Chapter 26. Patrol.
Silas was worn out and needed to take a break after showing the others how to create and set the swinging mace trap. Sitting on the steps of the portal platform, Buster came up to join him. The dog had gotten bored while Silas had worked with the other to set the traps, and now returned to his side after an afternoon of sniffing around the area they controlled.
Just like human children, the naga kids seemed very taken with Buster. He loved the attention and the numerous belly scratches they gave him after Silas showed them what the dog liked. Hopefully playing with the dog helped the children overcome the horrors they had recently witnessed.
It struck Silas that the naga and human children were pretty much the same. Many of the naga warriors were out on patrol, and Lhass informed Silas that Talixs was even leading a team to investigate the city and see if the enemy still lurked nearby. They had been forced to leave with little notice, and even if the city was no longer safe to reside in, they could at least return for their personal items and remaining supplies.
Silas was curious to see the naga city, but sitting somewhat comfortably on the grass, with his back on the first step of the platform had him nodding off before long. He was jolted awake when Nebram nudged his leg. Buster, who had curled up next him while he slept, growled a bit at the naga disturbing his rest.
“Silas Ward, there is a problem,” the naga told him once Silas was awake enough to talk. It was unlike him to sleep so soundly in a combat situation, but age trumped even his training after a long day.
“What’s going on, are we under attack?” Silas asked.
“No, but the patrol sent to investigate the city has not returned, and as it had our war chief leading it, Lhass is afraid to send anyone else to find them. Would you be willing to scout that area and see what happened to our people?” Nebram asked.
“Sure, just give me a minute. Are coming along?” Silas asked.
“If you will have me, I would very much like to join you on the mission,” Nebram said.
“Well, let’s get going,” Silas said. With a grunt, he shouldered his pack and checked his weapons to make sure everything was in order. He felt bad that he’d slept instead of taking the time to clean the weapons first, but he wouldn’t have time for that if the other naga might be in danger.
It was odd, Silas felt a slight pressure as they passed the cleared area that marked the boundary of the territory he controlled. Stopping, he walked back and forth a couple of times to make sure he was just imagining it. Both Buster and Nebram seemed confused by his actions.
“Is everything okay, Silas Ward?” Nebram asked.
“Yeah, just trying to confirm that I can feel something change when inside the area I control,” Silas admitted.
“Yes, did you not know? This area is now suppressed to those that wish to harm us. It will keep most hostile creatures at bay, and inflict a slight penalty to other foes, like the corrupted, when they enter. I should warn you that it will have little to no effect against any of the jungle lords. Despite that, as your territory grows and improves, so will the power of the forces that protect it,” Nebram explained as they walked.
“What about the jungle, is it keeping that from growing here as well?” Silas asked.
“Yes, I suspect so. The jungle has been here long enough to have absorbed some of Bhalkur’s corruption, as such, it will not grow and expand at this spot now that you control it,” Nebram said.
They moved at a fast-walking pace through the jungle. Silas didn’t want to overexert himself as the moved, and he for sure didn’t want to be ambushed by some sneaky gnomes. The map interface kept him on course, though Silas tried to use it only occasionally, choosing to try and hone his own directional instincts and training instead of just relying on the System.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
He was beginning to learn the sounds, smells, and feel of this odd jungle. When they were closing in on the fallen naga city, Nebram whispered for Silas to stop. The naga had been walking just in front of Silas, which he was fine with since Nebram seemed to move quietly enough through the jungle, but Silas had to put a stop to the whispering.
“What’s up, Nebram. Also, when we’re trying to be quiet just speak with a normal, but very low voice. It’s harder to hear than a whisper,” Silas said.
“Thank you, Silas Ward, I shall endeavor to retain this lesson. I asked to halt due a danger nearby. There is a small clearing ahead that I think you should see,” Nebram said, motioning for Silas to follow.
“One more thing, Nebram. Let me show you some hand signals so we can signal each other without the need to speak,” Silas said, taking a few minutes to over some of the basic hand signals that he had used in the Army. Nebram was sharp and seemed to pick up on things quickly enough.
“Watch that lizard entering the clearing,” Nebram said as they reached the area he had indicated, a small space only about twenty or so yards in diameter. The area was covered in low growth, mostly vines and small plants, but the larger, tree-like plants were noticeably absent.
Silas wasn’t sure what was supposed to happen, but as one of the jungle lizards, about the size of a housecat, stepped cautiously into the open area. It crept toward a lump, covered in vines, that sat at the middle of the small clearing. When the lizard was only a few feet away from the lump, the vines came alive and lashed out at the lizard, knocking it off its feet, but otherwise not harming it.
The lizard thrashed as it was pulled toward the mass of vines in the center of the clearing. As the vines moved, I could see several bodies there, the partially dissolved remains of several naga and what might have been a gnome. Pulled in with its other victims, the vines constricted, crushing the lizard before they whole mass of growth went still once more, ready for another hapless victim to wander by.
“Those naga, and that gnome, I’m assuming they’re the crazed ones?” I asked.
“All but one. A warrior, Dagix, volunteered to lead the enemy away from our tribe as we fled. He told me he was heading toward the vine wraith, which is what the creature is called. Either the corrupted or the vine wraith must have gotten Dagix, but it looks like his sacrifice took several of our enemy with him. Dagix was my friend, and we were hatched in the same nest,” Nebram said sadly.
“A brave naga, but we need to Charlie Mike, Nebram,” Silas said after giving the naga a moment to collect himself.
“Who is Charlie Mike?” Nebram asked.
“It’s old Army lingo from my world. The military uses a phonetic alphabet where the letter C is Charlie, and M is Mike. So, Charlie Mike is CM, or Continue Mission,” Silas tried to explain, realizing how odd it must sound to the naga, and probably anyone that hadn’t served.
“It is confusing, but I agree, Silas Ward, we should Continue Mission, or Charlie Mike as you say,” Nebram replied. At least the confusion seemed to distract him from his sorrow.
“You’ll get used to it, Nebram. We’re getting close to the village, so let’s try to stay quiet, but don’t hesitate to warn us if we’re about to run into one of these vine wraiths,” Silas said as the trio moved toward the village.
The jungles of Vietnam had plenty of dangers, and more than its share of venomous snakes, but at least you didn’t have to worry about the jungle itself trying to eat you. This new world was a bizarre one, but Silas could feel himself begin to attune to this jungle.
Nebram was also proving to be a reliable companion. Between the naga’s knowledge of this world, and Silas’ experience, they made a decent team. Of course, Buster was doing his part by sniffing everything the came across. Despite the danger, his dog seemed to be having the time of his life.
It was late afternoon by the time they reached the village. Remaining concealed in the jungle, they waited and listened to try and discern if there were any threats about. Feeling confident that a force of corrupt naga and gnomes weren’t about to ambush them, Nebram led them to the edge of the jungle where the walled settlement waited.
Unlike the last time he was here, the village was eerily silent. It seemed that most, if not all of the corrupted creatures had charged after the fleeing naga. After nearly an hour of watching the place, Silas spotted a corrupted gnome. It had peeked out of the gate, sniffing the air like Buster would.
The gnome wandered around the open front gates of the village, pawing at the ground and constantly looking around. No others showed themselves, and Silas raised his rifle to aim at the diminutive gnome.
“Nebram, I’m going to take a shot. If these things are hiding in the village, they’ll probably charge after us. If there’s too many, maybe we can lead them back into the vine wraith,” Silas said. Nebram looked nervous, or as nervous as the strange snake-like creature could look. Despite his concern, Nebram nodded his agreement and took a firm grip on his spear.