by Bob Blink
Look at the miserable creature, she thought. It’s trying to tempt us to take a shot. “Not going to happen,” she whispered to herself.
As if hearing her thoughts, the alien suddenly started moving. Head down, it started where they had slid out from under the tree and moved along the path they had taken as they backed away from the shots being fired from below. It seemed to be tracing the path they had taken. It was uncanny.
Dix touched her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “How is it following us?”
She didn’t know, but was getting concerned enough she was about to suggest they start slipping away when the creature zigged where they had zagged. As they watched, it moved even further from the path they had taken. Now it was moving more parallel to the cliff edge, rather than moving back and up into the hills where they hid. It had been guessing, she realized. Trying to spook them into running and revealing their location for an easy shot.
“You bastard!” she snarled quietly.
Slowly the creature moved away from them. It worked its way along the edge, looking for sign of them as it moved further down the valley, heading in the direction it had been following below. More than once it stopped and scanned the rocky slopes, but seemed to realize it would take forever to find them in the random tangle of rock and brush that covered thousands of square yards of hillside. By the time it had moved a couple of hundred yards from their position, it was clear the search was over. The creature was starting to move quicker now, only randomly checking the ground and the hillside for signs that might lead it to them.
“What’s the point?” Dix asked, after she explained her desire to continue to follow the creature. “We can’t stop it with what we have. You can be certain if it sees us we’re dead!”
“We have to think of a way,” she insisted. “And if we lose it, finding it again might be risky. We can hang back, but let’s at least see where it’s headed. Maybe an opportunity will present itself.”
The steady progress of the alien had led to both of them believing it had a specific destination. The path it was taking was clearly familiar to the creature. If not the details, at least the general direction. That could be explained by the fact the alien would normally have traveled over this route by air. For the first time it had to deal with the irregularities and hardships of moving by foot. It had never wavered in the direction it had chosen.
Reluctantly, Dix agreed to continue the pursuit. He made it clear that no further attacks would be mounted unless something that promised success was discovered. She agreed, and turned her attention back to the alien that was rapidly moving away from them. The problem, she realized, was for them to keep moving at the same pace without being seen. The alien was moving across the open spaces, unconcerned with any assault they might mount. She and Dix would have to try and keep pace while staying hidden in the rocks and trees.
They played the game of hide and seek for a couple of hours. Only once did the creature look back and then only briefly. She doubted it thought they were following. Probably figures we were scared off by the failure of the last attack. It couldn’t know they had followed it from the complex. Like the two men it had killed, the assumption must be that they were part of an unknown complement of humans that must have come through the time complex at an earlier time. Since we had taken over the complex, we probably had people scattered through the eras accessed by the machine.
Then, suddenly the situation changed for the better. The alien came to a place where it could descend back to the valley floor, and it turned down the steep incline and made its way to the bottom. Dix indicated they could easily follow from above, all the way to the foothills still miles ahead. It would be easier for them to keep up and easier to spy on the movements it made. She wondered why it had made the move, and then realized the alien was settling down by the stream partway across the valley floor. It pulled something out of a small pouch at the side of the harness, and proceeded to munch away, taking momentary sips from a canteen that looked suspiciously like theirs. So, it had taken something from the tent. The canteen for sure. She wondered if whatever it was eating was from the supplies the two men had stored in their tent.
Checking the sun, she realized it was getting late in the day. Possibly another two hours of sunlight was all that remained. Backing away from the edge, she and Dix discussed their options. He wanted to scout ahead, while she prepared a crude shelter for them. Just enough to keep them well hidden through the night. They wouldn’t be able to risk a fire, so anything they ate would have to be cold. That probably meant more of the canned stew. Now she was glad he had carried the heavy cans.
Dix slipped away, heading further down the valley in the direction that would eventually take them into the first of the ruins. She found a couple of places that would do for camp, finally settling on one that was further from the edge than she liked. It was well sheltered, with numerous boulders, and thickly overgrown with brush at the base of a pair of large firs. If the alien were to make a surprise check, the search would most likely concentrate on possible hiding places near the edge. This was more secure. They would not be able to see down into the valley after dark anyway.
She had smoothed the area with dirt and pine needles, and arranged some of the branches so they would be well concealed, yet have a reasonable view from cover in all directions. Their gear was stowed inside the perimeter she had established. Dix had left his pack, taking only water. He had even left behind the rifle, figuring it would slow him down and was of no use against their primary enemy. He still had the handgun if any problem arose with animals that shared the forest. Suddenly she realized that Dix was hurrying back up the valley, moving as quickly as he could. Fearing danger, she reached for her rifle and slipped down behind one of the rocks adjacent to their improvised camp.
Once Dix was close enough he could communicate without shouting, he made it clear they were in no danger. She stood slowly as he approached, wondering why he was in such a hurry.
“I found something. But we have to move now, before dark,” he explained breathlessly as soon as he moved within a couple of feet of where she stood.
She glanced at the camp she had just completed, and then in the direction of the alien. “What about him?” she asked. “If we go ahead, we won’t know what he is doing.”
“It’s a good bet he will continue heading downstream in the morning. He has stuck to that path since he got here. We just won’t know how quickly he will get moving in the morning. It’s a gamble, but we won’t be able to try what I have in mind if we stay here tonight. We need a bit of time in the morning before he gets there.”
“What did you find?” she asked. A little while ago Dix had been unwilling to consider another attack. Now he was anxious to make preparations.
“It’s a lot easier to show you. I can explain as we walk. Come on,” he urged. “We have to hurry. It’s a half-hour at a fast walk. More if you travel at a normal pace.”
So they went. Quickly gathering their gear, she was glad now she hadn’t unpacked and set up something to eat, they hurried down the valley, starting to jog once they were well away from where they alien might hear something. Dix explained what he had found as they traveled. Up ahead the valley narrowed, and there was another spot that would make a good ambush. But there was more. An incline that made its way up to their level worked its way up along the rocky edge of the cliff. Many large boulders rested along that path and it wouldn’t take much to dislodge them. There had been a rockslide in the past and it was still somewhat unstable. Dix had the explosive. If they could get the alien to come chasing one of them up the slope, they could trigger the explosive, bringing down tons of rock on top of it. Even if the shield could offer some protection, he was willing to bet if they could bury it, there was no way the creature would be able to dig itself out before starving to death.
The idea had merit. Given their limited resources, she could think of nothing else that offered as much of a chance. She had tried all day as they walked.
“How much further?” she asked, anxious to see this place before dark settled in for the night. The valley was already darkening with shadow, and only their higher elevation let them see the edge of the sun as it continued to settle behind the mountains across the way.
“Just around the next bend,” he replied. They were almost there she could see, as he pointed to the turn no more than fifty feet ahead of them.
Finally as dusk was settling in rapidly now, they reached the point where he could show her the proposed battleground. She could see the rocky slope on the other side of the valley. It was narrow here, so it was no more than a hundred yards across to the other side. This side was steep, but he assured her that just a bit further there was an easy path down.
Pointing, he explained where he wanted to plant the explosive. “See the large rock about two thirds of the way up the slope,” he said. “If we could dislodge that one at the right time.”
She found the rock easily. It was already leaning over the lip, and would fall on its own before too much longer. A little erosion perhaps, or a bit of an earth shake, or maybe just a nudge by another rock coming from above. Once it went, it would bring along dozens of its cousins. It might just work.
“Where would we be?” she asked.
“I would sneak over in the morning,” he answered. “As soon as there is enough light. I could plant the explosive while you keep watch. I doubt we have much time because the alien will probably start moving early as well. We only have a bit of a lead on it. Then I would wait in the rocks up above, a bit further down.”
“Why just you?” she interrupted.
“There’s a better view down the valley from here, so you can watch to see when he is coming. Also, timing with the detonator will be crucial. From here you can tell when to set if off. From that side it would be a guess. Especially if I have to keep my head down because he is shooting.”
Naiya wasn’t comfortable with the plan. She was the one who had wanted to attack the alien. Now Dix was taking all the risks. She said as much. “Besides,” she continued. “You don’t know how much protection you will have over there.”
“I just need to get the alien’s attention. Make him know I am there so he starts up after me. As soon as he knows I’m there, I can slip back like we did before.”
“And if he somehow makes it through the rock slide?”
It was clear he hadn’t thought too much about that. “Then I’ll just have to hide like we did before.”
She knew that this time the alien would search for him. Unlike before, Dix wouldn’t have time to do much planning. They would be lucky to get the explosives set before the alien made its way down the valley. In the end, she realized her being over there with him wouldn’t help. Someone needed to be on this side. Dix was right about that. Besides, she knew nothing about explosives, so that meant she had to be the one that stayed behind.
They could talk about it tonight after they settled in. See if any other possibilities suggested themselves. For now, it was getting dark rapidly. They quickly scouted around, and selected the best cover they could in the remaining minutes available to them. Settling down in a far less accommodating spot than she had prepared earlier, they broke open the can of stew, despite the fact they were far enough away a fire would have gone unobserved. Neither had the inclination to chase down the necessary materials in the dark. Reviewing their options as they ate, the two soon settled in for a restless night. Neither was going to sleep much, but each was silent, their minds busy with personal thoughts.
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Dix had explained how the detonator worked, and she was not to activate it until he was well clear and the alien was making a move for the trail. He had left, taking only water, a couple of trail bars, his rifle, and the packet of explosive. It was still dark, but there was just enough light he could carefully make his way toward the path down into the valley he had told her about. Having scouted it the day before, he knew where to look. Otherwise he would have had to waste precious time waiting for daylight.
The dark had gradually become gray, and now there was enough light to detect movement across the valley. She could just make Dix out as he started up the path they hoped the alien would follow in a little while. Moving into position where she could watch Dix and also look back up the valley in the direction from which their enemy would come, she settled in. She wasn’t nearly so well protected as the ambush point they had chosen the other day, but she wasn’t expecting to be seen, or to be taking any shots. The important thing was the clear view she had in all directions.
Dix completed his placing of the explosive package, and was now climbing the rest of the way up the incline. Soon he disappeared in the rocks, and no matter how carefully she searched she was unable to determine where he had chosen to hide. Good! At least he was a bit safer than she had expected.
It became a waiting game again. Naiya was uncomfortable that she didn’t know where the alien was at the moment, or what he was doing. What if the alien had come back up the slope this morning? From where it had camped, it would have been easy to do so. She knew that neither she nor Dix had taken any care to cover their tracks during the mad dash they had made the evening before. The alien could even now be coming towards her, following a clear trail that would take him directly to his quarry. She couldn’t help a glance over her shoulder, looking back up the route that had brought her here. Nothing. She silently chastised herself, and brought her attention back to the valley below.
More than an hour passed. No sign of Dix, and worse, no sign of the alien either. She continued to wait. Another half-hour, and then finally she thought she caught movement. Starring at the point she where she thought something had changed, she saw nothing. Then, a bit more to the left she detected another change. Finally the alien moved out of the shadows into the light. He had come after all! Now everything depended on whether Dix could coax the creature to come after him.
Another fifteen minutes passed before it reached the point where Dix had indicated he would take shots in an attempt to lure the alien into the trap. Suddenly, surprising her even though she knew it was coming, the first shot rang out. It was followed almost immediately by another. Then silence. She watched as the creature brought its weapon up, pointing in the direction of the other cliff. So far it hadn’t fired. It continued to scan along the edge of the cliff. Then, it lowered the rifle and started walking again. She held her breath as the creature moved past the start of the incline that would have taken it up to where their trap lay waiting to be sprung. Another step, and then another. Each took it further away from the path she willed it to follow.
Dix must have seen the alien pass the slope as well. Suddenly he started firing again. This time she could see him. It wasn’t clear if he would be visible from the valley floor, but he didn’t have enough protection even if it was only a lucky shot in his direction.
Get down, she silently screamed at him!
Unfortunately, Dix was intent on getting the alien angry. Again and again he fired. Too many shots. Even Dix realized his mistake. The alien now knew about where Dix was, even if it couldn’t see him. He fired his weapon in Dix’s direction, then turned suddenly and ran back where he could start up the trail. Without pause the alien started moving rapidly up the rocky path.
Naiya had seen Dix fall. She was pretty certain the view had been blocked from below, but he had lost his rifle and fallen back off the rock he had been perched on. The fall must have been twenty feet, and he lay unmoving since smacking into the rock. She knew he must be dead. The fall should have killed him even if the blast from the alien’s rifle hadn’t. As unprotected as Dix had been, she felt certain he had died as soon as the shot had reached him.
No time to think about Dix at the moment. The alien was scrambling up the trail to make sure. She watched as her enemy approached the point where he had told her to detonate the explosive. This had to work. She was alone now, and there wouldn‘t ever be a better opportunity. Detonat
or armed, she waited with her finger on the button.
Wait, wait, now!
She pressed the button just as the alien reached her marker. For a split second she thought nothing would happen, but then the blast shook the hillside across from her. The alien stopped suddenly, realizing what had happened above him. She had to admit he was quick. But not quick enough as the mass of rock bouncing down the hillside smashed into him, burying him in a pile of rubble that slid back down the hillside the way he had come.
Yes! She screamed out loud.
For several seconds smaller boulders and dirt continued to slide down the mountainside, gradually becoming quiet. Scanning the area with her binoculars, she looked for any sign of movement. Nothing. Then, convinced the alien was down, she looked back where Dix had fallen. He hadn’t moved, and she could see a dark color spattered against the rock near where his head had hit. Not much doubt, she thought sadly. He had deserved to see his plan work. She would have to bury him, she knew. Then she could head back to the base camp and think about what to do.
She was about to stand, when a movement in the middle of the rock slide caught her attention. She quickly slipped back down and watched. Slowly, the alien emerged from under the pile of debris. She could tell that the largest pieces had landed several yards from where he had been buried. Whether it was the fast reactions the creature had demonstrated, or whether the shield somehow offered a degree of protection, she didn’t know. Somehow the alien had managed to survive the attack. Not unscathed, she realized. Slowly, it managed to force itself vertical, but stood on only one leg. The other it held protectively off the ground.
