"Any ideas?" Billy asked.
"Yeah, make it to the rocks up ahead." The three picked up their pace. The sounds of the approaching chariots and yells from the approaching Craing warriors increased. It was clear they weren't going to make it to the rocks, not even close. The three SEALs slowed and separated. Turning to face their pursuers, they pulled their short swords. The approaching chariots were coming fast, close together, side-by-side. Each was pulled by a single Serapin—with one Craing at the reins and another poised to throw a spear. Jason had witnessed just how effective these Craing warriors were at bringing down their quarry. At thirty yards out, the first spear was thrown. Billy ducked to his left. The spear pierced the ground several inches from his feet. The chariots sped past and separated. Jason didn't wait for the second spear to be thrown. Earlier he'd noticed these stubby swords were fairly well-balanced between hilt and blade—workable. He flipped the weapon end over end and held it by its broad blade. With the closest chariot no more than ten yards out, Jason threw his sword. The Craing warrior’s spear was already in the air, headed for Jason. Caught spinning sideways, it glanced off his upper left arm, splitting the skin. Blood flowed. But Jason's sword had found its intended mark. The dead Craing warrior lay on the ground, sword buried to its hilt in the middle of his chest.
The chariots were circling again, one of which now had a single driver. Both chariots separated and then came back together and charged directly at Rizzo. He waited, and at the last moment jumped to his left. He’d waited too long. Although he’d gotten out of the way of the Serapin, the chariot hit Rizzo with a glancing blow to the head. Rizzo hit the ground and didn't get up. Jason and Billy retrieved two of the Craings’ thrown spears. Both made the split second decision to go for the Craing warrior at the reins, and with luck, the thousand-pound Serapins would veer away. Jason threw his spear and caught the closest, the single Craing driver, in his lower torso. The Craing fell to the ground and the unmanned chariot eventually rolled to a stop. The Serapin snorted and huffed, but seemed to have lost his willingness to run. The second chariot circled, then quickly closed in on Billy. He followed its movement, turning as it drew near. Billy threw his spear. It hit the Craing driver in the forehead, catapulting him end over end off the chariot and landing ten feet back. The remaining Craing warrior grabbed up the reins and circled the chariot in a tight circle, and charged again. But without gaining sufficient speed, Billy was able to not only dodge the chariot, but also grab on and pull himself aboard. In a blur, the Craing’s neck was snapped and his body tossed to the ground. Billy slowed the chariot and stepped off. The Serapin glanced back once, ran on for several more seconds, and finally came to a stop alongside the other Serapin.
Jason raced toward Rizzo, but slowed when he saw that he was alert and up on his elbows looking around.
"Have a nice nap?" Jason asked, but was relieved the young SEAL hadn't been killed.
The Serapins were getting agitated. Drool streamed from their mouths, and their heads turned in the direction of their fallen drivers’ bodies.
"When in Rome," Billy said, shrugging his shoulders.
"I guess," Jason replied.
They fetched up and unceremoniously deposited the dead Craing at the feet of the two Serapins. The bodies were ripped and torn in a blur. Sounds of snapping bones and frenzied biting and chewing continued as if the two Serapins were competing with each other for every scrap of meat. Finished, they continued to snap angrily at each other.
Jason turned away and looked toward the tree line. Six more chariots and twelve Craing warriors were headed in their direction.
"Rizzo, you're with me, hop in," Jason said. "We need to go. Right now!"
Jason took up the reins of his Serapin, stole one more glance over his shoulder, and snapped the straps against the Serapin's hindquarters. The beast leapt forward, quickly running at a full gallop. Billy, close behind, pulled even with Jason and Rizzo. If they hadn't been fleeing for their lives, Jason would have enjoyed this. Looking to his left, he noticed Billy, at the reins of his own chariot, was smiling.
"They're gaining on us, Cap," Rizzo yelled into his ear. Billy had pulled farther ahead, but neither was going fast enough to outrun them. They'd passed the big "T" shaped rock, as well as the winding river. Another look over his shoulder and Jason knew they wouldn't make it to the entrance to the other Craing encampment in time. Both of their chariots had slowed under their weight. Only halfway up the hill, the Serapins were struggling. Jason’s mind flashed with images of his own body being thrown at the feet of a group of hungry Serapins. He snapped the reins again, then again, harder. He could hear the sounds of the six approaching Serapins and their chariots. A spear streaked by, inches from his head. "Shit!" Jason veered his chariot to the right. More spears streaked by. Jason’s Serapin was huffing and puffing, its pace slowing even more. He peered over his shoulder again—he counted twelve warriors, or was it ten? Up ahead Jason saw that the crest of the hill was finally in sight. Billy’s Serapin had begun to slow as well and was unresponsive to Billy’s continuous snapping of the reins. Two arrows pierced the inside of Jason’s chariot, missing his legs by inches. Three more arrows flew by, imbedding themselves in the hindquarters of his Serapin. The beast reared up and spun its head, frantically biting at the protruding arrows caught in its flank. The Serapin stumbled, then fell to the ground, dead. Chariots closed in around Jason, Craing warrior screams of triumph filled the air. Billy was out of his chariot, rushing to join Jason and Rizzo. Together, they’d make their last stand.
But it wasn't Billy’s approach that had caught Jason's attention. Confused, what he saw didn't register at first. Then it did. Orion. Magnificent Orion standing tall at the crest of the hill—the muzzle of her multi-gun pointing back in their direction. She ran forward. Now, close enough to see the expression on her face, she was clearly angry. Her weapon flashed, and the ground erupted all around them. One by one, the Craing warriors took the brunt of her continuous fire. The few Craing that had survived her initial barrage had circled back and quickly fled the way they had come. A handful of abandoned chariots lingered nearby. Billy, Jason and Rizzo took the reins of their own chariots. As Billy approached the crest of the hill, he slowed, and without missing a beat, Orion jumped on next to him. All three chariots picked up speed on the far side of the hill—halfway down, they changed direction toward the small break in the trees.
Chapter 22
Jason, Billy and Rizzo pulled their chariots up to where they had left Traveler. The poles he had been secured to were empty—dark rust-colored stains remained.
"Billy, check on the Queen. I need to find Traveler.”
"Over here!"
Jason turned to see Dira waving at him from a thatch-roofed structure at the edge of the encampment. She had removed her helmet and her hair was wet with perspiration. The top of her battle suit hung open, revealing enough cleavage to catch Jason's eye. She ushered him inside, where Traveler lay prostrate on a large table. Both legs had been bandaged. He lifted his head up and acknowledged Jason with what looked to be a smile.
"Thank you, Captain," Traveler said, his voice weak.
"I'm glad you hung in there, my friend," Jason replied. He turned to Dira, "How is he doing?"
"Needless to say, he's lost a lot of blood. Fortunately, that's something I can manufacture in the field, so he'll be fine—just needs a few hours of rest."
"When did you arrive here?"
"About two hours ago. They tried to sneak up on us with that net thing, but we were ready for them. Two of their little warriors were killed. Orion headed out right away to find you."
“She found us. Just in time. I take it our delivery arrived here earlier?" Jason asked.
Dira started to laugh and shook her head. "Oh yeah, Queen Serapin appeared out of thin air, along with her screeching babies. I have a feeling, as far as the locals are concerned, you are nothing short of a miracle worker. To say there was a commotion would be a serious understatement."
"OK, that's my next stop." Turning to leave, Jason looked back. "I'm glad you made it here in time, you know, to help Traveler."
"Me too," she replied. They both held each other’s gaze for a moment before Jason left, heading off toward the large crowd of Craing gathered on the other side of the encampment.
Jason hailed Billy.
"Go for Billy"
"Status?"
"Apparently Team Zebra was ready for the guys sneaking around with the net. Several Craing were killed in the process. Morgan and Orion located their leader, Wik-ma, secured the camp, and set up a roving perimeter. We have a total of seven men, three rhino warriors, plus Dira and Ricket.” Jason nodded to Billy and cut their comms connection as he approached. Jason was unprepared for the reception. The entire camp population turned and greeted Jason with smiles, several reaching out to touch him. The Craing moved aside, making an opening to where Wik-ma stood waiting. Several yards beyond him, on a mound of hay, sat the Queen and her three suckling offspring—apparently no worse for wear. An excited, equally large group of Serapins had formed in a semicircle behind their queen. When Jason turned his attention back to Wik-ma, he saw that Ricket was there, listening to something the Craing leader was saying. Both turned to Jason; Wik-ma bowed his head, then looked up and spoke. Ricket translated: "I am in your debt; we are in your debt. We didn't believe you would have the slightest chance of success. Now, with the return of Queen Serapin, our citizens rejoice. But the true miracle is her three offspring. One is female—a future queen. This is a great day, an historic, momentous day.” The crowd of Craing cheered and little hands reached out to touch Jason again.
Ricket continued to speak. "Wik-ma wishes to offer you a gift. Your choice from among their maidens.” Wik-ma gestured toward a group of five smaller looking Craing, who peered out from the opening of a nearby hut. Jason nodded and smiled appreciatively. The memory of the Craing leader shooting two arrows into Traveler made it difficult for him to not kill the little shit where he stood.
"Thank you, and I am honored by your kind gesture. We look forward to a long friendship between our people, but now we must move on." Jason looked over to Ricket. "Have you asked about the portal? Do they know where it is?"
"Yes, sir. The portal, apparently similar to the other one, is nearby, and a sacred place among these people. They believe it to be a window to God. He was quite adamant that no outsiders are allowed there," Ricket explained.
"Is that right? We don't have time for this. Please translate what I have to say about that:
We do not wish to offend their customs or beliefs, but accessing that window is crucial."
Ricket translated as Jason spoke, but the way the Craing leader was frowning and shaking his head, his answer was obvious. Jason caught Orion's eye and spoke to her over NanoCom.
"Orion, I take it by now the leader is aware of the damage your weapon is capable of, right?"
"Yes, sir, they are all more than aware."
"Good. Put two plasma burst into the ground—make it as close to their Queen's fat ass as possible."
Orion stepped to the side of the group, pointed her rifle, and fired off two bright-blue plasma bursts. Several inches from the Queen, the ground erupted—sending dirt several feet in the air. Orion stepped in closer, the muzzle of her rifle pointed at the Queen’s head. The Craing leader dropped his non-negotiable stance. He spoke, and Ricket continued to translate.
"When you are ready, I will take you myself. It is not far."
* * *
When outfitted again in their battle suits, along with weapons and equipment packs, Wik-ma and four Craing warriors guided Jason’s team of six and three rhinos to a rocky area less than a quarter mile from the camp. Here they found the entrance to a large cave. The Craing leader offered Jason and Billy two lit torches. They declined, illuminating their own battle suit head lamps instead. Wik-ma bowed again, but gestured for them to proceed on alone—the portal would be found at the far end of the cave. The five Craings found this humorous for some reason, their faces all smiles.
Alice, seldom far from Morgan’s side, was the first to approach the entrance. Crouching low, she sniffed the air, took several tentative steps forward, then jumped backwards and made a series of sounds not so different from barking.
"Cap, I'm betting there's more to this cave than the location of the portal," Morgan said, nodding toward Alice.
"Yeah, I don't like this. Why don’t you hang back here, cover our backs, while we check things out.”
The nine team members headed deeper into the cave.
Traveler limped along slowly. The two surviving rhino warriors stayed close by his side, there if he needed assistance, although he’d never ask for it.
Thirty feet in, the cave narrowed from twenty feet across and that high, to half that. Something crunched beneath their feet, like gravel or twigs. Jason pointed his helmet lamp down and realized it was actually small bones.
“Creepy,”
Dira said. She slowed her pace and held to the back of the group, where she found Alice cowering and looking over her shoulder. Alice looked up at her, then quickly turned and ran back in the direction they’d come. “Figured she’d want to stay with Morgan,” she said disappointedly.
"I think I see something," Rizzo said over his comms. As they continued forward, the cave veered slightly to the right. There was definitely movement ahead. Something was reflecting the light back from their lamps. Jason, Billy and Orion, at the front of the group, saw the creatures first. Large enough they needed to walk single-file, the big cockroach-like creatures were heading in their same direction. So far, they’d shown no signs of noticing anyone behind them. Then the last creature slowed, stopped, and then turned. It reared up on its back two legs as if attempting to crawl up the cave wall and flipped back to face the assault team. Seemingly wanting to hold its ground, the insect activated its two protruding pinchers.