Chapter Thirteen–BURIED ALIVE

 

 

The trail climbed steadily. By early morning they were out of the Red Planethes. As they passed through dappled glens, the sun filtered through majestic conifers. Pine needles crunched under their feet releasing pine scent. Cooler now, the air was musty with the sharp crisp scent of evergreen.

Ari stopped at the top of the next rise and waited for Yu and Face to reach him. He wiped a mask of perspiration from his brow.

Off to the southeast the breathtakingly beautiful spires and pyramids of Atlantius poked through a pink-tinted mist. "Look," Ari said softly. "Is it so beautiful because it is and always was, or because ...?"

Yu completed Ari’s thought. “It is more beautiful because it’s doomed."

With a sigh, Ari again led onward. The terrain changed, making the trail easier. It dropped with each step. The sun was still high as highland evergreens gave way to a savannah of reeds and ferns.

They smelled the salt and breeding life of the sea miles before they saw it. Brine scented the air. As it grew stronger, the faint rushing of surf reached them. Finally sparkling blue patches twinkled between ferns.

They emerged from the jungle, launching a brilliant burst of butterflies fluttering in jeweled profusion. The young Atlantians hugged the edge of the seductive shore, staying within the protection of the jungle.

A leathery-winged Pteranodon glided over the distant foaming reef. Its large crested head was steady as it dove, extrating an ill-fated fish. Another on the beach toothlessly pecked at the remains of something. Overhead, a V-shaped flock of the flying reptiles winged seaward.

“Their wings are more than eight meters long,” Yu commented with admiration for Nature’s engineering marvel.

“They seemed too large for their bodies,” responded Ari.

As they trudged through the underbrush near the beach, they were tantalized by the wide-open stretch of soft sand. The cool ocean beyond tempted them.

Looking out to sea, Ari stopped abruptly. "Doesn't this look familiar?"

Yu and Face knew instantly what he meant. "The cove."

Ari's face lit up. "It's just like it. Drom's favorite place. Drom and I first met the whales and that lonely dolphin there and made our mirrored recordings. I think I did some of my best music there."

"I think the Atlantian people really appreciate that. You produced some of our best symphonic music. The range alone is fantastic. Pure. Abstract. The music is poetry itself."

Face interrupted Yu. "Not all range frequencies were reached."

Yu snickered. "You’re the last person I should have to tell that imperfection is sometimes its own perfection. A purposeful flaw or well-chosen omission may create the best art."

Ari demurred from the compliment. “I didn't know you were such a patron of the arts, Yu. I didn't make the music. I just record it with mirrored symphonic recorders. I...."

A squeal snagged his attention. Arius visored his eyes with one hand and looked at the blue horizon.

"Look," Face cried. A huge whale was sounding, her spume shooting high in the air. All three watched, fascinated as the whale dove with a resounding crash and then sounded again in a flood of roiling foam.

Yu cried, "Another one’s just behind her. It's smaller."

"Her calf," Ari murmured.

All three paced and watched.

"You have done well by them my friend," Yu observed. “Thanks to you, whales of the fin pod no longer need fear the Sea Dragons."

"Those fifty foot monsters used to make quick meals of our friends out there."

"You can be proud that the ID crystals we had implanted in that fin pod allow them through the Atlantian force fields near your favorite cove back home."

Arius smiled, with proper pride in the accomplishment. "Best of all..."

"Best of all, Nature with Her infinite wisdom and harmony is preserved."

Ari's aquamarine eyes darkened as they wandered far away. "Sometimes I wonder if I’d be better off if I weren't of the Leader Class. I just want to produce music and be with Drom."

As both lapsed silent, Yu's gentle face tempered the mood. "One should do what makes one happiest."

"Traditionally, one's first duty is to his class."

Yu smiled. "I couldn't have said it better myself. You’re getting more Yutan every day."

"But your decision to accept that isn’t final, is it?" Face asked, knowing the answer. "Regardless, we must keep going. My bioisomer deflector extends better with movement."

They regretted leaving the shore’s brilliance. As they headed inland, away from the resounding whale songs, the jungle engulfed them in its shadowy canopy. Only occasional sunlight dappled the leafy ground.

As a prudent measure Yu took the lead, Ari the middle, and Face the rear. The further they penetrated this damp gloomy world, the more ominous feelings crept up on them. They didn't express it to each other, but all three felt it. They hiked all day, the gloom dampening conversation. By the time late afternoon shadows fell, Ari and Yu were getting jumpy. The darkness was so pervasive that the land looked sinister and forbidding. Maybe it was just the murky jungle tweaking their nerves. Maybe it was the simple thought of the Ancient Ones watching them. Maybe it was something far worse.

Ari studied the stretching shadows. "This is taking too long."

Face leapt toward a solution. "I'm going to scout for shortcuts. You two head for the next ridge and take a break. I'll meet you there."

Ari and Yu continued without a further pause. They knew they were taking a risk in leaving the camouflage Face's energy provided. It was a chance they had to take.

Face was soon out of earshot. In the waning light, careful sure-footed Yu stumbled, sinking into a morass. The timing couldn't have been worse.

She shouted frantically, "Help! Help me!"

Ari was amazed to see Yu already mired waist deep in gluey mud. As he took in the crisis, he realized immediately why Yu hadn't seen the dead fall. Although the surrounding area was clear of vegetation, the mud pit was obliterated by leaves, dry underbrush, and remnants of decomposing vines.

As Ari fervently stretched a hand to his friend, he saw something that frightened him even more. "Yu, your headband is gone. It must be in the mud."

The usually placid Yu contorted with fear like an animal at the final moment of the hunt. She wallowed desperately in choking panic.

"Yu, no! Don't struggle! You'll only sink faster. Raise your arms and keep them up or they'll be trapped."

Ari frantically searched for a lifeline. It was getting hard to see in the dying light. He quickly located a vine, which seemed strong enough. In the few minutes he was away, Yu had sunk waist deep. Ari was horrified to see his formidable friend with fear etched deeply into her face, her eyes bright as though consumed by some fatal fever.

Ari took careful aim and hurled the vine.

It grazed Yu's fingertips.

“Keep your arms up.” Ari tried again.

Yu reached and just barely caught it.

Girding himself with the strength of their brotherhood, Ari struggled to haul Yu up. When he reached his limits, he pushed past them. He still couldn't lift Yu. His face was blood red with effort, but Yu sunk deeper. She was stuck up to her throat now.

Fear made Ari sweat and blinded his eyes along with his mind. Yu slipped still deeper.

Muscular arms seized the vine. Face added his efforts to Ari's.

Face realized that even their combined strength was pathetically inadequate. Face took command. "Get more vines! Quick!"

Ari followed the order instantly. In less than a minute, he was back with several sturdy vines.

"Loop two under her arms and tie the other end to that limb over her head. That will keep her from going under until we can figure something out."

Ari quickly complied. Ari heard his heart beat, the blood pounding in his temples.

Yu hung suspended in limbo, not going under, not coming out.

Ari banged his forehead with his palm in frustration and mumbled to himself, "Idiot! Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" Ari sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The metallic quality of Face's voice was noticeable. "I don't see any way to get her out. Except -- “He halted abruptly, then crouched and sprang into the air, seizing a branch above the one dangling above Yu. "Grab my legs," he directed.

Yu worked with all her might and finally freed her mud soaked arms. As she pulled, Face battled to drive his massive thighs toward his chest. The branch creaked miserably under the strain. Slowly, ever so painfully, Yu edged up inch by inch. The bough in the limb protested with a splintering squeal.

They were spared wondering if it would break. Yu's arms could hold no more. Her grip loosened by fatigue, her hands slipped. The energies of their upward pull were redirected downward. The mud all but claimed her.

The branch rebounded skyward. Face knew that as it sprang down again, it was likely to break. He swung himself sideways and thrust himself away from the entombing mire.

The agonized branch tore away under the strain. He was still holding it as he flew through the air. Where it split, it made an impaling point. Face didn't realize it could disembowel him. He was too busy avoiding the mud. He tucked his head and spiraled forward. His acrobatics sent him clear of the pit, but crashing toward a boulder. Instead of spearing him to death, the branch hit first and took the brunt of the impact.

Ari felt his chest crushed with emotion. To his right, Yu could barely hold her head up enough to breathe. To his left, Face lay crumpled. Ari could lose both his friends. He rushed to help Face up.

Face had been stunned by the fall, but he shook it off. "We have to use the anti-gravity device," Face measured his words. "It's the only way. The Ancient Ones know generally where we are. It would be pointless to lose Yu when our secret is essentially out."

Ari immediately agreed. "She can't move her arms to activate her suit."

Face activated his own anti-gravity device. A split second later he was hovering over the entrapped Yu. With one hand on the vine under Yu's arms, Face moved up, gently tugging Yu out of the clinging stubborn morass. She slowly rose. It was tempting to blast clear.

"Go slowly or you'll injure her," cautioned Ari.

Face maintained an even upward pull. Finally, with a sucking sound, Yu plopped out. Face swiftly deposited her on dry land and immediately switched off the device.

They had to wait until their hearts stopped thumping before either could speak. Ari recouped first. "Good old Face saves us again. Great Leader I am. I couldn't think my way out of that."

Yu was still panting. "Neither could I, Ari. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Now that he had succeeded, Face took his triumph for granted. "Of course I could give orders. I am a different order. Clear quantum electronic thinking can cure anything."

The mud slowly repelled, rolling off Yu's suit. It would take longer to shed the trauma.

Face stood watch while they rested, glowing eerily in the now total darkness. "This is getting monotonous. You two better hope I stay well."

"One thing's certain," Yu said. "After using that suit we've got to get out of this area immediately. We need the best cover we can find"

They hiked a good distance away from the bog. Finally finding a dry patch of ground under thick shielding growth, they stopped for the night. Ari and Yu dropped in their tracks.

Face recounted their loses. "One shattered bio-isomer. One corroded. The headgear is lost. By using the anti-gravity device, we practically sent out a signal beacon."

"Any more good news?" Ari's sarcasm was caused by his sense of responsibility for their failures.

"They may not find us," Face said protectively, "But since they can, I'll stay on guard all night."

"A limping skeleton is an odd guardian, but a welcome one," Ari conceded.

That conveyed more thanks than Face needed. He watched his friends fall fast into exhausted slumber and turned to continuously scan the encroaching shadows.