Power of the Crown

In the afternoon they arrived in the immediate area of the first site. Suddenly the terrain changed and the jungle thinned out. The ground cover was replaced by shoulder high globular plants. The women recognized them, having passed through a small patch earlier in the day. “Have you noticed the area around each is stripped clean? It’s bare dirt. I judge the patch extends for several acres. Would you think these might be voracious eaters, judging by what we saw yesterday?” Gladriel asked as the two of them stood on a rise looking out across the patch. “They don’t appear active, at the moment. Let’s investigate one. We could—“ “Lori, record the data.” “Glady, think of the value-“ “We don’t have the time to give each unknown we meet a thorough investigation. If we did we’d be here for centuries. Let’s find the THRAX and dismantle the unit and head out of here.” Gladriel felt uneasy again. Although the globes were passive, she saw slight movements among the leaves. This indicated to her the plants were quite aware of the women’s passage among them. “Besides, we don’t have extra supplies for dallying along the way. I sure don’t want to try eating any of the things we’ve seen. Even the water is tainted.” She ran her hand around the collar of her skin suit. “I feel as if I were in a giant sauna.” “Be thankful there are no insects,” said Lori as she wiped her sweating forehead. “I find this surprising.” They continued forward through the patch. Each monitored their progress by their hand held scanners. They hoped they would soon locate the unit for the reading was strong. Lori stopped, “Did you hear anything?” From their positions half way up the small hill they could see the jungle’s edge for several yards. A medium sized globe near Lori shuddered and retracted its leave into itself. “Did you touch it?” asked Gladriel. “No, I don’t think so.” Lori turned to survey their route through the patch. “Look,” she said as she pointed. Each plant they had passed by was drawn into a tight green bulb. Their path was clearly mapped by bright green bulbs. Gladriel’s scanner chimed softly twice indicating it had detected metal. “There, Lori, look to your left. It could be the unit?” “It might be -” Lori grabbed Gladriel’s arm and pulled her down behind a large closed bulb. A short stocky young blonde man, of eighteen or twenty years emerged from the forest. He wore a simple richly embroidered tunic. He wasn’t armed, as far as they could see. Once he stopped and stamped the toe of his left sandal on the ground, probably to remove a pebble. They noted his confident stride as he carefully worked his way to the mound on their right. They watched him in silence. He was unaware of them. They noticed he avoided the plants which held their green petals in an open lotus position. He appeared to be looking for something. He stopped frequently to stare at a hand held drawing checking it for something. Ten yards into the patch he stopped. Directly facing him was a plant taller than he. Its pods were partially open exposing an orange interior. Within, cilia beat and swayed rhythmically. He stared at it. He slowly circled it. Three wiry filaments from a nearby plant whipped out lashing at his ankles. He screamed. Before either woman could rise or run to his aid he slapped himself free of the tentacles. They watched as he darted toward the mount in the center of the patch. A second plant struck him hitting him waist high. He screamed and fell. In seconds the women were at his side. They raked the area with disruptor fire. Plants turned themselves inside out when they were hit. The plant which had slashed at the man withered under their fire. In the confusion, the man crawled into the mound. The women cut their fire when they heard him shout. They looked up He was standing in a doorway. They began to approach him; however, he frantically waved them back. When he yelled again they realized they couldn’t understand what he was saying. “Is he speaking ancient Sol” We learned forms of it in Basic linguistic!” exclaimed Lori. The man stopped his frantic actions and stood watching them. When he made no further motions, Lori suggested they retreat. They promptly did so. They only went to the edge of the forest. He turned and entered the mound. In a few minutes he appeared carrying a long rod with a hook on one end. He went to each plant they had killed and probed among the burnt vegetation. When he spoke to them again they were able to understand him. “Go away! This is forbidden territory to women!” He ignored Lori’s questions about his wounds and continued looking among the burnt vegetation. One nearby plant opened. Lori raised her disruptor to fire. “Stop!” he screamed. “Get away. These flaggets are forbidden to you.” “Are you all right?” Lori asked. “Yes, you shouldn’t have killed so many.” “They were attacking you,” countered Glady. “They were not. They reacted because women were present. Now go away. Leave this area.” The women stood their ground. Lori watched him, while Gladriel replaced her disruptor on her belt and scanned the huge vine encased mound. Because they did not move he ignored them and continued his search. Each inspection brought him closer to them. Lori began looking at the plants near her. Almost all had curled up. She watched one too large to cover its interior and some of its leaves had unrolled. By now the man was close. It may have sensed him for it whipped out filaments toward him. Lori acted quickly and fired, searing its outer edges. When the smoke died away she could see the crown-shaped boney ring inside untouched by the beam. She stepped forward to examine it. The young man shoved her aside so quickly and unexpectedly she lost her balance and fell. “Don’t touch! I told you this area is forbidden to women. Leave now and I won’t report you.” Lori stood up and brushed off the dirt from her clothes. “I wasn’t going to touch it. Besides, the thing’s dead and can’t harm us now.” She watched him insert the hooked end of the rod into the charred remains and lift out the crown. What the women had believed was dead glowed bright red as it came out of the plant. Once the crown was free he turned toward the women. “Lord Ameral will be angry. You women have trespassed." For the first time he looked at them. “I don’t know either of you. What village are you from?” “I’m Lori and this is Glady. What is your name?” “I’m Jeames. How did you happen to be here? Have you been cast out?” “Cast out? I don’t understand this. Please explain what you mean by ‘cast out’?” Lori was sure Glady was recording their conversation. “Come,” he ordered, “we must leave this area. I have a crown now.