It has been several days since we escaped the creepers, and those days had been spent tracking the re-animated corpses from the makeshift asylum. We watched as they spilled out of the building, their torn straitjackets flapping behind them like broken wings, and lost track of them in the tall wheat fields. The fields behind us, we found traces of them in a stream at the base of some forgotten foothills.
Following the tracks (of how many we couldn't be sure) we continued along the stream until It became a river, the river emptying into a large lake. It was decided that we would rest, and we climbed one of the smaller hills outlining the lake. We surveyed our surroundings, and feeling safe on our tree spined hill, we watched the crystal clear waters below us.
Following the tracks (of how many we couldn't be sure) we continued along the stream until It became a river, the river emptying into a large lake. It was decided that we would rest, and we climbed one of the smaller hills outlining the lake. We surveyed our surroundings, and feeling safe on our tree spined hill, we watched the crystal clear waters below us.
Just below the surface, we could see a pod of armored plesiosaurs (dinosaurs, it seems, had been waiting for a good time to return) chasing salamanders the size of men. Jehovah actually jumped as a plesiosaur struck at a salamander with a whip-like movement, not unlike a striking snake, and dove into the depths with its prize. I opened my journal, jotted down several notes, and scribbled a quick sketch of the creature. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a second strike, this time a miss, and much to my surprise, the tails of the remaining salamanders broke off and swam straight down, like silvery eels. Confused, the plesiosaurs gave chase, and the tailless salamanders struggled into the shallows, and out of sight. I noted this latest revelation in my journal, closed it, stood, and wandered down the hill.
Without looking to see if Jehovah had followed I said, "I'm continually surprised by the flora and fauna we have encountered, and how quickly they've taken to this new world..."
Jehovah did not reply as he bounded ahead, in his wobbly awkward way, and I did my best to follow downhill...
After a time, we encountered the trail again and made our pursuit. By this time, I had forgotten why we were even pursuing the recently re-animated, but it seemed like the thing to do. They had entered a densely forested area down-stream, and that was the last time we saw any trace of them...
My first thought was to turn and retreat back into the open, but Jehovah took off ahead, and my calls were ignored, so I followed deeper into the choking vegetation. Meat-eating trees were the least of our worries in this wild area, and I wanted nothing more than to return to the relative saftey of the open land.
Up ahead I could make out a clearing and the reason for Jehovah's advance.
The clearing was dotted with grass huts, dozens of them, the grass covered structures made from sticks woven together. There were also sticks that were leaned together, like an un-covered teepee, fish and small mammals hanging from the apex. Fires beneath them slowly cooking the meat.
Then I saw one...
"Gigantopithecus," I whispered aloud.
The ape crawled out of the grass hut, stood to a full height of eight feet, and walked across the clearing, disappearing into the trees. Several more could be seen walking around, some tending the fires, others re-thatching huts. All the while, in complete silence. They varied in height from six feet to eight or more, and were covered with thick brown (some bordering on black) hair. They wore no clothing or other adornments.
Glad to see you survived the change, I thought to myself.
Without looking to see if Jehovah had followed I said, "I'm continually surprised by the flora and fauna we have encountered, and how quickly they've taken to this new world..."
Jehovah did not reply as he bounded ahead, in his wobbly awkward way, and I did my best to follow downhill...
After a time, we encountered the trail again and made our pursuit. By this time, I had forgotten why we were even pursuing the recently re-animated, but it seemed like the thing to do. They had entered a densely forested area down-stream, and that was the last time we saw any trace of them...
My first thought was to turn and retreat back into the open, but Jehovah took off ahead, and my calls were ignored, so I followed deeper into the choking vegetation. Meat-eating trees were the least of our worries in this wild area, and I wanted nothing more than to return to the relative saftey of the open land.
Up ahead I could make out a clearing and the reason for Jehovah's advance.
The clearing was dotted with grass huts, dozens of them, the grass covered structures made from sticks woven together. There were also sticks that were leaned together, like an un-covered teepee, fish and small mammals hanging from the apex. Fires beneath them slowly cooking the meat.
Then I saw one...
"Gigantopithecus," I whispered aloud.
The ape crawled out of the grass hut, stood to a full height of eight feet, and walked across the clearing, disappearing into the trees. Several more could be seen walking around, some tending the fires, others re-thatching huts. All the while, in complete silence. They varied in height from six feet to eight or more, and were covered with thick brown (some bordering on black) hair. They wore no clothing or other adornments.
Glad to see you survived the change, I thought to myself.
Where had the big one gone, eight feet, one-thousand pounds could really do some damage if it wanted to.
"We should go," I whispered to Jehovah. He nodded in agreement.
We turned and there it stood. How long had it been standing there. Why hadn't it attacked us?
"What do we do," Jehovah asked, and I realized that it was the first time he had spoken in days.
"Just walk," I replied.
So we walked, walked right past it. It turned and walked with us. No threat in its step, just a steady, heavy (but quiet) gate.
"Walk slow, don't make any sudden moves," I told Jehovah, and hoped he would listen.
We continued through the forest, Jehovah and I stumbling over roots and rocks, the creature flowing effortlessly over every obstacle.
Eventually we made it to the edge of the forest, and continued to the river bank before stopping.
I turned and there it stood at the tree line, quietly looking until the trees swallowed it whole...
"If only I had a camera," I said.
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