Page 14 of Possessed By the Alien Guard
Shock made me stare at him for a moment before I snapped out of it to go help.
It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
___________________
Fin
––––––––
MY SHOULDER THROBBED with every move, yet I refused to slow as I dug away one rock after another blocking the top of the entrance.For every stone I removed, two more slid into its place—it seemed half the mountain had come crashing down upon us.
It mattered little—I would not stop.I had given my word, and a Varool never lied, never deceived.I would work until I dropped.
It is prudent.We must have a fresh supply of oxygen.
Yet far more than mere logic drove me or even simple survival.The ache in my mate’s voice haunted me.I would save her from reliving this trauma.
Jones stood behind me, ready to accept any rock small enough for her to carry.She moved them to the side of the cave, which had already shrunk to little more than a passage.Her shoulders drooped, and pain and fatigue weighed on her small frame, but she uttered not a word of protest.Perhaps these humans were not as weak as we thought, or at least not in spirit.
I pulled a larger stone from within the small tunnel I had made at head height.Smaller stones clattered, and a wash of cool, damp air flowed over the skin of my face.I turned toward her and handed her the rock.“We are through.”
Tension melted from her face, softening its lines.“Really!Oh, god, that’s wonderful.”
“Let me ensure the opening will not close, and we will cease for the night.”There had been almost no light to see—it was night, and lingering storm clouds blocked the light of the moons.
“Shouldn’t we keep going?”she asked.
I shook my head.“We must eat and rest.”I could keep working, but she was clearly at the end of her endurance.
“Okay.”
Using my good arm, I reached into the hole, shoving rocks from my path.Once at its full extent, I made small circles, bending my elbow as much as possible to sweep away the gravel continuing to fall from above due to my movements.When no more stones fell, I carefully withdrew.
“That should hold.”I walked over to retrieve my jacket and scabbard.“Come.We will spend the night in the larger cavern.”
