In Search of the Alter Dom (13 page)

‘You mean, to make their blood drink, Tarrish with?’ Blodwyn enquires. ‘Tarrish is made from animal blood,’ answers Karak.

“And pigs can fly,” thought Blodwyn. She knew the Malis Afar was lying.

‘Why do the Na Idriss cover their faces – are they carnivores – what are they hiding?’

‘The veil is their custom,’ replies Karak diplomatically.

‘And why do they keep sniffing me like some rare orchid?’ Blodwyn asks. ‘It is their nature,’ replies Karak, ‘their noses are as keen as their eyes – don’t worry, intelligent and useful Terasils like you, will be safe from the Na Idriss and given high positions – we might even marry some suitable females and begin a sub-species!’

“Gross,” thought Blodwyn (but instead answered), ‘How wonderful,’ in her most gullible voice. Blodwyn was beginning to enjoy this acting experience. She was able to give full vent to every over the top facial expression and mannerism she knew, without reprimand, (usually from her astute mother), even her terrible overacting went unnoticed. ‘What is your plan,’ asks Blodwyn. ‘I will inform you later,’ replies Karak.

‘We, the Malis Afar,’ continued Karak ‘knew your species when Terasils were small and helpless prey to all the carnivores; that is why your race is now so nervous, suspicious and aggressive. Your distant ancestors led a traumatic existence – hunted on the ground during the day when forced by hunger to forage. Dragged off by lions, hyenas, eagles and…’ Karak stopped himself. ‘Then at night – still no rest, as your ancestors huddled together shivering with cold and fear as a leopard or large python climbed the tree they sheltered in. We Malis Afar saved your race from extinction. We kept your ancestors as pets, taught them how to use fire and make simple weapons. We were good masters – they were grateful and trusted us.’

“Arrogant Pig,” thought Blodwyn, but gave Karak a sweet smile. ‘Where did the Malis Afar live on Earth?’ Blodwyn asks.

‘In the Southern Hemisphere,’ answers Karak, ‘we built Atlantis, our capital, twenty seven million years ago, but left before the great ice age.’

‘That’s amazing,’ replies Blodwyn putting on her most impressed face, ‘did you take any of your Terasil pets with you?’

‘Yes – we didn’t have the heart to leave them, but they have changed in appearance – the air on Afar Minor is sulphurous,’ Karak replies.

‘How touching,’ says Blodwyn, squeezing out a very small tear that dramatically trickled down her face. She could see Karak was touched in a cold-blooded way by these theatricals. However Blodwyn just did not want to know how Terasils had changed. ‘So we Terasils owe our survival to the kindness of the Malis Afar.’ She sobbed. The cold-blood was impressed by this show of gratitude.

Karak was the key to her survival. He was the only one able to protect her from the Na Idriss. ‘I will help you,’ answers Blodwyn, her fingers crossed behind her back, (Grunwalde’s favourite trick) ‘but on one condition. You never leave me alone with the Na Idriss.’ Karak the Malis Afar nodded in agreement – the Cold-blood was content.

‘What do you want me to say?’ Blodwyn asks.

‘Convince the other Advanced Races that the Lings are agreeable to the Malis Afar’s return to Earth, for certain concessions.’

Captain Timasek and another Na Idriss appeared from the darkness. They both sniffed in Blodwyn’s direction like big cats on the prowl. She noticed the Na Idriss became more active as night approached and their pupils dilated like any cat. ‘Will the female Terasil co-operate, commander?’ Timasek asks. ‘Yes!’ answers Karak.

‘Have you seen Grunwalde Angharad?’ Blodwyn asks the Malis Afar.

‘Only a glimpse – she was dancing with a creature half Terasil and half goat, in an Alpine meadow,’ answers Karak, ‘but somehow she sensed our presence and disappeared.’

‘But there is a problem,’ announces Capt Timasek bluntly, ‘the Queen of Lings is supposed to be beautiful – this one has the scary eyes of a giant Banerian Owl.’ The three aliens look closely at Blodwyn’s eyes: it was true! The thick lenses made them look enormous, showing up every blood vessel. ‘Sir – she would scare them all with eyes like that,’ says Timasek.

Blodwyn’s pride was hurt – she took off her spectacles. The Aliens are surprised at the transformation of Blodwyn’s face.

‘Perfect,’ says Karak, ‘with the right clothes, you will fool anyone, even the Shape-shifting Semmi Tal.’

Lt Sangar returns as the nightly storm begins outside, and reports. ‘All clear Sir, every creature is hiding from the storm – just two harmless night birds twittering outside the cave.’

‘Tomorrow we will go through the Betelgeux wormhole!’ Blodwyn heard Karak announce. Her heart fell – she did not like the sound of this. ‘Where are you meeting the other races for the banquet?’ she asks.

‘The next Galaxy – Andromeda,’ answers Karak. Blodwyn could have fainted, she was terrified – how would she ever get back? “That cow Myfanwy Jenkins,” thought Blodwyn again, “just you wait.” But where were the two Lings – would they rescue her before she left Earth’s Galaxy, the Milky Way?

‘It’s a shame we do not have the two Lings,’ muses Captain Timasek.

Karak takes Captain Timasek out of Blodwyn’s earshot: or so he thinks and whispers. (Blodwyn’s acute hearing tunes in to the conversation – like a wireless operator tunes in to a distant signal).

‘Our next stop will be a planet without a single blade of grass or drop of water – the Lings will follow and arrive exhausted – they will not find any sustenance. We will only have to pick them up off the ground.’

‘What planet?’ the Na Idriss enquires.

‘Goya Perilus!’ the Cold-blood answers.

‘Goya Perilus!’ exclaims Captain Timasek horrified, ‘Goya Perilus is the home of the Orb eyed Oga Koya. They once wiped out the whole crew of a Na Idriss, Night-Predator battleship that landed for repairs.’

‘Calm down Captain, the Oga Koya are only primitives,’ replies the Cold-blood, ‘if you keep them at two arms’ length, never look into their orb-eyes and concentrate on the smaller set of eyes below, you will be safe.’

‘The Oga Koya has always made the Na Idriss nervous,’ replies Captain Timasek, ‘their stare numbs the brain – even the way they move is disgusting.’

‘I have good news,’ replies Karak, ‘a fleet of Malis Afar Interceptor warships caught the whole Oga Koya tribe above ground – we even killed their repulsive egg-laying Queen Maag – only a few escaped.’

‘Did you find their gold?’ asks the Na Idriss greedily.

‘No,’ replies Karak, ‘it is hidden too deep underground – the Oga Koya have evolved to live and move underground – the Malis Afar have not. You have a chance for revenge and a quarter share in gold.’

‘In gold!’ repeats Timasek.

‘Yes,’ answers Karak, ‘the thieving six-fingered Salis Panar are delivering a shipment of weapons tomorrow to the Oga Koya, worth over two million Antares gold Ducats. You can also have all the Salas Panar we capture; there are always rewards on the heads of those thieving rogues.’

‘Those thieving six-fingered Salas Panar,’ growls Captain Timasek, ‘would steal their own grandmother’s false Tellium fangs while she shouted for help.’

Blodwyn heard every word, especially concerning the Oga Koya. It would help to save her life later. Blodwyn knew Karak was right – the two Lings would follow and their high metabolism would be their downfall on a barren planet without nectar or pollen. She had to think of a way to help Boodi and Boochi the two Lings, who were out there somewhere. Blodwyn began to doze – she was exhausted.

Blodwyn was soon awoken by a half shout, half roar of pain. ‘The guard has been shot!’ Lt Sanger calls out. Karak, the Malis Afar, inspects the wound. ‘He has not been shot – he has been hit by a Ling at high speed; it has gone straight through him, breaking bones and tearing muscle. Venom has not been injected otherwise he would be dead by now. Cut his robe away and remove the veil,’ orders Karak, ‘tend his wounds.’

Curiosity got the better of Blodwyn – she wanted to see what the Na Idriss really looked like under his veil; but another Na Idriss guard growled at her and held her back. ‘Gentlemen,’ announces Karak, ‘now you know why we do not want a guerrilla war with the Lings. Those harmless night birds you saw Lt Sangar, were Changelings! I want all the guards from now on to place their backs to the rock wall of the cave – even Lings cannot survive a high speed collision with rock.’

Blodwyn entered her sleeping bag; her resourceful mind working overtime.

She had to help the Lings and inform them where the Malis Afar were taking her. Blodwyn had to think of a solution before sleep claimed her mind – it came to her in a flash. She would draw on a piece of paper a set of two large orb-eyes with two small eyes below and wrap six barley sugars inside, then, bury it in the sand. The sweets should sustain the Lings on their journey and on the barren planet of Goya Perilus. The Lings’ keen noses would easily detect the whereabouts of the sweet rocks and her message.

We are shiny, lightning quick – black flat snake-heads

Who swallow our meat whole; we be venomous, swift blades men:

From far distant Stellar space – beyond the Lupus Wormhole.

The following morning Blodwyn was the first to awake. The Na Idriss were still sleeping off their disgusting Tarrish binge – the air in the cave was heavy with the pong of tomcat. She noticed Karak was still asleep and shivering; the cave had become icy cold; but Karak’s heated cloak had kept Blodwyn warm; until it lost its heat in the early hours.

Escape entered Blodwyn’s mind – the two Lings would be waiting. Blodwyn collected her belongings quietly, she could not leave them behind; they were a vital part of her survival. Ready and packed, Blodwyn began to slowly creep past the two Na Idriss guards at the entrance of the cave – they looked asleep: like most big dangerous cats do. Blodwyn was wrong – a mistake many humans make to their cost. A dangerous big cat in a seemingly lethargic condition: is deceiving!

In an instant, one of the Na Idriss guards buried his claws into Blodwyn’s backpack as she passed him – there was no escape!

‘Where are you going female?’ growls the Na Idriss guard under his veil. ‘To wash of course,’ fibs Blodwyn indignantly – ‘don’t you wash every morning?’

‘You mean with water – never,’ answers the Na Idriss guard, ‘we lick ourselves clean!’

‘Everywhere?’ Blodwyn asks pulling a disgusted face.

‘Yes – everywhere’ replies the Na Idriss, ‘and that is what you should do!’

‘I certainly will not lick myself everywhere, like a cat,’ replies Blodwyn unpacking the bottle of water. She then proceeds to wash her face.

Soon all the occupants of the cave had risen and were ready to leave. Karak the Malis Afar Cold-blood looked very stiff; he seemed to be moving in slow motion. A Na Idriss warrior was left behind at the cave, with the wounded guard. The group moved slowly for half a mile, keeping pace with their Malis Afar Commander Karak – the Cold-blood.

Suddenly, all the Na Idriss stopped in their tracks. Blodwyn could see the outline of their veiled noses sniffing the still morning air: suspiciously. ‘Serpentils to the left!’ came the warning growl from the lead scout. All the Na Idriss except three, who were carrying lasers, drew their swords and faced a large clump of bushes to the left of the track!

Blodwyn moved behind the Malis Afar Karak, who had not drawn his fine samurai sword; he seemed to be still moving slowly.

Without warning – bursting from the foliage appeared three black, shiny, flat snakeheads – Serpentils!

Their sudden appearance made Blodwyn and the nervous feline Na Idriss warriors nearly jump out of their skins. But Karak the Malis Afar remained calm and still did not draw his sword.

The Serpentils were covered in small jet black, glossy scales. Their large flat snakeheads gaped and hissed, giving Blodwyn a glimpse of their exposed fangs. Their thick necks expanded showing a slight hood. Their intelligent, yet deadly faces reminded Blodwyn of the much feared Hamadryad, the largest venomous snake on Earth, which she had once seen in a nature program.

Long flickering tongues tasted and probed the chill morning air. Strong talloned legs supported a muscular cylindrical torso, with a six-pack that would be the envy of any male. Their muscular arms were arched ready for action. Powerful prehensile tails swished slowly from side to side like that of an angry cat. Blodwyn had a nasty feeling she was the object of the Serpentils’ attention – she felt their black beady, lidless eyes study her.

Moreover like all serpents, their eyes were fixed. The Serpentils constantly moved, or tilted their large heads to focus and change viewpoints. Each Serpentil carried two swords in scabbards fixed to crossed habergeons on their backs – still sheathed! The two groups regarded each other, for a brief moment. ‘Permission to fire, Commander,’ asks one of the Na Idriss warriors, carrying a laser; unable to stand the mounting tension any longer.

‘Lower your weapon,’ orders Karak calmly, ‘you know the Malis Afar code of chivalry – “blade against blade.” The Serpentils only carry swords – still sheathed.’

‘But the snake-heads also carry poison Sir,’ the Na Idriss protests. ‘Silence!’ orders the Malis Afar.

The three Serpentils wore no clothing – only one had a silver Gorget supported by a chain around its thick neck with a legend; that Blodwyn could not quite make out. This Serpentil gave Karak a slight nod as if to acknowledge his sporting gesture.

Blodwyn though terrified, studied the strange reptilian alienoids before her. She did not know who scared her most, the Serpentils or the Na Idriss. The leader of the Serpentils hisses, addressing Karak. ‘Why have you not drawn your sword pale one – have you not heard of our speed and skill with the blade – from your dogs the Na Idriss?’

‘You are a new species to me,’ answers Karak, still retaining his poise, ‘I have no quarrel with your race.’

‘Identify your species and rank,’ the Serpentil leader arrogantly demands.

‘I am Commander Karak – a Malis Afar – a knight of the Aquilla Triangle. We Malis Afar admire any races that are skilled with the blade.’