Timekeepers by Max Griffin

Author:Max Griffin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, science fiction, time travel, gay romance, alternate history, mm romance, sweet romance
Publisher: Purple Sword Publications

Chapter 17

Capulin Station, New Mexico

July 16, 59,886 BCE

Nathan woke to a piercing agony searing his back. His eyes flickered open to semi-darkness. He was face-down, his body pressed against a hard, rough surface. He twisted and tried to sit up, but pain shot through his mid-section and drove a gasp from his chest. Gravel bit his palms, and a cool breeze chilled his bare torso, bringing with it the foul odor of decay. At least someone had put a pillow under his head.

A woman's voice, indifferent and cold, broke the silence. "You're awake."

More careful this time, he moved his head to face the sound. An old woman sat on the ground next to him, her arms wrapped about her knees. Behind her, silvery light poured from the open glass doors of the refuge. Memory came tumbling back as he peered at his companion. It was the old woman he'd saved. "You look different. What happened to me?"

"A saber-tooth attacked you. You lost a lot of blood."

Saber-tooth. He shuddered, remembering how a grotesque cat had gutted the buffalo calf with its incisors. "What did it do to me?" He twisted and winced again as knife-like pain slashed through his body from his lower back into his abdomen. "I hurt."

"It clawed your back." For all the emotion she showed, she could have been discussing a hangnail. "You're lucky to be alive."

He drew a shuddering breath. "I remember something stalking you. I recall that I carried you across the stream, but not much after." He chewed his cheek. "I can't sit up."

She shrugged. "You'll get better. The nano-docs will repair you. If you were going to die, it would have happened by now."

Nice of you to thank me for saving your life. Bitch. He examined her again. Age still withered her features, but her black eye was gone. How long had he been out? He rested his head back on the pillow. "So what happened? Or am I dead and gone to hell?"

A tight smile flashed on her features before they turned cold again. "You're quite alive, Nathan. In fact, you've got amazing healing powers. I thought you'd bleed out before I could get nano-docs in you."

How did she know his name? He groaned and squirmed to try to find a comfortable position. "Nano-docs again? I guess that explains a lot. But why didn't the fucking saber-tooth eat me?"

"There are wards, mini-drones, buried all around the station's borders for peripheral defense. The pheromones from the tiger activated the ones in the streambed. By the time the needle guns mounted on the roof got a clear shot, the drones had already filleted the tiger's muscles into hamburger. Imagine a horde of flying piranha, but with titanium razors for teeth and intelligent coordination."

"Lovely." His back throbbed again, and he heaved a sigh. "I saw the needle guns work, before." He thought some more. "Why weren't there sparks? Something sparked before when I saw a buffalo try to cross the stream."

"The system sends a small shock to warn away animals.

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