:I was born in a blast of light and noise and energy—
Yeah,Timber said, elbowing Canyon again.We remember the explosion. How exactly did that ....birth you?
:Desire and prayer and technology fused with power without form—
The noise came from above again, a gentle but spooky rustling of leaves in the treetops. Next to Canyon, a thick, viscous, smelly asssomethingplopped to the ground next to him, looking like a pile of honey the size of a tree stump, but smelling like a dumpster. Canyon jumped away from it. He shone his light on it and so did Timber, then they both flicked their lights straight up into the treetops above but saw nothing. They zoomed their lights back to the pile.
What the fucking fuck is that?Timber said, then he looked up at Canyon with wide eyes. Canyon knew exactly what he was thinking.
Ohh, monster,they both said inruhiat the same time.
Wulf zoomed over to the pile and stuck the tip of a mechanical finger into it.
:Scatter. We are being stalked—
Canyon scattered. He turned directly around and ran for his life, while Timber ran off in the opposite direction, both flicking their flashlights off. Canyon found a tree to hunker behind, then peeked back. He saw only darkness.
Get that note out,Canyon told his brother.
Already on it.After a moment he said,Damn, it’s soaked through. Falling apart in my hands.
That’s bad. Do you remember what it said?
Yeah, uh, danger, and uh, monster.
There was more. Something about how to get out.
Yeah, cave on the north side— and a code.
Right, right. APHOX. And it said don’t sleep.
Who can sleep when there’s a monster on the loose? Let’s find it.
As long as it doesn’t find us first.
Canyon knelt and rummaged around in his pack until he found two changes of clothes in a waterproof bag. Timber circled through the trees and came up next to him.
Dry socks,Canyon said, holding a pair up for Timber. Timber grabbed them, then they both sat and changed their socks.
Wulf,Canyon said,will you let me check you for damage?
:Yes—
Wulf wheeled to Canyon. Canyon checked the trike and the tablet over, then dried them carefully, wiping mud from the chassis. It was dented and scratched and oversized in a way that was hard for Canyon to wrap his mind around.
Wulf,Canyon said quietly inruhi.
:I am Wulf—
What happened to Predator?
:Predator is safe. All code, instructions, processes, accesses, and databases, are available—
Are you… using Predator?
:Predator is my basis—
What kind of basis? What does that mean? Are you a computer program?
