Fire and Ice

Eyes. Eyes in the jungle, watching...waiting. Eyes.

The honourable Reverend Aston James felt the blood splay across his face. He kept his closed, unable to bring himself to watch his own death at the hands...or rather claws of this creature. His heart pounded against his rib-cage as it threatened to leap from his body, and the blood raced through his ears, surging and forming in a torrent rushing around his mind. The splashes of blood were warm against his skin as he lay breathing heavy under the dead weight of the beast. The pain from his hand matched the pain in his heart as the small silver cross bit into his palm, breaking the skin and trailing rivers of blood over the lines on his hand. “Julie...forgive me” he breathed sadly as he fought against the fear of death. “Forgive my sins...I am with you forever...always” his words were poignant and personal as the blood on his face flecked and speckled his features. He could hear the beating of his heart and frowned, it had never seemed so loud, so close.

Eyes...watching, always watching. Dark eyes, staring through the wilderness at the surrounding land...eyes waiting...

Life...

The Reverend James lay on the hard, cold ground his eyes clamped tightly shut as he listened to his heartbeat. He frowned...was this death? He had always imagined it different. He had never been naive enough to think he would be met with trumpets and heralds, but this...this was nothing as he imagined. He still felt...scared. He still felt the pain in his hand, he still felt the cold hard ground, he still could hear the pounding of his heart...

He slowly opened his eyes, dreading what he might bear witness to. A beating heart hovered before his eyes, blood dripping from the engorged organ. His hands wandered to his chest, how was this possible he thought as they ran over his habit, tracing the undamaged material. He stared at the organ as it pounded on the end of a...

What was that? A stick, a spear? He couldn’t understand what was happening. The creature sat across the torso of the priest, but a gaping hole in its chest revealed a bloody mess of muscle, torn by the thick shaft of wood protruding from its chest, with its still beating heart skewered on the end of the pointed shaft. Red pearls formed at the end of the point as the organ pumped the last vesicles of life ebbed from the dying piece of meat. “Your fine” the voice came from behind the beast and James struggled to push the creature from his body. He lay on the floor, blood covering his habit and surveyed the scene around the copse. Cadet Joanne Darby was screaming and crying at the other side of the copse, her leg a shattered mess and pinned against the side of the Pony, her foot still caught in the stirrup of the mechanical construction. Her pain ringed the clearing as she clutched at her leg and pounded the ground beside her broken body. Captain Everton crane was largely unscathed as he stood by his still rocking steed. Kiefah lay dead on the ground close by, his body bitten and severed in two halves, his mouth contorted in a twisted scream. The bodies of the three creatures littered the bloodied mess of the clearing as flames and blood licked the wounds of the animals.

James struggled to push his body off the floor and winched as pain ran over his chest. A hand was thrust into view, causing the Reverend to pull his head back. He stared at the dark unblemished skin as it hovered over his body. His vision trailed along the smooth contours of his rescuers hand and over the thick brown cloth of his clothing until finally making eye contact with...who...

“Are you alright?” asked the deep silky voice. James nodded his head and stared into the dark brown eyes and traced the Caribbean accent in his mind.

“Who?” he whispered coarsely through cracked lips.

“The name’s Brown...Father Dominica Brown...”

Eyes stared through the darkness, watching the ship land. Could he trust them? Eyes watched as they trekked through the jungle, fought their shadows. Eyes always watching...waiting...eyes through the jungle.

Thoryn stop suddenly in his tracks and motioned for the other children to halt. He stood on the rocks at the edge of the jungle and looked back into the maze of trees. “What was that noise?” he asked as his eyes locked on a rising plume in the distance.

“The Gods are angry” commented Jai-sen.

“The Lords are fighting” remarked Seeka and looked down at Beilal who gripped her hand tighter.

“Folly!” snapped Thoryn, “that is not the gods...of the lords, they do not exist. It is something else”

“Thoryn!” Seeka snapped back throwing a harsh look in his direction, “do not doubt the lords”

“Look” commanded Thoryn pointing at the plume of smoke, “the Lords are supposed to live at the place of fire and ice and keep the Gods captive there” he indicated into the jungle, “that is in the trees, it is not the lords”

“Then what?” she asked placing her arm around the younger girl as her body pressed deeper into the child’s body. She looked down at the girl and smiled warmly at her.

“I do not know” admitted Thoryn, “the noise was not what I have heard before”

“It was the sound of anger” said Jai-sen

“Nonsense, it was not of our world” Thoryn rounded sharply on the younger boy and frowned, “you should remain silent” he said, “your knowledge is limited and you do not know what you say”

“And you do?” remarked Seeka.

“Be warned Seeka, do not question me” he rounded on her and pulled himself to his full height, throwing out his chest and making himself look bigger.

“As Tomas did?” she asked curtly, not backing from his challenge.

“I have no time for this” he said turning and gazing back at the plume of smoke. “We need to find the smoke and see what is there”

“No Thoryn” pleaded Beilal loudly clinging to the side of Seeka.

“You’re scaring the children” said Seeka softly.

“They shall stay here while I look” said Thoryn determinedly.

“No” said Beilal again, “you must stay with us”

“Why?” demanded Thoryn

“You must protect us. We are scared” she said meekly as she hid behind Seeka.

Thoryn moved his gaze from the young girl over the group and back into the forest, where he watched the plume of smoke as it clambered from the trees and stretched into the air.

“No” said Thoryn decisively, “we shall follow the smoke” he gazed at the rising black cloud as he stood defiantly before the remaining children, then leapt from the rock and pushed a path into the undergrowth.

Aston James struggled to his feet and he watched as the figure of Dominica Brown strutted over toward the crying, prone figure of Cadet Darby. How could this be? He pondered as he followed hurriedly behind him, this was the man he had come to rescue...this was the man who was surely dead. He stood over the figure as Father Brown knelt by the body of Darby and ran his large hands over her leg. “The bone is broken in several places” he said calmly as she screamed to his touch, “it will need medical assistance”

“Who the hell are you!” demanded Crane as he joined the two priest’s.

“As I have said, my name is Father Dominica Brown and for now I am your only hope”

“That can’t be” stammered James, “you’re dead”

“It would appear that you are very much mistake Father” said Brown wryly, “unless you believe in ghosts” he smiled as his words touched the pair as they stood behind the kneeling priest. Cadet Darby screamed as he ran his hands along her leg and over her ankle, still bound in the stirrup of the Pony. “...and her ankle is completely shattered”

“The village doesn’t have medical facilities to attend to her injuries” stated James.

“My ship...” started Crane looking down at the twisted mass of flesh in morbid fascination.

“Your ship has gone captain!” snapped Brown, “you must place your trust in the hands of others”

“I know my ship has gone!” came the angry reply, “but if we can salvage any of the medical equipment...”

“No, it is completely gone” reasserted Brown.

“I need to see for myself”

“Very well” said Brown coldly, “I shall allow this folly for now”

“How dare you!” raged Crane.

“I do not have time for your petty machinations, we are in the hands of a higher deity”

“What do you mean by that?” Crane demanded.

“This is our path, the one we have chosen...or been given. We must walk its curves and lines if we are to seek enlightenment” he returned his gaze back to the crying form of Darby, “now please, I have work to attend” he reached for her ankle and placed his hands over the twisted limb and held it between the palms of his hands. “Please Father if you could be so kind...” he indicated toward the leather strap that bound her foot to the device.

James bent close to the Pony and placed a hand on Cadet Darby’s hand. She looked at him through pain soaked eyes and squeezed his hand tightly, “Father” she pleaded desperately, “it hurts”

“I know” he said softly and smiled at her face kindly before averting his gaze to the bloodied mass of her limb. He pulled his hand away from hers and gingerly touched the strap which was connecting her to the metal body of the Pony. His fingers worked on the buckle, pausing as she screamed. His attention was briefly diverted to her and he spoke gently to her, “please” he said, “I am truly sorry” he apologised, “but this will hurt...forgive me” She nodded and screamed as his fingers unclipped the strap and her mangled limb fell to the floor with a sickening thud.

“We must strap her leg as best we can” commented Brown coolly.

“How do we do that!” demanded Crane looking on, “we have no medical equipment”

“We use what is on hand” Brown said simply, “I will need two thick straight branches about this size” he said holding his hands out to indicate the size of the wood he required, “this will strap her leg, and I will need binding to keep the branches in place”

“And what do I use for binding” remarked Crane sarcastically

“Use the vines” replied Brown shaking his head, “I shall also need around twelve pieces of flint...small thin pieces that can be easily formed”

“What are they for?” asked Crane as he hovered

“I shall use the flint to pin her leg, the branches and the vine to bind it” a look of horror flashed over Crane’s face as he spoke, “now please captain, she does not have much time”

Eyes. Watching...waiting. The chase through the jungle, the capture, but still hidden from view. Staying quiet, staying still...eyes watching from the trees. Could they be trusted? Wait...wait for a sign. Eyes looking toward the sky, a sign would come. Eyes watching...patiently watching.

“Hungry...” the voice in her head was growing stronger and Cadet Darby tried desperately to blot the sound of the whisper as it grew to a loud voice. “Feed me” The pain soared through her body and her hands gripped the side of her head as the voice spoke to her. “Give in to me” it urged, “give me food...” Her body rocked as the pain overwhelmed her senses and pushed the voice further into her mind. “Feed me” it called as it subsided, “I hunger...we hunger...feed me”

Aston James clutched her hands tightly and looked into her tear stained eyes. “You will be alright” he promised as he gripped her, “I promise, I will not lose you” She tried to nod as his words reassured her, but the pain racked her body.

“I have them!” declared Crane as he burst back through the clearing. “What now”

“You work on the Ponies” ordered Brown taking command, “We shall work on the girl” he looked at James who nodded uncertainly, “Then we shall begin”

James held the hands of Cadet Darby and stroked her head gently as he watched Father Brown work on the pieces of flint. His hands used a large rock to fashion twelve narrow stone knives, the chippings of the flint falling from the hard surface of the rock. He weighed the pins in his hand, one by one before laying them on the floor by his habit. His hands ran along the bloodied material of her leg as he gently moved the limb under the scrutiny of her screams. “We shall pin her leg, here...here...here” he started talking, indicating along her leg with his thick stubby fingers to places along her shin toward her ankle.

“We will need to cut the material” said James

“No” disagreed Brown, “the material will help hold the leg in place and offer extra stability”

“But...”

“No” reaffirmed Brown, “we start” he grasped the first pin and placed it swiftly against her leg and struck the flint with the large rock, forcing it through the skin and into the bone. Darby sat upright and screamed, her lungs bursting as the pain tore at her heart. “Hold her!” snapped Brown angrily as he grasped a second pin and placed it against her leg.

“I am sorry” whispered James as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her back close to his chest. She gripped his arm and sank her head into her his touch, her tears stinging his clothing as a second pin was hammered forcibly through the flesh.

Crane turned and walked away from the improvised medical treatment and stood over the Ponies, inspecting the energy banks on the necks of each Pony in turn. Darby’s screams stung at his ears as he ran diagnostic check after diagnostic check, bending occasionally to tamper with the controls and adjust the settings. He pulled one of the Ponies and tethered it on the back of another and looked back over toward the screaming body of his crew-mate as the two priests worked on her leg. He shook his head and glanced at the floor, feeling completely useless, and not for the first time

“We hunger” the voice yelled in her head, “You must feed me...I will make you strong. I will make you whole. Feed me...hungry!”

“Leave me alone!” screamed Darby, her lungs bursting under the pressure.

“We have nearly done” said Brown harshly as his hand held another pin over the leg.

“We hungry!” she yelled, “feed!”

“Joanne” whispered James as his grip tightened around her body, “hold on, fight”

“I can’t...” she sobbed, “I can’t do it...”

“You can” urged James as another pin rammed into her bone, “have faith, you are stronger than you think”

“We hunger” she cried into his clothing as he held her tight in his arms.

“I know” James said softly, “I know” he nodded at Brown who drove the final pin into her ankle and closed his eyes as she screamed, her body convulsing as the flint bit into her bone, “I will not leave you...I promise” he breathed as he held her through her sobs.

Crane had remained silent as Father Brown had pinned and restrained the Cadet’s leg and now, he sat astride the Pony and waited patiently as the pair tenderly placed her over the steed at the rear of the group. Reverend James sat behind her, his arms around her body and his hands on the reins of the device. Father Brown sat astride his mount and rode up to Crane and nodded at him, “we are ready” he barked, “lead!”

“Her leg” Crane said quietly looking at the bloodied mess of flesh, with the small flint pins protruding down her skin and the holding her entire leg in position were the two stretches of wood with the binding wrapped around the material of her clothing, biting into the stained fabric.

“It will do for now” Brown said, “but it will not last”

“How long?” asked Crane.

“I do not know, all I have done is given her a chance”

“I have questions” said Crane softly as they rode on through the forest.

“I thought you would, and I intend to answer all your questions” his eyes flicked around the trees, “but this is not the place nor the time”

“Agreed” said Crane, his eyes narrowing at the newcomer, “but soon”

“Yes” agreed Brown, “soon”

Eyes watched as they fled through the jungle, pursued by the beasts...he knew the waiting was over. He had to act. Eyes moving quickly through the jungle.

Smoke billowed from the remains of the hulk as it lay steaming in the clearing of the jungle. The four Ponies slowed to a halt before the shattered remains as small flames licked at the twisted metal. Crane stepped off his steed and walked slowly toward the wreck, his eyes glancing around the site. Lumps of metal sat with flames dancing over the grizzled remains and Crane picked his way through the wreckage until he stood in the skeleton of the vessel. Brown stood with him and followed his gaze. “Your ship” Crane nodded, “I am sorry” he said with regret in his voice.

“It’s not the ship” said Crane, “this was just a lump of metal ,sure it had been my home for the past few years, but it was still only a giant lump of metal. It was the people” he cast his eyes over the carcass of the craft, “the people who served...as far as I know we are the only ones left” he said sadly.

“Captain!” the voice came from outside the wreckage, and Crane broke into a run as he rushed through the debris of the vessel. Father James was still sitting on his Pony, with the half unconscious form of Darby in front of him. He was pointing into the undergrowth where a silver fin poked through the dense bushes. Crane moved out of the ship and into the sunlight, winching slightly as the beams hit his eyes. He forged a path through the foliage and picked a path through the thicken to the damaged pod. He ran his hands over the dulled material of the craft, his fingers feeling the pockets and dimples of impact from the explosion. His arm wiped at the glass of the small pod and he peered through the glazed covering.

“Sorenson!” shouted Crane as he struggled with the small red handle on the outer rim of the capsule and gripping the device in his hands, he pulled at the handle, his muscles straining against the stubborn twisted metal. Gas valves hissed their derision as they streamed vents of air from the small openings around the lid of the capsule. Slowly the lid raised revealing two dishevelled figures inside, their bodies wrapped around each other, their limbs entwined as death kiss their foreheads.

“Captain” croaked Sorenson through cracked lips, his eyes flicking open briefly, “we couldn’t” his lips tried to smile apologetically as the air died in his lungs.

“Its alright” said Crane softly leaning into the capsule and checking the wrist of Toshiko for a pulse. He shook his head as Father Brown joined him at the capsule and placed a hand on the dying crewman.

“The jungle” he struggled with his words.

“Do not talk” said Crane softly. Brown shook his head and steeped away from the craft with his head lowered and closed his eyes, bringing his hands to a small silver pendant around his neck.

“The monsters”

“I said do not talk” ordered Crane as he placed his hand on the engineer’s head, “it’s alright” Sorenson coughed and small flecks of blood stained his chin as his eyes rolled in his head.

“He’s gone” said Brown gently as he kissed his pendant, “My condolences”

“Thank you” said Crane as he closed the eyes of his colleague. He stood in silence for a moment and reflected on the death of his crew and destruction of the ship, “but for now, our safety is my only concern” he said moved away from the escape pod, “for if the planet really is blowing up, then we are all trapped”