Chapter Seven

The sound of a terrifying screech echoed through the cavern and jolted Chip awake once again. He sat up finding himself stronger as the medicine man's drug had seriously worn off. His mind was clearer and the approaching sound registered danger immediately as he stood, trying to decide which cavern entrance led outside.

The screech was closer this time, so he grabbed a nearby spear and picked a cavern, not wanting to stick around and find out what owned the horrible sound. But before he could make his exit a beast appeared, momentarily freezing him in surprise. The hideous beast was unlike any he had seen before; he shook off his shock and moved closer to the other spears on the ground, having the definite feeling that it would take more than one blow to bring the creature down as he slowly lowered himself and collected another spear.

The creature hissed as Chip struggled to liken it any known earthly beast. The creature crawled on all-four legs, with its front appendages being shorter. Upon reaching the larger cavern it stood upright on its back feet and rose to over seven feet tall. Sharp spines raced down its back and extended onto its long tail behind him. It had scaly skin on its stomach, offset oddly by the fur on its back. Its head housed the snout of a bear, but with sharp teeth reminiscent of the saber tooth tiger. Its face was framed with a layer of skin that protruded around it, much like the frill-necked lizard of Australia; but its eyes were oddly human in appearance, as well as its facial bone structure, and by the mammary glands apparent on the strange creature, Chip amended his description from "It" to "She".

Chip took a defensive stance as the creature took a step toward him, screeching in loud intimidation.

"Chip!" he heard from another cavern as the sounds bounced off the cave walls.

The creature's head turned toward the sound, hissing hideously, while moving quickly toward the noise and coming in between Chip and the approaching sound. Chip realized his escape route had just been effectively cut-off; but just as importantly, his best friend was walking straight into the creature's path.

"Lee! Don't come any closer, it knows you're here!"

# # # # #

Walter leaned over Jamie's shoulder, nodding approvingly.

"Yes, that's the right plant and it's already been dried. Just brew it like a tea, let it seep for fifteen minutes."

Jamie raised an eyebrow at the thought that a hot tea could actually quell the very potent illness his patients were currently suffering.

"It counteracts the detox properties with extreme efficiency," Walter urged.

"Very well," Jamie relented as errant moans escaped from Seaview's stricken men.

Harry pulled Walter aside as Jamie prepared the brew.

"You're sure this will counter the effects of the drug?"

"I know this plant well, Admiral Nelson, there's no doubt in my mind," Walter replied.

Harry nodded; this bit of information necessary to make his next decision.

"I'm heading back to the island. Notify me if the antidote is unsuccessful."

"Aye Sir," Jamie replied, as Walter helped to prepare the antidote.

# # # # #

Harry moved with decisive steps through Seaview's corridors, entering the Control Room and calling for Sharkey as he headed toward the flying sub's deck hatch.

"Chief, you're with me," he said, and descended down the hatch hastily.

Less than ten minutes later, Harry was back on the beach as FS1 submerged behind him to the safety of the depths. Fresh drops of rain dripped from the jungle leaves as the edge of the storm barely laid down a passing shower, gratefully missing the island and moving onward, losing its strength.

He ran along when a rather substantial tremor rumbled under his feet, temporarily slowing his progress as he stopped to balance himself. Once the earth stopped its rock and roll, Harry resumed his pace to the Ceremony Camp.

# # # # #

"Hold on Chip, we're coming!" Lee yelled as the creature turned toward the cavern's entrance and planted itself on all fours, awaiting their arrival.

It kept Chip at bay, swinging its tail to keep him from taking any other exit and protecting its intended prey, as the mountain let out another tremor, nearly knocking him off his feet.

Chip knew that Lee was heading straight into the creature's ambush and knew he had to do something to even the odds. He could hear the sounds of approaching feet and decided the time to act was now. If he could distract the creature from the entrance, Lee and whoever else "we" were, could enter the cavern. Together they had a chance of bringing down the beast. He leveled a spear and aimed, his shoulder's bare and dressed in native attire, looking very much like a skilled native hunter striking a pose, before launching his spear with all his might. A loud roar echoed through the cavern's many chambers as Keahi turned toward him, standing on her hind legs and hissing as a snake-like split tongue extended out in displeasure. With the creature's chest now exposed, Chip hurled a second spear, catching the great beast in the left shoulder. But before he could hurl his last spear, the creature leapt across the large cave, crossing ten feet in a flash and swiping its extended claw.

Chip looked up into the strange purple eyes of his attacker as it pinned him to the ground, agonizing as the beast's claw ripped across his chest. The creature's face morphed subtly, revealing more human qualities then reverted back as it sank its long saber teeth into his shoulder. Chip screamed in agony, before passing out as his pained body still recovering from several drugs went limp. The creature withdrew from its piercing bite, swiping him with her claw like a common house cat to make sure he was incapacitated. She turned toward the sound of the approaching invaders and hissed, then reached down and grabbed hold of his leg with her teeth. He winced even in his unconscious state, as her controlled bite pierced his leg despite her intended restraint, yet soft enough to avoid breaking bones, as she tugged his limp body toward another chamber. She hid him in the darkness and then returned to the main chamber to face the invaders.

She hissed as the two invaders entered the cave, then screeched her displeasure in a loud roar, ready to fight for her right to keep the gift.

# # # # #

Harry ran the path leading to the Field Camp and continued on toward the native village, intending to take the same parallel route Lee had taken to the base of the volcano. He was surprised however, to realize that the entire village was making its way back to the Ceremony Camp as well, apparently concerned about the volcano's activity, especially since a Makana had been offered. He was careful to keep his own presence stealth as he moved along, with both he and villagers on a converging path to the base of the volcano.

# # # # #

Lee and Keanu moved toward Chip's voice when they heard the beast's screech once again. A strong tremor rumbled under their feet, as dirt and small rocks spilled from the cave ceiling overhead. They had barely got their footing back when they heard the sickening sound of Chip Morton's scream of agony. They hurried their approach until they reached the chamber entrance and were met by the hiss of the strangest creature Lee had ever seen in his life.

A spear was still lodged in its back, and another hanging from its shoulder as evidence that Chip had fought the beast.

The beast roared again, baring its long teeth as Lee recovered from his shock and fired his weapon, momentarily surprising the creature as Keanu moved close enough to thrust his spear into the lower right quadrant of creature's mid-section, striking a vital organ.

Keahi reacted in a roar with an accompanying swipe of her claws, catching Keanu across the shoulder as Lee fired again. She backed off, but the laser gun was set to stun a man, not to bring down some prehistoric beast that lived in an active volcano, and somehow missed nature's call to extinction. Lee stopped to adjust the laser gun to its highest setting and fired once again.

Keahi's pained screech filled the cavern and then rallied herself advancing on Lee, swiping his arm and dislodging his hold on the stun gun before he could fire.

In the meanwhile, Keanu tried to skirt around the Fire Creature to gain access to the last ceremonial spear still lying on the ground. Keahi however, was fast and moved to cut-off his access, effectively pinning both Keanu and Lee against the cave wall with no retreat. The Fire Creature roared in victory, taking the time to gloat before finishing off the intruders. Both Lee and Keanu positioned themselves to fight back, using all the skill the two warriors had at their disposal when an unexpected voice was heard.

"Keahi!" Chip yelled, recalling the Fire Creature's name from the song sang over him while he had been drugged into oblivion. He limped the final steps to the last spear and reached down for it, blood dripping from his injured shoulder, his damaged leg and across his bare chest.

The Fire Creature turned toward the Makana as a strange smile emerged.

"If it's me you want… come and get me!" he yelled, while striking a pose to deliver the last spear.

Keahi roared then abandoned the men pinned against the wall and headed for her prize, a Makana with hair of gold and the eyes of sapphire blue. Chip held his ground until she was nearly upon him then flanked the beast, driving the spear into its neck. In the same moment, Keanu lunged forward, flanking the creature from the other side and driving the spear still lodged in its mid-section deeper into the beast.

Keahi screeched in pain then turned, striking both men with a swipe of her tail, sending both Chip and Keanu in heavy thuds against the cave walls. But her attack was short-lived as Lee shoulder rolled away from the Fire Creature to his intended target, reaching for the discarded laser gun on the ground. He aimed at the creature and fired, holding his aim in the same spot until her reptile skin turned red in the heat. He released the trigger and fired again, allowing the gun to recharge for a second blast as Chip and Keanu recovered and moved safely away from her swinging tail. He released the trigger once again for what he hoped was the last recharge required to down the beast, when Keahi took that moment to escape into a nearby cavern.

Lee had no desire to chase the Fire Creature into its lair, especially inside an active volcano and did the next best thing, aiming the now recharged laser gun to the arch over the chamber entrance and firing until the ceiling collapsed, blocking Keahi's return.

The ground rumbled once again as Lee and Keanu both advanced to take Chip's arms about their shoulders.

"Let's get out of here before this thing blows," Lee suggested.

"Fine by me," Chip breathed out as Keanu helped the man who would now be Kanini's husband. He had already considered the results of his actions before making the decision to help and moved on with his resolve firm, holding the Makana in one hand and the retrieved torch in another.

Dirt, pebbles and larger debris continued to rain down as the mountain reminded them that it housed an active volcano.

"This way," Keanu advised, knowing the cavern route well, as he had thought for a long time that he would be chosen as Makana.

They wound through the maze as Chip moaned unwillingly.

"Hold on Chip," Lee encouraged. "We're almost there."

"Who me? I could do this all day," he lied valiantly as the first sight of the dwindling sunlight lit the way up ahead.

More debris rained down until they finally made it to the mouth of the main cave, only to be met by a half-circle of spears, aimed chest high and urging their movement forward.