That Darn Squid God by Nick Pollotta

Author:Nick Pollotta
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-01-13T23:13:00+00:00

* * * *

A few hours later, the explorers emerged from the bushes dressed in simple grass skirts, hats of woven weeds, and treebark sandals. Prof. Einstein also carried three stones bound by lengths of tree vine into a crude South American bolo, along with a rough stone dagger. Lord Carstairs was armed with a primitive boomerang and a stout tree branch with the bark removed, making a most formidable club.

"Borneo?" Prof. Einstein asked, surveying the throwing stick.

"Australia," Lord Carstairs corrected, holding it for display. "Simple and deadly at fifty yards. I developed a knack for the things while investigating the hidden rooms inside Ayers Rock. Oh, I say, nice dagger."

"Thank you. The first thing my old archeological master insisted on was our learning was how to knap stone tools," the professor said with a touch of pride, offering the razor-sharp weapon for inspection. "I could not find any flint, only some low-grade quartz to work with, but it will suffice for the nonce."

"Should have made one for myself," the lord said wistfully, returning the blade. "Perhaps later, eh?"

Carefully sliding the blade into the vine hem of his skirt, Einstein inhaled deeply through his nose and held the breath. The forest air smelled of pine, elderberry, cedar, and fresh animal droppings. How lovely to be back in the woods again! A majestic range of mountains edged the horizon, most of them snow-capped, although one was smoking in the manner of a sleeping volcano. By Gadfrey, just how large a landmass was Dutar Island?

"Now the question is, which direction do we take?" Prof. Einstein queried aloud, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Dropping to a knee, Carstairs carefully studied the crumpled markings in the muddy shoreline. Then standing tall, he peered upwards at the damage in the treetops. "Well, sir," he said slowly, testing each word for flaws, "if there is any correlation between the angle of the fall and our original trajectory, then I would venture to guess that we might head in the direction of that singular mountain." He pointed with the club.

Looking in the indicated direction, Prof. Einstein saw the mountain was noticeably taller than the rest, and the only one not capped with snow or alive with volcanic steam. However, the dark stone of the peak appeared to be black as coal. _Just like the mountain peak of the temple of the Squid God. Bingo!

As his Catholic friends liked to say._

"That does seem to be our goal, lad," Einstein agreed, hitching up his skirt. "If it's a clear night, hopefully we will be able to determine where we are from the stars."

"Then we should be off," Lord Carstairs said, lifting his hefty weapon and taking the lead along a natural path through the thick bushes. "_Tempus fugit!_"

"You can say that again," the professor grumbled, taking up the rear guard.

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