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200 yards from the hut. “Who’s taken it already?” “Not sure yet.“ Servenea moved in closer. “Drat. Its Narya’s team.“ Claria wandered up to them. “Stop getting agitated cos we weren’t first. All we’ve got to be concerned about. is not being LAST and making sure, in the end, we hold on to it, once we’ve got it.“ She started bringing them together.
“Winds blowing in their direction. Why don’t we pitch camp then sort out a really good barbecued meal, let the smell of the food drift up to em?“ “They will have their food packs.“ "Ah but we have two of the best cooks amongst our teams! Mawena and Bjoi. Time to bring em down here!" "Where have you two been.?"
Ameryst was staring at Servenea and Sajani. They grinned, placed two fusive cooker units, on the ground in front of them. “With nothing to cook on, Narya's team won't be getting anything hot tonight." "Not quite true, they can if they surrender to us!" Claria looked at Bjoi and Mawena. C'mon you two! Let’s not waste the moment!” She asked Doona and Lilia to help them by opening up some of the food packs. The others bar them. Were left to set up the main accommodation units.
The cooking was under way. “It was worth the excursion on our part, to get close enough, to see they had left their gear unguarded. Careless is what I call it!" They were laughing. "The cookers were just too good to miss. “Ameryst interrupted. “An I’ll bet they’re missing them alright. They’re stuck with uncooked, foods. Teach them a lesson. Your equipment whatever it is, is important. should NEVER be left unattended.“
Narya was furious. There was little she could do. Some of the Kets had suggested it was an animal or other creature that had run off with the items in question?. How dumb was that! Her suspicions re the truth, were about to be realized. She sniffed the air seeing the lights from lower down? The smell wafting up. FOOD. Glorious HOT FOOD. Suddenly a figure appeared in the shadows, it was Edram.
Those on guard were already munching on some of the items he had brought up from below. Allowing him past. “Message from our glorious group. I was asked to bring you this. He held out a plate with hot snacks on it that smelt absolutely delicious. There’s more if any one wants them. Just come on down hand over your markers and tuck in.“
“Ten seconds to get out of here.“ He giggled then ran. As she grabbed the plate of food throwing the items at him. “And you, can take these with you.“ “Narya sends her love says thanks but no thanks.” He giggled again as Claria smiled. “Ameryst keep that smoke wafting up.” Poor Aisha was sniffing the air as she looked at Besai. “Does that smell good or what?.” Narya glared at them. “NO one is leaving this team, hot food or not. Adjust your suits if you’re cold. Use your nutrient packs to keep your body chems correct. LUMARK! I want words with you!“
It certainly was starting to get cold. “Is it me or is it getting colder.“ “No its definitely getting colder.“ They were not to know it, but within the next twenty four hours, the temperature was going to drop rapidly. It was that time of the year. Margise looked at Corky as they sat in the craft headed over to where Sadowan’s team were camped?, They were looking at the charts with data on the teams.
“Well everyone has made good progress cept for Sadowan’s team? What ever are they up to?“ Corky smiled “On Earth they had a story bout a tortoise and a hare. I think Sadowan is the tortoise. In which case she could win this.” He smiled. “Tell me the story.“ Margise, settles back with her hot drink and her Xucha. (hot toasted sandwich is close) Corky grinned, “Aright. Once upon a time “ She started to laugh.
Meanwhile Belanna and Opheliad were now inside the cavern, it, was not dark. On the walls of the cavern were luminous blobs of v-light as they were called, it was due to a rock eating Bacteria, though it would take a long time to actually do anything. Hundreds of Earth years to eat through the rock. The reaction with the rock caused by the v-light chemicals created miniscule crystals, that made it glow. Not that bright. Lets say for example, about 40watts of light.
Visible, was a little path running along the edge, of the inside of the area, that formed a cave. A strip of color, different from the soft white of the main light, was apparent and ran along the wall of the cave. Soft blue and though blue, it didn’t for some reason exist further up, so they had to use their, as we would call them torches; but these used what was called a fused reactive core to power them. Although they were quite powerful, with an intense depth of light, that used quite a lot of the power in one go.
Power that didn’t last that long before a recharge unit was required. Belanna, decided to conserve hers, so turned hers off. “This will do for us, to sleep later. “ Belanna whispered as Opheliad nodded back. “This looks about right.“ It was a flattish area with some raised flat rocks. Clambering onto one of them Belanna slumped to sit with her legs hanging over the side. Others moved to place their packs down and also sat down. “Its only about a 100 yards to the top of that path.
Orphelliad pointed to it waving her torch towards a small exit hole. “That will take you out where we landed up on the edge overlooking the ‘hut’ “We could also see the other camp.” Bjoi had taken a walk and returned to them several minutes later. “It’s getting very cold out there. At least it’s warmer here.”
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