8

Safari Joe approached the building with a high degree of caution. When the hell had this been put up? It was in none of the reports he had scoured before coming here, and the latest had been only a couple of years ago. This place was large, and it appeared to have some kind fence around it.

After a full fifteen minute gazing at the structure several yards away, and watching carefully for any of the other miserable beasties, Safari Joe decided to just approach. He was the greatest hunter in the galaxy! Why should he be afraid to approach a dwelling?

He stopped outside the gate. Electrified? Probably. And he saw small, armored boxes everywhere, cameras, most likely. The knowledge that he was being watched made the hairs on the back of his neck salute him. He didn't touch the gate, and instead looked around for some kind of speaker box.

Before that happened, he started at the unmistakable sound of a laser beam striking the ground directly behind him. He cursed and stumbled back, drawing his weapon, but as he did, about five of the laser strikes flashed around him, and he froze.

"Put your weapon away before I blast you into pieces for the ratwolves to tear apart."

Well that was a pleasant thought. Safari Joe narrowed his eyes at the cold voice. The almost dead tone sent a chill down his spine, and he cursed himself for it. A hunter with no fear was a foolish hunter, but one that feared any of his own kind was a coward. "Who am I speaking to?" he demanded, wondering if the as yet unseen man could even hear him.

His silent question was answered in the form of an unpleasant chuckle. "No one if you don't put away your weapon. You can rot out there."

Joe bristled at the arrogant tone and growled. But then the tinny, almost comical howl of the Ratwolf packs reverberated through the still, dead desert air, and he sighed, holstering his weapon. "Fine, it's away, now are you going to tell me who you are?"

There was nothing for a moment, then a slight scraping sound as the gate opened on well oiled hinges, scraping the purplish desert sand aside as it did. "Come on in, it's more pleasant in here."

Safari Joe narrowed his eyes, but stepped in. The gate closed and locked as he did, as he had expected. "If you're trying to scare me, it isn't working," Safari Joe declared to the unseen voice.

There was an amused laugh over the intercom. "What gave you that idea?" he said. "I'm not trying to frighten anyone, now you wouldn't be feeling nervous, would you?"

Joe curse as he approached the building. He had inadvertently let the bastard know he was uneasy. "No, just laughing at your dramatics."

"Dramatics? You think this is a bit much?" Safari Joe voiced an affirmative. "You've seen the locals of this place. in fact it would seem as if you had a bout with some of them yourself. I prefer to stay all in one piece."

The hunter had no answer to that.

As he reached the door of the large square building, he tried it, and found what he expected. Locked. "Well, you gonna let me in, or what?"

"Put your weapon in the box next to you and take the key. You may retrieve it on your way out."

"Go to hell!" came the response. Nothing. "You know I'm not stupid, now why would I go into an unknown situation unarmed?"

"I would be equally as unwise to admit an armed stranger into my abode. You'll either abandon the rifle or stay out there all day."

Any further protests were ignored, and the hunter finally sighed and tossed the weapon in, yanking out the key and pocketing it. He got a courteous "Thank you," which he answered with a grumbled curse. He heard a faint click and tried the door again; this time it opened, and he cautiously stepped inside.

The place almost looked like a military establishment, or a large school. There were tiled floors and a lot of doors. "Now where are you, ghost man?"

"Just follow the corridor and turn right the first chance you get. It will be the first door on your left."

Safari Joe followed the instructions, keeping his hand by his hunting knife in case he ran into anyone he didn't want to see. He opened the door, almost surprised it wasn't locked against him as well. His eyes immediately took in his surroundings as he stepped in. He had to admit, it was almost the kind of office he had at the safari compound. There was a large, polished, wooden desk at the far end, and animal furs along the walls; a large chair sat to one side, and a large filing cabinet rested in the corner. Joe's eyes were drawn to the man behind the desk.

The man that stood to greet him seemed to be around in his fifties, maybe his early sixties, but in excellent shape. In a time where humans rarely lived past 120, he was nearly in the prime of his life. He had short salt-and-pepper hair, a slight, but well built physique, narrow eyes, and an unpleasant smile. Safari Joe scowled. "Who the hell are you?" he repeated.

The man chuckled. "You come to my home and behave like that?" His words held a mocking quality that Safari Joe didn't care for at all. "Have a seat."

"I'll stay standing, thanks," came the sneered reply.

"Suit yourself. I think I should ask who you are first, my friend." He smiled.

Safari Joe felt a chill run through him as the man spoke and with growing frustration wondered why in the hell his mind was doing this to him. This man was at least three inches shorted than he, and though his frame was strong, it was slight; Safari Joe had at least twenty pounds on him, if not more. Why was he getting the heebie-jeebies? It was the smile, he decided. It didn't match his eyes, which remained cold and piercing, almost like the gaze of a hawk. But still, he, who had faced the most dangerous creatures in the galaxy sentient or not, shouldn't be unnerved by something as small as a smile. "I'm Safari Joe, the greatest hunter in the galaxy," he declared. "Now who are you?" He narrowed his eyes once more. The man had acted amused, as if he'd already known who he was. Then why the hell ask?

"My name is Kairo Zarack."

Again, the chill. Safari Joe had the unwelcome feeling that he had met this man before. But that was impossible! He would have remembered one who had this kind of effect on him. "Yeah, glad to meet you," he mumbled.

"The feeling is mutual." Again the hint of mockery. "I see you've been a bit injured. Perhaps you'd like to tend your wounds and rest a bit."

"Yeah, all right," Safari Joe said, and moved aside for the man to step out, then followed.

Safari Joe was left in the infirmary with his thoughts. Who was this guy? Why did he feel like a child frightened of the dark when he was around him?

When he was shown a room, he warily sat on the bed, these thought swirling around in his head. Tomorrow he would find out. But then, he thought, why put off until tomorrow what can be done today?

The hunter listened carefully for the man, Zarack, to go to bed himself. When he did, the hunter stole silently from his room. He had some things to find out.

Part 7

Part 9

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