The Book of Ominiue: Starborn (51 page)

‘We’re surrounded,’ Shayne replied as he looked out the forest around him.

‘Ok, act natural guys. Pretend you are still looking over the crash,’ Javier said to the others as he glanced around the forest. They had been doing it all day so it would not look strange, but everyone suddenly alert would.

‘I don’t see anything Starborn.’

‘That’s because they’re not moving,’ Shayne replied. ‘I see seven, they are well camouflaged.’

‘Where?’ he asked as he picked up his map, pretending to study it.

‘At nine o’clock there’s a large twin-forked tree with a king fern growing next to it. Behind it is another tree. He’s a few metres up.’ Javier bent over and picked up some debris before he took another look around. A slow careful search of the moss covered plants revealed the forked tree. The first glance around he saw nothing but when he scanned back he spotted the man. He was in the tree as Shayne said; sitting there with a primitive bow watching them.

‘I spot another four. I believe they may have been here the entire time,’ Shayne announced as he stepped across to an engine and began to look at it. He patted it to see if it was hot before he began to fiddle with it; everything was warped and mangled.

‘Should we take them down?’ Jameson held his rifle in the standard position but he was poised to attack. He knew their bows could only harm them if they aimed for their faces.

‘They don’t seem to be doing anything,’ Javier said. ‘I suggest we keep looking for the black box. Spread out but remain in sight. Wong, you stick with Forrester.’ They then continued with their work. The SB soldiers maintained their guard and on the odd occasion the others looked around.

‘I found it!’ Jameson called out a little louder than he meant to. Stunned at his own loudness he looked around, thinking that the entire forest would suddenly rise up, but it remained as it did before.

‘Good,’ Javier said and they gathered together with the small recording box. It was a little battered but otherwise intact. Javier took his pack off and put it in one of the many pockets. He then took his map out and placed it on the ground.

‘The blackbird followed the exact trajectory as the civilian transport. We must assume that it came down along the same line but further up. Agreed?’

‘What about the people from this crash?’ Rae asked.

‘The natives are already here and watching us. We must assume they dealt with our dead. When we leave we’ll talk to the Isradians and see if the bodies can be returned.’

‘What if they’re alive?’

‘I don’t think anyone survived this.’ He gestured around them. They pulled themselves together as Javier mapped the crash and placed a line into the deep forest marking the likelihood position for the other plane. They then got up and continued on.

‘Are they still following us?’ Javier turned to Shayne after hours of marching.

‘They are.’ The Special Forces Captain didn’t know how Shayne managed to keep track of them; he seemed to be just focused ahead of them, allowing the other SB’s to keep the vigil around them, but he appeared to know exactly where they were, ‘but only two follow us now.’

‘I guess that’s a positive. If they wanted to attack us you would think more would come, not less.’

‘Unless they are setting up an ambush, we’ve been travelling in a straight line all day,’ Jameson commented.

‘We’ll have to stop soon and set up camp.’ Shayne looked up at the evening sun.

‘I’m not liking this.’ Jameson complained, Shayne shared his sentiment, not only had their visitors dwindled, but so had the warning stones, they had not seen one for kilometres now.

‘It was classified as a dangerous mission, that’s why we picked it,’ Javier encouraged them. ‘Just think about it. When we’re back at New Switzerland we’ll have a story to tell, and our kids will beg us to tell them every night.’

‘That we were followed by hippies in trees?’ Rae joked.

‘Well, maybe something interesting will happen still; not very scary, this sacred forest.’

‘Getting in might not be the hard part, that might be trying to get out again,’ Jameson said.

They walked another hour before deciding to make camp in a relatively clear position. It looked like they stumbled on an ancient road, where they had a good view of the hills and mountains ahead. Shayne could not see the moon over the trees so he could only estimate that they had another couple of hours before nightfall. The two Aniskins disappeared an hour earlier, retreating back into the forest and this troubled Shayne.

‘Should we build a fire?’ Jameson asked, longing for a cooked meal. Javier looked uncertain.

‘If there’s an ambush it’ll come whether we have a fire or not,’ Shayne answered.

‘You’re right, okay, you three,’ Javier pointed to three SB soldiers standing nearby who instantly stood to attention. ‘Go collect firewood,’ they saluted and went off into the forest. They did not have to move far as the ground was covered in rotting wood. They made a pile fit for a nights burning.

‘Do you hear that?’ Rae stood next to Shayne and she looked up at the canopy above. Shayne knew what she was thinking; he noticed the forest gradually change as they marched. ‘There are no birds again.’ They all froze, straining to hear but there was nothing to hear, not even the wind in the trees. Jameson shivered.

‘Okay,’ Javier broke the spell of the forest, ‘time to setup your bivouacs.’ The captain then set about putting up his swag in the best place. Shayne placed his next to the pile of wood while the others erected their own. Afterward they heated their meals in their mess tins, it was a precooked dinner that looked rather unpleasant and earned the nickname “chuck” but it tasted better than it appeared and was good food.

As the sun began to sink Shayne looked across to their collection of firewood. He had a sudden and foreboding feeling that they did not have enough.

‘What are you doing?’ someone called out to him as he stood up and walked away from the camp.

‘We need more wood!’ he replied as he started picking up more logs and sticks. The others began to shiver; the place was warm but the hairs upon their arms rose with a prickling upon the backs of their necks. Javier joined Shayne; they dragged and lifted as much as they could, with an urgency growing within them.

On Shayne’s last trip he was carrying an armful of sticks with a long log hooked under his arm. He awkwardly walked towards the camp; occasionally stopping to re-grip the log.

The colours of day faded as the sun sank below the horizon, leaving behind a fading grey world. The strange silence that flooded the forest seemed to intensify; occasionally it was broken by the sounds of trees groaning in the windless night. Something unnerved Shayne and he had an overwhelming impression that he should be standing in the fire’s light. He headed to the others who were huddled closely around the flames. Some sticks fell from his arm but he did not stop. A fear built up in him; driving him forward. He could feel the log slip from its grip but he continued on, finally dropping it in the safety of the light. Javier also hurried over. Once in the fire’s light he leant over; placing his hands upon his legs as he breathed heavily.

Shayne stoked up the fire; flames leapt high into the air, and without hesitation he threw one of the large logs on. The flames grew tall and bright, creating a wall of light against the trees, holding the menace of the forest at bay. Two Starborn soldiers were designated the first watch. They patrolled the perimeter but even they remained within the flames boundary, not daring to move out.

The night slowly wore on. Shayne shivered despite the fire burning before him, he brought his arms around his legs fighting a sudden cold; the others huddled closer to the flames and looked out into the darkness. An intense feeling of being watched came upon him even though he was sure the Aniskins had not followed them this far.

Shayne grew alert as his mind started to play tricks on him. He imagined a noise far off in the distance. He sat up, straining his ears as he searched the forest. Others also looked around. Jameson swallowed as fear began to seep into him, but no matter how hard they listened they were not sure if they could hear anything at all.

Just as he would rationalise it was in his head it would sound again. He could hear something rise and fall deep within the forest, so faint he could not grasp what it was, but each time he was positive it grew a little louder, a little closer until he could eventually hear it sweeping through the forest.

‘What is it?’ Rae finally broke their silence, her voice weak with fear.

‘The wind,’ Shayne finally responded. They glanced across at him, but as they listened they knew he was right. They could hear it rage through the forest though there was not even a slight breeze where they sat. As it neared it howled and made the trees groan in the darkness. The way it moved through the trees, fading then growing and fading again, and with each pass it grew louder.

As the sweeping grew into a steady roar the Starborns on guard gradually backed closer into the circle of light, with their rifles pointed into the darkness. Shayne sat very still, the pit of his stomach became heavier as the wind drew ever closer.  With the next wave they all jumped to their feet and huddled together in alarm; a fear flowed over them as they listened to the wind approach. Shayne still within his wits stepped out to a clear spot where he could see further through the forest. Careful to remain in the fire’s light, he looked up into the distance to see the storm moving through the treetops; swaying from one direction then the other. Each sweep moved closer to the camp while the deafening howl grew ever louder. Shayne returned to the fire and stacked it with as much wood as he could. The others reluctantly helped him; throwing the biggest logs into the flames. Embers flew and danced high above their heads as the flames swiftly wrapped their hungry arms around the fresh lumber. It burned so fiercely that they were forced to step back. The roar of the wind and the anger of the trees finally rushed over the camp.

The attack came suddenly. The wind turned its vengeance upon them as sticks and branches shattered through the air. The bivouacs flapped wildly before they snapped their rope ties and pegs. The canvases whipped dangerously around them before being taken into the sky and lost into the night. The fire leapt perilously up into the air; the embers streaked across the forest canopy and flung in all directions, its flames violently fighting against the wind which swirled furiously around it. The Earthmen held onto each other; forced to cover their faces from the dust and debris. Then the wind died as suddenly as it leapt upon them and the sounds quickly faded into the distance as the gale stopped its search. The night was followed by silence. Even the trees ceased to groan.

The fire briefly died down after the calm; threatening to go out but then it erupted in the stillness. Shayne released himself from Rae’s grip, she held onto him and Jameson who in turn was gripped to another Starborn. Shayne was troubled that the winds passed through the forest much more rapidly than they had come. He sat back down, resting on the large log which seemed the only thing untouched.

Without thinking he flicked open his
wristcom
, but was greeted by a blank screen. Frustrated he shut the thing and looked deep into the crackling flames. The others too sat down. Javier managed to salvage some packs that had been scattered; using them to rest on. A feeling of unease grew as the forest appeared to be closing in around them once again, the trees loomed higher and they appeared to press in on them, and for the first time Shayne wished that Kíe’arathorne was accompanying them.

As the night wore on and the wood pile dwindled, Shayne felt sleep seize him. The others were also fighting the fatigue; the fear of being watched the only thing keeping them awake. Shayne had no way of telling the time, long nights were always deceiving. He raised his eyes to look at the few stars above. He sat back and observed each of them, wondering for the first time where Earth lay. He thought it was ironic that as a Star Born Child he would never explore the vastness of space. He was destined for one planet; the only planet he would ever know. Iraqius might be his home, but it definitely was not the centre of his thoughts for he longed for the stars, especially now that he was facing fear for the first time, it may be somewhat weaker than that of his companions, but it was still unpleasant.

Shayne felt his head drifting; he pulled himself up straight and rubbed his eyes and beard trying to fight sleep, but they felt so heavy. He closed his eyes for a second; thinking of his duties, of his research barely started and of Kíe’arathrone, possibly the only real friend he had. His thoughts drifted again to Earth, wondering about it. He had an image form in his mind. It was extremely vague and if he thought about it too hard it would loosen its grip and fade. He realised that it was a memory from before his Starborn infection. Curiously he explored it. He felt there was something fundamentally wrong with this memory; it did not fit right with what he was taught. He was outdoors, surrounded by a forest, the Australian bushland. It was quiet and serene, it made him feel good. He stood in a green garden with mowed grass meeting the forests boundary. Behind him he saw an old mud-brick and wooden homestead; smoke drifted lazily from one of its chimneys. He could smell eucalyptus; both from the forest and burning in the fireplace. Shayne felt himself relax with the memory but something felt wrong, painfully wrong and it pulled him from the memory as he recalled his lessons. Earth forests were restricted places; most no longer had old growth trees, they are a renewed attempt to bring Earth back to some level of nature.  They certainly did not have homes hidden within them. The planet was pretty much one massive city; spread across the continents, separated by sand and scrub deserts. This memory, his first real one was wrong somehow, but he knew it was real. He thought about his records. He was based at a Melbourne university before he came here, RMIT he recalled. He lived in the city; in a skyrise apartment. He realised that this was what was wrong. His recorded history was falsified.

Shayne shot up in revelation. All desire of sleep shattered by his train of thoughts. His discovery though was soon thrust from his mind by the presence of a hooded stranger stooped by the fire before him; the figure of an old man just sitting there, staring into the flames. Shayne froze with a fear that shock ignites. The others were asleep around the fire’s warmth, while the stranger sat between them; looking deep into the dying flames. His face was hidden and he held out old, almost withered hands to the flames, rotating them for warmth. Shayne’s training suddenly kicked in and he instantly rose to his feet, drawing his handgun, but the old man did not react.

‘Who are you? What are you doing here?’ he demanded in the Kadalian language. His harsh voice startled the others out of sleep. They backed up in shock at their visitor and joined Shayne with their weapons pointed towards him, but the figure did not heed them, nothing about him registered that he even saw them. Shayne stood dazed for a moment; he then moved a little closer.

‘What are you doing?’ Rae hissed at him but Shayne ignored her. He bent over to try and see the man’s face, but it was shaded in darkness. ‘Hey?’ Shayne sounded but still the man made no acknowledgement. ‘Hello,’ he repeated in the common language. He came yet closer.

With a quick and fluid motion the hooded man suddenly stood up, it caused Shayne recoil at the unexpectedness. He stood still, bent low over a knotted walking stick. In an odd movement he turned and slowly walk away from the fire. He paused near a tree, the side of his robes flowed and swayed and seemed to merge into their surroundings. Shayne stepped around to him; he placed his weapon back in its holster. Javier also slowly came to his side though he let Shayne lead; too afraid to do anything else. He had his rifle pointed at the stranger, but gradually lowered it in wonder. The old man then walked further ahead, stopping a few paces ahead of them. Shayne became intrigued and followed him, when he got close enough the old man continued on, steadily moving into the darkness. Javier reached out with his hand to stop the Starborn Officer. Shayne took a few more steps closer, careful to remain in the fire’s light. From there he watched the old man walk deeper into the depths of the forest; the black robes merging into the darkness. The old man came to a halt on the edge of their vision. He turned to face Shayne; his eyes flickered unnaturally in the strained light before he faded into the night. Shayne did not know what to think but he was beginning to realise why they said no one ever returned from Endaran. Both backed into the safety of the firelight. The other two watched them with wide eyes, wanting to ask but not knowing what to say.

Javier placed the last of the wood on top of the flames. With the help of four men they pushed the large log into the flames, ‘That should definitely last until morning,’ he told them and secretly hoped that the threatening forest also heard. They all settled themselves back around the fire. Most looked out into the night; straining their eyes to see if anything or anyone else came from the darkness. Shayne eventually lay down; exhausted from the constant threats. The forest continued to haunt him but he could not resist the ensuring fatigue and eventually he drifted off.

***

What are you doing?
A small voice echoed in his head.
It is not time yet,
many images flooded into his mind and a sense of anxiety flooded them. The black fox ran before him, he tried to follow it but his legs did not want to move; they felt heavy and he kept falling to the ground.
Hurry we must go!
The fox pleaded before she ran out of view. Shayne called for the creature to stop but it had already disappeared. He kept running ahead but he could not see anything; a fog rolled over him but still he did not stop.

After running for some time he turned about him in desperation, hoping to see the small black creature. A sound of laughter then rung through the air and the old hooded man was suddenly before him with eyes that shone with their own light. He raised his hand and Shayne suddenly felt something grip his feet and wrap itself up along his legs where he was pulled down to the ground. He looked at his feet and saw that the roots of the trees were entwined around him and a deep voice echoed from the frail figure. ‘You better hurry!’ he said. ‘You do not want to be late,’ he then faded away leaving Shayne to fight the trees that were crowding in around him.

‘Wait!’ Shane called out, ‘Don’t leave me —
WAIT
!’ but the trees had enclosed him and were winding themselves more tightly causing him to gasp for air.

***

With the screams of their own voices everyone suddenly awoke. Even some of the damaged Starborns cried out; though they did not know what it was that made them scream. The sounds of their voices quickly faded into nothing as the silence of the forest surrounded them. Shayne’s own chest pondered painfully. He looked down at his free legs, which were clasped so tightly in his dream that they burned with pain. He then looked about him, a faint startled sound escaped from his mouth; a fog had moved in as they had slept and it was so thick that the trees and ferns a few meters away were difficult to make out. The morning light broke through, but the mist made it painfully bright and there was no way to tell which direction it shone.

‘What’s going on?’ Jameson cowered, no longer trying to conceal his terror. His voice sounded strangely distant as the fog muffled it, causing the stillness of the forest to wrap even tighter around them.

‘I don’t know,’ Javier said, ‘but I say we get the hell out of here as fast as possible.’

‘Agreed,’ they picked up the remains of their scattered belongings. The few packs they found they gave to the SB soldiers. They then began to make their way back the way they came, following the slightly sloping ground.

‘
Wait
!’ Shayne’s voice sounded urgently before they could take a few steps. Shayne meanwhile looked carefully around him; his eyes scanning the area.

‘What is it?’ Rae came to his side. Her voice quivered slightly.

‘This isn’t where we set up our camp,’ Shayne again looked about him; examining the shape and size of the moss covered trees. Javier also looked around, a new fear settling over him. He pointed to a skinny forked tree.

‘There,’ he called. ‘I recognise that one!’

‘No,’ Shayne spoke calmly, his soft voice barely audible with the dampening fog. ‘It has a third branch, see?’ he pointed to the misty view of another branch. ‘There were no such trees before.’ The Special Force officer gulped, but Javier tried his best to remain calm.

‘We pick a direction and we follow as straight as possible.’

‘Which direction though?’ Rae asked. ‘We could be walking deeper in!’