Primal Estate: The Candidate Species (16 page)
Read Primal Estate: The Candidate Species Online
Authors: Samuel Franklin
He would confront this man because it was his duty. It was the responsibility he had been subject to his whole life but had rarely called on him. He now had to answer that call, and he felt old, simple, and dumb. Why had something like this come so late in his life? Those first steps in the direction of the dead cougar were the most tormented he’d ever taken.
As he walked, Rick tried to get control of himself. He realized he had an M4 with at least twenty-four rounds in it. He had his revolver. He was well armed, and the lion killer didn’t appear to have any weapons. No matter how fast he could run, he couldn’t outrun a bullet. That thought just made Rick feel worse. This stranger had just killed a lion with nothing. The man was alternately examining his kill and looking at Rick as the distance closed.
As he walked, Rick tried to get control of himself. He realized he had an M4 with at least twenty-four rounds in it. He had his revolver. He was well armed, and the lion killer didn’t appear to have any weapons. No matter how fast he could run, he couldn’t outrun a bullet. That thought just made Rick feel worse. This stranger had just killed a lion with nothing. The man was alternately examining his kill and looking at Rick as the distance closed.
At fifty meters, Rick realized he didn’t know what he was going to say. Was this man poaching? That was stupid. Give him an award, not a citation. Rick held his M4 close to his chest, relieving his shoulder of the weight of the sling. At forty meters, Rick clicked the selector to fire. The small sound seemed to echo through the canyon and the stranger looked up. Rick would keep his distance, not pose a threat, and get as much information as possible. He’d wish him good day. Then he’d get the hell out if the man would let him. Rick had a sinking feeling it wouldn’t go down that way.
At twenty-five meters, sound came from Rick’s mouth and he regretted it before he could stop. “You from around here, stranger?” What a fucking idiot I am. Who am I, John Wayne? Is this Silverado? Of course he’s not from around here, you idiot! Men from Cortez don’t hunt in gold skirts and sandals. People from around here don’t run down lions on foot! His question hung in the air until the stench of its absurdity made Rick feel like a schoolboy. The man did not answer, which made it even worse, but only stood, as though he was savoring his kill.
At twenty-five meters, sound came from Rick’s mouth and he regretted it before he could stop. “You from around here, stranger?” What a fucking idiot I am. Who am I, John Wayne? Is this Silverado? Of course he’s not from around here, you idiot! Men from Cortez don’t hunt in gold skirts and sandals. People from around here don’t run down lions on foot! His question hung in the air until the stench of its absurdity made Rick feel like a schoolboy. The man did not answer, which made it even worse, but only stood, as though he was savoring his kill.
Until now, Rick realized his main concern had been about his own safety. Would he be attacked? Would he get away? Why was he approaching this obviously dangerous person? Rick hadn’t been assessing this threat. He focused. The best he could tell was this man stood about six foot three, two hundred thirty pounds, evidently thickly muscled under just a gold and blue fabric collar around his neck and shoulders. It seemed almost glued on. The skin around his right shoulder revealed heavy scarring from what must have been a devastating wound. Parallel line scars elsewhere on his body hinted it was from a previous hunt and seemed to indicate that not every lion he’d killed had been as easy as this one. He was bald and clean shaven, his features were strong and thick. Rick seemed to be looking at a cross between Mr. Clean and a giant, hairless Neanderthal. A kilt-like skirt covered him from the waist to just above the knee and he wore what looked like sandals designed for combat, with covered toes and sides. He had a kind of gauntlet on each of his forearms.
Rick stopped at twenty meters. He figured that even if this man rushed him, he could level his rifle and…Rick realized he was too close to this unknown threat. He’d been using standards for a normal human adversary. But this man had inhuman speed. Shit.
Rick stopped at twenty meters. He figured that even if this man rushed him, he could level his rifle and…Rick realized he was too close to this unknown threat. He’d been using standards for a normal human adversary. But this man had inhuman speed. Shit.
Rick stood still and waited. Alright, Mr. Clean, he thought. You want to be the silent type? I’ve got all afternoon. Rick thought about home and Carson, and getting back safely. Rick waited.
After what seemed like an eternity, Mr. Clean took a deep breath. Rick tensed and noticed, as Clean moved slightly, there were, projecting from the gauntlet down the back of each hand, two long, gently-curved blades with large wavy serrations down one edge, extending about eight inches beyond his hands, bloodied and starting to dry. So he did have a weapon. He was like a tall, hairless Wolverine in a dress!
After what seemed like an eternity, Mr. Clean took a deep breath. Rick tensed and noticed, as Clean moved slightly, there were, projecting from the gauntlet down the back of each hand, two long, gently-curved blades with large wavy serrations down one edge, extending about eight inches beyond his hands, bloodied and starting to dry. So he did have a weapon. He was like a tall, hairless Wolverine in a dress!
As he moved, Rick raised his rifle to cover him. The giant looked at him and smiled as he reached down and began to un-crumple the cougar. “Would you like to help me skin her?” He asked in perfect American English.
Rick was surprised and wasn’t sure why. “No thanks,” he responded immediately, revealing his controlled fear. Rick wished he’d waited longer to reply, as if he’d had the courage to consider the invitation.
Rick was surprised and wasn’t sure why. “No thanks,” he responded immediately, revealing his controlled fear. Rick wished he’d waited longer to reply, as if he’d had the courage to consider the invitation.
The stranger stooped over the cat, his back to Rick, and with his long curved knives extending from his gauntlet, began expertly dressing the animal. He tied it by its front paws from the large scrub cedar next to him. First he skinned it, placing the hide below it, flesh side up. There was very little blood as he’d killed it with a slash to the throat. He gutted it and put all the organs on the hide, carefully protecting them from the dirt. He picked up the liver from this pile and took a large bite from it. Rick had leaned against a boulder to rest while he waited patiently, forgetting momentarily the unnatural speed he’d witnessed.
Rick then remembered the speed and realized he might be falling for a scheme by this thing to make him less alert. There were perhaps three hours until sunset, but Rick didn’t want to look down at his watch. Eyes on and rifle up. He could feel his arms tiring.
Rick then remembered the speed and realized he might be falling for a scheme by this thing to make him less alert. There were perhaps three hours until sunset, but Rick didn’t want to look down at his watch. Eyes on and rifle up. He could feel his arms tiring.
The butchering was done. Mr. Clean carefully took the hide from the ground with its contents of internal organs, and used the four legs of the skin as handles. He tied them together to make a kind of carrying case and hung it in a tree. He stroked the fur with his hand, sweeping the dust from it. Rick was determined not to speak first.
At last the stranger turned to him and spoke. “You are patient.” He lifted his arm to point at him. “That’s good.” A bluish squiggling fog erupted from the blades on the gauntlet and hit Rick’s midsection before he could begin to move his trigger finger. His M4 vibrated violently and crumbled in an instant, falling to the ground as dust. Rick immediately moved for his revolver under his jacket, knowing what he’d feel. As his hand hit the pistol grip, he felt it shudder and crumble, sending the same shock through his hand that took the rifle from him. Dread flooded him as he was becoming disarmed, helpless. “You don’t need those,” the monster said.
At last the stranger turned to him and spoke. “You are patient.” He lifted his arm to point at him. “That’s good.” A bluish squiggling fog erupted from the blades on the gauntlet and hit Rick’s midsection before he could begin to move his trigger finger. His M4 vibrated violently and crumbled in an instant, falling to the ground as dust. Rick immediately moved for his revolver under his jacket, knowing what he’d feel. As his hand hit the pistol grip, he felt it shudder and crumble, sending the same shock through his hand that took the rifle from him. Dread flooded him as he was becoming disarmed, helpless. “You don’t need those,” the monster said.
Rick felt like a child standing before a god. He would have reached for his knife if not for the feeling he imagined a fawn must have in the jaws of a bear. What’s the use? It was probably gone, too. A second ago, he thought he had some sort of power over the situation. Now, he had nothing except for the knowledge that he was indeed witnessing something very unusual, and if he came to die, at least it would be due to powers beyond his control. His mind raced, and all his knowledge and training, in an instant, became irrelevant.
Just when Rick thought he might be getting control of himself, the god threw something to him. “Take this.” His impulse was to catch it, and he immediately knew this was wrong. Half catching and half squirming to avoid it, he felt like an out of control child again. As the object hit his contorted arm in the midst of its aborted catch, it seemed to crawl to his wrist in an instant. He heard and felt a click, and the object, a sort of bracelet, was now affixed. Again, with the despair he thought must belong to a desperate animal succumbing to a predator, he knew all was lost. He was now trapped beyond recovery. Every caution, every concern, all his weapons and training had led to nothing but this one moment of being an easy victim to this thing that appeared human, that looked real, and that spoke to him but left him helpless. Rick’s vision quickly dimmed to black.
Just when Rick thought he might be getting control of himself, the god threw something to him. “Take this.” His impulse was to catch it, and he immediately knew this was wrong. Half catching and half squirming to avoid it, he felt like an out of control child again. As the object hit his contorted arm in the midst of its aborted catch, it seemed to crawl to his wrist in an instant. He heard and felt a click, and the object, a sort of bracelet, was now affixed. Again, with the despair he thought must belong to a desperate animal succumbing to a predator, he knew all was lost. He was now trapped beyond recovery. Every caution, every concern, all his weapons and training had led to nothing but this one moment of being an easy victim to this thing that appeared human, that looked real, and that spoke to him but left him helpless. Rick’s vision quickly dimmed to black.
Chapter 12
Rick oNboard
Rick had the sensation of cold stone on his fingertips. He moved them to confirm the slick texture. A bright light above him forced his eyes open, then immediately made them want to close. He blinked and tried to move, but couldn’t. He struggled to get his elbows beneath him to get up, but they wouldn’t go. He tried to lift his head, but the muscles in his neck immediately cramped. He realized his legs were being held down by something. His clothes were gone. The dread that he’d felt before came to him again. He’d rather be dead than feel this way.
Rick was strapped on a table – head, arms, and legs all secured. He was in a large white room lined with glass on the upper wall. There was a robotic arm above him with a large needle. He heard a voice command, “Be still”, and a searing pain, like a red-hot skillet pressed to his neurons was raked across his brain. He could not move and wanted only for the pain to stop. When it did, he wanted only to die. And when he thought about moving again, the pain came back a little, reminding him of its torture and threatening more. He screamed as if to try to disgorge both his physical and mental agony. When he once thought to rip and tear at his bindings with all his might, all at once, the pain consumed his being. He thought this must be the fire of hell. After that, he remained motionless, simply wanting to die.
Rick was strapped on a table – head, arms, and legs all secured. He was in a large white room lined with glass on the upper wall. There was a robotic arm above him with a large needle. He heard a voice command, “Be still”, and a searing pain, like a red-hot skillet pressed to his neurons was raked across his brain. He could not move and wanted only for the pain to stop. When it did, he wanted only to die. And when he thought about moving again, the pain came back a little, reminding him of its torture and threatening more. He screamed as if to try to disgorge both his physical and mental agony. When he once thought to rip and tear at his bindings with all his might, all at once, the pain consumed his being. He thought this must be the fire of hell. After that, he remained motionless, simply wanting to die.
The needle moved slowly down to his face, entering his nostril and piercing his head somewhere deep in his sinus cavity. This pain almost felt good compared to what he’d just suffered. The needle came out and moved to his abdomen, where it inserted again just below his ribcage. This continued over multiple locations around his body. All the while he prayed for death.
Rick awoke not even knowing he’d become unconscious. He was on a bed and could feel a blanket on his face. My God, what a horrible dream! He thought he’d been poisoned and he …opened his eyes to see the nightmare was not over. It was reality.
Rick awoke not even knowing he’d become unconscious. He was on a bed and could feel a blanket on his face. My God, what a horrible dream! He thought he’d been poisoned and he …opened his eyes to see the nightmare was not over. It was reality.
Looking down on him was Mr. Clean, the large bald man who’d trapped him. Though Rick felt weak, he also felt remarkably good and otherwise well rested. He was wearing a robe that felt of silk and was extremely comfortable. His hair was slightly damp, and he smelled fresh, as though he’d been bathed.
“Come with me,” the bald one commanded.
“Come with me,” the bald one commanded.
Remembering the pain, Rick complied, simply glad to be off the slab. His circumstances had improved. Could there be hope? Sitting up on the edge of the bed, he found simple sandals on the floor. He put them on. He looked at the evil bracelet still on his wrist. Rick stood and followed Clean to another room where they sat with a table between them. Rick thought, correctly, here it comes.
“Rick Thompson, I am Synster the Provenger. A long time ago, we introduced agriculture to your primitive species to encourage population growth so that we could return one day to harvest your kind from a sustainable population. Your species is our cattle, our livestock. I have chosen you to be my operative on Earth. You will consider resisting this proposal. To assist you in this decision, I must inform you of the circumstances.
“Rick Thompson, I am Synster the Provenger. A long time ago, we introduced agriculture to your primitive species to encourage population growth so that we could return one day to harvest your kind from a sustainable population. Your species is our cattle, our livestock. I have chosen you to be my operative on Earth. You will consider resisting this proposal. To assist you in this decision, I must inform you of the circumstances.
“Your entire civilization exists because of our intervention approximately 12,893 years ago. If it had not been for our arrival, humans would still be scurrying around in the dust fighting with other animals for food, just as they had for the last half million years. You owe everything in your current, somewhat advanced society, to us. We are here now to complete our project on schedule. We are technologically advanced beyond any of your capabilities, and your resistance to us would result in complete failure.
“We have two possible plans for the future of the human race. The first is called ‘Natural Proliferation’. This management method is similar to the method you use on your fifty acres of land. You set up the conditions for wild game to be successful and then harvest it as you need it.”
“We have two possible plans for the future of the human race. The first is called ‘Natural Proliferation’. This management method is similar to the method you use on your fifty acres of land. You set up the conditions for wild game to be successful and then harvest it as you need it.”
Rick sat bewildered, understanding everything he was hearing but not wanting to believe it. He was afraid to speak from the pain he’d previously felt. Synster seemed to sense this.
“You may speak freely.”
“You may speak freely.”
Rick had so many things he wanted to say. Curses, threats, questions, more curses and threats. He felt like a wild animal inside, yet knew that all his words were impotent. He couldn’t think of anything. He just shook his head.
Synster continued, “This is how we plan to harvest from your population. You live out your lives mostly unaware of our existence. We harvest per our quotas – quotas, I might add, that we designed your current population to sustain many millennia ago.
Synster continued, “This is how we plan to harvest from your population. You live out your lives mostly unaware of our existence. We harvest per our quotas – quotas, I might add, that we designed your current population to sustain many millennia ago.
“As a reward for helping us where we need, you get the following. You get to assist in assuring the continuance of, for a large number of people on your planet, their current way of life. You will be allowed to exempt from harvest anyone you want, as long as they touch your life in some immediate way, such as family members, your mailman, your senator, your lawyer, everyone in your town…you get the idea.”
Senator and lawyer on a no-kill list? Rick wondered. Synster obviously didn’t have a complete concept of human culture.
Senator and lawyer on a no-kill list? Rick wondered. Synster obviously didn’t have a complete concept of human culture.
“You would also be empowered with the ability to include certain people or groups in the harvest, any who you feel might be a threat to you and your work. You will also be granted any Earth-derived material goods or pleasures that suit you. We believe these incentives are sufficient for you to freely decide to work with us on this endeavor. What I’ve described will be yours. If I haven’t yet been clear enough, we are offering you the power over life and death, along with all the material possessions on Earth that you desire.”
Rick had to agree this Synster had a lot to offer. He didn’t consider himself a religious man, but this reminded him somewhat of a deal with the devil. Everything seemed too good to be true. Rick looked around the stark room for probes, thinking maybe he was being tested for what might be incentives for humans. Anything could be going on. Rick decided he’d have to ask a lot of good questions to assess this situation.
Rick had to agree this Synster had a lot to offer. He didn’t consider himself a religious man, but this reminded him somewhat of a deal with the devil. Everything seemed too good to be true. Rick looked around the stark room for probes, thinking maybe he was being tested for what might be incentives for humans. Anything could be going on. Rick decided he’d have to ask a lot of good questions to assess this situation.
“And what if I refuse?” Rick realized he sounded like a movie again as he lowered his head in disbelief.
“We’ve put considerable effort into our preparations so far, and your refusal would cause me personal and professional inconveniences. I will promise you that if you refuse, I will personally use all of my authority to keep you alive as long as possible while on the highest pain setting that will allow your sustained existence. I will also abduct all of your family members, your friends, everyone that I can imagine has held any significance to you, including your dogs, Barnes and Nobelle, and see that they all get the same pain treatment. And when they appear to be at the end of their lives, you will watch as they are dissected while they still live, for the edification of our school children.”
“We’ve put considerable effort into our preparations so far, and your refusal would cause me personal and professional inconveniences. I will promise you that if you refuse, I will personally use all of my authority to keep you alive as long as possible while on the highest pain setting that will allow your sustained existence. I will also abduct all of your family members, your friends, everyone that I can imagine has held any significance to you, including your dogs, Barnes and Nobelle, and see that they all get the same pain treatment. And when they appear to be at the end of their lives, you will watch as they are dissected while they still live, for the edification of our school children.”
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