1899- Journey to Mars

They did not see the larger creature behind them. It snatched them up in an instant and dropped the group of them inside the enclosure. Guthrie fought and shot out lightning bolts, but the yellow electricity simply dissipated and broke apart on the long, bristly hairs on the creature’s legs and body. As soon as they stood, Billy noticed the other three wore no helmets. Billy snatched his off his head and said, “You can breathe?”

John said, “Don’t ask me how, but yeah.”

The others followed suit. Guthrie said, “I believe the breathable atmosphere is manufactured by the molds growing on the cavern walls.”

“The blue stuff?” Edgar asked.

“Yes.”

Pat said, “Enough on the science lessons, we’ve got troubles here.”

The three Ten Legs stopped the web fence at ten feet high. It gave the humans room to move around in a roughly circular enclosure thirty feet in diameter.

Billy drew his pistol and shot at the largest one, aiming for the center eye on the top row. It flicked a leg up as a shield and the bullet did little damage. The creature shook the leg as if something stung it, then all four of the Ten Legs walked some fifty yards away and faced inward toward each other.

Ian said, “I swear, it looks to me eyes as if they’re talkin’.”

Bixie moved beside Ian and took his hand in hers as they watched the creatures. She said, “Dey be doin’ exactly dat, brave Ian.”

“Can you read their minds?”

“No, no. I can’t do dat. But I catch a few images from dem. Of us, of de ship, and of strange tings. Dey not sure about us. Maybe food, maybe to watch.”

Ekka said, “We cannot wait for them to decide. We must escape. Koothrappally is in danger.”

Bixie said, “He be safe for da moment.”

“Where is he? Can you see?”

“In a hiding place in da gold. But he can’t stay dere for long.”

The Ten Legs moved to the Argent and the large one grasped the front of the cocooned ship and lifted it from the ground. The Ten Legs began dragging it deeper into the cave.

Ekka hissed, “Dakota’s still inside!” She backed from the web fence, ran forward and jumped over the wall in a high leap. She hit the ground running and sprinted for the Argent.

“Of course, the gravity is less here!” Billy said. He felt so stupid! Billy and the others cleared the wall in seconds, with Ian carrying Bixie over the fence clinging to his back, but no one was going to catch Ekka, who covered ground like a cheetah. She reached the ship, but instead of going to the open hatch, Ekka leaped to the front of the Argent and used both her knives to slash and cut the strands over the front windows. They parted and whipped through the air as she uncovered the viewing glass in seconds.

Pat asked Billy, “What’s she doing?”

“Something crazy and dangerous.”

Ekka dropped to the less sticky ground and reached the hatch in a heartbeat.

[ 67 ]

Dakota stumbled back when he felt the front of the Argent rise into the air. “Uh-oh, here we go again!” He thought about what to do, then decided to leave the ship and find his parents. Dakota made it to the back hatch, feeling the ship vibrating and knew the webs were being cut. He grabbed for the door just as Ekka jerked it open and stepped inside.

“Mom!” He hugged her, then was held at arm’s length.

Ekka’s face was close to his, full of urgency and of love. “We need to go, son, and we have to hurry. You will have to help me fly the Argent.”

“I thought Dad said we shouldn’t do that until we checked it over.”

“We have no time left if we are to save your father and the others.”

Dakota didn’t argue. Instead he followed her through the ship to the command room at a run.

Ekka slid into the command chair and Dakota jumped in the second chair. Ekka said, “Do you remember what we showed you?”