Part 21 (1/2)
He checked the weapon in his hand. He had only seven blasts left. The other two weapons were in the crevice with their supplies, out of reach with those lethal snakes everywhere. ”I have to save my fire. We'll wait them out up here.”
”We can't! We're in plain sight of any shuttle that comes along.”
”We can't climb down. One strike and it's over, Moonbeam. I've never seen so many in one group. They're plenty mad, too. When one dies or is wounded, he gives off an odor that attracts others.”
”Then why did you shoot those three?”
”I was going to kill all ten so I could get to the other weapons, but then more surfaced. They're around the crevice; I can't reach them. Maybe they can't smell us up here. Maybe they'll take their dead and leave.”
”Smell us?”
”That's how they track prey. The scent of fear makes it stronger.”
”If that's a caution or suggestion to calm down, I'm not sure I can. Do you think they'll give up now that they've found a tasty meal?”
”Sit and relax,” he responded evasively. ”We'll be here a while.”
She did, not because of his words but because her legs were about to give way. Her panicked gaze scanned their surroundings. It looked as if more keelars were arriving every minute. Jana shuddered and stared. They were trapped, without food and water, with weapons out of reach, and in view of a pa.s.sing enemy. For the first time, she truly believed they might die on this barren wasteland. Until now, she had been confident Varian would find a way to save them. If only his signal would reach Nigel in time.
”At least they can't crawl up here,” Jana remarked. ”Can they?”
”Not with the rolled or sheer edges of the rocks.”
Both fell into troubled silence as they sat within two feet of each other. Hours pa.s.sed as the heat and their thirst increased. Their gazes s.h.i.+fted between looking at the skies for enemy crafts and looking at the ground for a retreat of the keelars. Many thick-bodied creatures had secured sharp teeth into their dead then dragged them away, possibly for food. Only the heads and about eight inches of sinewy necks of most were visible from their freshly tunneled holes. The snakes twisted their heads and s.h.i.+fted their bodies as if continuously keeping vigil in all directions.
Varian didn't want to make their precarious predicament worse by discussing a lack of options with Jana, but the snakes appeared firmly lodged in and around their campsite. He tried to come up with a plan to get their supplies and weapons, but there seemed no way without endangering himself. If he died, Jana would be in worse danger. He wanted to kill Taemin and Ca.s.s for luring them into this peril. He was apprehensive about enemy shuttles discovering them, after they had been so clever in eluding them. If the keelers didn't leave and even if they weren't caught by Taemin, they couldn't stay on the rocks and starve or die of thirst. He had to come up with a plan.
Jana was a.n.a.lyzing the grim situation, too, and her thoughts matched Varian's almost perfectly. She stood and walked to the area above their supplies. The alien joined her.
”We don't have a rope or hook. The limb across the crevice is too thick for retrieving the water and weapons by their handles. The thom bushes are too short and limber to reach them.”
Jana eyed the limbs he had placed at haphazard angles, atop which he spread the p.r.i.c.kly brush for concealing them with what should pa.s.s for a wild thicket. ”If we shove the thorn bushes away and move that st.u.r.diest limb to there,” she said, pointing, ”where the ledges try to meet, I can hang by my knees and reach our water and weapons.”
”You could fall and those keelers would be all over you before you could escape the crevice and climb the rocks. No, Jana, it's too risky.”
”I took years of gymnastics and aerobics. I've climbed plenty of trees, fences, and rocks. I'm agile and steady. That limb should bear my weight for a short time. You can even hold on to my ankles in case it gives way. We have no choice.”
”I thought you said we always have choices.”
”We do: we can try my idea or we can sit on our b.u.t.ts and die.”
”I'll do it, Jana. I don't want you getting hurt. That wood is abrasive.”
”You're too heavy. If you try, that limb is certain to break and drop you right into a nest of those vipers. I need to keep you alive to get me out of this mess. Have faith in me for a change. I might prove to you I have more to offer than just a body for s.e.x and reproduction.”
”If that was your only value, Moonbeam, I wouldn't be desperate to win you back. I know your immense worth, Jana; that's why I want you to become my wife.”
”This isn't the time or place to be hara.s.sing me with marriage proposals or subjecting me to your cunning charms. Keep your mind on the business at hand or we won't survive to face that dilemma.”
”All right, Jana, do it your way, but just be careful.” Varian used his booted toe to kick the branches to the ground. With him on one side and Jana on the other, they s.h.i.+fted the limb to a lower spot. He arranged verbal signals for avoiding danger.
When she asked him to help her out of her dress, she noticed his startled reaction. ”Get that l.u.s.ty look off your handsome face, Rogue Saar. I just don't want it hampering my vision and movement when I turn upside down.” After the garment was removed, Jana warned, ”And don't let it fall off this rock. I'm not fond of the idea of Taemin or his devils capturing me half naked.” She took off her slip and shoes and tossed them near the ruined dress, leaving her clad in a lace bra and matching panties in sky blue.
Varian was surprised and pleased when her anxious gaze locked with his worried one for a moment and she smiled at him.
Jana took a deep breath and murmured, ”Here goes our one chance.”
”If you fall, woman, I'll thrash you good.”
”You won't have to; I'll be dead in two hours from the bites of those critters.”
Varian seized her by the shoulders and shook her. ”Don't even joke about such a horrible thing.”
”Why not? It's a lesson I learned from you: show contempt for danger and death so their powers are weakened.”
”Bluffing foes and having a healthy respect for threats isn't the same thing, woman. Keelers can't be deluded and doublecrossed like men can.”
”I'm sorry, I was only trying to lessen our tension. I'll be careful.”
His gaze roved her shapely body, then he ordered himself to alert. He flattened himself on his stomach on the rock above the ledge and dangled his arms over it to be ready to offer any help he could provide.
Jana eased her way to the center of the limb by straddling the branch and using her hands to wriggle herself forward. ”Ouch. Ouch. Oh-ee. That smarts. This bark bites as badly as those snakes must. Ouch. I don't hear it groaning and complaining, so I guess it's strong enough to hold me. I'm ready. Wish me luck, and watch those ugly critters.”
For a moment, their gazes fused and spoke unbidden messages. Varian smiled and coaxed, ”Don't worry, love, I've got you. I'm sure you can do it. Get busy before they wise up and head for you.”
Jana didn't want him to know how scared she was. Much depended upon her success, so the risk must be taken. If you fail, J.G., and those keelars refuse to hit the trail, you and Varian are finished.
Jana s.h.i.+fted to her b.u.t.tocks and clutched the limb between her calves and thighs. With caution and with her hands gripping the wood support, she began to ease backward. She felt the muscles of her abdomen tighten from her strenuous effort. Her legs quivered from tension. When her long tresses fell downward, she thought about a keelar leaping at her and getting entangled in them. She wished she had torn another strip from the unfortunate dress and secured her hair in a ponytail at her nape. She felt blood rush to her head. Before she was in position to do her task or to sight the slithering predators, she heard their hissing increase. At the same time, she felt Varian seize her ankles as he shouted a warning to her.
”Get back! They're heading for the crevice! Up, woman. Fast!”
Jana was glad she hadn't lowered her arms yet because she knew the reptiles were almost within striking range. Varian applied pressure to her ankles to give her added strength and security. Her hands reached for the limb and she struggled to lift herself. Varian released one of his grips and held out his hand. Jana strained to grasp it. At last, their fingers interlocked and he pulled her to a sitting position on the branch. She raised her feet as she didn't know how far the elongated creatures could spring. Shaky, she let Varian lift her from the makes.h.i.+ft beam and place her beside him. She looked down to see the crevice writhing with numerous keelars, covering life-sustaining supplies and life-saving weapons. She locked her gaze with his. ”It didn't work.”
”It was a good idea, but I should have thought to use my last seven shots to create a diversion on the other side with dead bodies.” After seeing her at work, he was convinced she could succeed and he told her so. ”We'll give them time to settle down and get back into their holes before we try again. That is, if you want to try again; I think it's our best hope.”
”Yes.” She forced out the intimidating word. She pulled the slip and dress over her panties and bra in case they had unwanted visitors first, then they sat down to rest while the keelars calmed.
”I hope you'll come to forgive me for tricking you, Moonbeam,” Varian said. ”I want us to have a chance at real happiness when this is over.”
”We're what's over, Varian. How could I come back to you without everyone thinking I'm crazy?”
”It doesn't matter what others think, Jana.”
”It does to me, and it should to you, too. People look up to you. Young men and boys want to be like the ill.u.s.trious Commander Saar. Your recent example tells them they can do as they please without fear of repercussions, especially where women are concerned. At least it would if I returned to you after how you've treated me.”
”The public doesn't know and won't know of my deceits.”
”They know you had romance with me. They were led to believe I was forced to escape your cruel clutches. Some of them know-and will probably gossip to others-about how I behaved with 'Ryker' during that first trip we took and how we acted on the Wanderl.u.s.t during the Earth mission. They saw those lovey-dovey pictures that sneaky reporter took of us on Auriga: kissing in that romantic park, wasn't it? I suppose you also arranged that. From everyone's point of view, I've been Ryker's wife for months. Now, as soon as he dies, you want me to race back to you. People will think me fickle, phony, opportunistic, and shallow. You may not care what they think of me and say about me or yourself, but I do, very much. I already have the stigmas of being an alien and a charl to overcome. I certainly don't want more stains on my reputation.”
”Everybody will think Ryker ordered you to display affection and happiness in public. They'll-”