novelxo Chapter 18: Isthmus of Hope
When we left him [at the end of Atoll of doom; if you’ve not read the collection of short stories Aardvarks to planet X, then do so. Then ask yourself why you didn’t before; I don’t know, some people etc. etc. etc....] Marvin Cobb lay under a slavering beast, waiting for his tortured frame to be devoured.
His friend and co-pilot Todd, having been dragged screaming beneath the murky waters, in which their spacecraft had crashed due to a local phenomenon. A huge chunk of titanium, which long ago had crashed in to this exoplanet; creating both an atoll and an isthmus between two land masses on this planet, deemed by the colony ship they had arrived on to be unsuitable for Human habitation; as the precious resource of life had already taken hold on this far off rock.
Which in turn could lead to unknown consequences should the two entirely different eco systems ever mix. Thus leaving the colonists to replenish any resources used up on the trip here; and to carefully study this ecosystem for scientific interest, before moving on to the next exoplanet on their journey. [But you know all this having read the first part of this tale, haven’t you, I don’t know, some people etc. etc. etc....]
The weight of the unseen fiend pressed down on Marvin, as it’s feted breath pervaded his nostrils. And then he felt hot liquid splatter his face, as the beast that was about to finish him slumped to Marvin’s side, with a spear sticking from its skull.
Marvin’s eyes followed the fatal wound up the shaft to a pair of hands, as they worked the spear free. Marvin stared in exhausted wonder as the figure came in to focus, and he discerned a round face; not unlike a shaved hamster with perhaps a squashed nose.
His saviour was busy retrieving his spear; until with a start they realised what was under their prey. With a grunt the figure standing over Marvin rolled the dead beast off him, and helped the exhausted pilot in to a sitting position against the trunk of the tree. Then he stood back to observe the stranger to his hunting grounds.
“Katal mobi wa?” he shook what Marvin took to be a water skin; and grateful for anything to alleviate his parched throat, Marvin took it, and drank his fill. The liquid quenched his thirst, and brought some sense back to Marvin; making him wonder now if the drink was safe to consume after all. As far as protocol was concerned, this planet was off limits; for risk of contamination for both the Humans who had crossed the blackness of space so far to get here, and the inhabitants of this far off world. Who knew what effect either ecosystem could have on the other?
A feeling of dread that he could have unintentionally doomed this world, crept in to the back of Marvin’s mind. And with that guilty though he remembered Todd; then another brick slipped metaphorically in to his stomach, as he recalled his poor co pilot being dragged to his doom beneath that evil lagoon.
Marvin’s savoir had been talking to himself, while the astronaut passed through his crisis of conscience; and it seemed as if this being who’s home Marvin had invaded, was also having some sort of internal moral struggle. Then the figure thrust out a hand, and a rough looking slab of what Marvin assumed was food, came in to sharp focus. With the sudden realisation that he was famished, Marvin took the food and nodding at his new friend, he bit down on the slab. It tasted spicy, and Marvin thought it might be some kind of cured meat.
But before he could finish it all, the remainder was snatched from him as his saviour devoured the rest of the food. Evidently Marvin was only being offered a share of this hunters provisions. Which he washed down with the liquid Marvin had been offered first. The dull ache that Marvin had only just realised was in his stomach all along was fading, with the sustenance he had been given. And Marvin watched with guilt, as the being finished the morsel he himself had effectively contaminated. Would he be repaying the kindness of this stranger with a slow and horrific death; as the two ecosystems fought for supremacy in the host’s body?
The hunter didn’t show any signs yet of contamination. In fact Marvin’s saviour was busy wrestling with a pack beast of some kind, that Marvin hadn’t noticed before. When the hunter had got the unwilling beast near enough, he slung the carcass of Marvin’s would be nemesis over the pack animal, and then he started to make it secure with straps. With the job done Marvin’s saviour scanned the horizon; and with a satisfied grunt he came back over to Marvin, and held out his hand.
Marvin took it; and he was soon on his feet, feeling much better than he had been that morning. Then Marvin’s would be friend pointed at the sun high above them, and then in the direction of the isthmus. Stating it seemed to Marvin, an unintelligible set of syllables; but he got the gist of his meaning. He intended to go that way, so they could reach some safe haven before the sun set. As much as this made sense to Marvin, he still harboured a fear of that evil water; and he backed away shaking his head, his hands held up as if in defence.
But the hunter was having none of it, and he swiftly brought up his spear to show Marvin who was boss. Marvin followed the directions given with the spear; and gathering up his emergency beacon, the only link to his own world in orbit around this one; he began to walk towards the narrow strip of land. Glad only that his now captor hadn’t thought to bind him, least he try to escape.
Marvin kept up a brisk pace; determined to cross the hellish distance between the two shores as quick as possible; as his ever-vigilant companion dogged his every step, with the spear clearly in view each time Marvin glanced over his shoulder. The heavy breathing of the pack animal over shadowed all other noises, as it bore up the rear. The sun glistened on the still surface of the lake; and Marvin almost felt at ease next to the watery grave, that Todd had been dragged down in to. Then the memory hit Marvin; and he shook his head as if to rid it of the terrible recollection.
It happened in an instant; the beast following up the rear suddenly gave a squeal, and Marvin sensed his guard leave his post, to defend his precious pack animal. Turning Marvin saw the animal had strayed too close to the still waters; perhaps to quench it’s thirst. A mistake, for slimy hands had grasped the poor beast’s head; and tried to pull the pack animal beneath the murky surface. But with both his hands, Marvin’s new friend was struggling with all his might to keep the beast on dry land. Springing in to action, Marvin snatched up the now discarded spear, and joined the battle. Thrusting the point in to the water, just beyond the struggling beast, it made contact with something; and Marvin followed up the blow with several more. Until with a supreme effort, his companion managed to jerk the animal free of the sub aquatic thieves, and drag it to safety some distance from the water.
Panting, Marvin retreated too, and flopped down next to his now brother in arms; while the warrior tended to the beasts injuries. Satisfied, he dropped the water pouch at Marvin’s side; and the spaceman took a long swig, which his new friend copied after. When they rose, the hunter took up the spear once more, but this time he didn’t aim it at Marvin; instead his attention was directed to the beast, least it should stray too far again.
Finally the strip of land opened up; and with a sigh of relief, they left that accursed place. Marvin took one look over his shoulder, and got a pang of regret at the loss of Todd to those foul water creatures. Then he followed the tracks of his now guide; as the hunter led them towards some low hills. As the sun dipped towards the horizon, Marvin once more succumbed to the fears he and his ancestors had learnt, on their way to this new world. The fear of the dark; for on the colony ship he had arrived on, no one was forced to endure darkness; and so Marvin moved closer to his guide, least some unseen horror should come at him from the dread darkness.
At last Marvin’s guide made camp, and lit a fire. Like a primitive human, Marvin marvelled at the centrepiece to their camp; enthralled by the tantalising flames, as they danced over the gathered wood. And clearly seeing the connection between the need for more wood, and this soothing light; Marvin dutifully gathered more fuel, always staying in its protective sphere; always mindful of any sound out there beyond the light. Finally with enough wood to see them through the night, and a belly full of the beast that had almost been the end of Marvin, cooked expertly by his guide; the astronaut succumbed to the strains of the day, and fell in to a fitful sleep; where he dreamt of an endless pursuit by some un known dark force, always one step behind him.
Marvin woke with a start, as the warm glow of the sun stung his sleep filled eyes; and he raised his hand to shield them. Not far off, his guide was making breakfast; some more strips of meat and a flat bread, washed down with a swig from the water skin. With a full belly and a night’s sleep, Marvin felt a lot better than he had the day before; or perhaps it was just getting away from the lake where they had crashed, he thought. He turned his attention to the emergency beacon; the battery wouldn’t last forever, and Marvin was not sure just how long it would endure; before the last link to his home and any chance of rescue, would be snuffed out.
Perhaps some atmospheric anomaly was stopping any search party from getting his signal; or maybe they had given up, as the colony ship prepared to set off for the next exoplanet; carefully mapped out generations ago back on Earth. Where the technology to see these tiny islands, in the vast blackness of space had been invented; and where the colony ships finally left. The lights seemed to be all working on the beacon; so Marvin stowed it in a bag, and trudged after his guide.
By mid morning they had reached the hills, and they stopped for a rest. It was then that Marvin’s guide started indicating himself, and repeating the word “Galchak”; which Marvin understood to be the man’s name. So repeating the word and pointing at his new friend, Marvin was rewarded with a toothy grin from Galchak. Then repeating Galchak’s action of pointing to himself, Marvin intoned his name. “Marvin” Galchak repeated, a little unfamiliar with the sound.
After that, Marvin became keen to learn more of this world’s language; pointing at various things such as the beast, the sun and Galchak’s spear; and assuming a quizzical expression, until Galchak caught on and named the objects. By lunchtime Marvin had a good set of words learnt; not enough to hold a conversation, but enough to get by with. They dinned once more on the beast that attacked Marvin; then keen to get off, Galchak indicated that he wanted to be somewhere off in the distance before sun set once more; so they set off again.
As the afternoon wore on, Marvin continued with his lessons in Calek, which after some pointing Marvin had settled on; although he still wasn’t sure it meant the planet or everything, or just dirt. Then the lesson was drawn to a halt, as Galchak indicated a small settlement in the distance, and Marvin’s attention was drawn to it; as he wondered what reception he might receive, in this world’s representation of civilised society.
As they drew nearer, Marvin could make out the individual buildings. “So there was no outer wall” he thought, “at least that was a good sign; if any settlement didn’t need the protection of a barrier to keep marauders out.” It seemed to Marvin that the settlement looked like a frontier town like in the old west; he had read of them in a childhood book back on his world. And so as the sun sank below the surrounding hills, lights started to come on in the village windows.
Galchak ground to a halt before they got too close to the settlement; and started routing through the packs on his beast. He pulled out a rough poncho with a hood, that Marvin assumed to be some sort of rainwear; then he held it up for Marvin, uttering some new words. Marvin took the garment, and placed it over him; then Galchak indicated that Marvin should also put the hood up, and Marvin realised it must be sort of disguise. Perhaps strangers were shunned here, and he had a sudden thought that if he had a disastrous effect on this ecosystem, they would be justified in being wary of him.
Galchak tethered the beast, which he called a Ponio; this had amused Marvin when on the trail, he had learned the name. Then the hunter had placed a coin in the open hand, of a smaller version of himself; Marvin supposed it to be a child of this race, who he surmised was employed to watch the beast. And then the two men set off in to the twilight of the village. From under his hood, Marvin could make out various shop fronts displaying their wares; some of which he could discern, despite his lack of any skill in reading what he assumed was writing over each window. Aside from the occasional curious glance, Marvin managed to attract little attention; he supposed by his association to Galchak; who must be known in these parts, and so could vouchsafe for anyone accompanying him.
Strange music poured out of what Marvin thought had to be some sort of tavern; and he got a brief glimpse of the drunken revelry within, as the saloon doors swung wide; to emit a reeling figure, who had clearly had one too many drinks, for the other patrons liking. Marvin was beginning to wonder what he had got himself in to; where discovery could lead to who knew what.
And then he heard the show; a crowd was gathered before a cage, eager to get a glimpse of the creature held within. And pushing through the loose throng, Galchak and Marvin found the key attraction of tonight’s show, as it sat rather forlorn on the straw floor of his cell. Marvin had to stifle a cry of surprise, but Galchak nudged him in to silence. And they withdrew back out of the crowd, to stand in an alley; for the subject on show was none other than Todd.
Galchak held Marvin by the shoulders, and looked him strait in the eyes. “Only one of you I thought”, he accused the Earthman. Reeled from the shock, Marvin found it hard to find the words in this new tongue; he finally managed “I think two not here.” Galchak seemed to grasp the meaning of Marvin’s inarticulate explanation; as he mimed Todd being drowned in the lake, at the hands of the beasts that nearly took Galchak’s Ponio. “Only two you?” Galchak demanded. Marvin nodded; and he was grateful that at least that sign was understood here.
So placated, Marvin’s guide led him to a less lively tavern; where a hooded figure wouldn’t attract unwanted attention, and they sat in a corner nursing their drinks. Marvin was still in his stunned silence, at finding Todd alive, as Galchak muttered in to his tankard. After a while, Marvin started to wonder if Galchak had been intending the same fate for him, that Todd had got. To become a freak show exhibit; caged for the rest of his days, or at least until the novelty of this strange creature from the wilderness had worn off. And now perhaps Marvin’s would-be friend was contemplating what to do next.
Maybe he would take Marvin to another settlement, where news of Todd the freak had not reached yet, and he could make a profit. But then with a morose look in his eyes, Galchak looked up at Marvin. He uttered some words that Marvin could not understand; and when he saw the blank look on Marvin’s face he got frustrated, and resorted to Marvin’s tactic of miming his meaning. He pointed at Marvin, and then out of the door, before putting his arms together in an arc in front of his lap, swinging them left and right. Still perplexed, Marvin repeated the action; at which Galchak pointed once more at him and out of the door, repeating the same unintelligible phrase. Still unable to make sense of this bizarre pantomime, Marvin resorted to “I go two?” And he pointed out of the door himself. At this Galchak nodded, but he waved the astronaut down, as he rose himself, taking the empty tankards with him.
He soon returned with full ones; and putting one before Marvin, he pointed at a clock on the wall, and held up ten fingers. Marvin assumed it to mean they were to wait for some appointed time. Uncertain if Galchak was being cautious in their plan to return to Todd, or he had some appointment with a potential buyer for Marvin; and Galchak just wanted to keep him there until the right time, Marvin simply could not decide. But Marvin felt he should trust his only friend in this strange land; and so he got to taking in the surroundings, while he sipped his drink. The beverage was not unlike ship’s beer, but of a rougher hue; and Marvin drank this second tankard at a slower pace. He felt he should keep his head clear, for what would happen at ten by the clock on the wall.
As the hands of the clock approached their target, the bar became more and more empty, until only a few stragglers remained. Then with a glance around the room, Galchak indicated that Marvin should rise, as he got up himself, and they went out in to the dark. Marvin stayed himself from the fear that gripped him, as he was plunged in to almost total darkness of the alley; but slowly his eyes became accustomed to the starlight. And took heart from the company, as he followed Galchak’s outline along the street.
Not a soul was out this late, and so the two were unhindered in their passage back to the cage in the square. The huddled figure crouched dozing at the back of the cage, still in his space suit; his helmet lay discarded by his side like a prop ready for use. Marvin approached the bars, and whispered Todd’s name. On the third attempt the sleeping figure murmured “Let me sleep, those fiends won’t break through the screen yet.” Then with a start that had Galchak and Marvin looking wildly about, least someone should overhear them; Todd woke, and let out an insane giggle.
“I’ve started to hallucinate; this must be the end.” Marvin beamed, “No buddy, you’re not hallucinating. I got out of the lake, I’m here to spring you.” Marvin indicated Galchak, who Todd noticed for the first time; and he flinched back. “It’s alright, Galchak here is a friend of ours; I think he’s going to help us get you out.” And indeed Galchak was busy cutting away at the complex knot that was the means of keeping the gate shut. Within minutes the door swung open, and Todd snatched up his helmet and stepped out. Ever aware that some sentinel may raise the alarm, the three shadows crept through the streets, until Galchak stood over a sleeping child.
Snuggled next to his charge, the youth slept on as Galchak carefully undid the Ponio, and placed a coin in the child’s palm; which the sleeping figure grasped as if by reflex, but slept on. Then moving silently, but quickly, they headed out before anyone spotted them. Out in the open it seemed to be lighter, or was it just less shadows Marvin conceded. And as the two astronauts trusted to their guide to lead them away; the two men began to fill each other in on how their separate adventures had unfolded.
“I though you were dead” Marvin almost croaked through the gamete of emotions he was still experiencing; after grieving the loss of his friend, only to find him still alive. “I will always remember your eyes as those fiends dragged you beneath the surface; believe me if I could have reached you I would have.” Todd cut him off with a look that told it all, “I know buddy. We never stood a chance. I’m lucky you didn’t try, or I would still be sat in that cage back there.” And he jerked his thumb back over his shoulder. “But when those beasts dragged me beneath the surface, I knew that was it, and I froze stiff as a dummy. I’ve just got blurred images of their slimy paws as they slid across my helmet; then I started seeing weird coloured shapes. I recon I must have been running out of oxygen, about to pass out; then this weird frog face suddenly came in to view. I could see light coming from behind it; I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven. Then it started mauling my helmet, and I helped it get the latches unlocked. I can tell you I was running on empty by then; and when that sweet air hit my lips I nearly coughed up my lungs; I just lay there panting, not caring who this new friend was that had somehow gotten me away from those evil faced beasts that had dragged me down.
But before I knew what was happening, it had me hog-tied and sat beneath a tree. Well then I did get to worrying; those underwater things would have finished me quick, but on dry land, this froggy thing could torture me for days. You don’t know the thoughts that were running through my mind, but then he shoved some root vegetable in my mouth, and let me chomp on it. So I figured he couldn’t be just out to have his wicked way with me. Perhaps he’d stolen me from the water fiends, getting his swag above the water where they couldn’t get me back; or maybe I’d even been sold, like some chattel. I didn’t know what my part was, in my rescue from sudden death under the water.
But a short while after he had fed and watered me, one of those fuzzy faced fellows came riding by, and they must have struck up a deal. Because then I was slung over the saddle of the beast the critter rode up on, a bit like that one.” And Todd indicated the beast being led by Galchak, “But bred more for speed. So I found myself bouncing over the plain with not much of a view, but a blur of the ground, and what I could see in the distance, when I lifted my head. I felt like I’d been in a tumble dryer, by the time I sensed the walls closing in. That was when I realised he’d brought me to some form of civilisation; my hopes soured, but all too soon they were dashed again as he unceremoniously dumped me in that cage, with my helmet chucked in for good measure.
And then the show began. It was like torture, I expected to end my days in that cage, when old age had robbed me of any sense of who I was. But then after only a day you arrived and sprang me; I can never thank you enough pal.” “It’s thanks to Galchak”, and Marvin motioned to their guide, who was carefully leading the beast up a slope, as he noticed his two companions for the first time since their night time flight. Then calling down to Marvin he almost hissed, “Sun up, town find two gone.” He motioned towards Todd, then he continued with a phrase that Marvin didn’t understand, but he could figure out; the three of them would be fugitives, with perhaps an old time posse in pursuit of them. He didn’t know what fate Galchak would suffer at the hands of his own; but Marvin was certain that he and Todd would be caged, and displayed as freaks, with no chance of escape again.
Marvin translated for Todd, and they both redoubled their efforts to get the Ponio hidden, so they could at least get some much-needed rest. Marvin had no idea where Galchak was leading them, but the hunter seemed to have a plan, and so he was determined to help in any way possible. When they had the beast hidden in a coppice at the top of the slope, Galchak descended once more, and peering over the edge, Marvin saw the hunter skilfully erasing their tracks up the slope. Perhaps it would fool the immediate pursuit; for surely any search party would utilise their swifter moving beasts, like the one that had born Todd to the settlement in the first place.
Motioning them to be silent, Galchak started handing out rations to the astronauts; and they ate to the sounds of nature, ever listening out for distant hoof beats. When all three had finished their meagre meal, for Galchak had not had time to pack more before their flight, the two astronauts took turns at catching up on sleep. Galchak refused to succumb to its grip, but Marvin did notice him nodding to himself, as if in a trance. Martin was sure their new friend could leap fully awake in an instant, at any sign of pursuit.
It finally did come, and Galchak motioned the woken men to stay away from the edge, as he carefully watched the approaching horsemen. The tension grew as the sound got louder; then just when Marvin felt he could take no more, the sound of the hooves passed their hiding place, and receded in to the distance, as all three gave a collective sigh of relief. Then as if he had planned this next move already, Galchak silently motioned the two men to help him lead the now repacked beast, from the cover of the trees.
But instead of heading back down the slope, he led the way back up in to the hills, along a narrow path. “Do you think we’ve lost them?” Todd whispered to Marvin. Staring back down the trail, Marvin shook his head, “When they don’t find us on that track, they’ll realise their mistake; and if any of them know the paths round here, I bet they’ll think to try this one. Galchak may have bought us some time, but we’re not out of this yet.”
As the sun climbed, so did the three fugitives; until Marvin and Todd were as lost as they could be, in the twisting turns of the crevices in the landscape Galchak led them through. And as the sun stood overhead, their guide called a halt to the morning’s progress, with a satisfied look over his shoulder back down the trail. Then he unpacked their scant supplies, and divided them out. The fugitives ate in silence, ever listening out for any sound that would betray pursuit; then as if he were suddenly remembering something, Galchak stared between Marvin and Todd, and repeated his arm swinging motion, while stating the same phrase he had asked in the tavern all those hours ago.
Marvin, who was still perplexed, looked to his co pilot for help; and to his surprise, found Todd had a smirk on his face. “He thinks we’re a couple; I recon’ he can’t figure out who’s the momma, and who’s the poppa.” The realisation struck Marvin like a slap, and with an incredulous look still on his face he ventured, “You don’t think that’s why he sprung us do you; perhaps he got all sentimental. Well we’d better not dispel his deeply held beliefs, no matter how unfounded they are.” Todd put a hand on Marvin’s knee, “Don’t worry captain, I’ll be mother.” And he winked, before turning to Galchak, and indicating himself, Todd intoned the unfamiliar word, “Doogan.” Galchak beamed, now he had established who was who, he felt further introductions were in order. First he pointed at Marvin, and said “Marvin”, next he turned his finger on himself intoning “Galchak”, and finally he pointed to Todd with a quizzical look on his face. “Todd”, Todd informed him, and with a satisfied nod, Galchak repeated Todd’s name.
Then with a jerk of his head, Galchak was up and scanning the valley. Concentrating hard, Marvin could just hear it too; a slow methodical click of hooves, which he recognised from their own beast’s progress that day. With the swiftness of a panther, Galchak had his Ponio repacked, and motioned Todd to rise. Then they set off once more, glad that in this terrain at least their pursuit would be no faster than them. The ground was too rough for swift passage.
“How far behind do you think they are?” Todd asked, as he jogged up the slope in his space suit, now regretting not discarding it earlier. “Maybe two hours”, ventured Marvin. “It’s hard to tell with the valley walls reflecting the sound.” Then he noticed Todd’s obvious disadvantage, and he suddenly had an idea.
They were at the head of a valley and could see some distance behind them; so Marvin motioned Galchak to stop, and he turned to Todd. “Get that suit off, I think it’s time we put a sentry up.” Realizing Marvin’s idea, Todd began to disentangle himself from the cumbersome suit, and glancing over at his helmet that had been tied to the Ponio’s pack, Todd grinned at what Marvin was getting at. He quickly started gathering shrubs and grass, which Marvin had already started doing. When the two astronauts began stuffing the empty space suit with the material they had gathered, a dumfounded Galchak twigged on to their plan, and began to help too.
Soon the suit was suitably stuffed; and with the helmet reattached, it looked quite realistic. Then they positioned it looking down the valley behind a rock, but not enough to obscure it from plain sight of any pursuers. With grim determination they set off once more, and soon the three fugitives passed through the valley’s top, to be greeted with a wind blown plane.
Galchak pointed to another set of hills in the distance, and Marvin’s heart sank. “We go now?” he asked, as he noticed the sun dipping below the horizon. “It looks like the only way,” Todd countered in trepidation. “I only hope that suit will hold them up long enough, or they’ll overtake us on this plane.” So with a brief rest to fill their bellies once more, the two astronauts followed Galchak, who had a firm grip on his Ponio.
They soon fond out why, when tired from the day’s traveling, Todd staggered a little off to the left, and nearly sank up to his waist. “It’s a marsh, quick get me out.” Marvin dragged him free, while Galchak pulled his beast back, to see if they were all right. “Stay me” was all he said, but Marvin understood the full import of his command. If they were to make it safely to the other side, they would need to keep their guide close, and not get lost.
With a grim smile, Marvin thought that at least their pursuers would not be able to make swift progress either, even if they knew the route across this deadly marsh. But just as that thought struck him, Marvin glanced over his shoulder at where he imagined the top of the valley to be; for it was now too dark to discern anything beyond their immediate surroundings; and to his horror, he saw a tiny light flickering like a willow the wisp, as it picked it’s winding way over the safe path, ever closing the gap they had made with the dummy space suit.
Marvin pointed the light out to Galchak, who with a worried look on his face said “Too quick, too dangerous.” And he carried on, carefully picking his way through the marsh. They must have been half way across by now thought Marvin, and glancing back, he saw the lights getting noticeably closer. Todd suddenly veered off “I’m not going back in that cage captain. I’d rather the bog take me, than end my days in a freak show.” and he stood at the waters edge ready to jump in. In desperation, Marvin looked once more back at the ever-nearing pursuers. Their flickering torchlight was now illuminating the grim faces, intent on their quarry.
Marvin was jostled on the narrow path, as Galchak strode forward, his spear in his hand. He at least was going to put up a fight; to think they had gone through all they had, just to end up like this. Either captured for some freak show, or to drowned themselves. Marvin chucked to himself; they might as well stayed in their crashed ship, and ended it then. The pursuers were almost within spear’s range; and Galchak stood read to pounce. Todd had got to waist deep in the marsh, when he yelled in panic.
A bright light had turned the three fugitive’s world in to a blind panic; and then the rumbling noise hit them, as a helicopter dropped between the three and their pursuers. Through the open doors, Marvin could see their would-be captors, cowering in another beam aimed at them. Marvin thought Galchak’s outline looked considerable more impressive than his pursuers, as the warrior stood in awe of this unworldly intervention.
Then a megaphone rang out “Captain Cobb; I think you’d better board before the locals recover their senses.” Pausing only to drag a stunned Todd back out of the water, Marvin rushed towards the open door, grabbing Galchak’s arm before they all boarded the helicopter. And then it rose back in to the night, as the glow from the flickering torches grew fainter beneath them.
It was then that Marvin could finally take in his immediate surroundings. The team that had rescued them all wore bio protection suits, and bore the emblem of the biotech specialists. “Captain Cobb, we had a fine time trying to track your emergency beacon down. They ’re not supposed to move so far from the crash site.” Marvin just sat there with a blank expression; until it finally sunk in, that all this time the little box of electronics he had carried along with him, had finally brought the help he had so desperately needed.
“Where are we going commander?” he finally asked. With a glance over at Galchak, the commander informed him. “We have a small camp set up to study the local flora and fauna. And now you and Todd Mandrake have been exposed to the environment, we have a unique opportunity to see how the two ecosystems interact.” Just glad to be free of pursuit, Marvin closed his eyes and relaxed.
When the chopper landed, the three were guided in to a low prefabricated building, in a compound located in the middle of a wide plane. No one could approach unheralded. “Your people?” was the first words Galchak uttered, and when Marvin nodded, he sat a little easier. Todd was busy tucking in to the food laid out for them. Then after a debriefing as to how their craft crashed, and their adventures afterwards; Marvin and his companions were given a full examination. Even Galchak, who needed some encouragement off Marvin to cooperate, but finally he gave in, when he saw his companions had suffered nothing from the procedure.
After a good night’s sleep, Marvin and Todd were back to full health; and as they sat round a table, trying to teach Galchak how to play cards, there was a brief knock at the door. Commander Gazette, the leader of the team who rescued them, then stepped inside. With a gasp Todd stood up. “Your bio suit sir.” There was a smile on the commander’s uncovered face, for he just wore his ship’s uniform, as he stepped forward and held out his hand to Galchak, who took it, and they shook hands.
Then turning to Marvin, he explained the sudden change of policy. “Captain Cobb, I want to thank you for bringing in such fine samples, in the form of yourselves and our friend here.” He indicated Galchak. “It eclipsed the research we have been doing here for some time. Which proved that life on this planet is compatible with the ecosystem of Earth. I have a theory that some basic life seeding process, either by natural process or designed, could be prevalent through out the galaxy, or even the universe, just waiting for the right conditions for it to take off. If I’m right, future worlds we encounter that has life on it already, may be just as able to support Humans as this one.”
With a concerned look, Marvin drew the commander to one side. “But what about the cultural differences. We can hardly go talking Galchak’s people’s lands off them; and I’m sure a mixing of the cultures, would be detrimental to them.” But the commander had an answer for that. “Don’t worry captain, this world has a continent untouched by civilisation; we did a fly by at night, and saw no lights. So any colony from the ship will be established far away from the locals; the indigenous population will need to become explorers, before any contact is made. For our part, strict rules of non engagement will be set up; and when the locals finally come looking, they should be able to cope with new civilisations.”
So it only remained for Marvin and Todd to explain the plan to Galchak, and see what he wanted to do, which took much miming. But finally the hunter understood their meaning, and with a distant look in his eyes, he informed them “I go with you; new lands to hunt.” And with that the three settled down to the game of cards again, as if nothing had happened.