Page 72 of Stranded with the Alien

Easier said than done. The hound prowled towards him from behind a rock, hackles raised. Vahn itched to unsheathe his laser-blade and slice the beast’s head off.

“Rocky, sit.” Kara spoke sharply without turning. The animal lay down, staring unflinchingly at Vahn as he made his way to Kara’s side.

“What is it, human?”

“Down there. Look.”

Vahn leaned over the drop. The ground fell away steeply for hundreds of meters but at the bottom it levelled out into a lush valley. Vivid green foliage spread as far as the eye could see and through the centre, winding like a silver ribbon, was a sparkling river.

“It looks like an oasis,” he murmured.

“A rainforest, I think.” Kara squinted. “I can see flashes of red and yellow. I think they’re birds. And I’ll bet the river is full of fish.”

“It is probably the water source for the sulfur springs back at the cave. I expect it disappears underground beneath the hills and emerges there.”

“So that means it doesn’t evaporate during the dry season.” Kara turned to him, eyes shining. “It’s perfect. We can hang out down there till we’re rescued.”

His gut tightened. Now was the time to tell her that he wasn’t coming.

And yet the words wouldn’t form.

I will escort her down the hill and make sure she is settled,he reasoned.Once I know she is safe, then I will leave.

Yes. That was logical.

They packed up the tent and set off. The journey downhill was far quicker than the way up, and the weather slightly better. Perhaps this side of the slope had a different micro-climate. Whatever the reason, the rain held off and the breeze was gentler.

Kara tried to engage Vahn in conversation but his answers were terse and monosyllabic. He seemed pissed off with her. Maybe because she’d insisted on letting Rocky stay.

Well, tough. Let him sulk.

The landscape began to change. It grew less rocky and more verdant. Trees and bushes began to pepper the terrain. Here and there, sweet-smelling blooms provided a shock of color. And what Kara had thought were birds were, in fact, giant butterflies with wing-spans the length of her forearm.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed as they left the barren hillside behind. “It’s like the garden of Eden.”

“Eden?”

“A beautiful place on Earth supposedly created by the Christian God. Does Vraxos have anything like that?”

“The vale of Shamhoreth. The divine realm where Vannla and Ayanlesh consummated their passion and gave rise to the rest of the gods.”

“Wow. Sounds like an epic tale. Will you tell it to me?”

“The story is sacred to Vraxians,” he said shortly. “It is not for human ears.”

Kara gave up and concentrated on the rapidly improving scenery. They passed a tree with low hanging fruit on the branches, deep purple ovals reminiscent of plums. She picked one and held it out to Vahn questioningly.

He laid hisdendraon it for a moment, then nodded wordlessly. Without pausing Kara bit into it, squealing in glee as juice erupted from her mouth and spilled down her front. She grinned widely, her joy so infectious that Vahn couldn’t help the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

He found himself reaching out to wipe the juice from her chin.

In an instant, Rocky was jumping up at him, jaws snapping a hairs’ breadth from his face.

“Drek’aa beresh,”Vahn swore violently. “I swear I am going to disembowel the wretched creature.” He ignited his blade. Undaunted, the hound stood its ground, its ears flat against its head.

Kara rolled her eyes.

“This is what happens when there’s too much testosterone around. Look, he thinks you’re a threat. You’re going to have to prove you’re not.”

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