Primordia_In Search of the Lost World Page 20

  “A hundred tons?” Koenig rubbed his neck. “This all makes no sense.”

  “What doesn’t?” Ben asked.

  “Look at them.” He pointed his chin. “This plateau is huge, but not that huge. I’ve been in plenty of jungles, and tracked herds of prey animals and also big predators. And I can tell you right now those big guys should not be able to survive in this cliff-top greenhouse; it’s just not damn big enough.”

  The group swung back to look at the sauropod’s necks that must have been ten feet around. Ben could imagine just how big the bodies of the creatures were.

  “I’ve thought the same thing.” Jenny placed her hands on her hips. “This entire place doesn’t make sense. And something else; these massive creatures were warm-blooded, so if anyone was doing thermal mapping overhead from either a LINDAR or satellite, they’d show up like Christmas lights, cloud or no cloud. They couldn’t hide.”

  “Do you think people do know and are covering it up?” Emma asked.

  “Unlikely,” Ben said. “Governments leak like sieves. They’d never be able to keep this secret.” He sighed. “I guess we just don’t know enough about them or this place.”

  Jenny nodded, but her forehead was creased. “Yeah maybe.” She continued to look along the lake edge.

  “So which route?” Koenig asked.

  Jenny turned to the far bank of the lake. “Walt, there’s something else that makes me real nervous about the easier side you suggested.” She pointed. “See those flat rocks near the water’s edge? They’ve been smoothed and stained, and remind me of beaching stones at a seal colony rocks. I think something has been dragging itself up on those rocks from time to time…something big.”

  “Yeah, I see it.” Koenig’s eyes narrowed. “The thick jungle it is then. So what are we waiting for?”

  Ben waved him on. “Then take us out, Mr. Koenig.”

  *****

  Out in the oil-black water, and towards the far side of the lake, a mound eased to the surface. It glided towards the group as they stood on the bank where the trees came all the way to the water.

  It stayed motionless for many minutes, before once again gliding closer, this time a little faster.

  When the group moved back in amongst trees, it stopped and stayed on the surface for several more minutes. After a time, it slowly sank below the surface without making a ripple.

  CHAPTER 29

  Janus Bellakov sliced a huge vine that barred his way. He paused for a few seconds, just listening to the sounds of the jungle – they were all still there, the squawks, chirrups, hums and shrill cries – good. It was when those background sounds vanished that the shit usually came down.

  They’d been attacked several more times, smaller creatures moving fast, but not big enough to really trouble them. Some of them only needed a good kick to send them screaming back into the jungle.

  Finding the lake a while back had meant they could be linking up with the others real soon, and looking across the dark water, he’d seen the caves – he bet his last buck that both Koenig and Cartwright would head straight for them. And if that’s where they were going, then that’s what he’d do too.

  Bellakov had chosen the route to the right that looked easiest to traverse, and soon he hoped to make it to a large flat area at the water’s edge where he planned to make a dash for it. Once that was done, he expected to be in the caves well before it got real dark.

  Bellakov’s priorities were to be somewhere defensible, and with a goddamn fire, pronto. He half turned. Behind him, Barlow looked a wreck – nervous, exhausted, and his fear making him totally docile. The man was pathetic.

  The other two were competent enough, and together they should be able to make it. Or at least the pair would put up enough of a fight, and distraction, so he could make it. Bellakov’s one objective was to get off the plateau. First prize, he’d do it with Barlow and end up a rich man. But the bottom line was saving his own skin; anything and anyone else was expendable when it came to achieving that end.

  They came to the edge of the flat rocks and Bellakov stopped.

  “Phew, Jesus Christ, what’s that smell?” Dan put a hand over his face.

  “Like shit,” Steve added. “Fishy shit.”

  “Keep it down,” Bellakov growled.

  The four men crouched, the fading light making them all indistinct shadows.

  “I don’t like it,” Dan whispered.

  Bellakov snorted. “And which part have you liked so far? The giant snake, your guide being eaten alive, or maybe…”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Dan shook his head. “You know what I mean.”

  Bellakov shrugged. “Maybe it’s a dumping ground for these monsters. Good thing is, it’ll mask our odor, right?”

  Steve got to his feet. “Quicker we’re at the cave the better.”

  “Good man.” Bellakov grinned. “You take point. Head out about 20 feet and scout the terrain.”

  Steve’s head snapped around. “Seriously? I had point at the stream.”

  “Yeah, seriously, you’re good at it; now hurry the fuck up,” Bellakov shot back.

  Steve pointed at Barlow. “When’s that asshole gonna do some work?”

  “When I say. Now hurry up.” Bellakov waved him on.

  Steve grumbled, but gripped his shotgun and headed out.

  *****

  The creature gently lifted its head from the water for a moment, and then let it slide back down a few inches so it was below the surface. The freshwater mosasaur was forty feet long but squat and powerful. It had four paddle-like flippers that were the last vestiges of limbs, plus a scythe-like tail akin to that of a dolphin. It was a powerful water hunter, and an apex ambush predator.

  It had spotted the creatures making their way along the shoreline a while back and had been tracking them ever since. It kept pace with them, but they had always been too far from shore for it to mount a successful attack. It could lever itself out of the water when it needed to on its paddle-like limbs, but only for short periods of time. Its real hunting ground was the water – unless something on land came close enough for it to catch.

  It glided closer when it saw one of them walk out onto the rocks it sometimes used to dry its skin to remove some of the parasites that grew on its hide. It drifted closer, and closer, just a few feet from the shoreline now, and began to bunch powerful muscles.

  Its huge tail was ready to propel itself from the water. It continued to watch, waiting. Like most carnivorous dinosaurs, rapid movement both excited and triggered it.

  *****

  Bellakov watched Steve walk carefully out onto the flat shelf of stone. While he did, the mercenary scanned the jungle at the water’s edge, trying to pick out any movement or things lurking there.

  He snorted; how the hell did he expect to see anything anyway, as the shadows were now absolute, and the jungle was turning to just outlines. A few bubbles popped to the surface on the lake, and Bellakov turned to them and continued to stare for a moment.

  He eased around to Dan. “Hey, cover your buddy.”

  Bellakov looked over the water to the caves; they weren’t that far now, a quarter mile, max. It’d be full dark by the time they got there, and he damn well hoped nobody was home, other than Koenig, Cartwright, and the others.

  Barlow mopped his face with a damp handkerchief, and then tied it around his neck. Bellakov looked over his shoulder to the jungle again. He’d been in all manner of green hellholes, but this place, this even made the Congo look like a fun park – every goddamn nook and cranny had something waiting to pounce, bite, sting, peck, or generally rip ‘em to shreds.

  More bubbles came to the surface, pulling Bellakov’s attention to the water again as this time they were a little closer. The mercenary eased to his feet, staring hard.

  Fifty feet away, Steve stopped and turned and then waved them on.

  “What are we waiting for?” Dan asked.

  “Nothin’,” Bellakov shot back at him. “Just give it a f
ew more seconds, will ya?”

  Barlow leaned closer to him. “What is it? Why are we waiting?”

  Bellakov held up a hand, but also moved to stop Barlow rubbing up against him; the man reeked of a sour perspiration, undoubtedly fear oozing from every pore. Barlow was now a walking scent trail and would be attracting things from all over the freaking plateau. He had a mind to push him in the water.

  If they made it to the cave, he’d make sure the guy washed himself off; otherwise, next morning when they tried to bug out, they’d be dragging every predator for miles with them.

  “I’m thinking we’re looking good.” After another few seconds without any sign of attack, he decided to move them out. “We go fast. Me first, then Mr. Barlow, then you’re up last, Dan.” He turned to give Barlow a hard stare. “Keep up, or you’re on your own.”

  Barlow huffed, but just clamped his lips tight and nodded once.

  “Let’s go.” Bellakov gripped his gun and started out. As soon as they broke from the jungle, he felt exposed, and his neck prickled. At his heel was Barlow, and a few paces back, Dan, who stopped and turned to stare back the way they’d just come from. Across the other side of the ramp of flat stones, Steve waited just inside a stand of fern fronds.

  Bellakov tried to see everywhere at once – the water, the jungle ahead, the walls of green beside them, and he also looked over his shoulder. Every one of his senses screamed a warning, but there was nothing for it now but to continue on. Behind him, Edward Barlow wheezed so loudly it sounded like he had swallowed some sort of tiny musical instrument.

  “Shut it,” he hissed back at the man.

  The wheezing immediately stopped but was replaced by a squeak from one of his nostrils.

  Dan started to jog to catch up to the group. Ahead, Steve grinned and stood cradling his gun as he waited for them. Bellakov felt relieved to be coming to the end of the flat slabs of stone, and he allowed his pressed lips to hitch into a small smile.

  Then came the eruption of water.

  Bellakov threw an arm up as beside him something that looked like a surfacing submarine launched itself from the lake. He and Barlow fell back as a V-shaped head split open to reveal a 3-foot mouth filled with needle-like, backward-curving teeth.

  The head turned sideways, and Dan never stood a chance. The jaws clamped shut, catching his torso and one arm. The poor sap never even had time to cry out as the huge creature wallowed on the stones for just a second or two, before flipping sideways and then back into the dark water.

  Then it, and Dan, was just gone, leaving only waves to lap up on the stones.

  “Dan?” Steve’s eyes were wide, and he braced his legs and lifted his shotgun.

  The lake calmed. Silence returned.

  “Go.” Bellakov grabbed Barlow by the collar and hustled him towards the cover of the jungle. In another few seconds, they were inside the green barrier beside Steve, and Bellakov turned back.

  Steve still stood, gun up, and pointed at the water. His eyes were wet and his mouth hung open. But even though the lake was smooth, a few bubbles popped at the surface, and the darkness made it impossible to make out if the liquid on the stones was stained with blood.

  “He’s gone.” Bellakov turned away. “Move it.”

  “But…” Steve held his position, gun still pointed at the water.

  “But what?” Bellakov scowled. “He’s gone. That’s it.”

  “Every…” Steve turned about. “…every goddamn thing, every goddamn place…” He shook his head.

  “Move.” Bellakov shoved him backwards, and then reached out to grab a trance-like Barlow. “No noise.” The smell of death was about now, and he knew what that would bring.

  “Nearly there, nearly safe.” The mercenary didn’t believe it for a second.

  CHAPTER 30

  Ben and Koenig crouched at the cave entrance, with Jenny and Emma keeping watch on the jungle behind them.

  Koenig kept his rifle at the ready as Ben flicked on his flashlight and scanned the floor of the cave. Even though it was close to the water, it looked dry inside.

  “Death,” Koenig said softly.

  “Yep,” Ben agreed. “Something’s dead in there for sure. It either went in there to die, or it was dragged in as something’s recent meal.”

  Koenig craned his neck. “A million places to hide.” He looked back over his shoulder. “I’ll tell you right now, if there was something in there, it’d attack us. Most creatures that use caves as their lair don’t take too kindly to strangers comin’ a visitin’…and they defend them to the death.”

  “Okay, we’re going in anyway.” Ben half turned to the women. “Ready?”

  Emma and Jenny nodded, guns also ready but pointed down for now. Ben eased to his feet. “Count of 3, 2, 1, go.”

  He went in and to the side. Koenig went to the other side, his own flashlight beam coming on and scanning fast. Both men had their rifles up. Emma and Jenny went in behind Ben, and after a few more seconds, the four stood inside breathing heavily.

  “Phew,” Emma said. “That’s rank.”

  “Rotting meat…over there.” Jenny pointed the beam of her own flashlight.

  “I see it now.” Ben walked closer. Partially hidden by a small rocky outcrop was the skull of a medium-sized creature. The hide was more a shell of bony plates that sat over a ragged-looking skeleton, and the bones still looked fairly fresh, but the carcass was empty.

  “They don’t leave much do they?” Koenig crouched down. “Ate everything edible. Right down to the bones.” He frowned. “Weird that they didn’t break the larger bones to get at the marrow.”

  “Maybe a larger carnivore dragged it in here, and smaller animals then finished it off.” Jenny brows also knitted as she came closer. “And you’re right, the bones look…scoured, like they were rubbed over with a wire brush rather than gnawed.” She reached in to run her fingertips over a rib.

  “Ouch.” She pulled her hand out.

  “You okay?” Emma asked.

  Jenny turned her hand over. There was a cut or abrasion on the meat of the thumb. “Yeah, must have caught it on a bone shard. Better throw some iodine on this.” She looked up. “And if anyone else has some cuts or scratches, be a good time to douse them. Not sure what sort of ancient germs are up here.”

  Jenny sniffed her fingers and her eyebrows rose. “Odd; smells like…almonds or something.”

  “I can smell it too,” Emma said. “Is it from the decomposition?”

  Jenny continued to stare at her hand, and then sniffed it again. “Might be. Like who really knows what a rotting dinosaur is supposed to smell like.”

  “Let’s get organized,” Ben said. “Koenig, scout this place out while I get some branches together so we can get a fire going. Don’t want anything else deciding to drag another carcass in here, or coming back to finish this one.”

  “I heard that.” Koenig affixed his flashlight to the end of his rifle and headed off into the darkness of the cave’s interior.

  “Emma, Jenny, push some stones together for a fire pit.” Ben turned to the cave mouth. “Be back in a few minutes.”

  “Ben…”

  He turned at the sound of Emma’s voice. She looked up round-eyed at him.

  “…just be careful.” She shared a nervous smile.

  “Count on it.” He saluted her and slipped outside.

  Ben waited for a few moments. Even though it was a near impenetrable blackness outside now, the jungle was still alive with all manner of insects singing, whirring, and flinging themselves about in the dark. He could also hear crawling creatures rustling in the undergrowth. They needed the fire, and its smoke – the fire should keep inquisitive creatures at bay, and the smoke will dissuade flying insects from entering the cave – important if they were going to get some rest and not end up being turned into pin cushions.

  Get on with it, he urged himself.

  Ben moved quickly, darting, but pausing now and then to stop and simply listen. Ther
e was nothing he could detect, and in a few minutes had an armful of dry logs and some hair-like bark to use as tinder.

  He was about to turn back to the cave when he heard the sound of branches being pushed aside. He froze, waiting. There was no doubt that something, or some things, were coming straight at him, not rushing, but creeping.

  Ben lowered his pile of logs to the jungle floor and eased back upright. He carefully pulled his rifle from his shoulder. He hoped whatever it was would pass him by, but if not, he’d take the first one down and hope the rest might prefer the fresh kill instead of him.

  Seconds ticked down, and he tried to calm himself and slow his breathing. The senses of these things were far in advance of his own and could probably smell his exhalations, his perspiration, and may even be able to detect his body heat.

  He waited, his nerves stretching as the thing approached. A branch snapped, close, and then he heard something stumble and someone swear softly in the darkness.

  “Jesus Christ, are you guys riding elephants?” Ben relaxed.

  “Who’s there?” a voice shot back.

  “Ben Cartwright; over here.”

  The three men came forward, with Steve coming quickly to embrace him in a bear hug.

  “Ben, Ben, thank God you’re okay.” Steve hugged him again. “Who’s with you?”

  “Koenig, Emma, and Jenny. That’s it I’m afraid.” He looked over Steve’s shoulder. “And you?”

  Janus Bellakov came out of the shadows. “Good to see you, Cartwright. Been a hellova trek.” He pointed with his chin. “You in the caves?”

  Ben ignored him and grabbed Steve’s upper arms. “What happened?”

  Steve exhaled and looked down at the ground. “We lost both Andrea and Dan – fucking monsters – it’s only myself, Janus, and Barlow I’m afraid.” The man’s face crumpled, and Ben hugged him again.

  “It’s all right, buddy. We’ll get through this.” He held him back a step. “Let’s go and see the rest. They’ll be happy to see you.”