IN NATURA: a science fiction novel (ARZAT SERIES Book 2) by David Samuel Frazier Page A
Authors: David Samuel Frazier
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along the stream—covering more distance than any uman could have reasonably traveled even at a full run—constantly checking for tracks and scent along the way. Finally, Za’at paused. He flicked his tongue and tested the air, but there was still nothing in it of the female.
“She must be the other way,” he finally said. “It is impossible she could have come this far this quickly.”
Za’at turned his group around and began heading back downstream toward the camp.
* * *
By the time the lizards had finally moved on, Maria was beginning to suffer from the extreme cold. Lizards or no, she knew she had to get out of the water, and even though her hands were still bound, she managed to drag herself from the stream by pulling on some exposed roots. Maria curled up on the bank, shivering uncontrollably. She tried to rise, but her mind was suddenly foggy and she found it more and more difficult to move. She was just about to lose consciousness when she heard the inviting sound of a fire crackling in the camp just above her.
I have to get warm or die, she thought, gently working the leather loose from her shaking hands. After considerable effort, the straps finally came free, and she shook them to the ground.
Maria pushed herself up and managed to stand. She carefully climbed the bank, step by painful step, and gradually picked her way through some dense undergrowth. Her leather clothing and moccasins, heavy with water, made progress even more difficult.
When she finally reached the edge of the camp, she could see that the fire had burned down to nothing more than coals, but it was still kicking out heat. She carefully surveyed the area. Mercifully, it appeared that all of the monsters had left.
Maria cautiously stepped out from the tree line and approached the fire’s edge. She bent down over the flames, held her hands out, and basked in the warmth. Her body was still shivering uncontrollably and she fought the urge to simply submerse herself in the hot coals. As she looked into the dying flames, she was almost certain she could see the outline of one of the lizards among the glowing embers.
The sun was rising and had begun casting orange beams horizontally through the forest. Maria looked around and discovered that she could suddenly see the camp clearly in the early morning light. In the trees just above her, the bodies of her party, flayed and gutted, hung from the branches, eerily swaying as if there might still be some life in them. Below and to the side, a huge pile of skins and entrails littered the ground. It was a familiar hunting scene she had witnessed countless times in her life, but for the hideous shape of the carcasses and the sickening pile of remains on the ground. As her eyes examined the bloody mountain of flesh, she realized that scattered within it were the severed heads of her party. Some of the eyes were open, blankly staring back at her.
Maria wanted to vomit, but just as she was about to, she heard the snapping of branches and the strange note of the lizard men’s voices. The creatures were returning.
CHAPTER 11
IN NATURA
Mot pulled Tom up from the dark hole and gently rolled him onto the landing.
“That was close,” the Pilot said, between breaths.
He and Alex were both lying on their backs, still gasping from the climb, trying to get some clean air out of the dust that was still wafting up from below. The two Arzats squatted close by, holding torches and patiently waiting for their two human companions to recover.
“I’m glad you were ready, Mot. That’s another life I owe you. I really wasn’t sure if any of us were going to make it.”
“It was nothing, Tom Pilot. I would do it again for you at any time,” Mot said.
“Well, I think you are soon going to have plenty of opportunities, my friend.”
Tom was worried. The bulk of their equipment was lost. The weapons he’d hoped to use . . . the first aid kits . . . virtually
“She must be the other way,” he finally said. “It is impossible she could have come this far this quickly.”
Za’at turned his group around and began heading back downstream toward the camp.
* * *
By the time the lizards had finally moved on, Maria was beginning to suffer from the extreme cold. Lizards or no, she knew she had to get out of the water, and even though her hands were still bound, she managed to drag herself from the stream by pulling on some exposed roots. Maria curled up on the bank, shivering uncontrollably. She tried to rise, but her mind was suddenly foggy and she found it more and more difficult to move. She was just about to lose consciousness when she heard the inviting sound of a fire crackling in the camp just above her.
I have to get warm or die, she thought, gently working the leather loose from her shaking hands. After considerable effort, the straps finally came free, and she shook them to the ground.
Maria pushed herself up and managed to stand. She carefully climbed the bank, step by painful step, and gradually picked her way through some dense undergrowth. Her leather clothing and moccasins, heavy with water, made progress even more difficult.
When she finally reached the edge of the camp, she could see that the fire had burned down to nothing more than coals, but it was still kicking out heat. She carefully surveyed the area. Mercifully, it appeared that all of the monsters had left.
Maria cautiously stepped out from the tree line and approached the fire’s edge. She bent down over the flames, held her hands out, and basked in the warmth. Her body was still shivering uncontrollably and she fought the urge to simply submerse herself in the hot coals. As she looked into the dying flames, she was almost certain she could see the outline of one of the lizards among the glowing embers.
The sun was rising and had begun casting orange beams horizontally through the forest. Maria looked around and discovered that she could suddenly see the camp clearly in the early morning light. In the trees just above her, the bodies of her party, flayed and gutted, hung from the branches, eerily swaying as if there might still be some life in them. Below and to the side, a huge pile of skins and entrails littered the ground. It was a familiar hunting scene she had witnessed countless times in her life, but for the hideous shape of the carcasses and the sickening pile of remains on the ground. As her eyes examined the bloody mountain of flesh, she realized that scattered within it were the severed heads of her party. Some of the eyes were open, blankly staring back at her.
Maria wanted to vomit, but just as she was about to, she heard the snapping of branches and the strange note of the lizard men’s voices. The creatures were returning.
CHAPTER 11
IN NATURA
Mot pulled Tom up from the dark hole and gently rolled him onto the landing.
“That was close,” the Pilot said, between breaths.
He and Alex were both lying on their backs, still gasping from the climb, trying to get some clean air out of the dust that was still wafting up from below. The two Arzats squatted close by, holding torches and patiently waiting for their two human companions to recover.
“I’m glad you were ready, Mot. That’s another life I owe you. I really wasn’t sure if any of us were going to make it.”
“It was nothing, Tom Pilot. I would do it again for you at any time,” Mot said.
“Well, I think you are soon going to have plenty of opportunities, my friend.”
Tom was worried. The bulk of their equipment was lost. The weapons he’d hoped to use . . . the first aid kits . . . virtually
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