The Feeding Season
Page 15
The heavy steps of the mechanized survival suit subdued the eerie quietness. Bars was alone in the wilderness far from the rest of the group, which he had never left before. Without any other humans around, his anger quickly evaporated, and now he could concentrate on what he was planning on doing. And even though he didn't like it, he knew that there was no turning back.
Here, far from the tall rocks on the dried-out, wide-open plains, the fog wasn't as thick and Bars was able to easily find the trail left by the main group. His search lights lighted enough of the trodden ground and he could follow the trail. After he finishes with Radator once and for all, he would return by the same way and show Leegan that he had been wrong about everything. About everything with one exception.
Before that, he had to do what he had in mind. Now Bars was sorry that he hadn't found the courage earlier in the day, when Radator had begged him, but soon he would make it right. This was the preferred choice over a drawn out death by starvation over several days. It would also be better than to be found by the Savage Shells, who tortured their victims just for fun, and then ate them, while they were still half-alive.
No, that wasn't going to be Radator's fate, not while Bars could offer him a quick end to his suffering.
The clouds in the sky opened up and the light from the moon shined through, seeming to light his path in order to support him in his difficult undertaking. Bars turned off his searchlights since he no longer needed them and continued on.
As he walked on in that way, several hours passed and Bars realized that he should be nearing the place, where the thunderstorm had caught them. The same place, where during the day so many bad things had happened and where Radator lied helpless in his Shell. But now, it was unusually quiet and no yelling or screaming could be heard, as the Alpha Leader had foreseen. The trodden trail of the procession flowed out and spread out over a wide area of about 10 meters and Bars understood that he had found the right place.
But to his surprise there wasn't any sign of Radator's Shell.
Bars feverishly searched around the area, but he didn't find anything. He had no doubts, that this was the exact place where Leegan and Radator had fought. Remains of their Shells were still on the ground.
But Radator's suit was missing.
“What's going on here?!” Bars said frightened. Was he too late? Was it possible that the Savage Shells had beaten him here and Radator had become their victim? Could they still be around?
Bars tried to make himself as small as possible and looked in every direction. He had clear visibility and he didn't find any reason to be worried, but even so he couldn't shake the feeling that danger was near at hand.
He had to get out of there!
“What a fool I am! Stupid! Stupid!” now his idea to come here seemed overly risky. “What had I been thinking?!”
Without wasting another second in that cursed place, Bars left to return to the group. With a quick step, he succeeded in getting quite far, but in the end, fatigue started to win and he slowed down his pace. And now he was far away from the danger zone, but there were still several hours to go ahead of him. Hours in which he could have been taking a needed rest, if he hadn't had taken on this stupid task. Instead of resting, he was dragging his worn-out hide through the wilderness with each step becoming more difficult. Soon his legs were so heavy, that every few meters he was forced to stop and rest, breathing hard and fast from the effort. Bars now knew what Radator had experienced during the last few days.
His progress was becoming more difficult and Bars realized that at such a slow and inconsistent pace, it would take him longer to return than it did to go. And now time was important. He had to reach the boys before morning, so that he would have enough time to rest, before the next day's march. A march on which he had to find food. The situation would become more complicated by the fact that once they entered into the territory between rocks there would be a greater danger of attack. And then he would need even more strength and energy.
Despite his fatigue, Bars' mind still continued to work excitedly, even though it seemed impossible. His Shell stopped moving, while he feverishly thought over the situation.
He had to immediately change his course in order to save time and distance.
His steps followed the crooked bed of the ancient river, but if he went straight though the rocks he would shorten his path quite a bit. It was a big risk, but Bars didn't have another choice, if he wanted to return in time to the rest of the group.
Once he looked in the direction of his new path, Bars sighed heavily nodding his head. The decision had been made and his suit began to head straight for the nearest rocks, which were now darker than the night.