David Golemon - Primeval

"Will they attack?" Sarah asked as she hurriedly followed, wanting an answer.

Marla stopped and turned.

"Giganticus Pythicus had supposedly died off during one of the most tumultuous and dangerous times in all of history — the last ice age. They are survivors; they have adapted to a violent world, so in defense of their home, Sarah, they will plan and execute, and they will kill anything they deem a threat to their family." Marla wanted to smile at the irony, but didn't. "Almost like a human would react, wouldn't you say? Maybe they have learned very well from watching our species."

Lynn watched the camp as it settled in for the night. Her attention was focused on a large tent that two guards stood in front of. Deonovich and Sagli had gone inside around sunset and had not left. Earlier, she had seen several boxes of articles moved inside, followed closely by the two Russian criminals.

She once more looked around and was about to exit her small tent when a pair of boots came into view. It was the large man who had threatened her small and fragile bones that morning. He raised his boot and not too gently shoved Lynn back inside.

"We's will be bringing your supper sooner, until then I do not wanting to see your face."

"Hey, I heard you guys had a scare this afternoon?" she said, hoping for a reaction.

She didn't see the large man frown, but she did see him abruptly turn away.

"I guess I will be wanting to seeing your face later," she said mocking his terrible English.

Lynn took a deep breath and was about to turn to lay down on her sleeping bag when she saw ten men gathering at the small fire in the center of the camp. They had darkened their faces and were in the process of checking some equipment. One of those pieces she saw were night-vision goggles. While she watched, Sagli finally made an appearance and approached the men. He spoke to them in Russian and Lynn could not follow what was being said. While she watched, she also took note that the men were all Spetsnaz. The other members of the team were standing guard or eating in their oversized mess tent.

Sagli said his final words and then looked at his watch. He nodded and the ten men left the fire, and disappeared toward the river where Lynn could no longer see them. She had a feeling that the commandos were leaving camp for a purpose that would not benefit her or anyone who may be following. The men she had seen were the most impressive of the Spetsnaz.

She only hoped if someone was out there they were alert, because she thought they were about to have company.

Jack was sitting alone. He looked at his watch three times in the last few minutes. The camp was fireless and they had finally forced some of the cold MREs down their throats with Henri Farbeaux complaining every bite of the way and constantly complaining about American military cuisine.

Jack watched as Professor Ellenshaw moved away from his sleeping bag where he had been sitting and watching the others. Collins knew something was on Charlie's mind, but was unwilling to ask him about it moments before he himself was due to cross the river. Charlie approached Jack, rubbing his hands on his pants leg as if he was nervous about what he had to say.

"Hi," Charlie said, not really knowing how to approach a man who still intimidated him even after years of knowing him.

"Hello, Doc. What's on your mind?" Jack said looking at his watch one more time and then pulling an old .45 Colt automatic from his side and checking the clip.

"Before you go, I wanted to say… well… thank you for bringing me along. I know it went against everything you believe me to be." The professor looked around; the others were busy doing this or that, things Ellenshaw had no idea about.

"Listen, Doc, I do pay attention to what you go through with the other sciences at the complex. A few of them snicker behind your back, but for the most part you've become a very valuable asset to the Group. After the things I've seen since being on this job, doing what you do probably makes more sense then what ten PhDs from other fields command."

"Thank you, Colonel. Outside of Niles, and even though you're a military man in the purest sense of the words, and being as I avoided the duty during my formative years, I respect you more than most for what you have achieved."

Jack looked the professor over, and then gave him a small smile and a short shake of the head.

"Thanks, Doc. You know, after the story you told about this place and the detail in which you delivered it, I could see you weren't scared like the others may have thought they saw. What I saw in your eyes wasn't fear, it was excitement. So telling you that you couldn't come on this trip would be like telling Mr. Everett tonight he couldn't go with me on a combat mission. My job is to protect field personnel, Doc; that's why you're here, to do your job and see what you can find out about what kind of animal life we have up here. That's all. You're here for differing reasons than us, but that doesn't make you any less important to this mission." Collins holstered the .45. "You belong here, Doc."

"I don't know what to say, I want—"

Jack stood and slapped Ellenshaw on the shoulder. "Save it, I have to go."

"Colonel?"

Collins stopped and turned to face the cryptozoologist.

"It's real, you know. It's not just a legend, and surely not a myth, but a scientific fact."

Jack rechecked the load in the AK-47 he was carrying, not wanting to look Ellenshaw in the face.

"What is real, Doc?" He finally looked up into the professor's thick lenses. "Can you say it? Believe me, out here in this place, no one's going to laugh."

"The animal is an offshoot of Giganticus Pythicus — the great ape. After many years of thought on the matter, that's the only thing it could be. It's here, Colonel, and very much a viable force."

Collins reinserted the magazine inside the Russian weapon and charged a round into the breach.

"Doc, what is its name? Until you say it, it really isn't real, is it?" Jack persisted.

"Bigfoot… it's… the legend of Bigfoot that's out there, Colonel."

"There, that wasn't so hard was it, Doc?"

Ellenshaw smiled and nodded. The colonel was right; it was far more comfortable once the name was out in the open.

Jack turned to leave as Everett approached.

"You're a damn fool, Jack. You need help."

"A long time ago when a woman was stolen by Indians, rescuers never launched a raid into their midst, they always snuck in at night and stole them back."

"Those men out there aren't Indians, Jack," Everett started to say, but saw something behind Jack that made him stop.

Collins turned and saw Punchy Alexander step into their small clearing. He nodded a greeting as he approached the two men.

"Where is Will?" Everett asked as he heard Jack click the selector switch on his weapon from its safe position. Carl wasn't wary until that moment. He had left his M-16 on his sleeping bag.

Alexander didn't answer. He went to one knee and then looked at the two men before him. Then he saw Ellenshaw, and just as quickly dismissed him. He found Henri Farbeaux lying on his sleeping bag, watching what was happening.

"Colonel Farbeaux, if you would remove your hand from that Colt at your side, you may live through this," Alexander said.

Henri sat up and held up two empty hands.

"What in the hell is this?" Everett asked, wondering why Jack remained silent.

"Professor Ellenshaw, please sit on your sleeping bag and make no silly movements." Punchy then turned and waved to the darkness behind him. "I'm afraid we have company," he said as he looked Jack in the eyes. "Sorry Jack, the bastards snuck up on me after they took the young lieutenant."