by Jayne Castle
He sheathed the knife, straightened, and crossed quickly to where Rachel still sat on the ground. There was a lot of mud on her pants, and he knew she would be bruised where the tentacles had gripped her arm, but she looked unhurt.
He reached down. She took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She slapped some of the mud off her pants.
“I told my parents that Amberella was an excellent role model,” she said.
“She’s not the only kick-ass female in the vicinity,” Harry said. “Is mud-wrestling with creatures from the Obsidian Lagoon a popular sport in the HE community?”
“Not that I recall.” She brushed off her hands. “I see that knife of yours functions in a heavy psi environment. Most high-end technology doesn’t.”
“One of our labs is dedicated to producing useful gadgets that ghost hunters, Underworld exploration teams, and guys like me can carry into places where the fancy gadgets don’t work.”
“Is there a lot of money in that sort of thing?”
He smiled. “Oh, yeah.”
“You’ve had some experience throwing that thing,” she said neutrally.
“Yes.”
She raised her brows. “You managed to sever one tentacle without accidentally amputating my arm in the process. That’s precision work.”
“Practice, practice, practice.”
A knowing look illuminated her eyes. “Your ability to handle that knife is linked to your talent, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
They walked to where the dead water creature lay on the ground.
“What is that thing?” Rachel asked. “I’ve seen monsters like it in my dreams, the ones where I’m running through the prehistoric sea to escape the human monster.”
Harry studied the dead creature. It looked smaller in death but no less weird.
“In the past two hundred years since the First Generation colonists arrived on Harmony we’ve barely begun to catalogue the flora and fauna of the planet, not to mention the underground rain forest,” he said. “There’s no telling what’s waiting for us in the oceans.”
“I know.” Rachel’s expression tightened into a troubled frown. “But this creature feels somehow wrong.”
“It definitely qualifies as strange. Looks like some kind of cross between a decopus and a Siren-fish.”
“All those eyes,” Rachel said. “When the creature was alive, they were all lit up with psilike tiny lanterns.”
“They aren’t real eyes. As I recall, Siren-fish generate a tiny current of energy through those eyelike appendages. It’s how they attract their prey.”
“I know. I saw one once in an aquarium,” she said. “But this isn’t a Siren-fish and it’s not a decopus, although it has characteristics of both species. This poor thing feels unnatural.”
“That poor thing just tried to drag you down into the grotto pool and eat you.”
“Yes, well, everything has to eat.”
“Another HE saying?”
“Fact of life.” Rachel looked at him. “There have always been tales of monsters and demons prowling the Preserve.”
“Legends and myths but no hard evidence. And this thing wasn’t prowling the Preserve, it was living in a flooded cave.”
“You and others from the Foundation have spent more time, all told, inside the Preserve than anyone else and you’ve got records that go back to Harry One. Have there been any reports of severe mutations aside from the psi-infused flora?”
“As far as the experts know, there isn’t a lot of wildlife in the Preserve. What there is of it seems normal enough and it comes and goes easily through the fence.”
They both looked at Darwina. Aware that she was the object of their attention, she preened.
“Like dust bunnies,” Rachel said.
“Like dust bunnies,” Harry agreed. “Also plenty of standard-issue birds, insects, rodents, and other small animals.”
“But nothing like this?”
“No,” Harry said “Nothing like this.” He looked at the dark woods that crowded the edge of the clearing. “But most of the Preserve is still unexplored and unmapped. Same goes for the cave system. This place is like the deep ocean trenches as far as the biologists are concerned. Unknown territory.”
“The question is, where did I encounter other beasts like this one?” Rachel asked. “I’m no expert on marine biology, but—”
She stopped and looked mutely at the dead creature.
“You’re thinking what I’m thinking, aren’t you?” Harry asked quietly. “You’re not an expert on marine biology but you know someone who might be—Calvin Dillard.”
Chapter 28
Harry sat on one of the bench-wide branches of an Umbrella Tree, his legs hanging over the edge some fifteen feet off the ground. He studied the faintly glowing psi-prints below. The three sets of tracks disappeared into a cave that was faintly illuminated with psi.
“They went inside a couple of hours ago,” Harry said. “The storm delayed them, just like it did us.”
“Without the complications of the storm, this place would have been about half a day’s hike from the perimeter fence,” Rachel said.
She was perched on the branch beside him, her booted feet dangling over the side. Darwina crouched between them with Amberella. The dust bunny was fully fluffed, but all four eyes were open. She seemed to sense that this was not a game. Nothing like having a scary sea monster try to steal your doll to make you take the situation seriously, Harry thought.
He estimated that the massive canopy of the Umbrella Tree covered about two acres. The extensive network of wide branches—two and three feet across in many cases—was supported by sturdy pillars of aerial roots that had originally descended to the jungle floor in clusters. In time the root strands had grown together and taken hold in the ground, forming thick columns that sustained the tree and allowed it to spread farther.
Beneath the tree an entire ecosystem thrived—vast fairylands of mushrooms, veils of spectacular orchids, and miniature fern forests. All of it glowed with psi even though it was mid-morning. The dense ceiling of leaves overhead created a perpetual twilight that today was deepened by the cloud cover.
“It’s true this cave is only about half a day’s trek from the boundary,”Harry said, “but only for someone who knows exactly where he’s going—someone who can also navigate the Preserve. That’s not a common talent.”
“Obviously the people who kidnapped Calvin knew where they were going and were able to find their way,” Rachel said. “Which probably means they’ve got one or more of those crystal flutes.”
“They might also have someone like me with them, a hunter-talent who can track psi-prints.”
He meditated briefly on the entrance of the cave. “We know that at least three people went in there—Calvin and the two guys who grabbed him. But I can make out another set of prints, too. Figure a total of at least four inside.”
“But Calvin is a prisoner, so that means there are only three bad guys.”
“Ever the optimist when it comes to human nature,” Harry said. “It’s touching.”
Rachel ignored him. “You’d think there would be more people involved in whatever is going on down there.”
“First, we don’t know what is going on down there. Second, bringing in a lot of staff would be a hell of a lot easier said than done, not to mention very high-risk.”
“What do you mean?”
“The job requirements for anyone working here are fairly strict. Among other things, you’d need people who can handle the heavy psi inside the Preserve. This place isn’t nearly as accessible as the catacombs or the rain forest. Just getting people through the fence is a huge issue. Once inside, most folks get extremely disoriented very quickly.”
“Unless they know how to use one of the flutes,” she reminded him.
“Maybe,” he conceded. “But navigation problems aside, there are other, pragmatic considerations.”
“Like what?”
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“Feeding your crew comes to mind.”
“Feeding them?”
“Living off the land here in Rainshadow is doable but not very practical. A large group of people would need to spend the majority of their time hunting and foraging in order to survive. Realistically, if you wanted to station even a small crowd here, you’d have to find a way to bring in provisions.”
“Ah, got it. That wouldn’t work well over time. Sooner or later someone in town would be bound to notice.”
“Rainshadow is a natural fortress with only one little harbor and a few small pocket beaches. Anyone who tried to purchase a serious quantity of supplies in town on a regular basis would draw attention. Same goes for trying to bring stuff in by boat.”
Rachel gave him a look that was equal parts amusement and admiration. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”
“It’s what I do. I can think like the bad—”
She held up one hand. “Don’t say it. You don’t think like the bad guys, you think strategically. That’s different.”
He smiled. “If you say so. I’m going to take a look inside that cave while you wait here with Darwina.”
Rachel pondered that briefly and shook her head. “No, I need to go with you.”
“I’ll just do a quick recon,” he said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“You’re going to need me.”
She sounded very serious. Energy whispered in the atmosphere. When he raised his talent, he saw that her eyes were a little hot. He knew without being told that more of her memories were coming back.
“Why am I going to need you?” he asked.
“Because I’ve been inside that cave.” She did not take her eyes off the entrance. “Or one very much like it.”
“What do you remember?”
“The color of the ultralight that is illuminating the entrance, among other things. The night I disappeared into the Preserve I woke up inside a cavern lit with that same kind of bronzy-gold energy. What’s more, I’m almost certain now that the creatures with the tentacles are inside that cave.”
“But they would be in water, not in a cave.”
“They’re in there, Harry. I don’t know how that’s possible, but they are inside that cave, I promise you.”
The charms on Rachel’s bracelet chimed softly.
“All right, I believe you,” he said. “But that’s not a good reason for taking you inside.”
“How about this reason? I may be the only one who can get you out.”
He contemplated the entrance of the cave. “You’re thinking about that frozen waterfall of rainstone, aren’t you?”
“It’s important.”
“You were running from someone when you went through the waterfall. Do you remember what he looked like?”
“No. I just remember Calvin waking me up and putting the flute in my hand.”
“Calvin had to wake you up?”
She touched one of the stones of her bracelet, seemingly unaware of the small action. He felt energy whisper in the atmosphere.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m sure of that much now. I need to go in there with you, Harry.”
* * *
There were no unpleasant surprises waiting inside the entrance of the glowing cavern. No traps closed. No nets dropped. No guards appeared.
Harry glanced up, automatically checking for cameras even though he didn’t expect to see any. There were none. High-tech audio and visual monitoring devices were as useless in a heavy psi environment as most other hardware and software.
The radiance from the walls cast an eerie glow on the scene. But it was the colonnade of massive, glittering stalactites that hung from the ceiling and the wonderland of sparkling stalagmites rising from the floor that dazzled the senses. The crystal formations glowed like great jewels, creating a paranormal rainbow composed of ultra-light colors.
“This is incredible,” Rachel whispered.
“Do you remember this cave?” he asked.
“No,” she said.
Darwina was hunkered down on Rachel’s shoulder, partially sleeked out, all four eyes open. The little beast was not treating this venture as a game—she was ready to hunt. Like me, Harry thought. We were both born for this. What the hell does Rachel see in either of us? At least Darwina had the virtue of being totally cute when she was not in attack mode.
He studied the shadowy psi-prints on the floor of the cave.
“They came this way,” he said. He kept his voice low and put his mouth very close to Rachel’s ear. “There are a lot of other prints but they’re too old and murky to make out clearly. I’d say people have been coming and going through here for quite a while.”
The whispering was probably unnecessary. The heavy energy in the vicinity had a dampening, distorting effect on sound waves, so voices could not carry far, but there was no point taking chances. A strong hunter-talent or someone with some version of an audio-clairvoyant sensitivity might be able to hear a pair of intruders.
They followed the three sets of tracks deeper, weaving a path through the glittering crystal formations. When they rounded one corner, the tunnel through which they were moving became abruptly regular in shape; the rocky surface of the floor, roof, and walls smoothed as if they had been bored by a huge machine, one that could function in a paranormal environment.
“Damn,” he said very softly. “This explains a few things.”
He heard Rachel’s sharp intake of breath and knew she had been hit with the same realization.
“This tunnel sure wasn’t constructed by humans,” she said. “Looks like you were right about the Preserve. The Aliens were here first.”
“But that still leaves the big question unanswered. What the hell were they guarding?”
“One thing at a time. First we find Calvin.”
He glanced at her. “I’m not the only one who knows how to set priorities.”
Her lips parted on a retort, but he raised one hand slightly to signal silence. She closed her mouth very quickly. Then she went still, her eyes widening a little. He knew that she had felt the subtle shift in the atmosphere. The hair on the back of his neck stirred, and his intuition went to high-alert status. Even Darwina seemed to get the message. She sleeked out fully but she did not growl.
Harry urged Rachel to the side of the cave. She flattened herself against the luminous rock, making as small a target of herself as possible. Evidently sensing that the action was going to be with Harry, Darwina gave Amberella to Rachel and then bounded up onto his shoulder.
He felt the tiny claws of her two hind paws sink into the leather of his jacket. When this was over, he thought, the jacket was going to have a few more souvenir scratches.
He motioned Rachel to stay put. She nodded once to show she had received the message. She looked anxious, but he knew she was a lot more worried about him than she was about her own safety.
He rezzed a little energy into the medallion and caught the frequency that gave him control of the blade. The deadly, serrated edges appeared.
He glanced back once and knew from the stubbornly determined expression on Rachel’s face that she had caught some of the backwash of his talent. But she angled her chin, letting him know that she was okay.
Cloaked in darkness, he and Darwina were not truly invisible, but he knew that to the normal eye they would appear only as shadows. The question was whether one or more of the kidnappers possessed some form of para-normal vision. A strong hunter-talent would be able to detect them. As a precaution he hugged the wall when he turned into the branching cave.
He found himself at the entrance to a crystal tunnel through a sea that glowed with paranormal energy. The psi-hot ocean surrounded the transparent tube in which he stood.
Monsters swam through the radiant water. Tentacles writhed, iridescent scales glistened, oddly shaped fins rippled lazily in the currents. And everywhere, cold, pitiless eyes stared at him through the transparent walls of the tunnel.
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The creatures came in a myriad of varieties, many so bizarre-looking that it would have been easy to believe that they had been transported from another world. And in a sense, they had, he thought. That other world comprised the unknown depths of Harmony’s oceans.
This was the prehistoric sea of Rachel’s nightmares. In reality, it was a vast aquarium, one that could only have been bioengineered by the Aliens.
Two men entered the tube from the opposite end. Harry knew from the way they moved that they were both hunter-talents. He could also see that they were young, about the same age as Pritchard and McClain.
Darwina rumbled a low warning and tensed, ready to spring. Harry raised a hand and touched her, trying to convey a silent message not to blow their cover. She trembled and bared her teeth but she stayed on his shoulder.
The two hunters appeared oblivious to the sea monsters on the other side of the crystal tunnel. They were talking in low, urgent tones. There was a tension in their manner that made it plain they were not happy campers. As they moved closer Harry caught snippets of the conversation.
“… He’s flat-out crazy, I tell you. This lab is too damn dangerous. The money’s good, but I’ve had it with this job. I want off this damned island.”
“Forget it. You saw what happened to Tom when he tried to leave. He ended up as fish food. The bastard killed him.”
“All the more reason for us to get out of here while we can.”
“How the hell do you think you’re going to do that? It’s not like he’ll let us get anywhere near one of the flutes. No way to make it out of the Preserve without one.”
“Then we hold a knife to the SOB’s throat and make him get us out of here.”
“You can’t get close to him as long as he’s got that Alien gadget.”
The pair drew closer to where Harry waited.
“Tom’s mistake was that he got caught trying to steal a flute,” the first man said. “He tried to go it alone. But if you and I work together—”
The man stopped in midsentence. He stared hard at the wall. “Do you see that?”
“What?”
