The Raid of Kollanus -Chapter 01

As swine are measured, this one was quite large, well over four feet high at the shoulder and even a bit taller at the peak of the massive, warty head. The right front hoof, splayed in some long ago fight was the main cause of the beast’s lurching, uneven gait and the smallish pig eyes, which actually couldn’t see very far, peered into the undergrowth in search of either prey or predator lurking there. The mass of bushes actually did conceal several predators, and although the ponderous brute did turn its head to examine the hint of some inappropriate smell, it was already too late. What appeared to be simple, solid earth, wasn’t. The ground collapsed under the fourteen hundred pound beast and in a frenzy of hooves vainly fanning the air, it fell some nine feet in to a freshly dug pit.

Shredding the air and the dust with its rage, the great hog managed to look up in to the faces of perhaps ten bearded creatures whose looks were very nearly as fierce as his own. The cacophony of laughing shrieks and loud hoots which now rained down on the trapped brute were no less a torment than were the stinging rocks which began pelting him about the head and shoulders. Then one of the bearded, two legged creatures, seeking a better vantage point lost his footing and screaming in panic fell in alongside the thrashing beast which spun about awkwardly and impaled the left thigh of his fallen antagonist with a curved yellow tusk. The scream of pain, a full octave higher than any of the ongoing din, accompanied by spurting blood and a look of wild-eyed terror on the face of the unfortunate man filled his fellows with intense feelings of desperation. Now there was no time to further infuriate the animal. If they were to save their comrade, the time for killing was at hand.

As the beast prepared to bite the struggling man, a searing pain jabbed deep into its back. The slender spear had entered close to the great hog’s spine and had penetrated perhaps nine inches deep. There was great pain, but the missile was just beyond the reach of the horrid, gaping jaws. In its wild thrashing, the pole was broken off. Now any chance of removing the source of its agony was gone, but it made no difference. Already half a dozen sharpened poles had found their marks. There was life remaining in the stricken brute but that now was ebbing and as the legs lost their strength, it lay there moaning with each breath. It watched as the men slipped into the pit, but the fight was over and the will to live was so far gone, that there was not even an attempt to resist as a razor sharp stone slipped in and ripped open the throat.

The butchering was done quickly. Meat, sinew and hide were carried to the surface while stomach contents and other waste parts were left in the pit. The injured hunter was helped to the surface and then the ladder was drawn up. Finally, the pit itself was refilled and the broken ground was packed under a mat of leaves and twigs. Very quickly it looked exactly as it had originally and this was important. If other tribes were to learn the jealously guarded tribal secrets used in this hunt, it was generally agreed that such game would soon become scarce. After looking about, the hunters relaxed a bit. Their secrets were safe. No one had seen them.

It so happens however, that they had been seen. In fact, their entire hunting, trapping and killing procedures had not simply been observed, but had been documented and recorded in detail by five of the strangest looking creatures ever seen on Earth. These men were quite tall, smooth skinned and they stood erect. They were dressed in a kind of smooth fabric which had been individually tailored and they carried with them a variety of equipment. some of this was classified as weaponry and some tools and one odd looking device with many movable parts was of use only when mounted on a stand of three legs. Part of this was used for viewing and part for recording visual action.

The entire trapping and slaughter which had just taken place was now recorded on plastic for view and review at leisure the scene just acted out some two miles from their camouflaged observation point was exactly the type of activity they had come so very far to see. They had to examine a pair of gauges on the equipment in order to see that the exceedingly humid atmosphere had not clouded the matched lenses. Everything was perfect and as one of the quintet made a series of notations, the others packed gear and shortly all were aloft, soaring above the forest, impelled by a train of invisible particles.

The place where the five observers joined the main body of their sojourners was at the very top of a high outcropping of rock and soil which looked down on a lake so full of salt that almost nothing could live there. It was hot in this place and quite dry and was chosen mainly because it was similar to the climate of the world they had traveled from and to a lesser importance, the topography would render this an easy place to defend against any group of savages who might chance to discover them. It happened that none of these creatures ever approached this part of the world. No game, no fruit or anything else they held valuable was there. water was available, but this was not known at the time.

For the first time since he had begun leading his search group on these missions, Kollanus felt he had something important to show the Empowered and he began trying to read the faces of the other group leaders awaiting their turns to “present evidence.” There was no purpose in trying to read these faces, however. These were men who made it a matter of pride in being able to mask any semblance of inner feeling, be it excitement, depression or anything in between. He felt a dozen pairs of eyes on his face as his name was called and he knew he betrayed nothing.

“Empowered Sirs,” Kollanus began, “these five days just ended, my group has witnessed a village people we consider as deserving serious consideration. These people…and people is the proper word here… actually bury their dead in rather elaborate ceremony. They engage in pre-planned group endeavors, building substantial shelter. It is true that the same coarseness of facial structure as the others is theirs and they stand one third shorter than we, but there are redeeming features to consider. They make both weapons and tools… yes, actually manufacture them! They use teamwork in this as well as in the entrapment of beasts. Incidentally, they do eat any meat they can except of the insect variety. They even eat those meats prone to containing the cylinder worm which destroys the intestine… and naturally, the ingestion of this must be stopped. These people seem to have no enemies and from what we have been able to observe from our distant points of vantage, they appear to already possess a vocabulary of some complexity. This, if true, would place them one step above the others in the ladder of evolution, in that it would require a longer vocal cord arrangement than the others possess.”

A few questions from the Empowered, a showing of the likenesses in both still and action on plastic, followed by a more intensified question and answer period came to an end with the decision to capture and examine. Kollanus this time was unable to completely mask his feelings. He was delighted to hear that he was to direct a capture mission to the village where several specimens, both females and males, were to be taken. While it might prove easier to just take a hunting group as they were engaged on a mission, females seldom went along on these, so the more difficult village assault was decided upon. “One thing, Respected Kollanus”, the Senior of the Empowered rasped, “treat them gently. Remember, an injured specimen is of less value.”

Kollanus then asked that his crew be invited to make the trip along with the capture mission and quickly this was granted. All together, twenty six took to the air en route to the target village. It was during their close order flight that Kollanus addressed the group. “I must warn everyone,” he shouted to be heard above the hum of the particle propellant and the hiss of the wind, “make no mistake… this will not be an easy mission.” Then, detecting hints of smirks creasing these faces which had not, like his, been trained to mask feelings. He continued, “I have observed their daring and fear seems all but lacking in them.” He had more to say, but Kollanus sensed that the capture specialists placed no value on his cautioning.

The place chosen to land and secret their equipment was judged a good one. It was high on a steep butte and while it seemed unlikely that any savages might stumble upon the place, two men stayed behind to guard it while the others proceeded on foot. Just before reaching the precipice from where they could observe the village, a hush fell over the group. A perimeter watchman was approaching. He never knew what was happening as a slender wire loop flipped past his face and quickly grew taut across his windpipe. Unable to make a sound, he dropped his spear and tried, vainly, to loosen the deadly wire with his fingertips. The last thing the bulging eyes saw was the expressionless face of his executioner as he drew the wire choking tight. The body convulsed and jerked for several sickening seconds then slackened and collapsed into death.

With no semblance of life remaining, the wire was removed and a brief examination of the body was performed. Notations were made about the massive size of the skull and the brutish structure of the mouth. There was no time for any general discussion here, but one of the party whispered to his companion, “We are on a fool’s mission… he is more beast than he is man… there is really no point in all this.”

The vantage point Kollanus had chosen turned out to be a good one and from it, as darkness closed in, the watchers saw three large fires and several smaller ones. “The small. ones are for cooking, I think.” was one whispered comment, “And for warmth too,” was another. “Enough commenting, “Kollanus said softly, “Surely the disappearance of this guardsman will he noticed. We must prepare for our assault … and as I have already observed, they are less than half an hour from their normal retirement time.” Switching their gaze from the pat~ where they looked for a possible second guard and the central gathering area where a kind of grotesque dance and the echoes of some sort of chanting were heard from the less than a quarter of a mile distance, the hunting party felt its collective pulse rise as the fires began to flicker. Presently, men, women and children began to break away from the crowd and head for their resting places.

Finally with many of the flames becoming embers, the last ones turned toward their shelters and the watchers crept toward the village. There was one old female, bent and covered by hair now devoid of color whose job it was to fuel the one illuminating fire. So twisted and arthritic, she was forced to use one bony arm to brace herself as she moved. Her one good flared with terror as she looked upon the first of the invaders first of the- invaders and doubtless she would have cried out in alarm, but before she could, a strong hand clapped around her mouth. Within seconds, another of these strange men injected a liquid into her leg. In a few seconds, the old woman was asleep but y then angry village dogs began to bark and the sleepers began to stir.

There really was no struggle. Aroused villagers burst from their shelters to find a force of tall, smooth skinned outsiders, macabre masks covering most of their facial. area and an outlandish sweet smell to the night air. Within seconds, all of the villager s began to collapse while the invaders remained erect, -entirely untouched by the now sickening fumes. The stricken villagers remained awake, more than that, alert but unable to more than roll their eyes as the awful invaders were able to walk about with impunity. The invaders stepped over and sometimes deliberately on them while making an inspection of some kind. Then to their horror, they watched helplessly as several of their group were lifted, bodily and carried out of the village. The entire operation was carried out within minutes. Not long after the invaders and their quarry had strode off into the night, the villagers began to stir. Some sickness lingered for hours, and there was no effort made to retrieve those who were taken from their midst. “These are the people you described in such glowing terms?” the Empowered asked, skepticism coloring his words. “These are the ones with intelligence?” No longer trying to mask his feelings, he frowned toward a sullen group made up of three women, two men and two children. One of the children was still vomiting. Then to himself he muttered, “If these are the superior ones, what might the others be? ” He shook his head slowly, looked thoughtfully at the short fingers on the massive hand on one of the captives, shrugged and announced that for better or for worse, the experiments were to begin.