian’s hand. “You could say that,” he said guardedly. “I’m Logan, and this is Payton.”
Hadrian smiled. “Well, I’m glad to meet you both. Come and meet the gang. They’re a friendly bunch. Don’t speak much English, but they’re slowly learning.” He turned to lead us toward the group of men.
“What are you doing here?” Logan asked him. “You obviously don’t belong.”
“That’s a matter of opinion,” Hadrian said. “I think a man should be in a place where he can do the most good. And that place for me is right here. Especially now.”
His voice was low and mysterious. As we strolled along I could see the gun tucked into the back of his pants like I’d thought. I wondered what he meant when he said especially now? But I didn’t have a chance to ask him, as his tribe suddenly crowded around to meet us.
Chapter Twenty
We spent the evening in celebration, with our new acquaintance Hadrian and his native prehistoric clan, gathered around a roaring fire as the sky grew dark
Hadrian had invited us back to his camp, and when we balked at his invitation, spouting giant flying birds and ferocious dinosaurs as our excuse to leave, his assurances for our safety, and that gun in his pants, won over any misgivings we had.
I was surprised at how quickly the three of us took to each other. Logan and I didn’t have to pretend to be someone else around him. All of us were strangers to this world. Although, Hadrian seemed to fit right in. He was kind to the natives, treated them with respect and friendship. I liked him. He exuded an air of confidence and calm strength, and a take-charge attitude, which was something I found comforting, perhaps because it reminded me of my cohort.
Hadrian was handsome to look at, almost as handsome as Logan. He stood about two or three inches shorter than Logan, but he was broader. And while I’d seen Logan handle himself in many scraps, I wouldn’t be too quick to count Hadrian out in a tournament of strength or skill. Something told me Hadrian would be a force to be reckoned with. He seemed young, maybe two or three years older than us, although, when I stared into his blue eyes, he appeared older beyond his years.
“How old are you?” I couldn’t help but ask, as we sat companionably by the fire. The hour was growing late. We’d sat for a long while, and I could hear the sounds of the women getting their little ones settled for bed. Deep off in the darkness, the strange noises of this new world surrounded us. There were grunts and growls and the odd shrill scream, which made me sit even closer to Logan. Strangely, no one else seemed bothered.
“Depends where you’re from,” Hadrian answered. He didn’t elaborate, so I didn’t press him.
Logan and I had walked by foot to Hadrian’s camp. He’d offered to carry me up on his horse with him, but Logan had cautioned me not to accept. “He may ride off with you,” he’d said. I’d taken his advice and trudged along for what felt like an hour or so until we stopped. I believe the thing that kept us going was curiosity. Hadrian obviously knew where the tunnel was. He’d gestured toward it before we headed off, and told us he could offer us a lot more than “that place” could. “Or at least a decent meal and a warm place to spend the night in safety.”
How could we resist?
The camp was tucked securely in a wide furrow created by rocky hills. Several large trees provided shade, and the ground rolled out in a carpet of grass. A waterfall, cascading from the side of the hill, flowed into a good-sized pond probably used for drinking and washing. The place had several pens for small game that resembled funny little chickens, goats, and sheep-like animals, and a larger area for the horses. A giant fire pit sat in the middle of the camp. There were no tents. Several small caves carved into the hillside, meters above the ground, served as safe little dwellings for the clan families. Upon our arrival, Logan and I had been shown into a wide, dugout cavern we were told we could use as our own. Thick pelts tossed into the back of the enclosure served as beds, while a small campfire rested near the exit. Pairs of bowls and cups carved from wood sat stacked against the wall, along with a decidedly modern cooking pot, no doubt supplied by Hadrian and his otherworldly jaunts.
Logan and I had curled up in the blankets and slept—me keeping to my own dreams—until we awoke to the lively sounds of merriment. After carefully descending to the ground, we’d sought out Hadrian, who explained the people’s celebration of the hunt. The mammoth would supply food for weeks and warmth for the cool nights ahead. Apparently there were seasons here, I’d learned, much like our own. We were now nearing the middle of summer.
“What’s the world like where you’re from?” Logan asked. He kept his voice low and peered around to make sure no one overheard. The clan spoke minimal English, probably only what Hadrian had taught them. But caution was king.
Hadrian shrugged. “It’s all right. Probably better than most of the worlds I’ve seen.”
“Don’t you miss it?” Detecting the homesickness in my voice, Logan squeezed my hand.
“Miss it? No, why? I visit when I can. Why don’t you just go back if you miss your world?”
“You what? How…how did you find it again?” I gasped.
“Find it? I never lost it, sweetheart.” I wasn’t sure I liked the endearment, and by the sudden grip on my hand, I knew Logan didn’t like it either.
“It’s Payton,” Logan snapped.
Was that a touch of jealousy I detected? Hmmm….
Hadrian raised his hands in mock defense. “Got it.” He regarded Logan and me through narrowed eyes for a moment. “You can’t get home, can you?”
“No,” we said in unison.
“Weren’t you paying attention when you came through?”
“I thought we were, but as we wandered it just became so vast. The next thing we knew, we were lost.” I didn’t think now would be the time to reveal how I gained a different power in each world.
“So how long have you been traveling?”
“In our time, I would guess a few months,” Logan supplied.
We sat in silence for a while. As I watched the flickering flames dance before me, I suddenly wished I had a bag of marshmallows or some hotdogs to cook. It would be preferable to the tough mammoth meat and strange vegetables they’d passed around earlier.
“Hadrian, you said something before about being in a place where you could do the most good.” Especially now, he’d also said, but I refrained from repeating that part.
His face darkened into a scowl, and for a second or two I thought he might be angry at me.
“We’re not the only travelers this world has seen,” Hadrian said.
“We’re not?”
“No. There’s another. Alrik is his name. He’s evil. As evil as it gets.”
“What’s he done?” Logan asked.
Hadrian waved his hand around, indicating the tribe of people who were gently engaging in their way of life. “It doesn’t take much to convince these people to worship you. A few tricks, followed by a show of force, and bang, you’ve got ’em.”
“Why would someone want to do that?” I asked. Sure, the feeling of power might be addictive to some, but after a while, you’d think it’d wear off.
“I don’t know exactly, but there’s got to be a reason he’s stayed so long.”
“Where is he?” Logan asked. “I take it you two have run into each other?”
“We have. I can tell you exactly where he is. About two days ride from here is an ancient ruin where he’s taken up residence. The perfect place to be god-like.”
“An ancient ruin here?” From what I’d seen, it looked to be the beginning of time in this place.
“Yeah, and he’s had the people there rebuilding to suit his purposes. He works them like slaves. It’s disgusting.”
“So why don’t you stop him?” asked Logan.
“I intend to. Tomorrow. I’ve got a few surprises cooked up for him.”
“Like that gun?” I had to ask.
“And much more. In my world we have all kinds of modern weaponry, explosives, and tools. Things that can make Alrik’s god status come to an abrupt halt.”
“We have stuff like that in our world too. Hey, how many moons are in your world?” Logan asked. He was thinking the same thing as me. But the likelihood that Hadrian came from the same place as us was wishful thinking.
Logan and I both sighed.
“Not your world, I take it?”
I shook my head. “Can we help you? Go with you tomorrow?” I looked at Logan, waiting for him to disapprove of my offer, but he only nodded his head in agreement.
“Sure, I could use the help, and I’d love the company. I’m only taking about five men from here…the ones who don’t have families. I’m not expecting trouble, but you never know.”
Logan suddenly looked at me speculatively.
“Don’t even think about leaving me behind,” I warned him.
“I wasn’t. I was just thinking about fire power, and if we’d be able to supply any.”
I shrugged in answer to his question. I knew what he meant, but I couldn’t offer anything up. Not when I didn’t know what I had going for me here.
“We should be set with what I’ve got,” Hadrian said, watching Logan’s and my exchange curiously. “You guys should head off to bed. I want to get an early start.”
“Sounds good.” Logan climbed to his feet and pulled me up beside him.
I thought the sleeping arrangements awkward. Logan had no problem sprawling on the furs, and when I stood back, hesitating, he gestured for me to join him. I suppose it wasn’t any different from all the times we’d curled up together in the past few weeks, but being in the domestic little cave somehow made it all the more intimate. I shook off my unease and laid down beside him. Logan pulled me into his arms, and when I held my breath, hoping he may kiss me goodnight, he settled me at his side with my head on his chest. His deep breaths and rhythmic breathing soon lulled me to sleep.
Bright and early the next morning we awoke and prepared ourselves to head out. Logan climbed down the steep incline from our dwelling and jumped the last five feet to the ground. Not to be outdone, I attempted the same feat. Unfortunately, when I landed I fell to the ground like a stone. Logan rushed to my side and helped me up.