I scramble to my feet. Yeah, this is the carcass of the raptor that Sprisk killed weeks ago. And that means that the saucer is very close.
I scramble over the barricade and into the clearing. The saucer is right where it was supposed to be. My heart sinks when I see that the hatch is fully open. That is not how Kenz’ox would have left it with Aker’iz inside. But she’s not in her playpen, and she’s not in her cradle.
Steeling myself for what I might see inside, I stop ten feet away and peer in.
“Aker’iz!” I exclaim as I run up to the saucer. She’s sitting on the metal floor, her little face full of fruit compote that’s spilled out of an upended pot. Her whole fist is in her mouth, dripping with the sticky stuff. Right next to her is Otis, tail curled protectively around the baby, his huge eyes focused on me.
The baby’s little face scrunches up when she sees me, ready to scream in protest at being left alone for so long. But I can’t haveher make that kind of ruckus now. From the outside, I hit the button to close the hatch before the siren starts.
Seeing her well cared for ignites new energy in me. And there is that thing I have to try. I run into the jungle again, but this time in a different spot to get something I saw last time, when I retrieved the nuts.
The thing is heavier than I thought, with a denseness to it that means I have to carry it with both hands.
Hurrying back to the saucer, I hear the voices of the tribesmen that are following me. They could emerge from the jungle at any moment.
I carefully put the object down outside, then open the hatch. Aker’iz has her mouth full of compote again, and it will take her a few seconds to gather herself for what will definitely be a piercing scream.
There’s movement at the edge of the jungle. Several men are coming into the clearing. There are so many that it has to be the whole tribe. Yes, there’s the chief and the shaman. And the useless Dex in his basket.
They’ve been able to follow me the whole way. Not just a couple of them, but all of them. That’s how much faster they could travel through the jungle. For me, it was a desperate run; for them, it was a casual stroll.
Aker’iz screams with shrill fury, fueled by the sweet boiled fruits, but dampened by Otis’s tail loosely coiled around her mouth.
I stare, hoping to spot Kenz’ox.
“I can’t see him,” I tell Otis. “But they must have killed him. And now my job is making sure they don’t get hold of his daughter. Or me.”
The griket uncoils his tail and saunters out to the middle of the clearing, tail pointing straight behind him.
“Otis! Come on!” I lift the item I got from the woods and take a deep breath. If this doesn’t work, Aker’iz and I may never be able to leave this saucer.
I step up onto the metal floor and into the craft.
Immediately, I fall on my face as the floor straightens and becomes level. The light intensifies, and there’s definitely a much louder hum coming from the walls. It’s as if the whole saucer comes alive around me.
I leave the big Plood-shaped mushroom on the floor and steady myself on the wall. The whole saucer feels like it’s floating an inch above the ground.
Aker’iz goes quiet.
“It worked!” I exclaim, despite the danger. “It just needed a Plood alien?—”
“Dorie!” comes a bassy yell from outside.
What thehell?Is that?—
“Kenz’ox!” My heart jolts as I lean out. And there he is, running across the clearing from the beach side. But he’s not running to the saucer—he’s going for the tribesmen, sword in hand.
“Come here!” I squeal, horrified that he’s going to fight a hundred cavemen instead of coming to safety inside the saucer.
His tribesmen hesitate, seeing the new threat. Kenz’ox lifts his sword as if to attack, then feints and runs straight for the chief. Damn it! He wants revenge.
“Oh, comeonnn…” I lean out and grab one of the spears leaned up against the saucer. It has no iron tip, just a sharp end that’s been hardened with fire. It’s better than nothing, but only barely.
Two of the cavemen decide I’m an easier target and come straight for me. For a moment, I lose track of Kenz’ox, except that there are roars and metallic clangs of a swordfight.
My hand hovers over the button that will close the hatch. If I have to do that, Kenz’ox is dead. If I don’t,I’mdead. He can’t win against a hundred cavemen. I have maybe three seconds before I have to hit it.
Something whistles through the air, flashing in the sunlight…thunk. The closest man falls forward with a sword sticking out of his back. Because this is not a fun game of tag. This is deadly serious.
