The Huntsman

by Rafael

  Janesh rounded the last curve into the well-illuminated facility’s glare. A large, landscaped expanse sat between the unmanned gate and the parking lot where another vehicle sat with its headlights on. Twenty-feet away, he braked, turned off the lights, but left the engine idling. Koh’s voice called across the distance. “Step forward McKenzie. Leave the dogs in the car or I won’t come out.”

  Janesh stepped toward a halfway point. The dogs, receptive to the tension, remained alert. Koh emerged from the car to stand ten feet away.

  “Did you kill my men, McKenzie?

  “Much as I’d like to kill anyone associated with you, I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Do you take me for a fool? You and your team are the only ones here.”

  “Enough, Koh. I already told you I had nothing to do with it.”

  “How’d you kill my physicists?” Nicholas noted his genuine puzzlement.

  “What physi…”

  Brain-gears interlocked. Apparently he and the CIA had not been the only ones victimized. “Listen to me, Koh. There’s another player in this game. If you want answers, I need to first see the girl. I want to see her alive and well. All of her.”

  Koh snapped his fingers. From the rear seat a giant emerged. One meaty hand gripped Miranda by the throat. The other pointed a gun to her head. “Miranda, are you alright?” Eyes wide, throat throttled, she could only nod. Janesh’s breathing slowed to not let his rage boil over. “Look at your thug, Koh. He’s painted.” Nicholas glanced over. Three laser dots held steady on his forehead. “I assure you. There are two on your head. Don’t try anything funny.”

  Nicholas thought fast. He hadn’t expected to find the entire team assassinated. By now, McKenzie should have been dead before he even stepped out the vehicle. The girl remained his only leverage. “Get back in the car.” He turned to Janesh. “Who’s the other player?”

  “I don’t have an ID. Before you grabbed the equipment, everyone on our side who came in contact with it wound up dead, hanging by their faces with their arms torn off and pasted to their backs. Isn’t that how you found your physicists? And if I’m not mistaken, your hit squad is inside the facility in the same condition. If you’ve been anywhere near the equipment, your life is in danger too.”

  Nicholas remained unconvinced. Who else but the killer would know the bizarre method of death? He thought back to the body bags dragged from the CIA warehouse. McKenzie must have killed them too. Why? Somehow he must have learned the nature of the device and schemed for its control. He intended the unorthodox kills to divert suspicion. He really needed to kill this dangerous man.

  “Well, right now you and I are the only players. I’m not going to just hand the woman over. One second later, I’d be riddled with bullets. Here’s how we’re going to play it. You will follow me on the road back to my estate. Once we’re out of your shooters’ range, you can have the girl in exchange for your word you won’t interfere ever again with my plans.”

  Janesh felt sure somewhere on that road an ambush waited. He pulled out his mobile, put on the loudspeaker, and dialed. “Lieutenant, I want you and your men to hold your fire under any and all circumstances. Acknowledge.”

  “Hold fire under all circumstances. Acknowledged.”

  “Release the girl here, Koh. You have my word we’ll drive away and never interfere with your plans.” Nicholas didn’t like the plan. It left McKenzie alive.

  “No. That could be a prearranged signal. We drive out of here or there’s no deal.”

  A long machine gun burst fired from the jungle. Then another. Nicholas ducked down. An automatic emerged from under his jacket. “What the hell are you up to, McKenzie?” Janesh pressed his mobile.

  “What’s going on, Lieutenant?”

  “We’re under attack in the woods. I think two of my men are down.”

  An unholy shriek echoed across the parking lot. Both men looked up. Janesh recognized the enormous winged brute soaring in the night sky. It flapped once, twice, then disappeared. Nicholas’ head tracked back and forth, trying to reacquire the image and affirm his sanity. “What the hell was that?”

  “That was the third player.”

  Five men in obvious pursuit, weapons tracking the sky, broke from the forest. The Lieutenant’s group raced up from the back road and through the rear gate. Nicholas panicked, convinced they’d concocted an elaborate ruse to trap and kill him. He fired two shots at Janesh then raced to his car. Janesh felt the bullets whiz past his ear. He dashed for the jeep. Duncan and Ronan strained not to break discipline. As Nicholas’ car squealed in reverse, Janesh grabbed his weapon and calmed his nerves. He fired once, twice. A front tire exploded.

  Nicholas managed to turn the car toward the road he’d entered from. The destabilized auto brushed against the front gate before continuing on three wheels back toward the estate. Janesh jumped in the jeep, smashed the clutch down, and punched straight into third. With the accelerator floored, the car at first lagged then roared in pursuit. At the red line he banged into Nicholas’ rear. He banged it again and then again.

  Nicholas slammed the brakes. Grinding metal locked the cars together. Undercarriages screeched along the road. Nicholas’ vehicle broke off, the shattered rim caused it to swerve out of control and flip twice before landing upright. Janesh crashed into its front and set it spinning. The jeep came to a halt twenty feet away, engine stopped, radiator hissing and spitting.

  Janesh sprang from his seat belt and charged toward the broken car. Relief washed over him to see Miranda straining to open her door. Tears streamed from her eyes, they pleaded to him as she pounded in frustration against the door. Janesh grabbed the handle and pulled. The warped metal would not bulge. He gripped it with both hands. “Vishnu, give me strength. Vishnu, give me strength.” Muscles bulged. The door ripped from its hinges. He could not pull her out fast enough. She melted against him. Pent up emotions erupted in sobs. Her body trembled and shook.

  He lifted her and half ran/half walked back to the jeep. Her arms wrapped tight around his neck, she pressed her lips against his ear. “Don’t leave me, Janesh. Don’t ever leave me.”

  He reached the jeep, leaned her against its side. With her face between both hands, he kissed her hard. “I’m not going anywhere. Stay right here.” He reached behind her and unsheathed his hunting knife. He looked down at the dogs. “Guard.”

  Knife gleaming in the moonlight, he marched toward the car. The giant had regained consciousness. He strained to unbuckle the twisted belt. Fear flushed his face. Beyond the shattered window stood the Mahān Śikārī. A free hand fished under his jacket, the one that had throttled Miranda. Before it closed on his weapon, Janesh plunged the knife into his throat. When neck bones prevented further penetration, he gave a twist before pulling it out. Life fled from his eyes as they rolled into his head. The gush of blood continued though the corpse’s tremors had stopped.

  Janesh stepped toward the front seat. Koh remained unconscious. With no time to buckle in, his head had slammed against the steering wheel. Janesh slapped him. Then slapped him again. He wanted Nicholas to know who had ended his worthless life. The dogs began to bark furiously. A scream drained every nerve in his body. Ice deadened reflexes. He turned his head toward the jeep. Blood drained to his feet.

  Despite the dogs taking vicious bites, the feathered demon held Miranda under its wings as bloodied legs waddled down the road. Janesh willed his feet to move. The biting dogs slowed it down. With each stride, the Mahān Śikārī closed the distance. Janesh readied his knife. When he leaped onto this monstrosity’s back he would cut its head off. Air opened to a glittering hole. Its sudden appearance startled and stopped the dogs. Miranda and demon disappeared within. The hole closed.

  Janesh screamed his despair into the night. “Noooo.” On one knee, he pounded the pavement until his fist bled. He rose, light-headed and faint, lost his balance, stumbled, staggered to the jeep. Spear in hand, he turned back toward the facility, forced himself to put one f
oot before the other. He began to run. When his lungs burned, he ran. When his side hurt, he ran. When his blood pounded, he ran. When his muscles tired, he ran. He had no mind, no thought, no consciousness. He ran until he stood before the research lab.

  Inside, the demon spawn’s trophies lined the walls. He gazed upon the Lieutenant’s body. He felt nothing. Only a murderous rage. His gaze shifted toward the containers. They sat in undisturbed innocence. Janesh retrieved his communicator. When it connected, he raised it to his ear. “Chatur. Lock on my mobile’s signal. I’ve located the equipment and need to move it from here. Immediately is preferable to now.”

  Everyone in proximity to the containers had died. Janesh removed his shirt and stood before the entrance. Duncan and Ronan sat on either side. Spear in hand and knife still dripping, Janesh waited. Besides Chatur, he’d allow entry only to the creature.

  CHAPTER 24 Brave Science World

  Janesh’s video display, four tiled squares, showed three men and a woman with contemplative expressions. They had much to absorb and their collective silence lengthened. In the upper-left square, Professor Akiyama’s image stirred. He rubbed his chin. “Your briefing confirms much of what I already suspected. It may take my colleague’s a bit longer to concur.” Besides Miranda’s mentor, the teleconference included two male physicists, one from Russia the other from Israel, and an Argentinean biologist. The Russian leaned closer to the camera.

  “I think we first have to decide how much weight we will permit an anecdotal story to influence whatever conclusions we draw.” The Israeli followed.

  “Unless someone is prepared to suggest Mr. McKenzie has exaggerated, we have strong evidence to support his account. I remind everyone the substance’s DNA structure glued to the victims, matched the feather’s DNA perfectly. Three geographically distant decoders produced the same result. Just as tellingly, Earth’s naturally evolved life forms have no such structure.

  We each examined the remarkable properties of that feather. Mr. McKenzie’s account now gives it context. If we had to allow the feather, and thus the creature, are artificially engineered, its method of point-to-point movement eliminates the possibility.”

  The Russian returned. “Leaving us to conclude what, Doctor?” The Israeli paused to give himself one last opportunity to find a logical flaw.

  “Based on the descriptions Mr. McKenzie provided from the freighter and research facility encounters, this creature uses what are popularly known as wormholes to move about. Further, if it is using wormholes, the term creature is misleading. It must be an extra-terrestrial life form.” Gary Akiyama broke in with firm emphasis.

  “I concur.”

  The Russian and Argentinean remained silent, lost in their thoughts. Each sought to maintain scientific rigor and present credible, alternate explanations for the facts. The evidence bore down on the Russian, crushing his doubt. “I hesitate only because it is such a fantastical possibility. An alien life form is on Earth using wormholes to move about. And wantonly killing humans.”

  “Not wantonly, Doctor.” Akiyama countered. “Only those in proximity to Joshua Ang’s project.”

  “Nonetheless a staggering scenario.” the Russian continued. “An extra-terrestrial life form is on our planet killing people associated with an obscure research project by an obscure scientist.”

  “Are you currently in possession of that project, Mr. McKenzie?” asked the Argentinean.

  “Yes. We moved it by helicopter last night from the Malaysian facility and transferred it to a freighter I am currently aboard. We will dock in Vishakhapatnam in two days. If I may, what exactly is a wormhole?” The Israeli resumed.

  “A wormhole is a rupture in space/time that permits instantaneous travel between two locations regardless of the intervening distance.”

  “Do you literally mean from any location to any location?”

  “In theory, yes. It does not violate the laws of physics and Einstein’s own equations hint at the possibility. We now have direct evidence wormholes are indeed possible although the technology is well beyond anything we have at present.”

  “We should make immediate arrangements to rendezvous with Mr. McKenzie.” the Argentinean suggested. “If Professor Ang’s project brought a being from another world here we must learn what it is.”

  “I urge great caution.” Janesh replied. “As Professor Akiyama stated, this being has attacked and killed everyone associated with the project. And as you have seen, the deaths are hideously brutal. Your description of what a wormhole is gives me tremendous pause. Its ability to appear out of thin air at any time and at any place presents a security nightmare. I now have grave doubts the measures I’ve implemented on board this ship can insure the safety of the crew.”

  “Nonetheless”, the Russian interjected, “we cannot allow that to deter us. Now that we know what it is and how it’s moving about, perhaps we can devise a mechanism to discourage further attacks.” Professor Akiyama interrupted.

  “There’s one thing we have not considered. The being did not kill Miranda.” Gary closed his mind to the possibility she had suffered a grimmer fate. Janesh had already disconnected his emotional channels. “Perhaps it will not kill us.”

  “That’s an awful thin line of defense but count me in.” the Israeli volunteered. Enthusiasm marked the Russian and Argentinean’s nods. Impressed by their sense of duty, Janesh admired their courage. A strong wind might topple any one of them but their bravery could inspire warriors.

  “Will you permit us to examine the equipment, Janesh?” Akiyama asked.

  “It is why I contacted you. Perhaps knowing what it does will aid me in finding Miranda. In any event, begin your preparations for India. I will notify you within the next 72 hours where specifically.” One by one the video feeds disconnected.

  Janesh closed his eyes. Just hearing Miranda’s name roiled his emotions and clouded his thoughts. Nothing good could result from such an ineffective state. He struggled to regain control. Sensing his discomfit, Ronan and Duncan rested their heads against him. He gave both a rough scratch, grateful to have an outlet for the love that threatened to burst his heart.

  He rose from the cabin’s desk, anxious to see the Captain, aware the danger his crew might face. Fifteen minutes later he sank into a well-cushioned sofa. If the seaman hid his black market activities, the stateroom didn’t. His richly appointed quarters held every convenience a five-star hotel offered. From behind a three-stool bar he smiled at Janesh. “Can I offer you a drink?”

  “Bourbon neat.” He crossed the room, handed Janesh a rock glass, and with a loud exhale took a chair opposite.

  “Seems you have some friends in high places. That’s good. Seems you also have some enemies. I received a priority message. Late tonight we’re going to off-load your containers to another ship. The CIA is waiting for you in Vishakhapatnam. We’ll dock as scheduled and let the CIA try to figure out what happened. While they’re chasing a goat you’ll dock at the shipyard’s other end. There’ll be no paperwork to alter because your containers never loaded.”

  Janesh made a mental note to have Chatur never use that helicopter service again. “Very well, Captain. I’m going to further impose on your good graces and ask that particular hold be placed off-limits to the crew for their own safety. I and the dogs will be inside to insure that safety.”

  The Captain stared for a few moments then shrugged. “As you wish.”

  “One more thing. The hold is refrigerated. Could you turn it off? I may have to move around and want to be dressed minimally.” Again the Captain stared, this time longer. But as befitting a man who’d chosen a smuggler’s life, he danced around the obvious question.

  “As the Captain, I must ask. Is there any danger to my ship?”

  “No. Only to you and the crew.”

  “Very well, Mr. McKenzie. After all, you are paying the freight.”

  Janesh detoured to his cabin, retrieved the spear and hunting knife, then stripped to his briefs. He p
added barefoot toward the forward hold. At the access door, he entered a pass code and pulled the door out. He had no time to be shocked. Inside the entrance the feathered creature opened its beak and hissed. Only jungle-honed reflexes prevented a clear stream from splashing his face.

  Janesh slammed the door, cursed his carelessness. Precious seconds ticked by as he unsheathed the spear and strapped his knife. Standing to the side he re-entered the pass code. The lock mechanism cracked a sliver-thin opening. Below him the dogs growled savagely as they tried to nose it open. He shoved it to the side and rushed in.

  Straight ahead the creature waited. Its massive wings unfolded, flapped once, twice in readiness. Janesh lowered his spear and charged. Fifty feet away he slowed. At an angle, Duncan and Ronan raced toward an empty area. Eyes focused on a spot, the lion hunters closed like silent killers. Confused, Janesh stopped. Head swiveled from dogs to creature.

  Another one appeared, tried to take to the air. Duncan leaped and locked his jaws on a leg. Ronan buried fangs into its belly. Down to the floor all three tumbled. Janesh’s target disappeared. He raced toward the scrum. As his legs pumped across the hold, his mind’s eye displayed a feather. It appeared and disappeared. He understood.

  The monster kicked off Duncan, then grabbed Ronan. Janesh gasped. The thing had hands. It threw off the dog and filled the hold with an ear-piercing shriek. The act left a bleeding hole in its abdomen. Janesh’s eyes widened. It bled and bled red. With a roar, he buried the spear into its chest. It gurgled and spit. Janesh held and twisted. It screamed its agony, writhed under the Mahān Śikārī. Janesh pulled it loose and readied another stab. With a mighty heave, the demon thrust itself into the air, screeched its suffering with every flap. Janesh flipped the spear into throwing position and let it fly. A hole opened and the creature disappeared.

  The spear thudded into the far wall. Around him the dogs circled, tried to reacquire a lost scent. Janesh’s chest swelled and shrank. His pounding heart threatened to burst eardrums. Head lifted, he roared his victory.