The Sea Below

by William Meikle

  Everything slowed down for Danny. The act of drawing his gun seemed to take forever as the beast, maw open and teeth showing, leapt in a seemingly impossible jump up from the causeway, coming directly at him.

  It was the old soldier's instincts that saved him. He brought up his pistol and turned in one smooth action, showing his back to the beast and firing under his left armpit in the same movement. He didn't know if he'd hit his target for it immediately felt like a wall had fallen on him. He felt sudden wetness at his neck and shoulders.

  Blood. The damned thing's had my neck open.

  Then, as quickly as it had come, the weight lifted. He heard a roar of pain, then someone had him by the shoulders, turning him over. Danny looked up to see Stefan waving the tattered remnants of a waterskin in his face.

  "My handiwork saved your life, my friend," the shepherd said with a smile. "Although I fear it is now beyond even my repair."

  Danny rolled to his feet and looked back over the plain to see the big cat bounding away through the smoky gloom and falling ash.

  "Did I hit it?"

  "The bloody thing was moving so fast I couldn't tell," Ed said at his side. "But at least it has buggered off."

  "For now," Danny said, then winced as a burning hot flake of ash tumbled down like a snowflake to land on his cheek. He looked up to see a sky full of falling embers, some of them still burning.

  "Quick. To the water. At least it'll be cooler there."

  The whole ceiling above them was a roiling mass of black smoke and flickering flame. As they ran down the slope to the water's edge hot ash fell around them. The whole island to the left of them was nothing but fire. Danny strode into the water, its coldness providing immediate relief. He stopped wading when the water reached his thighs, not wishing to get his pack or ammo belt wet. He saw that the others were equally circumspect except for Elsa who was paddling around them in apparent delight.

  "Stay close to shore, lads," he said. "This might feel safer, but we all know it's not."

  Without waiting for a reply, Danny began to wade, staying five yards from shore, heading away from the still encroaching fire. With water only up to his knees he was able to holster his pistol and use his freed hands to make up a cigarette. The absurdity of breathing in more smoke during such a conflagration wasn't lost on him but the old habit did much to calm his frayed nerves, rooting him back in some semblance of reality while the cavern went to hell over and above him. Stefan had also slung his rifle and was carrying Elsa in his arms, with young Ed bringing up the rear. The fall of ash was getting steadily heavier, and hotter, burning their scalps and charring their clothing on shoulders. Danny had to throw water over Stefan's pack to extinguish a small fire that bloomed there.

  "We need to get out of this," Ed shouted.

  "I'm working on it, lad," Danny called back. He surveyed the shoreline. On their journey up the island to this point in the canoe he had spotted numerous cracks and small crevasses in the cliffs; he just had to find one that would provide them with enough shelter.

  They had been paddling for ten minutes before he found one he liked; an outcrop of the cliff overhung the sea over a flat bed of rock above the waterline. They wouldn't be able to stand, but they could sit comfortably, possibly even lay out to sleep, and the rock above would protect them from falling ash. It was as good as they could hope for in the circumstances.

  Danny led them under the rock. Stefan put Elsa down and she paddled eagerly over and pulled herself up onto the flat rock. She barked, as if in enthusiastic agreement at Danny's choice. He took that as a good sign and climbed out to join her before giving the others a hand up onto the rocky shelf.

  "Make yourselves comfy, lads," he said, looking back out across the sea to where the ash fell steadily, some of it hissing as it hit the water. "We could be here for a while."

  They managed a basic meal of the last of the bat meat and water. Danny longed for coffee but at least he had his smokes and what was left of his liquor; that was enough to bring him some small degree of contentment while they sat staring out at the scene out on the water.

  Everything beyond their small cave was now tinged in a red hue and although the air was cooler here it was still almost stiflingly hot.

  "I wasn't to know," Ed whispered at one point. "How could I know?"

  "Don't take it on yourself, lad," Danny replied. "We all agreed to your wee plan. Who were we to know it would be so flammable?"

  "It's a tar bubble of some kind, it has to be," Ed replied. "Who knows how long it has existed, trapped there in the old stone?"

  "Aye. And the Lord only knows how big it might be or how long it will keep burning. What's done is done, lad. If we were to spend time questioning every bad decision we've made...including the one to come here in the first place...we'd be here from here to eternity. Get some rest. If it doesn't stop soon, we're going to have to venture out again, ash or no ash, for we will need to eat."

  After that there was little to say. Stefan and Elsa stretched out and were soon asleep. Ed sat by Danny's side, both of them smoking, neither speaking while the black ash continued to fall and the sea glowed red in reflected flames.

  -Ed-

  At some point Ed slept, his dreams full of stick figures marching through fire while a distant drum beat mercilessly. He woke with a start when Danny shook him by the shoulder.

  "We might be out of the worst of it," the old soldier said.

  Ed sat up and looked out over the water. The fall of ash had lessened considerably and the red glow was nowhere near as prominent on the surface. It was still almost too hot to breathe but a cooler breeze coming from off the water promised an end to that.

  "It seems we are to live, for a tad longer at least," Danny said. His accompanying laugh woke Elsa into a bark that also woke Stefan.

  "What say you, lads? Are you ready to see what damage we have wrought in this land?" Danny said.

  Ed wondered whether he'd ever be ready but gathered his pack and gear and followed Danny out into the water when the old soldier moved out. Ed emerged from under the rock to find Danny standing, opened mouthed, looking back along the island towards the broch on the shore.

  The roof above was mostly dark, black even; what little light there was coming from areas behind and to their left where the flames thankfully hadn't reached. But everything to their right and in front of them had burned; there was only blackened rock to be seen over the whole right half of the island. In the distance, what had been stacks reaching all the way to the roof were now only tar covered blackened stumps. The only fire yet visible came from above these stumps where tar still dripped, flaming all the way from ceiling to ground. Apart from that everything was a fire-blackened wasteland; what little vegetation had clung to the ground here had been replaced by tarry black ash.

  Ed looked to Danny for guidance.

  The old soldier pointed away along the shore to their left.

  "You saw it from the window; there's a possibility of more dwellings up that far end. And they may well have been spared the fire, given that there's still light over that way. We should go there."

  "We'd have to stick to the water."

  "Aye. It's that or go through the foliage where the baboons live. Neither fills me with any excitement. But what choice do we have?"

  What choice indeed?

  Ed realised that his thrill of exploration had gone, burned away in the fires, leaving behind the simplest of desires in the need for food, water and safety. Any other thoughts would have to wait.

  "If I get a say, I suggest we try the forest," Stefan said. He was carrying Elsa again. "I cannot bear her forever, no matter how much I would want to, she cannot swim forever, and to allow her to walk means shallower water than this."

  Ed looked along the shore to their left. In the near distance he saw that the blackened ground gave way to an area where the pale foliage still dominated.

  "We are armed, and forewarned," he said. "That is more than enough to see off a pack of
angry monkeys. I agree with Stefan. Let us seek a path ashore. As you said, we need food, and there's little to be found standing here."

  "I like a man who thinks with his belly," Danny said, and laughed again.

  The old soldier's continual good humor did much to sustain all of them as they headed to their left and waded closer to the patch of forested ground.

  They stayed in the water for another five minutes until they came to a spot where the cliffs receded to a rocky beach that made it easy to go ashore. Elsa yelped in excitement when Stefan put her down and bounded away among the rocks like a frisky puppy. The men took the opportunity to pause for a smoke and a swig of water.

  They were at the edge of the extent of the fire's reach; above them the ceiling was slightly blackened, but with patches of the luminescent vegetation hanging overhead. The bats were returning, soaring in wide circles near the roof and down on the land there were patches of charred foliage amid the ashes. The heat was less than it had been before and Ed was glad of the easier walking when they made their way up the shore.

  Elsa returned as they reached the edge of the forest, pleased with herself and carrying a charred lump that turned out to be what was left of a rabbit. It was badly burnt on the outside, but the meat itself was perfectly cooked. Ed wolfed his portion down; he hadn't realised how hungry he had become.

  "Hopefully there's more where that came from," he said.

  "If there is, she will find it," Stefan said as the dog, having taken her own portion in one bite, bounded away into the foliage again.

  Ed eyed the forest warily. Everything appeared quiet but he remembered all too well the frightening ferocity shown by the baboons on their last encounter. He noted that Danny had his pistol in hand again and Ed unholstered his own weapon as they left the shore and headed into the foliage.

  Thankfully it proved to be relatively easy walking. Although leafy, the vegetation wasn't stiff and could be pushed aside with ease. They followed what Ed took to be a deer trail judging by the amount of droppings underfoot. It led them farther from the shore, deeper into the woods. A quiet calm fell around them, disturbed only by the occasional rustle from where Elsa bounded off to their left. The foliage was partially burned in places, but the deeper they went in the less evidence of the flames was apparent and soon even the smell of smoke and ash was only a memory. On looking up Ed saw that the ceiling above was a carpet of the lank bioluminescent roots; they were out from under the area that had been aflame.

  Danny appeared to be in little mood to allow any relaxation. The soldier led from the front, using his saber to hack and slash any foliage that dared to get in his way. Ten minutes in, Elsa returned with another rabbit; this one wasn't burnt, and newly dead. Stefan stashed it away in his pack, and over the next half hour the dog returned with two more. After that she didn't roam but kept close order at Stefan's heel. Danny continued to set a brisk pace, only coming to a halt after an hour's walk when they climbed up only a rocky outcrop that for the first time gave a clear view of the journey ahead.

  They had a view over this end of the island. Below them the foliage stretched away for several more miles, then gave way to rockier ground on which there was a settlement of some kind, a large collection of scores more of the broch-like structures, some still intact, others long since tumbled and broken in ruin. Beyond that, at the farthest extent of the land, a larger building stood on a promontory out onto the sea, a tiered castle of black rock that looked to be almost pyramidical. The township was still something in the vicinity of five miles away but the mere sight of it had Ed's curiosity rising again, but Danny held him back from plunging ahead.

  "I don't know about you, lad, but I've worked up a hunger. Let's have some of yon rabbit and a rest."

  Ed stood, gaze fixed on the township ahead while Stefan and Danny got a fire going and a spit turning. Soon the smell of the cooking rabbit drew his attention back to the fire. He went to join the others.

  While waiting for the rabbit to cook, Ed wondered aloud what might be waiting to be found at the settlement ahead.

  "I wouldn't pin much hope of finding much of anything," Danny said. "There's nowt here but wild animals. The builders are long gone, surely you know that?"

  "There may be artefacts," Ed said.

  "Aye. And there may even be boats… or had you not considered that?"

  In truth Ed hadn't given any thought as to the possibility, but now that it had been mentioned he could think of little else. A society capable of the buildings they'd seen would surely have also taken to the water? Excitement grew in him at the possibility and he hardly tasted the rabbit once Stefan cut their shares and handed it out. By the time they'd all finished, then had a drink and a smoke, Ed was more than ready to head at full speed for the castle on the promontory.

  "Not too hasty, lad," Danny said. "Just because we haven't seen them it doesn't mean those bloody baboons aren't around. And yon big cat too… we need to keep our heads and not go dashing about. We've got a load of this forest to traverse yet. Hold your horses."

  Danny was proved right about the need for caution almost as soon as they descended from the outcrop and re-entered the forest of leafy foliage. Elsa's hackles rose and she gave out a deep growl in her throat. Somewhere in the forest ahead of them something screeched. It was answered by more screeches farther to their right.

  "We do not like these monkeys," Stefan said.

  "No, we don't," Danny said. "Give them a volley."

  Ed's pistol bucked hard in his hand as he fired in the direction of the second set of screeching; Stefan's rifle boomed like a small cannon blasting a patch of foliage to scattered shreds and Danny fired smooth and practised, three quick shots towards the first screeching. The gunshots echoed around them. Ed's ears rang for long seconds, then once again the forest had fallen deathly quiet. High overhead one of the great bats squawked in confusion at the gunplay, but down at ground level nothing moved.

  "Well, we've given them something to think about. Let us hope it is enough. Double time and stay in close order, lads. The sooner we're out of this and into clear ground again the happier I'll be."

  Danny didn't wait for a reply but plunged ahead along the deer trail. Ed followed right behind him, with Stefan and Elsa bringing up the rear. For the first five minutes Ed thought their shooting might have frightened off the baboons entirely but Elsa began growling in her throat again and, although there was no more screeching, Ed couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being followed, tracked by things just far enough deep in the foliage to remain hidden.

  "Aye, lad," Danny said. "The wee bastards are still there, just a bit more cautious of us now. Eyes peeled and pistols ready...if they attack en-masse it could get messy quickly."

  -Danny-

  Danny didn't want to worry the younger man unduly, but their situation was more perilous than he'd let on. The pack of baboons must be at least a score in number given the shadows he kept seeing flitting through the foliage on either side of them. They moved silent and fast, a practised hunting troop. Danny had seen a unit such as this in Africa. That time it had been chimpanzees but these beasts here moved with similar guile and intent. That time he'd seen them taking down an antelope the size of a horse. He didn't think these things here would have much trouble with three men and a dog.

  Our only hope is that they're more scared of the guns than they are hungry.

  The further they walked into the jungle, the smaller that hope became, especially once the deer trail narrowed so that the foliage was brushing up against Danny's shoulders as he pushed through it. Once again, he had to resort to using his saber as a machete. Having to hack through the foliage meant he made much more noise than he was happy with; the baboons didn't have to do much work to keep track of their position. Indeed, the new sounds emboldened the hunting party. Shadows crept closer around them and more than once Danny heard excited yelps, although those were quickly stifled. Danny knew the paces and beats of a successful hunt. Normally he was the
one doing the stalking but here and now he knew that they'd reached the point where an attack could come at any second.

  He couldn't take the tension much longer and when the trail opened up slightly ahead of them into a small circular clearing some five yards across, Danny came to a decision and strode to the central point of the cleared area.

  "Bugger all of this creeping around for a lark," he said. "To me, lads, back to back. We make a stand here. Let's show them who's boss in these parts."

  Stefan moved to Danny's left, Ed to the right and Elsa took guard between Stefan's legs. Danny had his pistol in his right hand, the saber in his left. Every nerve in his body felt alive but his aim was steady as he took aim into the foliage.

  "Come on then, let's have you," he shouted.

  The attack came without warning. For two heartbeats it was quiet, the next the foliage itself seemed to burst into life as the baboons launched themselves out of it. There was no time for thought. Stefan fired first, almost at Danny's left ear, then the clearing was filled with the roar of gunfire and the wild screeching of baboons.

  Danny's first shot almost took the head off one, his second blew a hole in another's chest, then they were on him. He shoved his pistol halfway down the throat of another before firing and hacked two limbs off another. He had to duck as Stefan, swinging his rifle like a club, swatted two more away, caving their ribs in the process. Elsa was below him; she had one of the baboons by the throat, worrying at it as if it was no more than a barn rat.

  And still they came; Danny's estimate of a score had been too low and although some of them had paused to tear and feast on their own dead, still more came leaping out of the shadows. Danny clubbed another on the head with the butt of his pistol, feeling its skull collapse as it fell away only to allow space for another that was on him before he could get the saber around for a cut at it. Two pairs of limbs wrapped around his waist amid a howling fury of thrashing upper limbs. A screaming maw of a mouth shrieked in his face. It was within an inch of ripping off his nose when Danny managed to get the pistol around into its ribs. He fired, kept firing until he clicked on empty, and then had to tug the dead thing off him and toss it aside.