Dangerous Planet
CHAPTER 12 The next day, early in the morning, Stan began to prepare for a hike to the river, and then to her crossing. With himself, he decided to take Jema not Shirrou. When he told her about it, Shirra rolled up such a fit, that he hardly forgot how to speak. Like an enraged cat, Shirra ran around the cabin and tossed things in all directions. At the same time she shouted that she would go with him, and she would not be left alone in this labyrinth of metal. To all the persuasions and arguments that she was with Jill, she reacted just like an elephant on a traffic signal. And when all the arguments were exhausted, Stan took her by the hand, took him aside and whispered something in her ear. Surprisingly, it worked on Shirra and she dropped the crutch that she was about to launch into Jema, believing that she was seducing Stan.
Jill, too, was not enthusiastic about his decision, but unlike Shirra, she did not react so violently and only asked when they would return. Stan did not know how long it would take the road to the river, and so Jema answered: "In a few days, you know." Actually Stan did not want to take even Jema even despite her ability to use a weapon. Especially after the unknown to him Sean and Martin were searching for the cargo compartment, using the same glade laid by the ship during a collision with the planet. But then he thought that anything could happen on the way, and decided to take it. True, Jema did not come to the special delight of his decision, but did not refuse, realizing that this is the only way to get out of the planet. She did not have to persuade her for a long time, because she herself saw how the planet quickly killed people who survived the disaster. She did not want to be among their number. The hunter also set out on his journey. This increased their chances of a successful outcome of the campaign, but at the same time reduced the confidence that after the return they would find Shirrou and Jill alive. But there was no question of leaving a hunter to them. Everyone understood this perfectly. In other matters, it did not matter much, because the hunter obeyed Stan only and even then not always. Still, he was a strange and incomprehensible creature. When everything was ready, Stan nodded his head good-bye to Jill and silently turned to Shirra, whose damp eyes glittered and it seemed that tears sprang from them. "Be careful," Stan said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "This is the most important thing." he still wanted to say something, but changed his mind and left the cabin. Jema, too, did not stretch the moment of parting and, kissing Jill, turned to Shirra. "She will show you everything and tell you what and how." "All right, Jema." Shirra embraced her and pressed her against her for a moment. "Take care of Stan," she asked unexpectedly. "Do not worry." Jema was surprised by her request, but she did not give a look. "Well see you soon girls." she went out into the corridor and heard behind her back the door of the cabin locked. When she and Stan came out and walked a dozen steps, Stan suddenly stopped and picked up the abandoned deckchair. "What is it?" Jema stopped beside her and curiously studied his work. "Bed," Stan explained briefly. "How did you say?" Jema asked, as if she had not heard. "Bed," Stan said hastily, and then, without looking at her, added: "If it's not difficult for you, then let's talk to me without this officiality. It somehow annoys me." "All right," Jema shrugged and picked up the second lounger. "What did you do with them, a, Stan?" "We were asleep on it." "Did you sleep?" "Yes, we slept," Stan nodded his head affirmatively and explained in a few words exactly how they did it. "We were not lying on the ground," he finished his speech. "You're right," Jema agreed. "Where did Shawn spend the night when he searched for the cargo hold?" Stan asked after a short pause. "He had a portable field generator," Jema explained. "With his help, he created a force space in the center of which he was himself. "Lucky guy," Stan said with a grain of envy. "We'll settle no worse." Smiling, Jam reassured him, then pulled a mini-generator out of her pocket. "One disappeared with Sean, but yesterday I found another block." "Well done," Stan complimented and threw aside the now useless lounger. "Now we do not have to carry these things with us." "I agree," Jema smiled again and hid the generator in her pocket. Then she pulled out the blaster and looked inquiringly at Stan. "Well, shall we go?" "Let's go," Stan nodded and started off, promising to be long and difficult. About two hours later they made the first stop and decided to rest a little. During this time, they walked six kilometers and met on their way a few human corpses, more precisely skeletons, and a lot of wreckage of the ship. When they ran into the next skeleton, Jema always insisted that it was the work of a bipedal, but at the same time, if the bipedal did not kill the person in person, then surely it devoured his flesh. Stan in such cases silently listened to her and only shook his head. So far, it was clear to him one thing: a bipedal, or what is hidden behind this name, was an elusive and dangerous creature. He also understood that it was practically impossible to predict its appearance. This, of course, did not suit him, but, apparently, nothing could be done about it. * * * The hunter who followed Stan steadily, calmly treated everything, and only once from his body did a toothy jaw appear, which must have meant the presence of some creature nearby. True, it was difficult to verify, because the range of the telepathic field reached about a kilometer, which meant that, if desired, he could finish off some creature that was far away from the clearing along which they walked. But Stan did not frighten such incredible opportunities of his silent companion, but quite satisfied. It's better to let the hunter destroy everyone on this planet than someone will try to do this with them. Stan, of course, can be said to have loved animals, but not enough to part with his own life. He believed that only fools could do this, and it's still said softly. When the place to rest was chosen, Jema pulled out the mini-generator and opened the panel. Then she pressed a few buttons, and them with Stan first lifted a few centimeters into the air, and then enveloped in a translucent blue haze. Now they were inside a force field of several square meters and could rest without fear that someone would attack them, or from the ground, on which you sit, crawl out the creature and bite. Such a mini-generator was simply irreplaceable in similar situations. As the saying goes: "Feel the difference." And Stan felt it. "Not bad. Not bad at all," he said, satisfied, dropping onto the translucent floor. "Not the right word," Jema smiled and lowered the bags of food. "Your friend will not be offended that we left him outside?" "A hunter, is it?" "Yes." "I do not know," Stan shrugged and thought that he really did not know that. "Somehow it will outlive me," Jema said with a wave of her hand. "Let's have a snack and talk. You don’t mind?" "No, of course," Stan shook his head and gave her a stingy smile. "Can I ask you?" Jema asked, opening her bag. "You can," Stan said. "Tell me," Jema paused for a moment and opened the jar of food with a deft movement. "It smells delicious." she sucked in the aroma from the jar, and continued, "Why are you always so gloomy?" The question caught Stan off guard, but he still managed to answer. "Where did you get it from?" he asked. "I see," Jema smiled and laid her hand on his shoulder. "Do not be offended by me, okay?" "I do not even know the words," Stan said, moving away a little. "Well, all right," Jema, sighing, removed her hand and began to take her portion. She took everything to the last crumb she stretched out on a semi-transparent floor and, screwing up her eyes, began to look at the sky. "Did you notice?" she asked suddenly. "What?" Stan looked up from the food and involuntarily looked around. The hunter was calm, which meant that the danger did not threaten them. "There are no birds here, Stan," Jema said, turning from her back to her stomach. "What?" Stan asked. "Birds," Jema repeated. "Once upon a time I was on Earth and saw creatures that fly through the air. Were you on Earth?" "No," Stan shook his head and again began to eat, "The Earth is very far away, and there is nothing to do there. The old planet," he added. "I know." Jema looked at him attentively, and a strange twinkle flashed in her dark eyes. "It's time for us," Stan said after five minutes. "Have you already rested?" Jema asked. "Yes, I do not seem to be tired," said Stan, shrugging his shoulders. "Then in a way," Jema pulled out a field generator from her pocket and turned off the protection. The smoke that surrounded them from all sides, dissipated, and they again stood on foreign soil. "Hmmm," Stan said, glancing at the flat generator, "a good thing." "If you look carefully, you can find everything," Jema answered, hiding the generator back in her pocket. "You can," Stan agreed. Then they walked in silence and only occasionally exchanged a few words on the case. Despite the indifferent attitude to all women, Stan liked more than Shirra, and he even thought about that after they find the cargo hold and launch a repeater with an encoded signal into orbit, it can be taken in search of the ship that suffered accident on this planet. For some reason, this ship did not leave Stan's head, and he mentally from time to time returned to the moment when in the night sky saw a falling bright spot. But, despite the absurdity, it still seemed to him that this ship belongs to an extraterrestrial civilization, which one, it did not matter much. But why he was so sure of his extraterrestrial origin, Stan himself did not know. James did not speak about his assumptions, as well as about the fallen ship. True, she herself could hear the distant sound of the explosion, but, apparently, she did not pay attention to this, otherwise she would have long ago stuck to him with questions. Of course, one day he will tell her about the ship, and about his conjectures. But while Stan preferred to remain silent he knew nothing about Jam, and although he liked him more than Shirra, he did not trust her yet, as he did not trust anyone except, of course, the hunter. With the hunter, he got on very well, and Stan sometimes felt that he understood him well. But it is possible that he is too self-confident and mistaken. "Stan, you know, the local trees do not burn," Jema said suddenly. "How?" Stan stopped for a second, and then went on. "A few days ago I tried to light a fire, but I did not succeed. Imagine yourself?" Jema made big eyes, and one could think that this circumstance most of all does not give her rest. "Wait, Jema ... The fire is ..." "Open fire," Jema prompted. "That's right," Stan said in surprise. "And why do you need it?" "It's so simple," Jema shrugged and thought: "About ninety years ago, when I was very young, one of my friends showed me how to build bonfires." It seemed very interesting to me." she smiled and sighed dreamily." And I can say that there is something in it. "In the fire?" Stan asked. "Yes. In the open fire." " Probably," not quite confidently Stan said. "But, in my opinion, it is not very practical and convenient. I heard that near the fire you can burn yourself or suffocate from the smoke." "It's all nonsense," Jema dismissed his remark. "If it's at a safe distance, then there's nothing dangerous." "Well, perhaps," agreed Stan, who in general did not care where to sit. "And why did you start talking about the fire?" after a pause, he asked. "It's necessary to talk about something. Jill was silent all the time, and I had a hell of a time with her, "Jema explained." I like to talk, and you? " "No," Stan said, thinking for the first time that it was better to travel with Shirra. She though and ached occasionally, but never talked so much. "It's a pity." Jema sighed and fell silent for a while. Stan really needed it. He began to listen attentively to the forest sounds, and at the same time he shot from time to time. Several times they ran into green mats, and Stan, without thinking twice, burned them with a blaster. Jema approved his actions and, believing that the local creatures do not belong to the highly organized class, decided to help him. She personally burned two creatures, which, spread out, lay on their path. These were not bipeds, but Jema, guided by security considerations, decided to destroy everything that moves and falls into her field of vision. She was not going to risk her life. | |
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