The Huntsman (25 page)
Authors: Rafael
Miranda
stood feet apart, arms akimbo, surveying the river before her. Cold, swift
water swirled thick through its fifty foot channel. They had lost a day
searching along the bank for a crossing point. Nothing better had presented
itself. On either side her colleagues gazed over the water reveling in the cool
breeze wafted by its passage. Next to her Gary removed his hat, wiped his brow.
“What
do you think?”
“It’ll
have to be here. The widely spaced trees on the other side will let us land and
maneuver the vehicles to the clearing beyond.”
“Any
guesses how deep it is?” the Russian asked.
“GPS
says ten feet.” Narsimha answered.
“Anything
dangerous in there?” the Israeli wondered.
“Not
likely.” Miranda replied. “Aquatic predators prefer slow-moving water.”
“How
do we get everything to the other side?” the Russian resumed.
“Five
PhD’s and one engineering student. We can solve this.” said the Israeli.
“True
enough”, countered Miranda, “but we’re going to first need a little brawn. Any
ideas, Narsimha?”
“Every
vehicle has a front-end winch. We also have five 100ft lengths of nylon rope.
If we lash two together we’ll be able to pull things to either bank with a minimum
of 50ft play on each side. But first we have to get someone to the other side.”
Without
Ekani to guide them, the trek inland from Camp G had been an arduous one. His
sudden loss had left no time for a replacement anyone could trust. GPS provided
unerring direction but knew nothing of routes in an area traversed only by park
rangers. After three days inching through dense forests and a day searching for
a wooden bridge they knew existed, Miranda wanted to waste no more time.
“I’ll
go.” she volunteered. “I’m a strong swimmer. That current is fast but if I lash
myself to one of those ropes and the rest of you keep me from being swept away,
I’m confident I can make it.”
“Hold
on.” the Argentinean joined. “Let’s think this through. Why bother to take the
vehicles across? It’s only thirty miles to the camp. We can hike it.”
“Too
dangerous.” Narsimha responded. “We’re in the heart of Tadoba. From here every
direction is untamed forest. Without roads or paths we’d have to blaze our own
in high heat and humidity while carrying 100lb packs. If anyone happens upon a
cobra, krait, or viper there’s no hope of survival. If we’re lucky and avoid
them, four types of leopard roam these forests. Generally, they’ll try to avoid
us but tigers won’t. The population out here has lost all fear of humans. The
dogs will warn us if one is about but if we’re camped on the ground and a tiger
decides to drag one of us away, there’ll be nothing we can do. We don’t have
weapons or know how to use them. And remember, the park officials think we’ll
be in Camp G for another month. No one knows we’re out here. No, the vehicles
are our safety net.”
Silence
gripped the six as they stood along the bank. Miranda broke it. “Still, if the
vehicles are our safety net, Carla may be on to something. We don’t need all
four vehicles and we may be in a hurry to cross this river on the way back. One
can fit all of us but we’ll cross two in case of breakdown. The other two we’ll
lock up tight and leave under the trees.”
“Will
they survive being submerged?” the Israeli asked. Narsimha nodded.
“They’re
ATV’s. They’re engineered to cross water. And the solar batteries are
waterproof. I’m only concerned about that current. It can sweep away one ton
like a toy.”
“Maybe
five of us should cross first, tie an extra rope to the ATV, and help to pull
it across.” Miranda suggested.
“Good
idea.” Narsimha agreed. “Can’t hurt.”
“I’m
not as strong as I used to be”, Gary admitted, “but I can connect a winch. I’ll
stay behind.”
“It
might also help”, the Israeli suggested, “if we strip the first ATV of
everything, especially the batteries. Make it as light as possible.”
Without
prodding, everyone self-assigned duties. The physicists made short work of the
battery removals. Narsimha lashed ropes and formed slip-proof knots. Miranda
secured the extra vehicles after Gary removed the self-sealing inner tube from
a spare tire. Neither he nor Narsimha could swim. The Argentinean bundled
supplies and equipment into waterproof bags. Duncan and Ronan wreaked havoc
among the local wildlife.
Two
hours later Miranda stripped to bra and shorts and waded knee-deep into the
river secured to Narsimha’s make-shift harness. She shouted back to the team.
“The current is strong. I’m not going to try and fight it. We’ve got 150ft to
play with. Keep it slack. I’ll pick my spots, let the river carry me, and land
farther downstream.”
No
one responded. She twisted around to face the team. Jaws set, white-knuckle
rope grips accompanied five grim expressions. Her smile reflected the bright
sunshine. “Relax guys. I can do this.”
She
plunged in with a shallow dive. Short, efficient strokes took her into the
current where she paused to gauge. She stretched out with long, powerful
strokes even as the river carried her downstream. Midway she floated to recoup then
kicked out for the final push. With ten feet to spare Miranda stood and climbed
the bank having made it look easy. The team clapped and whooped. She gave them
an exaggerated curtsy before making her way back upstream.
Once
opposite the group she slipped out her harness, hooked it to the tether’s
mid-knot, watched the team pull it over then tied her end to a tree. One by
one, using the tether as a lifeline, everyone crossed without incident. The
winch cable and hook along with two additional ropes Narsimha had already
fastened to the ATV followed. With everything anchored to sturdy tree trunks,
Miranda signaled Gary to throw the switch. The winch whined to life and the ATV
pulled itself into the water. Five feet in, the current grabbed it.
The
ropes snapped taut and groaned. The thin winch cable dug into the tree’s bark.
Satisfied his rope knots would hold, Narsimha turned and grabbed a line. “Pull
everybody, pull hard. The batteries may not be enough.” Pull they did. Five
scientists accustomed to battling nature in the laboratory now confronted it
with muscle. The river tested their mettle. Slowly, reluctantly, it
relinquished their truck. When it broke the surface the winch surged forward.
The slackened ropes dropped everyone to the ground where laughter eased their
strained muscles. With the ATV’s winch added to their pulling strength the
lowering sun found everyone across. No one argued with Miranda’s suggestion
they camp by the river for the evening and head inland at sunrise.
Nightfall’s
temperature drop found the jacketed group seated around a fire having enjoyed a
tasteless but filling dinner. With a long twig the Argentinean poked embers. “I
accept an alien is on Earth determined to destroy a technological innovation
but I continue to wonder why? I think there’s something important to learn
here. Clearly they use technology. Why deny us?”
“They
haven’t.” the Israeli replied. “At least not until now.” He turned toward
Miranda. “What did she call that sphere, a Seer? And didn’t she say it
contained all of Earth’s knowledge?” Miranda nodded. “Although I can imagine
how it’s possible, the gap between their technology and ours is mind-boggling.
Our own history fills volumes of what happens when two cultures meet and one
has superior technology.”
“It
doesn’t even have to be superior.” Gary interrupted. “Across every continent
cultures have reveled in making others extinct. In the Bible’s very beginning,
the human race barely one generation old didn’t wait for technology to begin the
slaughter.”
“True
enough.” the Israeli agreed. “Still, I imagine they never considered us a
threat. But with this wormhole device, I think we crossed a line. It can place
us at their very doorstep. Given our history, it might have alarmed them.” The
Argentinean shook her head.
“But
they have the superior technology. What do they have to fear?”
“When
Europeans first arrived on the North American continent”, the Russian
interjected, “sociologists estimate the native Indian population at 20 million.
It took two hundred years, by 1890, to reduce their numbers to fewer than
650,000. Fifty years later, the Nazi invasion of Russia resulted in 20 million
dead in three years. If they’ve been watching us, the wormhole device must have
indeed alarmed them.”
“You
observed it, Miranda.” Gary prodded. “What do you think?” For some moments she
stared at the fire, unresponsive.
“For
most humans it is exceedingly difficult to kill another human with their bare
hands. If the other person defends himself, neither can inflict sufficient
damage to kill the other. Almost as if the price for sentience, for
intelligence, is the loss of our animal strength. Chimpanzees, our closest
living relatives, can kill us within seconds and with minimal effort. Gorillas
can snap us in two. Though it has a brain the size of a walnut, our
higher-order intelligence is a laughable defense when confronting a shark in
open water.
I
watched this being. It has a duality of
presence
that is at once
fascinating and terrifying. There can be no question it is a sentient,
self-aware life form. But it also left no doubt it was an
animal
. It
does not eat, it feeds. Its lair contained the skeletal remains of a female it
had consumed. It did not stop to think or reflect if she had loved ones,
dreams, ambitions. It ate her because it was hungry. Without regret, without
remorse, without concern. It has the capacity to view another sentient being as
food. And any time it wanted to, it could have killed me. Effortlessly. Our
conjectures should take great care. It is nothing like us. It is an alien. An
animal alien.”
No
one spoke. Miranda’s words and insights filled thoughts they carried into
sleep. The men took one ATV, the women the other. Above them the transparent
roofs framed the stars that now twinkled with danger, threat
—malevolence.
In
the distance, a tiger bellowed.
Miranda rose from the passenger seat to stand through the roof
top. Behind her the Argentinean followed suit as Narsimha rolled to a stop in
the small clearing. To the right a small herd of Sambar deer stood motionless.
Ears pricked forward, they watched for any sign of danger, poised to fly if
they detected it. A solitary buffalo resumed grazing the knee-high grass
content nothing big enough to harm it had emerged. Thirty yards to their left the
other ATV sprang from the dense woods. The deer ambled away. Now that two
nothings had arrived, so did the buffalo.
Blended into the primal surroundings, five peasant huts with roofs
of woven reed and bamboo-strengthened walls of plastered mud occupied the
clearing’s center. In stark contrast to the pristine isolation, five wooden
crates still in their transport netting sat nearby. “Shall we make ourselves at
home?” Miranda cried. Relieved, enthusiastic smiles answered.
Before allowing anyone access to the interiors, she inspected each
one for anything dangerous, especially snakes. With a long stick she poked into
corners, crevices, and cabinets. Each one bulged with dried wheat, barley,
beans, rice and all manner of well-thought out canned goods
—the last act of
a selfless Ekani. Unbidden, unwanted, his dying smile rose before her.
“When you see my brother, tell him I am grateful for the
time he gave me.” Blurred vision stopped her. She wanted to believe she’d have
the chance. A gentle push closed the cupboard. She lowered her head. “Thank
you, Ekani.”
With access cleared, Carla and Gary assisted by Narsimha began
preparing lunch and planning dinner. The two physicists had already removed the
netting and begun pulling the crates apart. Miranda busied herself moving
personal gear and bedding to huts she assigned. Duncan and Ronan did what they
could by sniffing everything she touched. Her heart leaped every time they
stopped to stare into the woods, imagining Janesh might be near, but growls
soon after always sank her hopes.
Vehicles emptied, she switched to winch operator helping the
physicists wrestle the solar generator in place then unwrap the wormhole device
from its padding. They paused only for an al fresco lunch of simple vegetable
patties passed out by Carla and Gary. When the sun sank below the trees two
announcements convinced them nothing remained that could not wait for its
reappearance. Narsimha had succeeded in shunting a power line from the solar
generator to the hot water heater making showers possible and Carla declaring
she would serve dinner when they did.
They would have made any submariner proud when with quick
succession the six washed, lathered, and rinsed without emptying the hot water
tank. Damp hair tied back, Clara turned off propane burners and filled serving
bowls while five freshly laundered scientists set up tables and stools for
another al fresco treat. Mindful of Indian custom she served everything at once
to her wide-eyed compatriots.
“This is Sambar, a spicy lentil soup and I highly recommend the
Panipuri, stuffed puff bread, as a dip. Here we have Baigan Bhurta, Indian
eggplant and tomatoes which should be had with the black bean sauce and spicy
spinach over rice. Unfortunately, we won’t have fresh salad but it’s the best I
could do with the canned food stores.” She reddened and beamed when they stood
to applaud.
An arduous trek, long day, and the onrushing, cool evening air
limited conversation to smiles and nods. Famished stomachs needed only thirty
minutes to insure no leftovers remained. Contented looks and gentle exhales
told Clara all she needed to know. Led by Narsimha, and with some difficulty
rising, the men set about clearing the aftermath. Once she heard the faucet
gurgling Miranda leaned toward the Argentinean, “Where did you learn to cook
Indian?” Clara giggled.
“Inside. Someone left a recipe book.”
Nightfall found the group seated around a campfire, their hands
warmed by cups of hot ginger tea. “Any idea how long before you test the
device?” Miranda asked.
“Probably tomorrow.” the Russian replied. “But we have a huge
problem.” He glanced at the Israeli.
“If we manage to open a wormhole, the question becomes where does
it lead? Professor Ang has a coordinate table that is password protected.
Without it, anyone entering might exit at the bottom of the ocean, or a mile in
the atmosphere, or in the Earth’s core, or halfway across the galaxy on a
planet with toxic gases. It’s nine characters but so far I haven’t been able to
crack it. I’m sure it’s something obvious. People don’t create elaborate
passwords they might forget. Try as I might though I just can’t figure it out.
From his dossier I’ve tried birthdays, social security variations, addresses,
nothing works.”
“How do you know it has nine characters?” Miranda pressed.
“The last time the machine was on it did not undergo a normal
shutdown. Someone probably just disconnected the power source. That left a
memory image on disk to restore itself when it powered up again. I took out the
hard drive just to make a copy of it before we rebooted the device. When I
decompiled the memory image only one field was encrypted. It had nine
characters.”
The group gave suggestions the Israeli had already tried. He shook
his head at every one. Narsimha looked up from deep thought. “Nine characters
for a familiar password. Down or across?” The Israeli smiled.
“Across.”
“Did you try Joshua Ang? It has nine characters.”
“Tried it first. Lower and uppercase and every permutation.”
“What about Ang Joshua?” The Israeli stared at him then sprang up.
“I’ll be right back.” Past the campfire’s glow he disappeared into
the dark. Miranda held little hope they could be so lucky.
“What if you can’t unlock it?” The Russian shrugged.
“We’ll have to tether someone and be ready to pull back hard. The
question is who will enter?”
“That is an interesting problem.” Gary mused. “When one opens a wormhole
how can you know where it terminates? I mean, is it like a cab? Airport,
please.” Twenty yards away panel lights powered up providing a disembodied
glow.”
“If you do get it to work have you given any thought to what
then?” Clara asked.
“We’ve discussed it.” Gary answered. “The one thing I fear most is
any one government gaining control of it. Even ours. There’s no sense in
re-learning once again how incompetent politicians and bureaucrats are.” Clara
frowned.
“So corporations, industrialists, and moguls should own it?”
“I think we should simultaneously release the diagrams to every
scientific institution and journal across the world as well as a million copies
out into cyberspace. If everyone controls it, no one controls it.” Clara shook
her head.
“I just can’t help feeling this technology is not only beyond us
but far ahead of its time. It hasn’t done anything yet and already a murderous
alien has arrived on our planet. What else might be on the way?” Miranda
nodded.
“I wonder if we’re at the same crossroads the Neanderthals unknowingly
found themselves at when the first Homo Sapiens arrived. At least we can
forgive them for not seeing through the devious smiles and handshakes. You’re
right. This one didn’t wait to go on a killing spree.”
“All the more reason for opening this wormhole.” the Russian
countered. “They need to know we can just as easily go there as they can come
here.”
“See what I mean.” Clara declared. “What is it about us? Just
having that technology makes us talk about spreading war to other planets.”
Miranda looked at her.
“Clara, they brought it to us.”
“Maybe because they know what we’re capable of.”
Gleeful whoops burst across the clearing. “We’re in, we’re in.”
Everyone rushed to see. Clara stared into the dark. Five hundred
years after wooden ships first sailed the oceans, passenger jets crossed them.
One hundred years later, aerospace liners rocketed over the globe. Thirty years
on and humanity had reduced the universe to nothing. Where did it lead? What
did it mean?
In the distance, a tiger bellowed.