by J P Nelson
In moments both men were running and yelling, “To arms, to arms, giant hornets … gi-i-ia-ant hor-r-rnet-t-ts-s-s!”
The air was full of angry insects with bodies twenty marks long. Running was the instinct, but not a viable option, as these things were much faster on the straight line. The good news was, they were huge compared to a normal sized hornet, maneuverability much less, and they were easier to hit with a sword.
Dessi’s Fort Choe drills included randomly throwing snowballs at the men, often as fast as possible, for sake of precision training. That training was coming into use now. It was hectic for longer than anyone wanted to remember, but none of the team died. The leather armor saved several from damage, although an imbedded stinger was found in Mantel’s and TL Corporal Kaesun’s breast plate.
If that wasn’t enough, as they were deliberating camp that evening, a nice, thick constrictor fell on Seedle taking him hard to the ground. The serpent was already working on gliding its mouth over his head as he desperately tried to hold it off, when his mates succeeded in cutting the creature from his body.
Seedle was wide-eyed and emphatically kicking still squirming pieces from his body when Dessi asked, “Heyo mate, did you not say you wanted to get laid one more time?”
With ragged breath Seedle replied, “Not what I had in mind …”
Sergeant Nei was shaking his head with a suppressed chuckle, “Shikes, cob, you are too much.”
Dessi held out his hand to help his friend up, “Are you well?”
“Oh-h-h yeah-h-h. Can you all turn while I change my pants?”
Two days later, Dessi was at point, when only by the angle he was standing in relationship to the sunlight he saw the web. Holding his fist up in signal for all to stop, he carefully investigated and found a network of nearly invisible webs. Jha’Ley made to the front and Dessi picked up a small branch and threw it. The web held the branch without problem.
Those webs filled most of a two acre area. Much care was made, but they did not see the spider, if it was a spider who made those webs. It was Dessi’s opinion they had just been completed.
“I am thinking, sir, it is one shiking big bug.”
As they trekked, much conversation was of the existence of their surroundings.
Rufus asked, “Commodore, are we not in the midst of a glacier? Is that not what the maps indicate? How do you presume all of this growth? Could it be the Meinkutt is not a separate continent of itself, and truly is part of Aeshea?”
“I do not know. Mayhap the river has flowed for ages and carried silt and such.”
Toagun offered, “I’m betting this is a fault-line. A shifting of tectonic plates could cause all of this to fall away.”
Mantel said, “Of that, it would be a shame. It is so beautiful.”
Jha’Ley commented, “Of a surety, it is beautiful. Maps can only reveal what has been seen. Can you imagine if one were able to see below the ice, see what is actually there?”
It was noon of the twenty-second day of their journey when the river widened to reveal a significant delta and marshland. The team had entered the expanse of Diustahn’s Sea.
For a long time they all marveled at the sight, then Seedle put his hand on Jha’Ley’s shoulder, “Well commodore, you did it.”
With a smile Jha’Ley looked about the fellows, “No Mister Seedle, we did it. All of us together.”
Dessi was excited, “Tir N’Aill … what is the priest’s name?”
Toagun replied, “The one who wrote that book? T’Kiemmer.”
“Yes, T’Kiemmer, he can eat his own shite.”
Jha’Ley added, “Yes, gentlemen, but there is still much to do.”
Mantel asked as he looked upon the expanse, “We have reached the sea, sir, so what is the next goal? What are we looking for next?”
“At the moment, Mister Mantel, I am open to anything. I am here with no preconceived notions … other than to survive.”
Toagun suggested, “Wasn’t Greybeard looking for a wheel of some kind?”
“Yes, he was,” Jha’Ley shook his head, “but we have no idea what kind of wheel, or what it is relative to. Only that it is supposed to be high up on Belmond,” he tilted his head south, “which suggests to me that way.”
Giving the wide marshland scrutiny, the commodore added, “Well, gentlemen, let us skirt this marsh wide. We do not want to tread anywhere we cannot see with clarity.”
Before continuing, however, a man climbed a tall tree and hung a flag; more a marker for their return than a claim of territory.
As they carefully moved along the southern shore, Rufus declared they had travelled two hundred and forty miles and they were at about sixty-three hundred feet in elevation.
They made a good ten miles before making camp in shelter of a thick stand of trees. As they had beds prepared, watches established, and were taking their evening meal, from the direction they had come they heard a high-pitched, blood-curdling, trumpeting sound. Toagun later compared it to an elephant mixed with a great bear’s roar.
Birds took sudden flight, the forest resounded in chaos, then the ground suddenly exploded with thunderous sound. Before the team could react, a great lizard running on two legs and fifteen feet high at the hip rushed into camp, grabbed Indo by the arm with its huge jaws, threw him up in the air while on the run, caught the private firmly by his torso while he still had crossbow in hand, and ran into the woods as the man screamed and thrashed his arms and legs in vain.
Chapter 48
THE GREAT LIZARD drew several bolts and four javelins before it got clear of the camp, but to no avail.
Rufus yelled, “Teerex!” as Rymon and Kaesun’s teams were moving fast led by Sergeant Nei into the forest to give pursuit, when Dessi’s sharp order brought them around. Even as they could still hear Indo’s screams, another teerex rushed the camp, but the Marines had already regrouped from their enemy’s first strike and met the second head on.
The lizard met with a hail of well-placed bolts and javelins, confusing and frustrating the creature. Obviously, the hunter had not met this kind of resistance before. This new prey was not moving in panic, but with coordinated movements as they lashed out with a new form of claw.
Several times the teerex came within a hair of grasping a man, but not quite. Its tail whipped and scattered the campfire, twice it knocked men reeling, once a man went flying through the air to land ten feet high against a tree. Infuriated, the beast let loose a terrible roar. Taking a crossbow bolt inside its mouth, the lizard shook its head and ran from the camp.
Immediately Marines moved to secure their perimeter and check the downed men as Seedle asked Rufus, “What did you call those things?”
“Teerex … I saw one once when sailing the Mon’Dari River in Rok’Shutai. It was brown, not mottled gray or the size of these. But they had short feathers growing out the back of the head, down the back, and behind those short little arms … just like these, and …”
Dessi began speaking, “Everyone, I am declaring Code Five Alert. If it is not part of our team, it is the enemy without exception. Exchange capture as prisoner for torturous interrogation with being hunted for food.
“We are outmanned one thousand to one and we have inferior weapons. As of now, consider yourselves in survival mode. As to Private Indo, he is Fathom Forty. Consider him as death in action to seaborne predators. Commodore … what are your orders?”
“I concur. As per Code Five regulation, I will determine aggressive or regressive action and course direction and objective. Until he declares all-safe, Sergeant Dessi is in charge of tactical maneuvers to achieve targeted position.”
Jha’Ley looked from man to man and watched attention given to the injured men. Assured that critical injuries were not apparent, he continued, “We believe, I say believe, there is a wheel of some kind out here. We do not know where or even what it looks like, or if it even exists beyond speculation. But we knew this before beginning. That is why this is called exploration.”
H
e looked to Dessi, “I say we travel seven days. If we are not in the wind, we return by best means possible. Consider locating a safest place to build dugouts, which in turn means a water source to travel out of.”
The guttery sergeant gave a sharp nod of his head.
Jha’Ley put up his hand in proper salute, “Sergeant Dessi … you have the con.”
Dessi returned the salute, turned to the team and began, “Alright men … here is what we are going to do …”
___________________________
Toagun Sealer watched with close observation as the group made transition from away-team with Marine support, to Marine Mission with naval personnel in party. There were three individuals he had his eye on in particular …
Commodore Jann Raul Jha’Ley: Toagun had seen many people in charge have difficulty letting someone else call-the-ball, try to know everything, and often destroy or impede their objective. He was impressed with Jha’Ley. The commodore really seemed to know when to step back and let someone else do what they were good at. It rang of confidence in his position. When Dessi gave an instruction, Jha’Ley was either first, or one of the first to comply.
Chief of Boat Seedle: he was Dessi’s best mate. The two were known for ongoing banter, a plethora of subjects to wager, and for making jokes of most anything … Seedle in particular. Apart from each other they were very different, but together their personalities complimented each other. Would Dessi make Seedle his second? Would Seedle chaff at being subordinate to Dessi? Neither occurred; in fact, it was a toss as who supported Dessi more, Jha’Ley or Seedle.
Guttery Sergeant Dessi: when the commodore gave him the con, essentially placing Dessi in charge of the team’s safety, there was no radiating sense of excitement, no flare of ego, no apprehension. He shouldered the responsibility with unflappable attitude as if he had done this sort of thing successfully many times, or as if he had been born to it, or both, which maybe he had.
Dessi was not harsh, nor cold, but he was firm with resolution. His instructions were given with respect and consideration, but there was no question of who was in charge. After more than three weeks on the trail, he knew everyone’s trail strengths and weaknesses.
What Toagun didn’t expect was for the sergeant to come over to him and casually say, “You are the number three man in team when it comes to forest movement, Rahno is number one and his partner is gone. You are number two diver behind the commodore. And you are number one shot with crossbow, with Lance Corporal Guen number two. Rahno could use you as his second. Is that a problem for you?”
The Sealer was taken aback, but not unpleasantly so. He could have wisecracked, which he was accustomed to do, but chose against it. With a wink he replied, “Not at all, sarge.”
Dessi started to turn and address another situation when Toagun asked, “Mind if I make a suggestion?”
The sergeant turned his head back and replied, “What is that?”
“Our weapons aren’t enough for these teerex things. We need lances, or something to the effect. If we find good stone, flint’s best, I can make the right heads when we rest. But straight poles eight or nine feet long would be good to find as we go.”
Dessi considered for only an instant, “Good idea. You tell them what you want in just a moment.”
“Will do, sarge.”
In the short time things were put to order, Toagun found Guen and handed him four special bolts of heavy nature, “Your skipper says you’re the best man with missiles. These heads will sink through plate armor. I made them for that big shark. That ceebee you have, there, will love these. You got four, I got four.”
Guen gave a nod and put one in right away.
The team was tired, but not exhausted, and the attack gave everyone an enthusiasm for fast trekking. Rolling in mud in an attempt to kill scent, Dessi led a quick pace for thirty miles. They rested, massaged their legs and feet, then went at it for twenty more. It was grueling, but they were conditioned for it. Rahno and Toagun were at point and found a place defendable from at least the teerex.
Other creatures of which the team was not familiar made their presence known, but there were no new attacks. There was an aggressive encounter with a pack of what appeared to be five-foot-tall rats walking on rather large hind legs, but a couple well-placed bolts gave them to have one of their own for dinner.
The team eventually made cold camp amid a circle of gnarled, huge trees. They did not know if fire would act in their favor or against, so taking every precaution they made meal of rations.
Tired, but without complaints, they started early next morning eating Sean Dodgers on the march and drinking old water from canteens. Taking a mid-day meal, another leg and foot massage, then going again, the team made forty miles all totaled the second day.
Kord was heard to ask his marching mate, Rufus, “You think we may have lost the teerex by now? Surely they would not to follow us this far.”
“Is it a chance you wish to make? I know little of such, but I heard tale at the Rok of one fording the river and hunting a man the full length of the land. The lizard was of mind to find he who afforded a spear to his side.”
Kord just stared with a white face at Rufus.
Seedle heard the comment and asked, “What was the end?”
“It made for legend. The conflict began on the island Mon’Dari, then worked way to the northern coast where they battled in the surf. Both died there on the lapping shore.”
Kord wanted to know, “Are they really that smart?”
“Of intelligence, I do not know. But it is said none follow scent any better.”
Seedle whistled softly and exclaimed, “Son-or’a-jym …”
The third day they pulled ten miles in their morning trek, but they were at their physical limits and needed rest. At a break in the foliage they perceived a well elevated rocky plateau. The team took needed respite as Rahno, Toagun, Jha’Ley, and Dessi investigated. There were several ledges under which they could take shelter and seven acres of flat. Down below on the back side was a wide, fresh water stream. Here they decided to rest the next day or two, cook, and plan further action.
Smokeless fires were used, and though the men were filthy from sweat and jungle mud, that was the way of it. A narrow runoff trail was found leading to the stream, and small groups of four and five were allowed to go below. The standing order was silence.
On evening of the first rest day, a five-man group with Kord, Boak, TL Kaesun, Javelier Bobbet, and Sniper Dallio took the last turn to draw water at the river.
After filling their canteens, an irritable Kord said, “To shite with all this, I am taking a quick dip, lads.”
As he moved further upstream to a deeper hole, Boak replied with a hiss, “Bring your ass back up here. We have order---”
“I outrank you seaman,” the man said with a laugh.
Kaesun saw him and heard the laugh; with a violent gesture and as quietly as he could, demanded, “Kord, up here on the double!
Ignoring the Marine, Kord set his canteen and crossbow down and gingerly stepped into the crystal clear water. From around a vine cluster, a large head shaped like a toad, but connected to five-foot-high salamander-like body shot a tongue out to grab Kord. The man let out a loud yell as within seconds he was yanked back, the front of his body in the creature’s mouth, his spine broken as he was folded backward.
Dallio’s bolt sank deep into the creature’s neck, but it was gone into the jungle with no more sound from Kord. Only an instant later a six-foot-tall creature, looking like a cross between a skinny human and a fish with jagged teeth, stepped from the brush opposite the stream looking startled.
“Troglodytes,” yelled Kaesun, “back to camp, now!”
The troglodyte held a lance in hand and had a head of some kind dangling from its belt. It let out a loud gurgling whistling sound and more started stepping from the jungle in a hurry. Several drew back to throw their weapons and Kaesun shot one in the torso.
As the men hurried t
o back their way up the trail, Boak got off a shot, but did not know if he hit anything. A rain of lances came across the water as the troglodytes followed with a rush. A lance sunk deep in Kaesun’s thigh as he was drawing his sword, another hit his chest armor and deflected to slice Bobbet’s arm. Another cut through the TL’s throat, but he charged forward slicing one, then another with his last actions.
Bobbet was backing away as he took aim with one, then another of his two javelins, both transfixing their targets. Dallio was moving to engage when Bobbet had his two-handed sword out yelling, “Up the path private … move! Get that man safe …” he was already swinging furiously as he added, “… warn them … warn …”
Dallio was pushing Boak up the narrow trail as fast as they could go. Looking about he saw the man strike one creature, then cleave a head, and then remove an arm as he held position as long as he could, buying time with his own life.
They were almost to the top when the trumpet of a teerex rang across the land. Everyone, troglodytes included, gave a moment’s pause to the terrifying sound.
Running to edge of the plateau, Jha’Ley demanded of the watch man with the telescope, “Where did that come from?”
Pointing opposite the way they had come, to the southeast, he said, “From that way commodore. I think it to be a different one.”
Taking the scope as Dessi, Seedle, Mantel, and a few others joined him, Jha’Ley scanned the region. Again the trumpet sounded, this time it was answered from the northwest.
“Miu’Ganté!” He focused the lens and exclaimed, “There is a different one out there, purplish in color.”
Toagun said, “We may have set off a territorial dispute.” Seeing a shadow, he glanced up and asked, “Is that some kind of buzzard?”
Jha’Ley said, “Get the men in position. Where is the last wat---”
“Troglodytes … troglodytes …” yelled Boak as he came running up the crest.
Dessi had the Marines scramble as Dallio hurriedly reported, “Sir---TL---Bobbet---Kord---are all dead---”
