Come on, girl, you didn't survive a crash on an alien planet to end up in the mouth of a big ugly dog, did you?
Yes, when I am under intense stress, it is not unusual for the corporate Sarah, never stingy with scientific considerations, to give way to a less level-headed Sarah capable of giving me her instructions and more or less crazy comments.
The first animal continues to advance toward us, its growl more and more marked. David fires a shot, directly in front of its paws. He stops dead in his tracks and bends his head. I scan him discreetly.
After a few seconds of waiting, he advances again, not convinced by this warning shot. David shoots again, in the top of his shoulder, aiming to wound him only.
The animal ran away with a painful yelp, taking his fellow animals with him—and releasing an abominable smell!
Caught in the throat by the waves of nausea, we turn back quickly to find less nauseating air.
“What a horror this putrid hyena is!” exclaimed Eva, still shaking her head.
“Hyena. Yeah, we're not far off . . . a hyena crossed with a frog then,” retorts David.
“Indeed, this species is a canid, a distant cousin of the hyena, but without the apparent ears and you’re right David, its skin is closer to that of amphibians and their spots have darkened at the same time they released their gas,” I added. “Their defense mechanism is similar to that of cuttlefish or octopus, which spit ink to mask their escape.”
“One could say that these canines release a stinking gas to prevent a predator from following them.”
“Do you mean those aggressive, gangly things have predators of their own? Bigger, more aggressive things?” anguished Eva. “I suggest we go back to camp.”
“I had already come to this conclusion,” David tells us. “I only have one gun and these animals are in a pack. Let's go home, we'll do the next explorations together—Sarah, did you scan the beast? Tell us these things are made of good meat.”
“That's right, I did when you stopped it with the first warning shot. Eva, what does your tablet say?”
“Well, I regret to say that the gas that their organ produces, must also make their meat unfit for consumption. According to AI, it won't kill us, but it will certainly make us sick.”
“Oh great, the biggest mammal we've ever seen is not eligible for a good barbecue,” grumbles David.
“But will you stop grumbling for once?”
We head back to camp, vigilant for species we haven't yet cataloged and for potential hazards. We mostly scanned inedible plants and insects, but I'm not ready to explore food survival in ‘Bear Grylls[1]’ mode if I can help it.
Back at camp, we finally bring back only the big purple fruit and the sweet root. We share our experiences with our companions and show them the pictures and scans on Eva's tablet.
I check on my patient. I notice that the regeneration light is now orange.
Greg is now out of danger. We just need to give his body a little more time to regenerate the most damaged parts. I also note that Sarc-11's batteries are fully charged. This is good news.
Marc and David opened the fruit. We decide by mutual agreement to call it coconut, although the color is nothing like what we are used to.
But there is no doubt that its taste is close to that of almonds and its texture under the tongue, to the fibers of coconuts.
We eat while exchanging our impressions of this fruit. We are satisfied with this super positive discovery.
And then my daughter, if you eat only this for days, you will finally be able to lose those round hips that are so distressing.
Despite the loss of our companions of the Proud and this forced landing on this world not listed by the Confederation, the future looks less bleak than expected. We must remain positive at all costs. My friends need me to bring them cold scientific constants to establish that yes, we will manage to survive here, despite the situation.
Come on, girl, your friends are counting on you. Help them by showing them your serene scientific face that doubts nothing . . . Even if it's a lie.
I prepare myself for the second night on the beach. David and Marc, once again, will alternate the guard periods with the twins. They would not let any more than a group of frightful stinking hyenas find us all asleep!
I finally fall asleep, lulled by the sound of the surf and the crackling of the flames.
