On the Wings of Hope : Prose

Turned off engines of space vessel – he was landing on a planet. Already painfully familiar landscape… Same planetary coordinates. Same planet in the same solar system. Here his such a strange way has begun – and here it will continue. He checked himself. Everything seems to be in place. A space suite is on him, thermal, info sensors and all other electronic tinsel as well. A stock of liquefied food for a month. Weapons? Yes, here it’s hanging on his belt – a faithful laser semi-automatic gun LZ-195. Heart? There is a courage, unshakable determination and awakened passionate thirst of adventures. He prepared well for this campaign – much better than in the last time, for his way is a way to uncertainty.

The sun in the blue-green sky of a planet Stiggs. Miles and miles to go. Where? To a civilization. He truly hoped that such a one does exist here. It cannot be that this planet with so picturesque inundated woods and plains has not been populated and colonized, and hasn’t become a home of other inhabitants of this Universe. He was assured that there is a civilization living here, in the eight thousand fifty six year of the Earth time. He believed and that and went forward, walked through plains of the planet.

 * * *

Shot. Somersaults. Shooting again. He didn’t assume at all that such a beautiful by its appearance flora of the jungles of this planet can be so dangerous in a short distance.

Lianas – predators, twisting around his feet and hands, blocking any access and possibility to get the weapon … enormous plants like increased in twenty times sundews, that unmistakably guessed his location and greedy opened wide their “mouths” with full sets of sharp as needles leaves … root of trees, as though purposely clinging to feet, blocking his passage…

These jungles disliked strangers. Or even probably hated them at all. But it became obvious not at once. Much like the danger he has faced that day … five millennium ago?

Breakthrough. Once again lianas braid him from feet to the head, trying to pull out lethal weapon. Nay, you won’t get me so simply! So simply … it means, will get after all? So untimely thoughts … completely untimely … for now both brain and body were working literally reflex – months of trainings in the Academy served him very well.

Somersaults. Turning. Shot. The next liana flows down to the ground in the liquefied form. Here comes the next one … shot – his face was struck by lumps of meanly smelling green substance … Whistle over the head… Down! Something flies over his head. Will see later… Or better not to see at all? To escape? And will he? Anyway he has to try. So … only fraction of a second to make a decision … it’s decided – we’ll break through!

Somersaults on the ground far away from the spot where he sprawled on the ground so untimely… Here he jumps on his feet… Again comes the noise of dissected air… A turn towards new danger… Late! … Too late … he wasn’t in time. Extremely strained in turning of the body muscles … wild pain in joints  … greet scale-like mass flowing near his face … something painfully seized his hand, trying to break a space suit … turning … his weapon drops out from hands …

The end, this is the end – a though flashed in mind. Without a weapon he is not much of a fighter… Biting blow on a helmet. Stars in the eyes – but his helmet sustained a strike. Last, desperate breakthrough – an attempt to escape from the web which has braided him … no way! – he was held very firm – with a death grip … That way he may become that very dead one very soon.

Something extremely heavy, which has fallen from above. Bloody haze which has laid eyes… No escape… no escape… no escape… no way out … the end … No, no, no! I will not surrender! I am a warrior, and warriors don’t give up – they either prevail over the enemy, or die on the battlefield. I have to prevail. I must! Must! Must! I must … but how?! He couldn’t even move – carnivorous inhabitants of this planet were holding him as strongly as possible. How? How? How?! His mind were rushing here and there in search of a solution…

Fool! Fool! Fool! And how couldn’t I remember earlier?! Already once, five thousand years ago, rescued him invention … maybe it will help him now? It has to! Jet satchel, completely charged with liquid hydrogen, “unsurpassed movement possibility” is not a joke at all. And absolutely slightest efforts are required for its activation – brain signal, sent to an armored neuro-pulse helmet of a space suit  … already familiar roar behind his back … breakthrough … crunch and gnash … here the branches which have braided him are torn apart … some sort of creature flies up from his helmet and is carried away by a wild stream of air … freedom! Ten, twenty meters … Freedom!

Oh, how great is that, when nobody is flattening and pressing you down, so you can breath quietly and freely!

Blue-green sky. Dozens of kilometers of planet’s jungles. Where should he go?

“Home”, - uninvited thought came.