by the face in front of them, which possessed three black eyes contained within narrow slits, a small elongated nose which drooped over its mouth and no hair whatsoever, anywhere on its body.
“Look at the teeth; they are like a dog’s. Those sharp canines could easily rip apart the toughest meat,” commented Ugg. “The ribs are practically sticking out as well, it’s just skin and bones left.”
“It didn’t come from Harwell, that’s for sure. But whatever it is made it through the maze this far, it did well. There must have been another entrance to the maze, perhaps on the other side?” said Janna.
“Another species is plausible. It’s a big land we live in and the Clouded Mountains have a lot of secrets,” said Ash.
“It could be from across the seas?” queried Ugg.
“Perhaps. It doesn’t look equipped with weapons, maybe it shed them like we did. There might be more of them, though, we should be extra careful. They are obviously as intelligent as us to make it this far,” said Janna.
“We heard two screams, one last night and, presumably, the one coming from this thing. We should expect to find another body,” said Ash.
“After this, who knows what we will find next?” replied Janna.
Janna knelt down and inspected the dead body.
“It is very thin, unless this is the natural body shape for this species? I suspect it was starving like us. We should not waste an opportunity like this, this is the first meat we have come across since leaving the peaceful valley. It will not have much meat but we need the sustenance.”
Ash and Ugg looked at each other with a sense of disbelief.
“You don’t mean what I think you do? I’m not eating that,” remarked Ugg.
“Why not? It’s not cannibalism if it’s not our species. Think of it as a dead rabbit or antelope. This body will save our lives, we should be gracious for it. This is survival in here – at all costs.”
Janna took her knife back from Ugg and carved off pieces of meat from the thigh, arms and mid-rift. There wasn’t much, but it was protein which their bodies sorely craved for. Upon looking at the slender pieces of meat Ash and Ugg couldn’t help but notice how hungry they actually were and their stomachs began to rumble.
“Let’s cook it at least, we don’t want to poison ourselves,” said Ash.
They started a small fire and roasted the lean strips of meat.
“If this thing had a friend, let’s hope it did die because if it sees us cooking and eating its buddy, well, there goes any amiable first encounters,” said Ash.
“I admit it smells good, but let’s see what it tastes like,” said Ugg.
Ugg ate a piece, it wasn’t as nice as eating normal red meat but it was satisfying to chew and made him realise how much he had missed eating meat.
Ash began to laugh: “Look at us, sat in the middle of a maze under strange skies feasting on an unknown species who we have no clue about. None of this makes any sense, yet I am happy, in a strange way.”
“A hearty meal is the best moral boost any one can wish for. We cannot waste anything we come across from now on, no matter how disgusting it may seem. If it keeps us alive, we will do it,” said Janna.
“Does that include eating one of us if we die?” asked Ugg.
“If I die you can eat my body, yes. I’ll be dead so I will hardly care, will I? You would honour me by using my body to save your lives,” replied Janna.
“Let’s not try to talk about such grim matters if we can help it. No one will die. I wonder what drove this thing into the maze?” said Ash.
“A quick change of subject but very well, I guess the same reasons as us: curiosity, pressure from society,” said Janna. “We shouldn’t stay here long, there is still plenty of daylight left for us to explore and hopefully get out of this maze.”
“And the body? Should we bury it?” asked Ash.
“Let’s not waste our time. It’s dead. It would take ages to dig a hole with just our hands and
“Look at the teeth; they are like a dog’s. Those sharp canines could easily rip apart the toughest meat,” commented Ugg. “The ribs are practically sticking out as well, it’s just skin and bones left.”
“It didn’t come from Harwell, that’s for sure. But whatever it is made it through the maze this far, it did well. There must have been another entrance to the maze, perhaps on the other side?” said Janna.
“Another species is plausible. It’s a big land we live in and the Clouded Mountains have a lot of secrets,” said Ash.
“It could be from across the seas?” queried Ugg.
“Perhaps. It doesn’t look equipped with weapons, maybe it shed them like we did. There might be more of them, though, we should be extra careful. They are obviously as intelligent as us to make it this far,” said Janna.
“We heard two screams, one last night and, presumably, the one coming from this thing. We should expect to find another body,” said Ash.
“After this, who knows what we will find next?” replied Janna.
Janna knelt down and inspected the dead body.
“It is very thin, unless this is the natural body shape for this species? I suspect it was starving like us. We should not waste an opportunity like this, this is the first meat we have come across since leaving the peaceful valley. It will not have much meat but we need the sustenance.”
Ash and Ugg looked at each other with a sense of disbelief.
“You don’t mean what I think you do? I’m not eating that,” remarked Ugg.
“Why not? It’s not cannibalism if it’s not our species. Think of it as a dead rabbit or antelope. This body will save our lives, we should be gracious for it. This is survival in here – at all costs.”
Janna took her knife back from Ugg and carved off pieces of meat from the thigh, arms and mid-rift. There wasn’t much, but it was protein which their bodies sorely craved for. Upon looking at the slender pieces of meat Ash and Ugg couldn’t help but notice how hungry they actually were and their stomachs began to rumble.
“Let’s cook it at least, we don’t want to poison ourselves,” said Ash.
They started a small fire and roasted the lean strips of meat.
“If this thing had a friend, let’s hope it did die because if it sees us cooking and eating its buddy, well, there goes any amiable first encounters,” said Ash.
“I admit it smells good, but let’s see what it tastes like,” said Ugg.
Ugg ate a piece, it wasn’t as nice as eating normal red meat but it was satisfying to chew and made him realise how much he had missed eating meat.
Ash began to laugh: “Look at us, sat in the middle of a maze under strange skies feasting on an unknown species who we have no clue about. None of this makes any sense, yet I am happy, in a strange way.”
“A hearty meal is the best moral boost any one can wish for. We cannot waste anything we come across from now on, no matter how disgusting it may seem. If it keeps us alive, we will do it,” said Janna.
“Does that include eating one of us if we die?” asked Ugg.
“If I die you can eat my body, yes. I’ll be dead so I will hardly care, will I? You would honour me by using my body to save your lives,” replied Janna.
“Let’s not try to talk about such grim matters if we can help it. No one will die. I wonder what drove this thing into the maze?” said Ash.
“A quick change of subject but very well, I guess the same reasons as us: curiosity, pressure from society,” said Janna. “We shouldn’t stay here long, there is still plenty of daylight left for us to explore and hopefully get out of this maze.”
“And the body? Should we bury it?” asked Ash.
“Let’s not waste our time. It’s dead. It would take ages to dig a hole with just our hands and
Similar Books
