Law of the Jungle by Dave Smeds

Author:Dave Smeds [Smeds, Dave]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dave Smeds
Published: 2011-12-22T23:02:34+00:00

Storm lay supine in a hammock, her head supported by what was surely the most unique pillow she had ever sampled—an obloid of snakeskin filled with goose feathers. The hammock was strung over the platform where Shanna had earlier rinsed her off, providing her with a roofless, unobstructed view of the clouds.

She could barely raise her hands to rub her forehead, much less rise from her bower. Her bones felt as heavy as those ' of a brontosaurus, her muscles as weak as a snail’s.

But the sky was radiant, the breeze steady and controlled. The coming of night would probably bring more lightning. Frost might nip the highest hills. No matter. Those sorts of disturbances would play themselves out. She was at last free to turn her attention back to the reason why she had come to the Savage Land.

Shanna and Ka-Zar joined her on the platform. Zabu hopped up and nuzzled Ororo’s fingers, rumbling a note of concern.

“Still no word from Wolverine,” Shanna said.

Ororo lifted away from her pillow. The earth seemed to hang on to her. She set her head back down and hoped her temples would stop throbbing. “Hand me my radio, if you would,” she requested.

Shanna gave her the device, which Ororo had removed while she concentrated on the climate healing.

“Better hurry,” Ka-Zar said. “There’s always a long EMP

x-w\

at dusk. It’s due any time now.” He gestured at the lavender and orange tones along the horizon—interestingly, the hues were rising in all directions, since the Savage Land’s “sunlight” stemmed from many sources, some having little connection to Earth’s actual sun.

Ororo nodded, and entered the code to transmit. “Beast? Do you copy?”

“You sound a little faint, my dear.” The reply was tinged with static, and was itself below normal strength.

“Faint is exactly how I feel,” Ororo said.

“How may I be of sendee, O leader mine?”

“Just a status check. Wolverine’s still missing. How are all of you out there?”

“Still chasing Amphibius. We keep coming across his trail. I’d like to recommend that Iceman, Cannonball, and I remain until dark. We can keep up the effort until the last moment.”

Ororo tried to think of objections, but she found it difficult to put two coherent ideas together. She saw silver wings growing closer, heralding Warren’s return. “Very well. Archangel is returning now, emptyhanded, which means Wolverine missed their rendezvous. We’ll focus on that problem. You remain and try to track Amphibius.”

“Will do. Sam will haul us back in—let’s see—about an hour, I would estimate.” In one respect, the Savage Land resembled Antarctica more than the tropics—twilight lingered, rather than clamped down like the lid of a spring-loaded trap.

Archangel walked toward the platform, folding his wings. His shoulders drooped.

“Couldn’t find Logan,” he said. “I flew over the entire area he was supposed to patrol, but there’s no sign of him.” “That isn’t good,” Ororo said. “I’m glad to see you are

back, though. You’ve been up in the air too long without a respite.”

“I couldn’t even think about resting until I had something to show for the effort.

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