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Authors: Roxanne Smolen
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session.”
“We’ll have to be careful. We don’t want to contaminate an alien eco-system.” He patted his belt then located his gun lying beside him. “Where are we this time?”
“We’re on an island.” She motioned at smooth, green water. Other brown nubs marred the calm surface—almost like stepping-stones. “There are more.”
Trace took out the tri-views. “Must be thirty or forty, all small like this one, just a few meters wide.”
She tested a sample of water. “This ocean is thick with microorganisms. Primordial soup.”
He looked at her, eyes wide, then locked his mask in place. She did the same.
“I wonder why there are no plants.” She scrubbed at the bald lump then scooped up a handful of dust. “Doesn’t feel like normal dirt.”
He rapped. “Doesn’t sound like it, either.”
Abruptly, the island lurched. Impani cried out and sprawled on her back. The island lifted and propelled forward. Water creased before it as it picked up speed.
Peering over the edge, she saw wide flippers. “We’re on an animal, a turtle of some kind. We must have startled it.”
“Not us.” His gaze moved upward.
Impani looked up as enormous, saw-toothed jaws snapped down. She shrieked and rolled. The creature resembled a dinosaur: huge head, tiny eyes. Triangular teeth chomped at her as if she were a tantalizing morsel.
Trace yelled, “Jump!” He dove into the water.
She stared after him in surprise and dismay. The massive face bore down on her yet again. With a muffled cry, she crawled toward the edge. But the turtle jerked and tossed her back. Her faceplate slammed its shell.
The turtle rose high on the water’s surface and began to spin. Impani slid on her stomach. She heard a roar, felt a jarring impact. Then she flew into the air and splashed into the water.
Green darkness closed over her head. The filters of her mask popped. Through the thick water, she saw the outline of a huge leg. Battling a churning undertow, she angled for the surface.
The once tranquil ocean fell to chaos. The turtle creature continued to spin, turning the sharp edge of its shell into a blade, while the predator snapped and roared. Impani back treaded and looked for Trace.
A grating squeal made her cringe. The predator caught the whirling shell in its jaws. Blood sprayed in fat drops. The turtle stuck out a horned head, and then another.
Two heads . She stared, fascinated.
Trace grabbed her shoulder. “They’re diving.”
Turtle islands all around were sinking into the ocean, taking with them any chance of escape. If she didn’t catch one while it was still upon the surface, she’d be left treading water.
“Come on!” She swam hard, pacing one of the creatures.
It was large and gnarled. Heavy flippers stroked smoothly, unhurried.
Probably too old to panic.
She latched on, hoisted herself on top, and then glanced to see that Trace had followed. Slithering forward, she looked for the turtle’s heads.
Only one was visible. The neck extended and recoiled as the creature swam. Timing the movement, she lowered a loop of moss rope into the water and caught the lunging head. She pulled as if with reins. The turtle bucked.
“What are you doing?” Trace asked.
“I’m trying to keep it from diving. Help me.”
He took one end of the rope. They yanked and hauled to keep the creature’s head up. It swam faster. Flippers broke the water like oars. The other head poked out. It elongated and retracted as it worked in tandem with its counterpart.
Impani reared back to keep the rope taut. They left the other turtles behind. The predator disappeared. Perhaps its appetite was sated.
“Land ho!” Trace pointed. “Let’s see if we can steer in that direction.”
A mist-shrouded island came into view. She pulled with all her might. At last, the ponderous head turned. They approached a sandy shoreline dotted with purplish scrub.
“What do you think?” she said. “Real dirt?”
“Looks real.” He leaped
“We’ll have to be careful. We don’t want to contaminate an alien eco-system.” He patted his belt then located his gun lying beside him. “Where are we this time?”
“We’re on an island.” She motioned at smooth, green water. Other brown nubs marred the calm surface—almost like stepping-stones. “There are more.”
Trace took out the tri-views. “Must be thirty or forty, all small like this one, just a few meters wide.”
She tested a sample of water. “This ocean is thick with microorganisms. Primordial soup.”
He looked at her, eyes wide, then locked his mask in place. She did the same.
“I wonder why there are no plants.” She scrubbed at the bald lump then scooped up a handful of dust. “Doesn’t feel like normal dirt.”
He rapped. “Doesn’t sound like it, either.”
Abruptly, the island lurched. Impani cried out and sprawled on her back. The island lifted and propelled forward. Water creased before it as it picked up speed.
Peering over the edge, she saw wide flippers. “We’re on an animal, a turtle of some kind. We must have startled it.”
“Not us.” His gaze moved upward.
Impani looked up as enormous, saw-toothed jaws snapped down. She shrieked and rolled. The creature resembled a dinosaur: huge head, tiny eyes. Triangular teeth chomped at her as if she were a tantalizing morsel.
Trace yelled, “Jump!” He dove into the water.
She stared after him in surprise and dismay. The massive face bore down on her yet again. With a muffled cry, she crawled toward the edge. But the turtle jerked and tossed her back. Her faceplate slammed its shell.
The turtle rose high on the water’s surface and began to spin. Impani slid on her stomach. She heard a roar, felt a jarring impact. Then she flew into the air and splashed into the water.
Green darkness closed over her head. The filters of her mask popped. Through the thick water, she saw the outline of a huge leg. Battling a churning undertow, she angled for the surface.
The once tranquil ocean fell to chaos. The turtle creature continued to spin, turning the sharp edge of its shell into a blade, while the predator snapped and roared. Impani back treaded and looked for Trace.
A grating squeal made her cringe. The predator caught the whirling shell in its jaws. Blood sprayed in fat drops. The turtle stuck out a horned head, and then another.
Two heads . She stared, fascinated.
Trace grabbed her shoulder. “They’re diving.”
Turtle islands all around were sinking into the ocean, taking with them any chance of escape. If she didn’t catch one while it was still upon the surface, she’d be left treading water.
“Come on!” She swam hard, pacing one of the creatures.
It was large and gnarled. Heavy flippers stroked smoothly, unhurried.
Probably too old to panic.
She latched on, hoisted herself on top, and then glanced to see that Trace had followed. Slithering forward, she looked for the turtle’s heads.
Only one was visible. The neck extended and recoiled as the creature swam. Timing the movement, she lowered a loop of moss rope into the water and caught the lunging head. She pulled as if with reins. The turtle bucked.
“What are you doing?” Trace asked.
“I’m trying to keep it from diving. Help me.”
He took one end of the rope. They yanked and hauled to keep the creature’s head up. It swam faster. Flippers broke the water like oars. The other head poked out. It elongated and retracted as it worked in tandem with its counterpart.
Impani reared back to keep the rope taut. They left the other turtles behind. The predator disappeared. Perhaps its appetite was sated.
“Land ho!” Trace pointed. “Let’s see if we can steer in that direction.”
A mist-shrouded island came into view. She pulled with all her might. At last, the ponderous head turned. They approached a sandy shoreline dotted with purplish scrub.
“What do you think?” she said. “Real dirt?”
“Looks real.” He leaped
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