The Reluctant Warrior (4 page)

Jed straightened up before answering Rex. “Sounds like a surname to me.”

“Obviously the person who attacked him,” Jonathon chipped in.

The practical side to Rex emerged. “We’ll have to bury him. That’s the least we can do for the poor fellow.” He scanned the ground around the creek bank. “We’ve nothing to dig with but if we use rocks from the stream to cover him I reckon that’ll be just as good.”

When they moved out later that day it was with a great deal of trepidation. So this place was not only inhabited by humans but they were dangerous as well.

Rex sidled up to Jed. “What did you make of that uniform?”

“It was definitely American, and it was definitely World War two.”

“Agreed, but where did he get it from, and why would he be wearing it out here…we came in wearing polar clothing?”

“And he would have frozen to death if he tried to come over the ice wearing that get-up,” Jed said, anticipating Rex’s next sentence.

“Exactly, so what do you make of it?”

Jed thought it over for a moment. How did the fellow get here? And what was he to make of that uniform? “I’ve absolutely no idea,” he said eventually. “It’s as if he’s not only out of place but completely out of time as well.”

“A time warp…?”

“I’ve never seen any evidence to convince me that they actually exist,” Jed said. “But I guess the only way we’ll ever find out for sure is if we come across this Montrose fellow.”

“That’s an acquaintance I’d rather not make.”

“You’ll get no argument out of me on that score. But I get the feeling that the deeper we travel into this place the more mysterious it’s going to get, so it would be good to come across someone who could give us some answers.”

Rex grimaced. “Somehow I don’t think this…Montrose, would give us the sort of answers we need. He’s more likely to deal to us like he did to that poor fellow back there.”

“There’s three of us and only one of him. We should be able to handle him.”

“What makes you think he acted alone? He may have others with him. After all, if there’s one there’s bound to be more.”

Jed stopped dead in his tracks. “I didn’t even consider there could be others. But you’re right, we’ve no way of knowing how many Montrose’s there are out here.”

Rex cast his eyes across the vast expanse of prairie to a dark line on the horizon. “Let’s make it to those mountains and see if we can set up some sort of base. At least we’ll be safer up there than we are out in the open.

Jed leaned back against the hard rock at the mouth of the cave and surveyed the plain they had just crossed. It was fortunate they found the cave when they did; with the light fading Jed got the impression another night camping out on the prairie would definitely have brought some more surprises, none of them good.

For the first time since they had beached the raft on the shores of this strange land Jed gave some serious thought to his situation. How was he going to get back home? There was no way they could make it back to Mac Town across the ice without the G.P.S. If they traversed this oasis they were now in where would it take them? To the vast expanse of ice that must meet them on the other side? Certain death awaited them either way a man looked at it.

He watched the shadows steal across the plain below his mountain refuge and realized that barring a miracle their future lay in this unknown land. There would be no rescue, for nobody would know where to even start looking for them. No, they must adapt to this new world or die.

“You look deep in thought.”

Jed looked up in time to catch the sight of Rex slipping out from the cover of the cave. “I’m just watching the shadows.”

Rex rested his back against the rock in imitation of his friend. “Thinking about how we’re going to get back home?”

“Yeah, something along those lines.”

“Foregone conclusion that we can’t,” Rex said frankly. “Best we concentrate on finding a food source to sustain us. What we brought with us won’t hold out for too much longer, so if we don’t find something soon we’re goners.”

“Never been much of a hunter,” Jed confessed. “Shot a few rabbits on my uncle’s farm in Connecticut when I was a kid, but that was a long time ago.”

“This time you won’t have a gun,” Rex said gloomily. “Perhaps we’ll come across some vegetation that’s edible.”

A howl that sounded suspiciously like a wolf floated up to them on the evening breeze, inspiring Jed to lean even further into the niche of rock that supported him. There was no telling what kind of creature lurked down there on the prairie, or up here on the mountain for that matter. Looking across at Rex he could tell he was thinking the same thing. Even though he was a bold character and not easily fazed there was concern etched into every line of his thirty-four year old face. Out here they had stumbled across something neither of them had expected. There had been no training for this. They were out of their depth and both knew it, and even though they were both scared neither one would ever admit it.

Jed listened to that unearthly howl again and wondered how they were going to survive the rest of their lives in this world that they knew nothing about. No weapons for hunting or defense, or any of the modern comforts they had come to expect. And then of course, there would be no women. Jed didn’t know if he could handle that. Even though his relationship with Cassie had been a stormy one at least she had provided him with the female companionship he at times craved. Living until the day of his death without so much as laying his eyes on a woman again? He wasn’t sure he could survive something quite so drastic.

“How far do you think we should travel tomorrow?”

Jed gave Rex’s question some thought. Ordinarily he would have opted for travelling as far as they could. However, with this Montrose character on the loose it was best to err on the side of caution. “Not too far. Not more than half a day’s walk from the cave would be safest.”

Rex nodded. “That’s pretty much what I was thinking,” he confessed. “We’re going to need to start thinking defensively from here on in. At least until we know exactly what it is we’re up against.”

Therein lay their problem. They had no weapons to defend themselves with, and the army fellow they had buried earlier had been shot. Obviously, Montrose had a gun, they, on the other hand did not. They were quite simply, easy pickings, especially down there on the prairie lands with next to no cover.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Rex said in hushed tones. “You’re thinking that if Montrose discovers we’re here then he’ll hunt us down like he did that other fellow.” He fished around in his pocket and pulling out a cigar lit up. “Don’t know what I’ll do when these run out, only got a couple left.” He slipped the lighter back into his pocket. “I figure if we are cautious we’ll be okay. Montrose can’t possibly know we’re here, so if we’re careful we should be able to keep it that way.”

Jed wasn’t sure he agreed with Rex’s line of thinking. “If we’re stuck here for the rest of our lives he’s bound to come across us eventually. We have to go out into the open to search for food.”

“I’ve given that some thought. I don’t know how big this oasis or whatever we’ve stumbled into is, but if it’s large enough we might just be able to travel far enough away from here so he’ll never come across us.”

That made sense. Although for the time being they’d have to stay close to the cave, but as soon as they had taken in enough of the terrain to make them confident of safe travel it might be a good idea to get far away from here.

“Provided it isn’t just a small oasis we’re in,” Jed added out loud.

“We’ll know better when we top the mountain tomorrow. We should get a fair view of the terrain from there.”

Next morning they were on their way early and had reached the summit within a few hours. The view from the top was stunning. The side of the mountain they had just come from had been unbroken prairie. The side they were looking down on however boasted forest and river, pasturelands and even a lake. Groups of animals were grazing everywhere.

“Looks like the garden of Eden.” Jonathon’s appreciative eyes were taking in the scene below with the hunger of the true explorer. “What new creatures roam undiscovered down there?”

“I shudder to think,” Rex muttered. “But at least it’s not snow and ice, and there’s plenty of food waiting for us down there if only we can catch it.”

Jed moved off down the mountain with the others following closely behind. The place certainly looked promising. He had spotted what looked like antelope far off to the right where the river entered the forest. So there was meat if they could invent an effective trap. The river would provide water and the forest shelter.

As soon as they were at the bottom of the mountain they struck out for the river. With luck on their side they would make it to the cover of the woods before midday. They had been walking for around three hours and had just crested a small hill when they stopped dead in their tracks. On a small plain below the hill were the ruins of some sort of base.

“I believe,” Rex said incredulously, “that is an airbase. I can just make out the remains of an airstrip in the undergrowth.”

Jed looked in the direction his friend was pointing. Further out from the buildings was an area that did indeed look like an airstrip had at one time graced it.

“Looks abandoned. Should be safe enough for us to investigate it more closely,” Jonathon said, looking hopefully at his companions.

Rex looked at Jed. “I agree.”

Jed nodded before silently moving off down the hill. Who would have thought they would come across an airbase, albeit a long deserted one if the decrepit state of the buildings in the compound coupled with the eerie silence was anything to go by. Walking past the collapsed hangar he carefully ascended the rotting steps of the main building, and then gently turning the doorknob he leaned his weight against the door to encourage it to use its rusty hinges.

“Whew… what a stink,” the smell that assaulted his nostrils almost had him lunging back out onto the verandah.

Rex peeped over his shoulder. “It’s a spider’s paradise in there.”

Jed swept the thick cobwebs aside as he made his way towards the big desk in the centre of the room, and then picking up a small plaque he read aloud. “Colonel Charles. L. Montrose.”

“What?” Rex was at his elbow in an instant, taking the plaque from Jed’s hand he squinted briefly at it. “So we’re up against a Colonel,” he said, tossing the piece of wood and brass back on the desk.

“An American one at that,” Jed added, nodding towards a crumbling U.S. flag that held pride of place on the wall. Skirting around the desk he yanked out the top drawer on the other side. “A list of U.S. servicemen,” he said, placing it gently on the desk.

Picking it up Rex quickly thumbed through it. “Those who served on base here I expect.”

“A map of Antarctica,” Jed continued, and then paused for a moment as he pulled out a faded green folder, “and what have we got here?”

Rex scooted around the desk to join him. “What is it?”

“It’s a file stamped top secret,” Jed answered, placing it carefully on the desk and turning to the first page. “The Antarctic discoveries of Admiral Richard E Byrd,” he looked at Rex, “I think I’m beginning to get it.”

“Get what?”

“We’re not in Antarctica anymore, Rex.”

Rex stared blankly at him. “Then where in the dickens are we?”

“We’re inside the earth.”

It took a while for the comment to sink in. “What are you on about? How can we be inside the earth?”

“Do you remember that book we read years ago about Byrd’s flight over the South Pole?”

Rex cast his mind back. “You mean the one by that crazy kook who claimed Byrd had seen a mammoth…?” he trailed off. “Only, it wasn’t crazy was it?” he said quietly.

“No.”

“So Byrd saw what we’re seeing now?”

“It appears so.” Jed handed something to Rex to look at.

“Peri Rei’s map,” Rex said, studying it with interest.

Jed was still rummaging around in the drawer. “Yes, the ancient map that shows Antarctica free of ice. Up until now I had always thought it was nonsense. But now I know better.”

Rex abandoned his perusal of the map. “When Antarctica, or whatever it was called back then started to freeze over the animals migrated here.”

Jed nodded. “Here inside the earth it was free of the harsh conditions that were rapidly invading the surface of the planet.”

Rex noisily puffed the air out from between his cheeks. “This is like something straight out of Jules Verne. I can hardly get my head around it.”

“You’re not alone there.” Jed yanked open the second drawer, and pulling out a battered journal scanned its contents.

Rex looked up from the old map. “What have you found there?”

“Just from memory I seem to remember a story about the army sending fourteen hundred men to Antarctica to set up a base. Nothing more was heard from them.”

“And you think that this is the base?”

“I’m sure of it. This journal contains instructions on what they were to do once here, scientific experiments, mapping the terrain etcetera.”

Rex looked around the office. “What happened to them all?”

“I’ve no idea. But there’s something that puzzles me even more. That dead soldier told us to beware of Montrose. But Montrose was the colonel in charge of this expedition.”

Rex’s eyes widened. “And the expedition was way back when?”

“1947.”

“And it’s now 2014. So Montrose couldn’t be alive anymore.”

“Not unless he’s lived well into his nineties, and therefore hardly a threat to anyone,” Jed pointed out.

“Could be his son,” Rex suggested.

“I think you must be right. That dead soldier was no older than his early thirties, so it’s certain he is second or even third generation.”

“But where can this… Montrose, be? Why would he and the others leave the base?”

“That’s something we may never know,” Jed said. “But what we do know is he’s dangerous, as is anyone who’s with him.”

Rex’s face had lost all expression, and Jed knew him well enough to know he was struggling with something. “What’s on your mind?”

“I was just thinking if we’re inside the earth how can we still see the sun?”

“I believe what we’re seeing is a central sun as opposed to the one we’re used to seeing on the planet’s surface.”

“You mean a sun actually inside the earth? Is that even possible?”

“It can be the only explanation. Have you noticed the difference in light intensity since we’ve been here?”

Rex thought about it. “Now you mention it the light has been more subdued than usual, kinda mellow in fact.”

“That’s because we’re dealing with a sun that’s thousands of times smaller than the one that shines on the surface. It doesn’t have the same harsh intensity.”

“It’s a dull red color which I just put down to atmospheric conditions.”

“You’re partly right,” Jed agreed. “I’ve noticed it’s surrounded by a grayish vapor which I think gives it its dull red appearance.”

“But it’s not our sun?”

“No.”

“This whole business just gets stranger by the hour.”

Jed smiled. “We’re explorers of the old school you and me. What we’ve stumbled on is a dream come true, it’s all our expeditions rolled into one.”

“But no way of telling the outside world about it,” Rex said, morosely.

“I guess we can’t have it both ways,” Jed said, hastily stuffing the contents of the drawers into his backpack. “Let’s see what Jonathon’s up to.”