Transient Echoes Read Online Free PDF Page A

case he needed it later.
    Terry sighed and bit into the ripened skin of the fruit. Pink juices slid down his cheeks and dripped onto his thighs. Against his better judgment, he ate a second helping, savoring the taste.
    It was his birthday, after all. He might as well indulge.
     
    ******
    Unknown Location
    April 13, 2350
    Terry awoke to the sound of animals whining. He stretched his arms and moaned. Another day in paradise.
    The dawn clouds were mostly parted, soon to be replaced by a vast and open firmament, and one of the twin suns rose brightly on the horizon’s edge. The Variant air always smelled so clean and sweet after the rain. It would be a good day.
    He grabbed his pack and emerged from the cave, leaving the hole in the earth behind and continuing along his way. His destination lay on a cliff overlooking the forest near the abandoned city. The trek required another hour’s hike through the forest and then a river-crossing, not to mention the eventual climb.
    Late in the morning, he emerged from beneath the trees and found himself on the bank of the river, which was swollen by the storm and diluted with fallen leaves. Several trees littered the riverside, their rotting trunks drowning in the stream. He walked along the northern bank of red clay, leaving a series of footprints behind, a trail for no one to follow.
    A cry rang out somewhere close by, identical to the one that woke him. It came from the east.
    What do you think it is? asked Janice.
    “Could be a bird,” he muttered.
    More like lunch, she said. You should check. I’m hungry.
    He nodded and headed into the forest. A few minutes later, he heard another cry, except it was louder. He was getting close.
    A short time later, he found an opening in the trees, revealing a small glade filled with boulders and broken twigs. Stepping between the rocks, he tried to stay as quiet as possible. As he approached a few of the larger stones, he heard a whimpering groan, light and nasally. Terry leaned against the side of the boulder in order to see the source of the crying.
    The animals were lying on a pile of twigs, huddled together like balls of fur, their eyes still sealed. They appeared to be newborns.
    It was a nest.
    Each of the animals had gray hair all over its body. He recognized the species, which typically carried horns on their foreheads, although this particular feature was noticeably absent on the offspring. The animals had strong back legs with shorter arms in the front, each with six thin claws. Dangerous when fully grown.
    Food is food , said Janice. Grab one, and let’s go.
    Terry hesitated. He didn’t want to kill a helpless infant, not even for food. He still had fruit. He’d be alright.
    Don’t be a coward .
    Terry stepped away from the nest. He’d made a mistake coming here. The mother wasn’t around right now, but she might be soon, and he didn’t feel like introducing himself.
    As he moved, one of the animals yelped, causing the others to do the same. Somehow, he’d disturbed them. Better get out of here quick, he thought.
    He leapt over one of the rocks, grabbing the branch of a nearby tree and pulling himself onto it. He took a moment to look at the nest, but immediately regretted it.
    Two meters from the infants, staring at him from the grass, a hulking beast stood breathing, slime dripping from its mouth and nose.
    Terry maintained eye contact, not quite knowing what to do. The animal growled, opening its jaws to reveal an unpleasantly large set of teeth.
    This isn’t good , said Janice.
    Terry turned and bolted, leaping from the tree and out of the glade. He curved around a stump, kicking up dirt and switching directions. The animal was fast and growing closer with every step. He reached to his side for the machete. He’d never killed anything larger than a small bird with it, so there was no way of knowing how effective it would be against an animal this size. The idea of orphaning the newborns wasn’t appealing, but he’d do