Alone in Paradise (The Chronicles of Anna Foster Book 2)

by Patrick Stutzman

  “What?” Kate moved to her side.

  Anna pointed at the holographic panel. “The wildlife. They’re gone.”

  “Hmm, they probably returned to where they were before the eclipse began.”

  “Well, yeah. But, where specifically do you think they went? Do they retreat into caves? Do they do something that makes them undetectable to our sensors? What?”

  Kate shrugged. “I do not know.”

  “Neither do I. Maybe that’s something I’ll have to look into sometime in the future.” She stepped away from the front of the ship. “I want to get out there and look around a bit more.” Anna stopped halfway toward the airlock, turned to face Kate, and shrugged. “At least to get an idea of what’s out there.”

  “Sure. These sensors can only show so much.”

  “While I’m exploring, I can check out that area I discovered before I crashed here and see what’s over there.”

  Kate cocked her head to the side and stepped toward her. “Are you sure that is wise, Anna? That area is over five kilometers away through thick woods. If anything should happen to you…”

  Anna waved away the comment. “If anything should happen to me, then I can be picked up by the drone that I will take along and be brought back here.”

  Kate leaned back on one leg and crossed her arms.

  Anna sensed skepticism. “Besides, I’m not leaving immediately. I’m not going to go until after the pain in my shoulder subsides somewhat. And, I want to plot my course and pack supplies before I even think of setting foot away from the ship.”

  “Well, okay, but you call me at the first sign of trouble.”

  Anna frowned. “Kate, you’re starting to sound like my mother.”

  Kate balked. “I just want to make sure nothing happens to you. Rule Number One, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know. Part of me wishes I could take you with me.”

  Kate pointed at Anna’s wristcomp. “You will.”

  Anna emerged through the top airlock several minutes later and surveyed the top of the ship. It was already lighter outside than it had been when she’d looked out through the viewscreen. Several small skeletons littered the hull around the hatch, picked clean of any flesh. She examined one of them in the growing daylight. The mouth appeared similar to the one attached to the larger creature that had stalked the ship several hours before. The three appendages that used to be wings looked like long-fingered hands on short, stubby arms. Small pools of blood around the skeletons had dried over the last few hours, and now clung to the white hull plating like spilled wine.

  As Anna placed her hands on the hull to lift herself out of the airlock, she heard a light peck against the ship not far from her. She turned toward the sound, but saw nothing there. A couple of seconds later, something cool and wet tapped her cheek. She wiped off the liquid with a finger and looked at it. Water. Glancing skyward, she saw dark clouds rolling in and bringing rain. The precipitation grew stronger by the second. She climbed back down and closed the airlock again.

  The rain intensified as she walked back into the bridge. The sound sent her back to her childhood for a moment, summoning visions of the high-rise apartment in Seattle. Rain was not uncommon, but she spent many afternoons staring out the window at the gray skies, watching the raindrops smack against the window before her face and fall to the streets below.

  “Anna?” Kate interrupted her daydream.

  Snapping back to reality, Anna shook her head. “Sorry. I was just reminiscing.”

  Anna crossed the bridge in silence and sat down in front of the control panels. She made a few adjustments to the sensor display, shifting the view to include the cloud bank passing overhead. She watched the large, gray mass as it slowly advanced. “Looks like it may last a while.”

  “Are you going to stay in during the storm?”

  Anna shook her head and stood. “No. I don’t want to waste any more time. I’m going to go retrieve the skin and sweater I left by the river.”

  She retrieved the camouflage poncho from the storage locker and slipped it on while walking to the airlock.

  Poking her head through the upper airlock after the hatch had opened, Anna looked around to see if anything lurked nearby. The raindrops pelted the ship’s hull in a steady rhythm, reducing visibility to just beyond the tree line. Despite the sensors telling her the coast was clear, she needed to check for herself. The scent of soaked wood and mud filled her nostrils, reminding her of spring hikes in the Cascade Mountains. Satisfied the coast was clear, she climbed out, taking extra care to not slip on the wet hull. She reached the ground and hiked to where she had left the animal skin.

  Shock and disappointment hit Anna when she returned to the rapids. Shreds of the sweater lay strewn along the muddy bank, and only small chunks of the hide remained, scattered about the area. She crouched and picked up one of the leftover pieces of the furry leather. Holes and gouges perforated the strip of flesh. Anger and frustration welled up: anger at the flying creatures, and frustration at herself for leaving it behind. With a grunt, she hurled the useless scrap into the trees. She winced as pain flared in her shoulder, and cradled the wound with her hand. She waited a moment for the pain to subside before returning to the ship.

  Anna walked onto the bridge after leaving the poncho to dry in the airlock. “The skin is gone. It appears that those pests ravaged it during the last part of the eclipse.”

  “Oh, no! I did not think they would go after it.”

  “Neither did I. I guess they will go after any kind of animal matter they find. The sweater I used to mop up the blood was ripped apart, too.”

  Kate frowned. “I am so sorry, Anna.”

  Anna shrugged. “Nothing I can do about it now. If I want another one, I would have to hunt another of the creatures during the next eclipse.”

  She stopped and thought for a second. “Kate, when is the next eclipse expected to happen?”

  “According to your survey, the next eclipse, and every one after that, will occur every twenty-nine point seven nine days.”

  Anna raised an eyebrow while she considered the data for a moment.

  “And, how long will the eclipse last each time?”

  “The eclipse will last for zero point nine nine days.”

  “So, we have twenty-eight point eight days of sunlight to do whatever we want. Right?”

  “Yes. That’s correct.”

  “Just like clockwork.” Anna mumbled. Then she gathered her thoughts. “Okay. I’m going to start gathering supplies for my little hike after the rain stops.”

  The storm lasted a few hours, during which Anna inspected the ship’s systems in the engine room. She took a break and returned to the bridge to check on the conditions outside. The storm had passed for the most part, the rain little more than a light mist wafting through the region. “Kate, I’m going to head out.”

  Donning the poncho, and armed with her pistol and survival knife, Anna wandered into the forest to forage for food.

  Several hours later, various leaves and berries filled the used MRE pouches Anna carried in her belt. Her confidence in her future survival grew with each successive find, and she figured she could procure enough food in the area surrounding the crash site to sustain her for months, if not years.

  As she knelt next to another bush bearing dark blue berries, Anna swept her hand scanner past the closest clump. A few seconds into the scan, a glint of light a short distance away caught her eye. She cancelled the scan and approached the source of the sparkle with caution, her hand resting on the handle of her pistol. Despite her careful moves and soft footfalls, the grass rustled beneath her feet, and she cringed with each step.

  She stopped a few meters away from where she’d seen the glint, and stared at the long, metal shaft lying in the grass. Following its length, her eyes found other components.

  “A landing strut,” she whispered as she rushed toward it. Dropping to her knees, she rubbed her hands along the metal rod. Cool to the touch, feeling
the metal under her fingertips sent shivers down her spine. Looking up and down its length, she confirmed the only damage it had received was at the top, where it was ripped from the ship.

  Anna grinned from ear to ear, and opened a channel on her wristcomp. “Kate, dispatch a drone to my current position. I have something for it to pick up.”

  A few minutes later, one of the mining drones descended through the trees and engaged its vertical thrusters a few meters away to float in place.

  Using her wristcomp, Anna issued her orders. “Drone, pick up the landing strut and return it to the ship.”

  The drone maneuvered above the strut and extended its grasper arm to grab the landing support. It increased its upward thrust to lift its cargo, but the strut did not budge. As the drone’s engines grew louder, Anna noticed the strain being exerted.

  “Stop!” Relief flooded through her as the thrust was reduced a split second later.

  Anna returned to her wristcomp. “Kate, send three more drones out here. I overestimated the drone’s strength outside a zero-g environment.”

  “Understood. Three more are on their way.”

  When the other drones arrived, they worked with the first one to lift the heavy landing gear from the ground and carry it away. “I might have some issues with the drones,” Anna murmured, thinking about their abilities when not in zero-g. “Not sure if I can do anything about it, either.”

  Anna vowed to address the issue later. She checked the food she had gathered, then returned to the ship to prepare for her trek.

  Chapter 11

  Anna stuffed a couple of the used MRE bags into her knapsack. She glanced at Kate, who stood in the middle of the bridge, hands on hips.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kate frowned.

  Anna smiled, amused and flattered by her concern. “This spot that I’m going to has been nagging at me ever since I discovered it. If I don’t do this, I will always wonder.”

  “What if you get hurt or killed?”

  “If I get killed, then you don’t have to worry about me anymore. If I get hurt, I’ll just call a drone to come get me. Honestly, Kate. It’s no big deal.”

  Crossing her arms, Kate tapped her foot. “I really must insist this is not a good idea. You should be making sure you have enough food supplies to last until you are rescued.”

  Anna turned around and faced her, a frown on her face. “Your concern has been noted. Look, I appreciate what you are trying to do. But, I have to do this. No, I need to do this. I need to get out and find out more about what’s out there, if I am to increase my chances of survival here. The trip there and back will allow me to learn more about the land, the plants, and maybe find out where the animals went. Staying cooped up here won’t do that. With all of the survival knowledge in your database, one would think that you’d know that. So, I’m going. And honestly Kate, there’s really nothing you can do to stop me.”

  Silence fell between the two ladies for a long moment, during which time Anna stood firm and refused to back down.

  A brief moment later, Kate dropped her head and stared at the other’s feet. “You are right. I am sorry.”

  Anna relaxed her stance. “It’s okay. I understand.”

  “You have to do this. I know. Go, good luck, and God speed.”

  A smile formed on Anna’s lips, relieved to finally have Kate’s understanding.

  “I really feel as if we should hug or something.” She stepped into the airlock, waved goodbye, and closed the hatch behind her.

  Reaching the river several minutes later, Anna consulted the map she had saved on her wristcomp, then looked at the rapids foaming in front of her.

  The water level had risen a little following the recent rainstorm, submerging the rocks that served as her bridge to the other side. Although she could still see them through the clear water, the faster current made the once simple crossing more treacherous than before, and she knew it would not be smart to cross without some form of support. She turned and scanned the tree line, hoping to find a branch or some other object she could use to steady herself against the rushing water. Nothing was in sight.

  Anna stepped back into the woods and continued her search. She found a dead branch on the ground, and tested its strength. Determining it to be sturdy enough, she returned to the rapids.

  Back at the bank, she removed her tool belt, folded it, and stuffed it into her knapsack, taking care that nothing could fall out. Bracing herself with the stick, she stepped with care onto the rocks, testing her weight on each rock before taking another step forward. The flow tugged at her feet, but she fought to keep her footing. The stick seemed to help, and gave her more confidence with each step.

  Halfway across, she heard a sharp crack, barely audible over the roar of the rapids. Squinting against the mist spraying her face, she tried to find what had snapped. A split second later, the branch in her hands broke near the bottom. With her support gone, Anna dropped like a stone into the river.

  Anna bumped against the rocks before breaking the surface of the river, gasping for air. The rush of water threatened to push her over the rocks, and she grabbed for something to anchor herself. The river, deeper than she expected, forced her to tread water to stay afloat. Steady against the rocks, she got her bearings and walked hand-over-hand to the opposite shore.

  After climbing onto the bank, Anna flopped down on her back for a moment to catch her breath. Dripping wet from head to toe, she fought the temptation to return to the ship, dry her clothes, and try again. There was no point in taking the risk.

  A few seconds later, one of the drones appeared above the trees and coasted down to float a few meters away from her over the river. It appeared to be staring at her. With a sheepish grin, Anna smiled and waved at the stoic drone.

  Touched that Kate would send a drone to check up on her, Anna got to her feet. After staring at it for a few more seconds, she shooed it away with both hands. It did not move. Growing impatient, she stamped her foot and pointed a stiff arm back at the ship. A few more seconds passed, and the drone finally flew away.

  Determined more than ever, Anna vowed to push onward, despite the perils she might face ahead. Before continuing, she removed her clothes, one garment at a time, and wrung them out. They still clung to her body after putting them back on, but she felt confident they would dry faster, and hoped they would be dry by the time she reached her destination. Her boots proved to be the hardest to dry, but she resorted to trudging forward in them.

  About half an hour later, after reaching the fork in the river and following the smaller river feeding into it, Anna stopped to test the water. Finding that it was safe to filter, she withdrew her canteen from the knapsack. As she dipped it into the water, she thanked the powers that be for the knapsack being waterproof and protecting her precious tools.

  Anna saw movement out of the corner of her eye and froze. On the other side of the river, several dozen meters upstream, a dark green animal stepped up to the bank and lowered its long-necked head to the water. As its triple-split snout opened to drink, its head shifted as if adjusting to the weight of the thick, curled horns framing its head. Although it sported six legs like the first predator she fought during the eclipse, the two legs on top of its body seemed smaller than the ones on which it stood. Its long, thin tail whipped through a tuft of grass behind it. The three eyes circling its muzzle were a little further back on its head, and faced outward instead of forward.

  Anna stared at the strange beast for a long moment, observing its every move. It lapped the water from the running stream with a long, tapered tongue that shot in and out of its mouth, paying no mind to the intruder. For this moment, the world seemed at peace.

  While she remained still, Anna heard chirping in the air. She did not see them, but the idea that some form of bird living in the open brought a gentle smile to her face. The small reminder of home comforted her.

  The animal raised its head, but did not move from its spot. One of its eyes, from
Anna’s perspective, was trained on her, watching her in return, waiting for any threatening move. For several seconds the two studied each other in silence, each half expecting the other to take some sudden action. The beast finally bolted away into the woods, bounding on four of its six legs as it retreated.

  Anna sighed, content, and finished filling her canteen. After capping the container and replacing it back on her tool belt, she realized Kate hadn’t called about the life sign in her vicinity. She toggled the switch on her wristcomp to activate the holographic screen, but it didn’t respond. Worried, she pressed it again, but nothing. “Oh, god.”

  She unstrapped the device from her wrist, held it in front of her, and then lifted it to her ear. She listened for a second, but heard nothing. Did it hit the rocks? A warm wetness pooled in her hand. Pulling her hand away from the wristcomp, she found water.

  “I thought these things were watertight?” She shook the rest of the water out. Cursing herself for not putting it in her knapsack with her tool belt, she studied the outer casing, but found no evidence of any damage. “Perhaps some water seeped through the seam. Makes sense, considering that’s how it came out.”

  Noting that she needed to examine it further after returning to the ship, she secured the wristcomp to her belt and set off again. “Bet Kate’s freaking out right now.”

  Almost an hour later, Anna climbed up a small hill alongside a narrow, cascading waterfall, and stopped at the bank overlooking the lake. She judged it to be several kilometers across. The calm surface of the water reflected the blue sky and white clouds floating overhead. More trees lined the opposite shore, giving the impression the lake had been dropped into the middle of the forest. With the blue-tinted gas giant looming in the sky ahead, the view took her breath away.