Neverwylde (The Rim of the World Book 5)

by Linda Mooney

  “What?” Cooter scooted closer. “Come on, Kyber. Let’s go. We ain’t got a long time to wait.”

  “What’s the holdup?” Fullgrath questioned.

  Kyber looked back at the others. “There is only one white light on this panel.” He was met with incredulous stares.

  “Can’t be,” Jules finally argued. The man stepped up onto the platform next to Kyber and checked the panel. After a few short seconds, he shook his head. “He’s right. There’s only one white light here, not two.” He frowned and glanced at them. “Question is, does this lead back to the jungle temple or the ice temple?”

  “Are you sure there is not another white light?” Kleesod challenged. “There has to be another one. The Law of Three!”

  Jules waved at the panel. “Come look for yourself if you don’t believe me.”

  “Does it make any difference at this point?” Massapa challenged. “We cannot remain here.”

  “Maybe we have another option,” Gaveer suggested. The Seneecian took off into the temple’s interior. Kyber stepped off the platform to follow him.

  It immediately became clear that this area had been ravaged by previous flows. Mellori stomped the heel of his boot into the solidified pumice. Squatting, he laid a hand on it. “It’s not hot. This place has been covered in the past, but not recently.” He checked over his shoulder. “That’s a hellacious amount of molten rock coming this way. It’s possible the stuff that’s heading this way may stop before it gets this far. Then again, it may not.”

  Fullgrath strode past them, following Gaveer who had stopped in the opening at the other end of the building. Mellori continued to point out evidence.

  “It’s a good thing this place is carved from rock. Otherwise this temple wouldn’t be standing.”

  “Holes in the wall.” Dox’s unexpected remark caught their attention. The little man bent over to run his hand over the narrow curved opening in the rock wall. “No invisible door.”

  Kyber stopped in his tracks as Sandow also investigated the lowlying tunnel. “He’s right. Whatever power or source that projected the hologram in front of these doorways isn’t working. Probably shorted out.”

  “Or was fried,” Cooter interjected.

  Kyber noticed Jules wiping the sweat from his face, and a thread of envy manifested itself. He could feel his own perspiration trickling and tickling his skin as the droplets wove through his fur. Unable to wipe off the wetness, the best he and his fellow Seneecians could do was to give a vigorous shake to rid himself of the excess fluid.

  “Hey, everyone!” Fullgrath gestured with a wave of his arm. “Come look at this.”

  They hurried to join him where the broken lip jutted out and away from the temple, where it sat suspended out over the vast chasm of space. For a moment Kyber hesitated, looking out and over the endless emptiness. The vision of Kelen hurtling down the dark, starlit mouth was like a knife in the gut. Groaning softly, he averted his face and backed away. His hand found the edge of a wall and he gripped it as he fought the vertigo that threatened to overtake him. Fortunately, the others didn’t comment on his sudden show of weakness, for which he was grateful.

  “You can tell the lava flowed over this lip,” Sandow observed. He rapped the smooth, almost creamy-looking hardness. “But it’s been a while since that happened.” He cautiously leaned over to further check out the landscape below. “It looks like someone dumped a load of goop.”

  “What do you think the chances are there’s a working panel somewhere below?” Cooter asked.

  “What do you think the chances are there are creatures below?” Massapa countered.

  A sound interrupted them, and they all turned to see Dox gathering his collection of gizmos, securing them around his waist and shoulders with improvised straps. The young man paused to glare back. “Go now. Hurry.”

  “He’s right,” Mellori agreed. “We don’t need to remain here any longer than we must. Discussing whether or not there’s something worth finding below is a moot issue, in my honest opinion. If we’re going to head back to the other temple, we’d better go now.” He pointed at the temple, back the way they’d come. “It doesn’t matter whether or not that river of fire stops before it reaches the platform, or continues on until it covers this ledge again. It’s obvious to me it’s not worth our time or effort to hang around and check it out. In fact, I say it’s downright dangerous and stupid not to pack up and haul our asses out of here as soon as possible.”

  “Hey, guys, look.” Jules pointed outward, toward the sheer wall that extended on either side of the rock lip. From where they stood, they could see mountains in the distance, rising on the horizon like the bottom row of rotten teeth. Some of the mountains bore spiked peaks. Others were broken, or showed signs of being split down the middle. But the one that caught all of their attentions was the big one that appeared to be closer than the rest. The massive, nearly conical structure was belching out black plumes of smoke as more lava oozed from its ruptured top. A portion of its base jutted out over the chasm, as if the volcano had grown outward. From their vantage point, they watched as a thin stream of magma oozed from underneath and dripped huge chunks of lava over the rim of the world.

  Thunder rumbled. No, not thunder, as Kyber quickly realized. The mountain was about to erupt once again. He could feel it beneath his feet as the ground began to vibrate in preparation.

  “Oh, shit! Everyone inside!” Mellori yelled, and they bolted for the opening as the volcano spewed out another vomitus mass of boiling earth and rock. At the same time, the lip shuddered, then gave a loud, stomach-churning cracking noise before it broke off from the temple to fall into the chasm, along with Jules and Kleesod.

  Chapter 4

  Alternative

  Mellori threw himself forward as the lip cracked and slowly dropped downward. Somehow he managed to snag one of the makeshift satchels Dox had looped over his head and shoulder. At the same time, Kleesod grabbed one of the young man’s legs and dug his talons into the uniform’s material as he and Dox slid over the edge.

  Kyber launched himself at Mellori. At the same time, Gaveer and Fullgrath fell onto their bellies to hold onto the couple.

  “Got ‘em! I got ‘em!” the ex-weapons master yelled.

  Both Sandow and Cooter also joined in. After a few treacherous moments, they managed to drag both Dox and the Seneecian back over the lip and onto safe ground. Dox immediately retreated to one of the stone pillars and curled into a small ball. Kleesod did the opposite, lying flat on his back and spreading his arms and legs as he gazed up at the heavens. His chest heaved from the exertion.

  “That was too close,” Jules gasped. The ex-navigator scooted backwards until his back was flush against the temple’s outer wall. Reaching out, he patted the toe of Dox’s boot. “You okay, buddy?”

  Dox gave a single nod but didn’t verbally respond.

  “Please check to see if I injured him,” the Seneecian requested in a soft voice. Kleesod continued to lie unmoving from his position.

  Sandow crawled over on his hands and knees to check Dox’s legs for any wounds. “Other than the fact that you shredded his uniform from the calf down, I only see minor scratches on his skin.” The physician glanced back at the Seneecian. “He’s lucky our boots are made from a near-indestructible alloy. Otherwise you might have ripped through it and taken half of his foot along with you.”

  Getting to his feet, Cooter peered down into the temple. “The lava seems to still be advancing. We need to hurry up and decide what we’re gonna do. Take a chance on that one white light on the panel?”

  “The temple panel is the only one with the white light,” Kyber reminded them.

  Jules checked his tablet. “We have less than twenty minutes to decide before that stuff reaches the platform.”

  Mellori spoke up. “Actually, we have less than that. The temperature is rising fast. It will become intolerable and too dangerous to use the platform long before that stuff reaches it. And it takes
a good minute or so for each of us to cycle through before the next person can use it.”

  “Then we must hurry,” Kyber ordered. As Sandow helped Dox to stand, he held out a hand to Kleesod, hoisted his crew member to his feet, and quickly entered the temple.

  They had to return to the other side of the planet. It didn’t matter if it was the ice temple because they knew there was a second white light on the main panel at that location. And that other light would be able to return them to the garden temple they preferred. Yes, they would be met with voracious and dangerous creatures at the garden temple, but at least they wouldn’t have to worry about the relentless cold. Plus there was food there. And water. And the nonagons.

  A pang of regret speared him. The sharp pain caught him off guard, and he clutched his chest. Food, water, and a safe place where they could rest. But there would be no Kelen.

  No Kelen.

  By the four gods…

  Tears stung his eyes. His throat tightened in response. He had grown accustomed to having her by his side. He had come to need her advice. He had found a warmth and joy he never believed himself capable of enjoying because of her. He, a Seneecian Por D’har and warrior who had never desired another person for more than whatever physical release he could acquire. He hadn’t planned to fall in love with the Terran pilot, or she with him. It had taken them both by complete, overwhelming surprise.

  Because of the circumstances of their crash landing here on this godsforsaken world, they’d known their time together would be short. But he had sworn to himself he would fight with every last ounce of strength in his body to keep her safe. When that inevitable moment came when one or both of them should die, he would go down in a blaze of bloody glory protecting her.

  And I failed.

  The floor beneath them heaved upward. The minor lurch caused a web of cracks to appear in the pumice-covered rock. Several of them fell onto their hands and knees to wait out the tremors.

  “Anybody want to argue that that volcano also caused those ice quakes at the other temple?” Cooter quipped.

  No one accepted the challenge.

  As the ground gradually ceased its shaking, they got to their feet to continue toward the platform. It was Massapa who voiced what they all realized at the same time as they came to a halt after a few more meters.

  “I am surprised that did not happen before now.”

  The panel had shattered. The upper portion lay on the ground, propped against the dais.

  Fullgrath swore aloud as Jules frantically tapped on his tablet to reestablish a connection with the board. In the meantime, Massapa edged closer to the platform, but Kyber could tell it was already too late. Either they had spent too much time on the lip, or the volcanic eruption had accelerated the speed of the lava flow. Or maybe both were to blame. Either way, their plans had been changed for them.

  “It’s too hot to approach the platform now, even if the panel still worked,” Sandow observed.

  “Hey, Jules, does the panel still work? Can you tell?” Mellori inquired.

  Jules sighed loudly. “It’s giving out a signal. However…” He glanced up at them. “Just because I’m getting a response doesn’t mean the panel will work.”

  “Enough talk!” Kleesod pushed the others aside in an attempt to retrieve the broken portion. Kyber realized why the man plunged ahead and raced after him.

  He felt the intensive heat begin to singe his fur as they reached the section. Kleesod tried to lift it by himself. Surprisingly, he managed to pick it up. Kyber gestured at him.

  “Hurry!”

  They ran back to where the others were waiting. Mellori beat on Kyber’s back and side where his fur had caught on fire as he gulped in slightly cooler air. A short distance away, Sandow was doing the same to Kleesod to extinguish the sections of smoking pelt. Like Kyber, he breathed in hard gasps.

  Kyber eyed Jules, who held his tablet over the partial panel Massapa held up for him. “Tell me that risky move was worth it,” Kyber half-growled, his voice hoarse.

  Jules shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t guarantee anything. We’d have to try it out to see if it’s no longer working.”

  “Try it out how?” Cooter asked. The security master pointed at the platform where the swath of molten rock was beginning to surround the base. “You can write that one off.”

  “Go below.” Dox’s soft voice drew their attention to where the little man still remained crouching against the wall where he had retreated after his near fall.

  Fullgrath grunted. “Go below, huh? Why?”

  “Find another panel,” Dox calmly replied.

  “Do we have any other choice?” Gaveer asked the man. “The platform up here is useless.”

  “Dox’s reckoning is sound,” Kyber agreed. “We will take the panel with us.”

  “And do what?” Fullgrath asked.

  Cooter hoisted his rifle. “Okay. Say we go below and find another platform and panel. What do you plan to do? Jury rig it to work off the other panel? Will that piece work?”

  “We won’t know until we get there,” Jules answered. “Like Gaveer said, what other choice do we have?”

  “Well, if we’re going to head downstairs, we’d better get our asses in gear, before that magma reaches the tunnel,” Fullgrath warned.

  “I concur. We leave now. We do not have the time to search for the third passageway leading downward,” Kyber told them.

  Raising his blaster, Fullgrath took off for the tunnel with the rest of them close behind.

  Chapter 5

  Close Call

  She had no knowledge of losing consciousness. One moment she had been watching the little furry guarding her and waiting to see if the five-legged fuzzy would return with something for her to eat. The next thing she was aware of was smelling something unusual, which brought her back to the present.

  Kelen opened her eyes to find a small plate or platter sitting a few inches away from her face. Lumps of something black lay on the plate with steam rising in semi-transparent swirls above it.

  The guarding fuzzy noticed she had awakened and let out a shrill whistle. Kelen felt the hundred little bodies, which had been lying atop her to keep her warm, move almost as one. They began dropping to her side, sliding off of her and retreating a couple of meters away before stopping and turning to face her.

  They waited…for what?

  The guarding furry squeaked, hunched down, then stood. It waited. After a few seconds, it repeated the action, crouching down, then rising up on its two rear legs. She finally understood.

  “You want me to get up.”

  Closing her eyes, she focused her energy to get her body to respond. Slowly, she managed to get her hands underneath her. It was then she noticed the wrapping around her damaged hand. Kelen tried to flex her fingers, but failed. It was numb, making her wonder if she’d lost all feeling in it. Regardless, she pressed it to the ground.

  With a heave, she lifted her chest off the floor, but it didn’t last. With a grunt she dropped back down, pressing her forehead to the ground.

  “Okay, Chambliss. You can do this. You gotta get up. Come on now, woman. Heave ho.”

  Steadying her arms, she took a deep breath and tried again. This time she succeeded.

  “Well, what do you know. Didn’t need that third charmed time.”

  She’d managed to sit up, but that didn’t mean she could stand. Not with her leg the way it was, and the fact that she was completely drained of energy. Her stamina was shot. Unless there was some way to regain her strength, she wouldn’t get any better. Chances were she’d never be able to lift herself up again if she laid back down. Not unless she got something more substantial than water in her stomach.

  Five appeared from behind her, its distinctive hitch in its walk identifying it before she caught sight of the missing limb. It went up beside the guard fuzzy where the two exchanged chitters again. Then it hobbled over to the plate. Kelen watched in surprised amusement as it attempted to sho
ve the dish toward her. She could tell the little creature was terrified of her, so she waited for it to back away to a safe distance before making any moves.

  The guarding fuzzy gnashed its teeth.

  She snorted. “You want me to eat that? How do I know it’s not poisonous?”

  Kelen caught herself. The food looked suspiciously like what the Hoov creatures had tried to serve them in bowls. But that food reeked because it had been tainted to make her and the others docile so they could be easily killed.

  The guard fuzzy was clicking its teeth together again. It wanted her to eat, but Kelen got the impression it was because the furries were concerned for her wellbeing. If these black lumps were poisonous, it wasn’t because the fuzzies wished her any ill will. Not when they had gone out of their way to keep her warm and hydrated.

  Reaching out, she picked up one of the lumps that was the size and consistency of a meatball, and brought it to her nose to sniff. The smell was odd but not unpleasant. Tentatively, she took a nibble. Like the smell, the taste was unusual. Neither meat nor vegetable. Indistinguishable from anything she’d ever eaten before. But it was warm. She bit off half of the lump, chewed three times, and swallowed. When she realized her stomach wouldn’t revolt at the strange food, it didn’t take her long to finish off the contents of the plate. She licked her fingers and wiped them off on her pants leg, then shoved the empty dish toward Five. Already she could feel a meager amount of energy flowing through her body. Whatever kind of food it was, it contained protein.

  Which means it might have been some sort of meat. But what kind of meat?

  She glanced around the room, recalling the battle she’d had with the Hoov creature. There was no sign of the alien or its remains. All traces of blood had been cleaned. Kelen raised an eyebrow at the group of furries still watching her.