Read Online Transmission Lost by Stefan Mazzara - Free Book Online Page B

was about to repeat the question when she stood, hefting her rifle and swinging her pack back onto her back. “No more talk.” She nodded up to the sky. “Sunset in a few hours. Need to keep moving before dark.”
    Blinking, Jack stood as well. “Uh, yeah...Sure.” He picked up his backpack. “On your lead.”
     
    ******
     
    About two hours later, they came to a flat area with a wide river running through it. Jack set up their campsite near the water while Aria refilled their canteens. When she came back, Jack saw that she also had a few strange-looking fish in her hands. They sort of resembled salmon, but they were longer and had far more fins than fish on Earth would have. Still, it would be nice to have something to eat other than canned rations, for a change.
    Aria got a fire going and cooked the fish, and they ate. The fish had a pleasant, nutty flavor to them when they were cooked, and they were very tender and flaky. For a little while, Jack could almost imagine that he was just on a camping trip with a friend, instead of on a march for survival with what should have been his worst enemy. There was no more conversation as there had been earlier in the day, but at least there wasn't any hostility.
    When the meal was finished, Aria took the remnants and carried them down to the river, tossing them into the water to be carried away. The sun was very low, almost below the horizon, and it was nearly time for bed. As Aria walked back, Jack was setting up his bedroll outside to sleep.
    “Bedtime, yes?” Aria asked. Jack nodded, stifling a yawn. “Good. We sleep, ready for more walking in morn-!”
    Jack fell backwards in shock as an animal, nearly identical to the one that had attacked him the night before, leaped over his head. One of its tails smacked him as it passed, and he was sent sprawling as it made a beeline for Aria. Taken by surprise, Aria was tackled to the ground by the beast. Jack sat upright, his head spinning, as Aria hissed and roared, fighting with the creature.
    His heart racing, Jack scrambled to his feet, taking a few steps towards Aria. An echoing howl, not so far off, froze him in his tracks.
    Jesus Christ, more of them? he thought frantically. Now he was terrified. Aria heard the howl too, and a second later there was another howl, closer this time. She dealt the beast a punishing blow to the side of the head, stunning it momentarily. Right before it recovered, she looked at Jack, baring her fangs.
    “Go!” she snarled at him. The predator snapped its fangs at her, and Aria jerked her head away just in time to save her nose. “Go! Before more come. Run. I follow when done!” The animal whipped a tail around at the side of her head, and Jack made a motion towards Aria. But she caught the tail in one of her hands and pinned it down, looking back at Jack once more. “Po'krai! Do not stand there like a fool! Run! ”
    Shuffling his feet in indecision, finally Jack turned and ran as fast as his tired legs could carry him. The howls of what sounded like a pack of those creatures were behind him, along with the snarls and roars of Aria as she fought. Jack kept running, not looking back, terrified for his life and trying not to think about what would happen if any of those animals caught up with him.
    Before long, the sounds faded until all he could hear was faint echoes. As the skies grew darker, Jack felt his legs burning, but he just kept running as fast as his weary muscles would allow.

- 4 -
     
     
    As Jack ran, he could still faintly hear the sounds behind him of Aria and the fight she was having with the pack of wild animals. He was running through the trees, almost directly back along the path they'd come from during the day. Darkness was falling, and he was having trouble retracing his steps, tripping over roots and slipping on leaves. Every now and then he looked over his shoulder, but a howl would freeze his heart and he'd put on a burst of speed. Before long he could barely hear