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

The lizard man holding the orb made strange guttural sounds at the others. Because Peter’s hands were still on the orb, he caught the order—Now.

Two of the lizard men attacked the other three. The three attacked appeared just as surprised as everyone else. Collins held his fire, appearing unsure of what to target. One victim took a spear to the chest and went down immediately. The remaining two victims fought back. However, one took a spear to the side and had its throat ripped out by a clawed hand. The remaining victim killed one of the traitors but was finished off by the other one.

Collins trained his weapon on the one survivor. “Will somebody tell me what the hell is going on?”

‘Grux will not harm you,’ said the lizard man holding the orb to Peter.

“Wait,” said Peter.

“Tell me what’s going on,” demanded Collins.

“Why did they attack each other?” asked Nielsen.

‘Why did your men turn on themselves?’ asked Peter.

‘Grux and Drok are among those sympathetic to my cause. Drok was a good man. Pity he had to die.’

‘What cause is that?’

‘The cause of all of us on the island, including the Uminami.’

Peter wondered at the reference, but soon realized he meant the Umazoans.

The lizard man cocked its head sideways. ‘You are not like the other Uminami.’

‘And you are not like the other lizard men,’ retorted Peter.

‘That is because I am not. My name is Ghenga. I am one of the higher evolved of what you call the lizard men. We are the Zehhaki. My people are in grave danger.’

‘Why should I care about your people when they attack mine? I woke you from extinction, and you choose to hurt my friends.’

Collins stepped forward, training his gun on Grux. Grux looked to Ghenga, who croaked something to him. Grux bowed and laid his spear on the ground.

“These aren’t like the others,” said Peter over his shoulder.

“What do they want?” asked Tracey.

“Hold on,” said Peter. “I’m trying to find out.”

“How?” asked Collins.

“He’s communicating with him somehow,” said Tracey, “using the orb.”

“Remarkable,” gasped Nielsen, watching with great interest.

‘Unfortunately, it is Zehhaki nature to wage war and pillage. It is what led to our extinction so many cycles ago. And now, given a second chance, it looks as if they are going to repeat the same mistakes again. If left unchecked, they will destroy the balance in this place. Without a natural predator, they will destroy the entire food chain.’

Peter cursed himself. He hadn’t intended to awaken them. His carelessness was going to bring down a whole ecosystem. ‘What can we do about it?’

‘You,’ said Ghenga. ‘You possess the power of the two orbs. You possess dominion over life and death.’

‘I could send you all back into extinction using the death orb.’

‘That is one option…’

Peter felt Ghenga rummaging around his mind, searching through memories…recent memories. ‘You do not yet know how to wield the death orb, but you have received an offer to learn.’

‘What was that thing that offered to teach me?’ asked Peter.

‘That is Nazimaa. She is a dangerous presence in our land, a demon spirit of a common enemy of all life. She has dominion over sickness and healing, water, and darkness. She is entombed, sleeping…waiting to be reawakened in bodily form.’

‘Okay, so she’s someone to stay away from.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ve pretty much gathered that. So, if I can’t send the Zehhaki back into extinction, what is my other option?’

‘There is another race that, if awoken, can bring balance.’

‘The ape men,’ said Peter.

‘You must go to the temple of the Simian King and awaken them from their cycles-long slumber. Only then will the Zehhaki be counter-balanced.’

Peter didn’t like this prospect. He had awoken one race and unleashed war and death upon the rest of the island. Was awakening yet another race the answer? What would they be like? ‘Is the other race—the Simians—good?’

‘Good?’

‘Will they hurt life?’

‘They will wage war with the Zehhaki. It is in their nature.’

‘So, they are good.’

‘There is no good,’ said Ghenga. ‘There is no evil. We each act according to our nature. The Zehhaki are not good or evil. Some wage war, and others are charged with using thought and strategy—both for the survival of the race.’

‘Why should I do this? Why should I trust what you say? Why don’t I just go to Nazimaa?’

‘I have not threatened you in any way. I come to you offering balance…a chance for your people.’

Peter removed his hands from the orb. He didn’t want Ghenga to have access to his thoughts at this moment. Balance? A chance? The Umazoa weren’t even his people, but Ghenga didn’t know that. Yet, he felt some responsibility for them. He even, in some twisted way, felt some responsibility towards the Zehhaki. Some deity he turned out to be. He woke an ancient race, and his children were the scourge of the island.

Tracey appeared by his side. “What is it, Peter?”

Peter held up a hand. “Hold on a second.” He placed his hands back on the orb, re-establishing the connection. ‘What if I refuse to get involved?’

Ghenga’s dewlap twitched. ‘You are already involved. The other Zehhaki are searching for you. They know what you saw. They know I showed you historical records of the Simians. They know what I want to happen, for the good of the race. The leadership disagrees.’

‘You didn’t answer my question. Why should I help you?’

‘Because the others have your friends, the hunter and your mate.’

‘Jason and Mary?’

‘They will use them to get to you. To stop you before you awaken the Simian race.’

Peter shook his head. ‘Go to them. Tell them I won’t do it.’ However, he knew that wouldn’t work. The Zehhaki wouldn’t respond to negotiations. That