MuTerra

with his assessment on Keith’s ability to survive.

“I hope you’re right. I still would have preferred another outcome.”

“So would I. But what’s done is done.”

* * *

He moved at a steady pace putting miles between himself and the mountain. The landscape took on a new personality the further he went. He was able to get by on what edible vegetation he was able to find, but he knew he was in need of something more substantial. He followed a stream to its origin and came to a deep pool of crystal clear water. It was not what one would call a waterfall, but rather a stream, which flowed out of the side of a rock formation. He saw fish moving in the water but had no idea of how to catch them. He decided to ‘try his luck’ anyway as a bath was in order.

He undressed and dove in. The water was as cold as he expected, and it made his heart race slightly. It was invigorating. When he looked into the water, he noticed something other than fish on the bottom. He dipped his head under and peered at the largest crayfish he ever saw. They were the size of small lobsters. There was no need for them to hide under any rocks, as nothing was big enough in the pool to prey on them. He swam over to his pile of clothes, and removed one of his knives. He dove under the water and drove his blade straight into the back of one of the scaly brown creatures. It fluttered its tail in alarm, and tried to move its pincers in defense. He took it to the side of the pool, cut off its head, and returned for more.

Once he had enough for a generous meal, he dried himself, got dressed, and prepared a small fire. The only meat worthwhile on the oversized crustacean was in its tail. He removed the white meat from each one and skewered them on a piece of deadwood. It was one of the best meals he had had in so long that he did not know what it compared with. It was not exactly lobster, and he didn’t have any butter to go with it, but it was delicious.

He moved away from the pool and found shelter for the night. He needed little in the way of comfort. The temperature, air, and other natural elements had little effect on him. He knew his skin was tougher than it had been before the doctor operated on him, and reasoned that it had something to do with his treatment. That was fine with Keith. It was one less thing he had to worry about.

While in the shadow of the mountain, he had felt small and insignificant. Now that he was in the lower country, that presence was no longer looming over him. As he viewed his surroundings, he considered how they affected his thinking. There was no sign of man, nor any man-made objects, only nature and wide open spaces. Inside the mountain, everything was man-made except for the mountain itself. It was a sterile and unnatural environment, one that conveyed the idea of duty and collective purpose. Now he was alone, and no longer a part of that shared purpose.

His thoughts then turned to his wife and their unborn child. Keith was always a ’loner’ at heart, that is until he met Terri. Their relationship was proof that opposites did indeed attract. She was a social ’butterfly,’ he was content to ignore people he did not already know. However, they had succeeded in building a good marriage, and an even better friendship. She understood him and accepted him for who he was. He often wondered what it was that attracted her to him as he thought her to be ’one of a kind.’ He wondered what life would have been like with a child. He had not thought about it seriously at any time before because there was always something to preoccupy their time, different goals different circumstances. He would never even know if it was a boy or a girl. The more he thought about it, the more melancholy he became. This is it. I’m going to run it all through my mind one last time, then no more. I can’t live my life in the past, and I can’t undo what’s already been done. Mother, Frankie, Terri and our child. I don’t know what I’m going to do yet, but whatever it is, it will be for them.

   ?

He returned to the water in the morning and made one more significant meal for himself before moving on. He took his time and studied the land before him. He walked along the side of a small hill staying below its crest so as not to silhouette himself against it. When he reached the far side, he sensed something before he actually saw it. One of the wild dogs he encountered north of the mountain was out on the prairie just ahead of him. It was lying on its side, apparently injured. He was not about to go near the maimed animal armed with only his knives, so he remained where he was.

A few minutes later, he saw movement off to his right. When it came into view, he noticed it was one of those emaciated humans. The creature walked straight toward the dog. Once the dog recognized the threat it started to growl and reposition itself for defense. As if unafraid, the human just kept up his pace. When it reached the dog, the dog tried his best to bite its attacker. With speed unexpected, the human grabbed and pinned the dog to the ground by its throat. Its attempts to defend itself with its legs were nullified by the creature’s putting his own knees on them, as it started to eat. It ate as any beast of the field, as it bent over and tore away at the animal’s flesh with its teeth while it was still alive. The savage brutality of behavior was something he had never witnessed before, especially when that behavior came from a human. Still, he could not turn away from it.

A short time later, the dog was no longer moving; just the same, the creature maintained its grip on the dog’s throat. Bishop did not feel repulsed by the event, but rather intrigued. This was not the world he came from; this was a new world, with new rules and a new way of viewing things. It was what it was. This was his life now and he had to adjust his thinking. Breaking through his concentration was the sight of another form coming into view. It was another human like the first. It stopped some distance off and made a guttural sound toward its companion. The first creature answered it with one of his own. The other moved closer. When it was evidently close enough, the first picked up the dead dog, tore it in half without effort, and tossed one piece to his comrade. They ate everything except for the bones. He remained there and watched the whole process. They were efficient and left nothing to waste. He did not think they were stimulated by sight, based on his brief contacts with them, but most likely smell. They probably smelled the blood and this stimulated their senses. He watched them until they walked out of sight, then he moved on.

?

By mid-afternoon, he came to an area crowded with huge boulders, many of which were taller than he was. Beyond them, he could see the beginning of a forest. In it, there was a mixture of aspen and pine trees. He made his way through the rocks when he heard a disturbing sound. It made the hairs on his neck stand on end. He reached for his knives, but by the sound of this new threat, he did not think they would be enough. The sheer power emanating from its growl was enough for concern.

When he circled one of the giant stones, he saw the pit and knew where the sound came from. He carefully walked to the edge. The pit was deep and wide. It must be more than fifteen feet to the bottom, he thought. The fearsome beast growled and leaped at the same time. It was magnificent. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. He stood there looking at the great beast as it returned his gaze unafraid, even while trapped. It was as wide as it was long, and it stood at least four feet tall. It had the face of a wolf, with its maw being more than twice the size of a gray wolf. It must weigh close to five hundred pounds, he said to himself. Its eyes were golden, and its cape was almost solid black except for a small gray patch on the front of its chest. Its nails more closely resembled claws, than nails. It was truly one beautiful creature. Deadly no doubt, but beautiful all the same.

Bishop also noticed a dead carcass on the floor. He considered this. Someone obviously dug this pit for the purpose of catching this animal. He didn’t think it was the humans he had seen, as they didn’t seem capable of such a design. He would need to be more cautious as he moved on. He would also need to come up with some better weapons, he reasoned. The great beast growled and once again had his attention. “Well boy, I probably am going to upset someone by doing this, but I just can’t let something like you end up as dinner. I’ll be back,” he said.

He moved off toward the patch of woods and selected eight small trees, the size the larger of his two knives could handle without too much trouble. Once he had these cut, he trimmed the branches and moved them to the pit. He slid the slender trees over the side at one of the corners keeping them close to one another while the beast moved back and growled again as he did so. Once they were all in place, he stepped to the side and said, “That’s all I can do for you. You’ll have to figure it out from here.”

No sooner had the last word escaped from his mouth, than the great wolf had scaled the pit in two bounds. Before Bishop even had time to react, he was standing face to face with the most magnificent, and no doubt dangerous, creature he had ever encountered. They were less than twelve feet apart, and Bishop was more excited than afraid. This seemed to confuse the animal, and understandably so. It was unlikely to have any equals.