by Bob Cooper
“Tell me, Dirk, did you have anything to do with Bob Haskall’s death?”
Dirk looked him square in the eyes. He could tell that Aidan was questioning whether he did the right thing.
“I’m sorry you’re here and that you got yourself involved in my problems. But I did not kill Bob. O’Malley did a good job to make it look like I did. My only hope is we will find the evidence I know exists and return to Earth with it.”
Aidan was trained to do his duty and not question what he was told. This training always made life simpler for an officer. But he allowed his emotions to cloud his mind, and now he was paying for it. His gut told him that Dirk was innocent, and he decided that what he was doing was the right thing.
“All my training has been to obey orders and not concern myself with guilt or innocence. In your case, I failed to do that. I do believe you are innocent,” he said.
Dirk knew he had feelings for Acey, and that could have swayed his actions.
“Thank you. Now, why don’t you get some sleep?”
Aidan nodded, got up, and walked towards his shelter. He heard a scream, and he and Dirk ran to Hillary’s shelter. Hillary was sitting up, holding her head.
“What’s happening to me,” she shouted as she shook her head back and forth. “There’s something in my head! I can hear him talking! I’m not dreaming this!” Hillary screamed.
“Who’s talking? Dirk asked.
“It’s in my head. His voice is in my head!” Hillary said sobbing.
Acey came over and joined them, followed by Raina. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Hillary is hearing a voice. I’m going to check the perimeter,” Aidan said.
“I’ll go with you,” Raina offered.
The voice subsided. Acey gave her a towel to dry her face. She was soaking wet.
“Acey, there was a male voice speaking to me. In my head! I’m not making it up.”
“Calm down. I believe you,” Acey replied.
“Could you make out what it uh... he was saying?” Dirk asked.
“It sounded almost like he was singing. There were other male voices in the background like a chorus. The words were unrecognizable,” Hillary said.
“Have you ever had this happen before?” Dirk asked.
“No. Not that I can remember. But it happened to my mother on occasion. She was a psychic, and she swore that it was a power handed down from her mother. She never fully understood what she was supposed to do with it. My father used to tease her, so she stopped bringing it to our attention,” Hillary shared.
Raina and Aidan shined their light sticks around the entrance of the cave and down the path. There was no sign of anybody or anything. When they returned, Acey had moved into Hillary’s shelter. They both retired, and Dirk maintained vigilance by the campfire. There were no other incidents that night—at least none that they knew about.
***
Acey woke to Hillary snoring up a storm, so she left the shelter to clean up. Dirk was fast asleep on a log by the burned-out campfire. He opened his eyes as she approached and then closed them. She walked down to the edge of the water. It was late in the morning, and the light showed almost directly overhead. After undressing, she looked around carefully before wading in to bathe. She was anxious to explore the cave in more detail. When she returned, everyone was up except Hillary.
“Best let her sleep,” Aidan said.
Acey turned and smiled at him. His blue eyes beamed back. That pencil-thin smile came back to his face. She felt an urge to hold him close, but plenty of other things took priority.
“What do you think of Raina? I mean, she saved my life and all.”
“I don’t know what to make of her. I’d like to think she is beginning to see things our way, but she’s so quiet it’s hard to know what she’s thinking,” Aidan said.
Acey silently agreed with him. She wanted to continue the conversation, but it was late in the morning. “Help me scan the rock paintings into the computer for analysis,” she said, grabbing his hand.
“Okay,” he said.
***
Dirk, Hillary, and Raina were exploring the cave as Acey and Aidan joined them. They were almost finished scanning the cave paintings and carvings into her computer. Antares’ suns were at the right angle to better illuminate the interior walls. Raina and Hillary examined the spot where they found the footprints. It was one person, and by the size of the odd-looking footprint, the person looked to be smallish, maybe less than five feet tall. Dirk came over and took pictures as Hillary saw a large group of geometric symbols carved into the wall and painted with bright colors.
“Look at these! I can use these for the next art expo,” she said, digging through her backpack.
Raina explored the chambers. The first two were empty with the exception of a few paintings, but the last one was far into the cave, and she needed a light stick to see. Pulling down some of the rubble, Raina was able to push the light stick through far enough to peek in. That last chamber was different—way different.
Raina gasped and ran back down the path.
“Hey! Come here! You got to see this!” she yelled at the others.
“What is it?” Dirk asked.
“Follow me,” Raina answered, running back up the path.
They pulled the rest of the rubble away and stood in wonder. There was an altar made of the same glittering material found in the main chamber. The flat surface reflected the sunlight streaming from openings in the chamber ceiling. It was held up by tree trunks at least two feet in diameter and about four feet high. The translucent bark showed a dark red fluid running through the cells of the trees. They were alive. A small waterway ran through the cavern and surrounded the altar. To the left of the altar were life-size paintings of human-like beings dressed in ceremonial costumes. On the right side was an enclosure that ran to the top of the chamber and was about twenty feet long and ten feet wide. Ropes woven together and intertwined with gemstones covered the entrance and glittered when the light sticks hit them.
“Is this the temple we’re looking for?” Raina asked
“I’m not sure,” said Dirk.
“I don’t think this is the temple. The topographic maps indicate a structure that towers above the tree canopy. This is underground,” Acey replied.
“It sure is beautiful!” Hillary said.
Aidan walked to the entrance of the enclosure. He turned to look at the others who followed him. He pushed open the rope entrance. It was dark inside. There were three rows of costumes hanging neatly on wooden rods. They were all made of fine cloth woven in intricate patterns. Gems meshed within the weave.
“These are exquisite,” Hillary said.
As she moved to fell the material, she grimaced and held her head falling forward against the wall. Raina caught her and eased her to the ground.
“The voices! They’re back!”
“Get her out of here!” Dirk shouted.
Acey and Aidan carried her back into the chamber to get more air.
“They are chanting now, softly. It’s kind of pleasant.”
The expression on her face changed to a more peaceful and serene look. She stood up and began to hum along with the chanting. Her body swayed back and forth.
“Hillary! Hillary!” Dirk called.
“She’s in a trance,” Aidan said.
Her swaying turned to sudden jerking motions, and the humming turned to loud screams. She crumpled to the ground, trying to catch her breath. As she lay there, she pointed to the painting behind the altar. It was sinking into the ground with a rumbling sound that vibrated through their bodies. Raina went closer and shined her light stick at the painting. A set of massive rock steps appeared leading upwards into the darkness. A marker on the wall pointed up the stairs.
8
Franz and O’Malley watched the monitor paint pictures of Antares surface. It had been a long time since he was there on the very first expedition with Henry and Laura. He and his men were hir
ed for many Academy expeditions, but he had no time to prepare for this one. He never cared much for O’Malley, but he paid well.
“The area looks vaguely familiar,” Franz said.
But it wasn’t until he saw the river flow over the waterfall that he fully remembered.
“That’s it! That’s where the temple is!” he shouted.
“Lock in those coordinates and prepare the shuttlecraft,” O’Malley ordered.
There was no way they were going to escape this time. The Academy presidency had eluded him for so long, but now he could see it within reach. He would decipher the Antares Codex, and the scientific community would bestow on him the honor that he deserves. But first, there was this matter at hand.
He had selected his landing team with great care choosing only those in his inner circle to accompany him. There were five all together that would descend, but Franz and the others were to stay aboard the ship. In the shuttle, O’Malley laid out his plan. He promised to double their fees to ensure their loyalty and even more, once he became president of the Academy. The shuttle landed about five miles from the waterfall. When they disembarked, they looked for the trail markers just as Franz told them.
Following the markers, they arrived at the waterfall where the rope still spanned the river, but the pulley was on the other side.
“Very ingenious. But we have a better way to cross. Right gentlemen?” he said to his fellow comrades.
One of his men unloaded the two small rafts and pulled the gas ripcords. The rafts swelled in an instant, and after loading the gear, they pushed away towards the waterfall.
***
Aidan was the first to enter the chamber. His light stick illuminated enough of the staircase to see that it spiraled upwards. The others joined him and stared in amazement.
“They want us to come up,” Hillary said.
“Who are they?” asked Dirk.
“The people in my head,” she said.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Aidan said, loading the blaster.
“Stay together when we get to the top,” he said, leading the way.
They followed with light sticks in hand. The walls sparkled and were decorated with drawings and hieroglyphs. The familiar markers were also there. Acey stopped to study some of the drawings. It clearly depicted the two suns of Antares Proper shining on the temple and spilling over into the valley below. Based on the drawings, the valley seemed inhabited by large and small creatures. This idyllic scene was broken by another mural showing lightning bolts from the sky, fire everywhere and burning creatures.
“There are no pictures of any humanoid inhabitants,” Acey said.
Raina moved closer to the destruction scene.
“Look closer. There! At the top of the burning mountain,” she said.
They all moved in for a closer look.
“I see them. They blend in with the burnt background,” Dirk said.
“None of this is recorded in my father’s notebooks,” Acey said.
“Maybe he didn’t make it this far,” Aidan said.
Noticing the look on Acey’s face, he realized he probably should not have spoken so bluntly.
As they pressed further, the glittery material became more plentiful—almost blinding. They extinguished their light sticks and continued slowly.
“We’ve climbed four hundred and thirty steps so far,” Acey said.
A bright light became visible at the top.
“They’re back,” Hillary said.
Acey went over to her.
“I’m okay. They’re calling me to come up. Let me lead the way,” she said.
“No! I have the weapon. I will lead,” Aidan said.
“Aidan, please. It’s me they want. You might spook them if they see you with your weapon.”
“Okay, but I’m right behind you,” he said.
They adjusted their backpacks and cautiously continued their ascent until they came to the top where the stairway ended in a covered platform made from the living trees.
Hillary stepped out first. A serene look came over her face as the light hit her. She signaled to the rest to come up. As they walked onto the platform, they saw the entrance to the magnificent temple. The trees entangled it as if they provided nourishment with their lifeblood. The central spire towered at least one hundred feet with several smaller ones encircling it. The two suns illuminated the obelisk-like structures scattered throughout the grounds. Ornate drawings and carvings covered each one.
“They’re calling me,” Hillary said, holding her head.
“They called me by my name this time, and they’re speaking in English,” she said excitedly.
“Answer them,” Acey said.
Hillary closed her eyes and concentrated.
“Who are you? Where are you?” she asked.
“We are the Guardians of the temple. Our essence dwells in the trees around you. We are a collective unit—not individual beings such as you. We have accessed your body’s internal language processing center and can translate your words.”
“How do we refer to you? Do you have a name?” Hillary asked.
“The Guardians will suffice,” they replied.
“They say that they are the spirits in the trees surrounding the temple. They call themselves the Guardians and they watch over this place,” she exclaimed.
“Ask if we can go into the temple,” Dirk said.
“Would it be possible to enter the temple? We are looking for evidence of those who came before us.”
There was no immediate response. Hillary looked at the group and shrugged her shoulders.
“No answer. I’ll ask them again,” she said.
“We know of your people who came before you. We recognize the amulet the female wears,” they said.
Hillary turned and walked over to Raina. She held up the amulet.
“Is this what you are referring to?” she asked, trying to confirm her understanding.
“Yes. It is the key to understanding the life forces set forth on our planet before time began. It was our gift to them.”
“What are they saying?” Dirk asked.
Hillary told them what they said. Raina held the amulet in her hands, staring at it intently.
“Ask them which one was given the amulet,” Raina told Hillary.
***
O’Malley and his crew reached the far shore by the waterfall. He surveyed the area and the footprints leading up the narrow trail along the waterfall.
“This way,” he shouted to them.
The path led them behind the waterfall to the cave entrance. More footprints confirmed that he was on the right track. They stood in awe of the cave entrance. However, some of his team hesitated to enter.
“What’s the problem”? O’Malley asked.
“This looks evil,” one of the men said, staring at the beast-like entrance.
“Evil my ass! There’s nothing in there we can’t handle,” O’Malley said clutching his weapon.
Reluctantly and grumbling, the men followed him into the cave. O’Malley was mesmerized by the rock art while his men huddled inside whispering amongst themselves. As he studied the rock art, they heard a loud rumbling noise. The cave floor shook, and debris fell, forcing them to take cover.
“What was that?” asked one of the men.
“It’s the evil spirits that live here,” cried out another.
“Quit acting like little girls and follow these footprints!” O’Malley shouted.
There was another low-level rumbling, and the men stopped dead in their tracks.
O’Malley held up his blaster in a threatening gesture.
“It’s coming from down there,” he said, motioning to a path that led to one of the smaller caverns.
“Now get in there and find out what’s making that noise.”
As they entered the chamber, the wall behind the altar rose just about to the ceiling. Still spooked, the men huddled in the entrance and watched as the painted wall sealed t
he stairway entrance shut. O’Malley pushed through. He saw their footprints on the ground by the wall.
“They were here. We must find a way to get in there,” he said.
***
Hillary formulated the question in her head about who was given the amulet when the wind kicked up debris and swirled it around. For a moment, no one could see what was going on around them. The sky darkened as an ominous cloud passed overhead.
“You must go quickly. We cannot help you when they come,” the Guardians said to Hillary.
The group covered their faces and fell to the ground as the craft hovered above them.
“Who are they?” Hillary asked.
“You must leave. We cannot help you,” the Guardians said as the communication abruptly ended.
“We’ve got to get out of here,” Hillary shouted to the rest.
It was too late. As the dust settled, the craft landed, and the door opened. It was like nothing they had ever seen before. The shape of the craft resembled a giant football. Burn marks spattered the hull. Pieces of vegetation were stuck in the cracks and crevices as if it had plowed through the trees many times. The group saw several tiny portholes, and a flashing green light pulsated from the bottom of the ship. The landing ramp deployed, and they heard loud guttural sounds coming from the opening.
Aidan grabbed his blaster and aimed it just as the inhabitants exited the ship. A strong odor of smoke and charred wood preceded them. Dirk moved in for a closer look. There were three of them. The tall one was about five feet tall, and the other two were a good five inches shorter. Their greenish outer appearance exuded a shiny sliminess characteristic of reptiles on Earth. They wore no clothes. Their massive heads, which resembled those of a toad on Earth, were way out of proportion to the rest of their bodies. The yellow eyes were set up high on their heads and moved independently of each other.
Aidan moved closer to Dirk and pointed his blaster at the leader. There was a slight gesture from the leader’s right eye, and Aidan’s blaster flew out of his hands. Dirk moved to retrieve it, but the leader moved his body in front of it.