Subterranean

The beast reared with an agonized roar, throwing its head back, dislodging the hunter. The long knife, though, protruded from the monster's left eye.

The tiny hunter landed hard where he was flung, but he quickly scrambled away from the thrashing beast and crawled toward Harry.

The predator spotted the hunter with his one good eye, and snapped at him. Harry tried to reach his fellow hunter first and yank him out of reach of the beast, but his hand fell just inches too short. The little man was snatched up in the jaws of the monster. Still Harry scrambled forward with the snapped half of his spear, apparently intending to use the sharpened remains as a weapon to free his friend.

Michaelson gritted his teeth. His brother still partially blocked his shot but obviously wasn't going to leave the tiny hunter to the jaws of the beast. Damn him! Holding his breath, Michaelson squinted and pulled the trigger, the explosion from the rifle deafening in the narrow space.

The sudden noise froze everyone. Harry stopped his approach to strike the creature, the stump of his spear still gripped in his hand. The beast paused in midstride.

'Harry!' Michaelson called. His voice shattered the tableau. The beast collapsed to the floor, dead, a bullet through its brain. As it fell, it released its prey, the hunter tumbling from its jaws. Harry ran forward to his friend.

Michaelson crawled from his hiding place and approached his brother, eyeing the bulk of the beast that blocked the passage. 'How is he?'

Harry helped the tiny hunter stand. 'He'll live. They're a tough-skinned lot. A few punctures in his shoulder. Nothing seriously damaged, though.'

'Good.' Michaelson knelt beside the mimi'swee hunter and lay a hand on his good shoulder.

Harry sat back on his haunches. 'Dennis, I thought I told you to get out of here.'

Michaelson frowned. 'Besides being your older brother, I also outrank you.'

'Suddenly I'm glad you rose through the ranks faster than me. Otherwise you might've actually listened to me.' Harry then turned to him, his eyes serious. 'Thanks, Dennis.'

The tiny hunter started spouting gibberish, a pained expression in his eyes. Harry nodded soberly. The tiny figure reached to his injured shoulder and dabbed a finger in the seeping blood, then turned to Michaelson.

'Nob'cobi wants to share his il'jann with you,' Harry explained. 'It's a distinct honor among his people. Equivalent of blood brothers.'

The furry hunter reached forward and placed a bloody finger to Michaelson's forehead. 'Br… brother,' he said in a half growl.

TWENTY-THREE

KHALID WATCHED AS LINDA EMBRACED THE FRIGHTENED boy, her cheek resting atop Jason's head. She whispered consolations in the boy's ear. Khalid crossed to Blakely's form sprawled on the rock. The doctor's eyes were open and staring at him, his breathing still ragged and hissing. The doctor had information he needed, data necessary to complete his mission. He knelt beside Blakely and offered his canteen, pouring a small stream of water into the doctor's mouth.

Blakely closed his eyes and swallowed greedily, then pushed the canteen away, sloshing water across his chest. 'Thanks,' he muttered.

'What happened?' Khalid asked. 'How did you end up here?'

Blakely spoke with his eyes closed, as if remembering. 'The camp… it was attacked… destroyed.' He breathed thickly, catching his breath.

Khalid's first thought was that someone had outmaneuvered him. A second agent? But the doctor's next words dismissed this idea.

'Huge creatures… hundreds of them… overwhelmed the camp. We escaped in the raft. Ended up stranded here.'

Khalid frowned at the bad news. Damn, so there were more of them. He had hoped the few they had run into were the only ones. He looked up at the series of waterfalls. If they should eventually find their way back up, awaiting them lurked a herd of those predators. He sat back on his haunches and holstered his pistol.

'What now?' he mumbled to himself.

The doctor heard him and answered, his voice still hoarse but steadier. 'We wait. Leave it to the military. Once they realize what happened, they'll be swarming through here. Let them find us.'

Khalid rubbed the thick stubble on his cheek. The doctor was right. The military would be mobilizing shortly, reestablishing the security of the base. And with the entire U.S. Navy down here, combing the place, his mission would be that much more difficult, if not impossible.

He rubbed at his tired red eyes, sandy grit ground under his lids. He would have to reach Alpha Base somehow before military reinforcements did. And with enough spare time to finish setting his charges and get the hell out of the place. A tall order, even for himself.

Perhaps this was a test from Allah. The forces of nature pitted against him, testing him. How else could one explain the vile monsters that blocked them, the innumerable obstacles, the new horrors at every turn? It had to be a test from the Almighty.

He closed his eyes, placed his palms across his face, and prayed for the strength to succeed and for a sign that he was honorable in his mission. He prayed for five minutes, his heart beating in his ears. But still no sign appeared. Finally, he sat back with a sigh, placing his hands on his knees. Nothing.

Then, when he raised his eyes, he saw it. A plume of oily smoke curling out from an opening halfway up the wall of the cave. Khalid sat up straighter. 'Doctor, was the camp burning? Was there lots of smoke?'

The doctor cleared his dry throat. 'Yes, thick with smoke. Why?'

Khalid pointed to the far wall, a smile of delight on his features. 'Look, over there! The smoke! It must be the way back up!' He continued to stare at the billowing smoke, like some cloudy finger of god.

* * *

Still holding Jason under one arm, Linda stared at the smoky tunnel opening. Emotions warred within her: relief at finding a way back up and dread for the events that might transpire. What would Khalid do? He couldn't let Blakely and Jason know his plans without killing them.

She turned to stare at Khalid. His expression as he stared up the cliff face was one of strange exaltation, his eyes wide, glassy. A shiver passed through her when those eyes met hers. He smiled at her. 'It's almost finished,' he said.

She nodded. It had all happened too fast. She had expected days of searching before the way home was discovered, giving her plenty of time to formulate a plan, extra hours to decide if she should try to stop him or just save her skin and let him do what he wanted.

A tugging on her arm distracted her. She looked down at Jason. 'Linda, what about my mom? Do you think she's okay?'

She squeezed the boy's shoulder as he stared up at her. She should lie, tell him everything would be just fine, but Jason was an astute kid. His eyes as he looked at her were dry and serious. He wanted an honest answer. 'Jason, I truly don't know. But Ben and Major Michaelson are with her. She's in good hands.'

Jason nodded.

Khalid touched her shoulder, startling her. He gestured for her to follow him a few steps away, to talk in private. Her heart pounded in her throat as she followed.

He checked over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. 'Listen, I want us to head out tonight.'

Her mouth dried. This was happening too fast, like a freight train racing toward a demolished trestle. 'But Blakely shouldn't be moved so soon.'

Khalid didn't blink. 'I wasn't planning on taking him. Or the boy.'

Her words were a whisper. 'You promised me that you wouldn't kill anyone else if I stayed silent.'