Return To Primordial Island by Rick Poldark (namjoon book recommendations TXT) 📗

“Castillo was a good man,” said Collins. “He didn’t deserve to go out like that.”

Peter shook his head, agreeing. “No one does.”

Nielsen placed a hand on Peter’s shoulder. “Do you sense anything around here? Any others?”

Peter closed his eyes and reached out with his senses, igniting the orbs in his chest. After a minute, he opened his eyes again. “Nope. The coast is clear for now.”

“Can you keep that up as we follow the river back north?” asked Nielsen.

“He’s not some kind of machine,” snapped Tracey.

“I never said he was,” said Nielsen. “In fact, he’s some kind of magic.”

“The answer is ‘no.’ I can’t,” said Peter. “It has to be a conscious effort. I can make periodic checks, but I have to stop and concentrate. It might slow us down.”

“Better safe than sorry,” said Collins. “Just let us know when you’re going to do it, and we’ll stop in as safe a place as possible.”

Peter nodded. Just like the tabletop role-playing games. Searching for danger as he went, but each check would constitute a turn.

They stuck close to the river, making their way back to base camp. Collins tried his radio every so often, but to no avail. The island was interfering. The sun rose high in the sky, and at midday Collins unshouldered his pack. “We have to eat and hydrate.”

The others slowed down and followed suit, grabbing granola bars and bottled water from their packs. Wrappers crinkled and the group ate, taking swigs of water between bites.

“I have to take a leak,” said Peter.

“That’s not a bad idea,” said Nielsen.

Tracey looked down as she rubbed her stomach with her right hand. “I have to…do something else.”

“We stick together,” said Collins.

“There’s no way I’m doing that in front of you,” said Tracey, grimacing at her stomach upset.

“I don’t want you wandering off,” demanded Collins. “Who knows what’s out there?”

“Sounds like it’s time for one of my checks,” said Peter. He closed his eyes and reached out all around them. He felt the plants around them, birds in the trees, several monkeys, but no clear and imminent threats. “The coast is clear right now.”

Collins nodded. “Okay, let’s make it quick.”

They each split up, as privacy was apparently still important, even on an island in another dimension. Peter wandered off away from the river. He heard Collins warn Tracey not to go too far. He didn’t hear her response, but he could’ve imagined it. He would’ve gone with her, but not for what she was about to do. A tinkle was one thing. Dropping the kids off at the pool was another.

He picked a good spot and unzipped his fly. He took a look around, checking over his shoulder. Satisfied he was alone, he relieved himself. It felt good to empty his bladder. Just moments ago, he was too terrified to know he had to urinate, so this small moment came as a welcome relief. As he zipped back up, he was startled by a rustling in the bushes off to his left. He meant to close his eyes and reach out with his senses, but he didn’t get the chance.

Six lizard men emerged from the vegetation, five of them holding spears. One held an orb in his hands.

Oh crap, thought Peter. He wondered how they evaded his detection and if they’d searched for him after his narrow escape down river. He put his hands up, surrendering, as he was unarmed. He cursed himself for not asking for a weapon back in the armored truck.

He heard the voices of his friends chattering behind him. Nielsen told everyone to hurry up. Tracey shouted something back. Peter weighed his options. He could either shout for help, but his friends would have to face off against six lizard men, five of them armed. Or, he could let the lizard men take him and spare the others being taken captive or worse. Only Collins was armed. With an automatic rifle, he stood a fair chance.

The lizard man with the orb flared his dewlap and approached Peter, holding out the orb. He knew this meant it wanted to communicate. The others stood there, holding their spears, but otherwise posing no immediate threat. Peter reached out and palmed the orb.

A familiar wordless voice entered his mind. ‘I see you are unharmed.’ It was the one he’d encountered underground. The one who showed him the visions of their history.

‘No thanks to you. You can have me. Leave the others alone.’

‘If that is what you wish.’

‘What do you want?’

The lizard man swallowed several times, his tongue flittering out between his lips. ‘I need your help.’

Peter didn’t expect this response. ‘My help? You need my help?’

‘My people are warlike, bold, and equally foolish.’

Peter didn’t know what to say to that. ‘You speak as if you’re not including yourself with them.’

The lizard man waved a clawed hand as it spoke. ‘Unfortunately, I share their grim fate if I do not intercede.’

Tracey came bounding into Peter’s small clearing, laughing to herself. “Jesus, Peter, how long does it take to…” Her eyes went wide when she saw the lizard men, “…drain the lizard.”

The lizard men bobbed their heads, extending their dewlaps at full mast. A few wielded their spears, pointing them at Tracey.

She screamed, but Peter waved his right hand at her while keeping the other on the sphere. “Tracey, wait.”

She looked at Peter, his hands on the orb, confused. “What’s going on here?”

Collins and Nielsen burst into the clearing.

“Oh my God,” gasped Nielsen, jaw hanging open.

Collins raised his rifle, training it on the lizard men. “Dr. Albanese, are you okay?”

The lizard men with the spears hissed at them, waving their sharpened spear tips. One produced a bolus and was twirling it in the air