The Green Wall

"Pretty strange isn't it, Captain?"

Captain Carlyle: "What's strange?"

"The Writing on the Wall, of course!" Jepson then

quickly replied. He was the crew doctor, psychiatrist

and chief cook and bottle washer on their brave ship,

the ES 'Ulysees'. Spaceships now were all 'Earth Ships'.

"Oh yes... What you make of it, so far? The writing,"

asked Carlyle, more curious now? Just a little bit...

Jepson: "Well, we did find a kind of alien Rosetta Stone

last week... And it did help in learning two words, perhaps.

But in my opinion, this right here may be pure gibberish, Sir."

#

The Green Wall went nearly round the whole planet dubbed

'Albion' by the captain. One on side was a few abandoned

settlement type structures. That is where their ship landed.

On the other side it was jungle so thick, a man could not

spread his arms or move very quickly through the brush.

Who knew what kind of living things might be in there?

#

Suddenly, the good captain had a quick thought:

"Jepson... Isn't our Sgt. Mendez psychic? I read his file,

and he has a very high IQ, and a top Psi Rating as well.

Why not bring him over from the ship. He might like

a short break from working on the water distillery..."

Jepson perked up: "Yes. I'll go get him right now!"

#

Mendez was indeed glad to get a break from the

drudgery of maintaining all the various equipment.

"Ay caramba!" was his first reaction to the alien

symbols or writing, there on the high green wall.

Jepson: "Mendez... Do you read or 'feel' anything?"

Carlyle: "Please... This may be important; or not."

Mendez: "Give me a minute... or two, here. Please."

Carlyle: "Certainly... Take all the Time you need."

#

Rosario Mendez did feel 'something' right from his

first look at the alien hieroglyphics, on the Green Wall.

An odd sensation... Almost a feeling of Deja Vu. Like

he had seen something much like this before. But, where?

Did he read a report of a similar occurrence, from a previous

exploration ship's log? No... He only had glanced at the mission

report from one other ship: the ES 'Excalibur'. They did find some

alien ruins on a planet, 18o degrees in the other direction from

old home star Sol. But they never found any writings. So, where?

#

Suddenly Mendez had it... Not an actual previous message, from

another Earth ship's exploration... But from fiction. A movie, in fact.

And not alien writing, but a signal... An urgent warning: of DANGER!

#

"Captain... My gut reaction... Is that this writing is a warning?

A warning to anyone that might see the message. As they left

that crystal Rosetta Stone, as Jepson calls it... I feel I am right!"

#

The look in Mendez' eyes alone said all the proof that was needed.

But... Would the Captain and 'Doc' Jepson take it seriously.

'God... I hope they do!' thought Mendez, hopefully.

#

The next night, Mr. Mendez was proved right? Yes.

An eerie animal howling sound pierced the air. It came from

the other side of the green wall. Then, the sound of something

climbing the thick vines... Climbing quickly... Urgently seeking!

(The End)