“But recently, this has changed. The way Martians worship their creator is no longer pushed by a communications strategy or from school lessons. The worship is fanatical. They pray to him and worship him as God. The one and only God. The reverence has spread, and there are people on Earth and in the Asteroid Belt who worship him as God.”
“Why can’t Earth stop him?”
“For years, people on Earth have worked to balance everyone’s interests. All manner of special interest group has sprung up as a result. Twisted politics arose from this; politics of corruption, filled with discordant groups, all of them caught up in the spinning vortex of fundraising, and campaigning that left little time for ideas and thoughts. Earth is in no position to deal with the threat of a Mars united behind their own God.”
Emmy considered what Shankar told her. She looked down into the dark valley below. The valley was full of shadows, but dotted with starlight reflecting off the pale green leaves of the Shamrock Forest canopy. The forest floor looked as if covered in a sparkling light green ash.
As Emmy continued to process all Shankar had said, they both heard a howl off in the distance.
“What was that?” Shankar said.
“There is no creature on St. John’s that makes a sound like that,” Emmy said.
Another howl, creeping nearer.
“It’s coming this way,” Shankar said. “We need to move.”
Emmy stuffed her guidebook into her bag while Shankar packed up their blankets. They started running. Up a hill and through the dense, dark forest, they heard whatever it was approaching. The reflections the leaves formed sparkled on the forest floor, and this was the light Emmy had to guide her feet to safe landings with each stretching, running step.
Emmy could hear whatever it was that was approaching and risked looking back. She saw it; a large hairy beast, pounding the forest floor as its powerful legs propelled it forward, kicking up debris. It was coming for her, Emmy was sure.
Emmy ran faster on the poorly lit, uneven ground.
Then disaster; she tripped, hit the ground hard and rolled a few feet. The beast skidded to a stop above her. Emmy turned to look at it — she was sure it was smiling and that horrified her all the more. The beast stood on its hind legs, sharp eyes never leaving Emmy’s stare. It began to twitch and froth at the mouth.
Shankar saw what had happened to Emmy. He moved back towards her to help and his path was cut-off by another beast. A third came out of the woods and moved towards Shankar. The beasts resembled a pack of werewolves. They were baring their teeth, growling and barking.
Emmy lay on the ground, terrified, and paralyzed by the sight of all the sharp-toothed gnarling.
Shankar pulled a weapon from inside his coat and fired, aiming at the wolf moving towards Emmy. The third wolf jumped and took Shankar’s blast. It stung the beast, but he was right back on two feet moving to attack Shankar head on.
The wolf nearest Emmy spoke. “Remember, we are to take them alive.”
The Blue Moon - Part 1 - Into the Forest Page 7
