SYNCHRONIC II
{9th. tale in English.}
{14 in all}
A TALE OF SCIENCE FICTION
 BY ALFREDO JUILLET FRASCARA
17.08.1997.-

PROLOGUE:
	SOME INFORMATION BEFORE THE START:
	Era: 2.100 Christian Era.
	Place: Santiago Chile.
	Location: Ditto.
	Personages:
	Malvo Gomez.
	Felix Delorme.
	Raphael Vermoon.
	Sergio Mateluna.

		@@@@@@@@@@@

Synchronic.

Malvo Gomez was smiling, finishing the dictate by the telephone. He was advertising some rooms for rent, in his own house.

The advertisement was for three rooms, the best located in the house, so he was asking a good chunk...

Malvo was living at Santos Dumont, in a large house inherited from his great grandmother. The house has gardens and a couple of trees. In front of the house was the Cerro Blanco , with some gardens, trees and a radio station on top.

Malvo has a adjutant ,Sergio Mateluna, a young thin native of 20 years old, who uses long hair and loves to read SF tales, and went to walk to Bellavista street...a place full of artists and bohemian people.

- Master, there is a carload of letters for you."- Sergio told him, going inside his sancta sanctorum, or Library and drawing room.

- Some of them are perfumed ?

- No, except this, that seems to have been perfumed by the Pancho."- The helping hand replied, smiling.

It was a CTC collecting bill, smeared with cat's urine.

- Damn cat ! I'll show him !"- Malvo said, going out to the rear garden.

The cat saw him and fly to the roof.

- Damn stupid ! - He yelled, throwing some stones to the cat, with a lousy aimed eye...

- You fail again, Chief !"- Sergio laughed.

- Next time I'll shoot the bastard !"- Malvo said, feeling elated.

Three days elapsed, Sergio Mateluna opened the door, and a couple of guys asked to see the rooms. They were admitted,, they liked the rooms, and they decided to rent them.

Sergio leads them inside the SS. of Malvo, who didn't offered chairs to the visits, as the room was too narrow, with the Computers, the book shelves and the safe box.

- Good afternoon, Sirs. The price is $100.000 {Chilean currency] by month, plus another month as a security you will leave the room properly repaired."

- Good afternoon. I am Raphael Vermoon and he is Felix Delorme. "

- Nice to meet you. Sorry there is no chair here, pals."

- No problem. We need a place like this, quiet and at the same time near downtown. We are students of Astronomy."- Veremoon said.

- Oh ! Then you could tell my future."- Said Sergio Mateluna.

- Jerk ! That is Astrology ! This people here are astronomers, that loves to look into the sky with their telescopes..."- Malvo said.

- Oh ! I forget."- Sergio replied, laughing, as he was well aware of the fact, but he was trying to make amends with the new room mates.

- We have the money ready, Mr. Malvo Gomez, with a deep voice.

-Good ! I will enter some details in this form, and we could sign the document...Please handle me your I. D. "{ Identification cards.}

They placed the I.D. in front of him, and he write the names and numbers in one of his Computers. Ten the paper was ready to sign.

- Here and you, Sir, as a second in charge of the debts, here."- Malvo indicated them.

- There ! Now gave me the keys."- Felix said.

- No keys aloud, Sir ! We are going to open the door...let's said until 23.00 hours. A decent hour, I guess."- Malvo said, counting the money.

- But sometimes we could arrive later !"- Felix protested.

- No problem ! You tell me in that occasion you are going to arrive late, and we will wait for you dressed..."- Malvo grinned.

- O.K."- Vermoon decided.-We are moving this same afternoon. "

- Suit yourself."- Malvo wink and eye.

Sergio leaves the new renters at the door, and he return to the office.

- Money at last !"- Malvo said, counting again the wad.'- This money will provide some food and wine for our needs. "

- Very good ! Did I prepare the car ?

- Is it not ready ? Go ! "- Malvo said, and he leave some bills at the safe box. No need to tent the fortune...

Then he drive to the Supermarket, with his aid de camp, and bought several bags of food and wine.

- At least we have food for a couple of months here, Master !"- Sergio said, when they were returning to the house.

- Yeah ! At last . Well, now I will gave you some dug, as your pants are rather filthy. Buy yourself some jeans.'

- No, thanks ! I will buy a gray pants ! And a black shirt. "- Sergio replied.

- AS you wish. And cut that hair ."

- No, Master ! It is the distinctive I use ! Leave my hair alone !"- Sergio complained.

They arrive to the house, and Malvo went to his office, seating there to see how less money he was.

- Ready, Master ! The food it is storage already. Can I have my million pesos ?

- Million pesos ! You're nuts ! Here, take $15.000 and buy yourself something."- Malvo replied , giving the other those bills.

- Thanks. With this I will travel to the Bio Bio. Bye."- He said, going out of the house.

Malvo reads some science fiction ,saw some TV. programs...the new renters arrive, and he opened the door, staying around to see the kind of furniture those new renters were going to use in his rooms. He saw some old beds, a large table, and equipment, electrical equipment he was not sure for what purpose could be serving.

The truck went , and the renters close the doors.

- Good. - Malvo said, retiring to his place. He wrote at a copybook the furniture he saw, and also he puts there " Two new renters, Felix, a toad of a man, and Veremoon, a large and cadaverous guy, with a Boris Karloff kind of voice...

He chuckled.

Sergio returns , and Malvo handled him the paper. He reads and he said " Seems this guys are a very second- hand kind of astronomers. No telescope, master."

- Yeap. No telescope, but perhaps they look at the star with some others gadgets. Perhaps radio waves."- Malvo hypothesized.

- Perhaps. Some kid of nutty professors..."- Sergio smiled, remembering his SF books.

- This guys are going to spend electricity, for sure. So we must keep an eye on the counter."- Malvo said.

- Do you eat, Master?

- No ! Go and fetch me a pair eggs, a good beefsteak, a glass of wine and a whole bread."

- You fasting, Master?

- Go , you !"- Malvo yelled.

Sergio grinned, and went to the kitchen.

Malvo heard some noises in the rented rooms, something as furniture being moved . Well, it was obvious, the people were organizing themselves in those big rooms...

After a while, he eats the aforementioned dish and wine, and he write some more in his P.C.

- Chief, did I use the gun ? To show them some respect."- Sergio Mateluna asked.

- Go. But just one shot, please."- Malvo said.

- Yes, master ! I don't want to call here those pacos {cops}.Remember the last time they came here with a carload of armed men, just because they saw you in the street with your revolver?

- Do not remember me that situation ! I was so afraid, I forget the papers, and the Lieutenant was already pointing me with a big gun !"- Malvo said.

- But you were not guilty ! Why the afraid?

- Are you not reading the newspapers I scattered in the bath room ? Lots of people die just because some jerk it's too nervous not to pull the trigger ! It happens all the time."- Malvo said.

- No need to put yourself in a rage, master ! Well, I will go to shoot a little .Pardonnez moi, Master."- Sergio said, taking the old and battered bird shooter, and he banged at the rear garden. The noise from the rented rooms subsided until the next day...

Sergio carried the breakfast to Malvo, who was half awake.

- Good morning, master. Do you sleep well?

- Good morn'. Yes, that Internet is killing me...I was there until six ."

- Now it's eleven o'clock, Master. I put a stair and we can peek into the renters' rooms."

- |clever boy."- Grinned Malvo, looking in the tray. A cup of milk and a bread and butter...

- And what do you think of them?

- A pair of ruined scientific, who are trying to attain something. The rare thing, master, it is the mirror. It is no ordinary mirror, I assure you ! Too big, and there are some wires attached at the back."

- How rare, indeed. "- Malvo replied, looking at the TV set.

- Did I put the TV ? There ! Oh ! A nice picture of Madonna !"

- Good hembra, that. Full of fire."

- Yes, and just my size ! Because the gringas are too big for me !"- Grinned Sergio.

- She is of Italian descent."

- Oh, yes ! Some funny name, too ! But a beauty. She also sings."- Sergio said, devouring the silhouette of the singer.

- Seems you are out of girls, this days."

- Oh, Chief ! Women loves a guy with money in his pocket ! I cannot invite them to a jug and a hot dog ! "- Complained Sergio.

- Too bad. I will gave you $10.000 today. "- Assured Malvo.

- Fine ! I will buy myself a shirt, too. There are some offers at Patronato. "- Sergio said.

- You did that. And bathe yourself ."

- Master ! I bathe myself last Saturday !"- Sergio puts an offended face.

- Well, go to prepare the lunch. What are you going to cook today ?

- Oh, secret, Master ! But you will end licking your fingers. That I assure you."

- You better do that. "

Sergio went out with the tray, and Malvo dressed himself. Then he walks the two blocks to the journals dispenser, and bought the "Mercurio", where he reads about the financial times...Just for fun.

He return home , and secluded himself in the office, reading the newspaper with some music from the radio...

- Master ! Lunch is served."- Sergio announced, bowing.

- Good, boy ! There I go."- Grinned Malvo, leaving the office.

He lunched at the kitchen, as the dining room was rented...

Salad : chicory and garlic. Soup : of chicken. Second : ravioli with a beefsteak

- Nice lunch, Sergio ! Your hand keeps on being the best this side of the Mapocho !"- Malvo said.

- Thanks for those kind words, as the best Restaurants are this bank of the river."- Sergio said, remembering the TRattorias of Bellavista Boulevard.

- I am going to the cinema, to day. It's Wednesday, the theaters are exhibiting their treasures at half the price. No matter the cinema are full of kits."-

- Go, Master ! Entertain yourself ! You spent a lot of time digging the Internet ! Go and rest yourself a bit !"- Sergio urged.

- Yes, I will. Well, you keep in charge this mess. Bye !"- Malvo said, walking to Santos Dumont Street.

In order to take a bus, he needs to walk two blocks, thing he did. He climbs the bus, and pay the fare : $160. {Chilean currency}.

The bus began to move, sorting the holes the rains had donned in the flimsy road. A hundred other big buses went crawling to downtown...Several vendors climbs the bus, offering their cheap merchandise : chewing gum, chocolate, band aids, pencils, cheap magazines for kids, a real flea market without descend of the bus !

At last, he arrive to the Ahumada Street, and went to a cinema.

-----------------------------------------------------------

By the meantime, the Adjutant spent his time spying on the new renters, perched atop a stair, looking by the transom.

When Malvo came back from his leisure trip, Sergio cornered him ,to tell the last news.

- Master ! This guys are real scientists ! They are working with that mirror ! One of them is very mad at the other, saying he change the coordinates ! They went to the other side of the mirror ."

- No kidding ! Like Alice in Wonderland?

- Nice film eh? But no, they are really traveling to the other side !"

- Must be a worm-hole spawner ! "

- Kind of Time Machine ?

- No, they shift the Dimensions...they traverse through that mirror of them...if it is true.

- Take a peek !

- I will. Lead the way, Sherlock !"

They went to the stair , and looked through the stained glasses of the little window atop the door.

The Mirror was shining in a special way.

- It looks like water. Very interesting."- Malvo said.

- They are at the other side. "

- But perhaps they went to the South Pole to buy cigarettes."

- No way ! I had been spying here all afternoon ! They are at the other side, Master !"

The room was empty. The boxes and wires were scattered around the "mirror".

- It is like " Star Gate ", eh, Master ? "

- Yes, only the female is missing."

- Which female?

- Oh, that gorgeous blonde..."- Malvo said, descending. He went to his office, and began reading " The Time Machine " of Herbert George Wells... He began by reading "... "It took two years to make. Now I want you clearly to understand that this lever ,being pressed over, sends the machine gliding into the future,, and this other lever reverses the motion. This saddle represents the seat of a time traveler .Presently I am going to press the lever ,and off the machine will go. Have a good look at the thing. Look at the table, too, and satisfy yourselves there is no trickery. i don't want to waste this model ,and be told I am a quack."

- Master ! I have an idea."- Sergio said, entering the room.

- Yeah?

- Guess you can take it all for yourself."- Sergio said.

- How?

- Very simply. Wait."- Sergio replied, and went out of the Library. Malvuo saw the light went off.

- Presto ! No renters."- Sergio grinned, when he came back.

- No kidding !"- Malvo laughed heartily.

- Now, please , descend from your throne, and let's go to that room!"- Sergio urged.

They opened the door and Sergio also opened the shutters from the window, so the tame light of the late afternoon gets inside the deserted room.

The paraphernalia of the site was bathed in that golden glow.

- I am giving you a Worm Hole Spawner for free ! also, you can rent the pair of rooms, now their inhabitants are in vacations."- Sergio commented, disconnecting the wires from the sockets.

- Guess you are right. Those guys probably are in a better part, now."- Malvo said.

Sergio went to the main panel, to re connect the electricity, so they could work under electricity lamps.

Malvo searched for a console, or control apparatus, among the wiring and boxes. He find several, so he said to Sergio: ' - Where is the controller?

- I saw them moving this."- Sergio directed him to one of the metal boxes, who has several tuning knobs.

- I see. So we can enter the "Mirror" now... choosing. Good."-

- Are you going to rent. again ?

- Yes. I need money. We will move this furniture to the other rooms. Also, we will put this "Mirror " in the dining -room."

- - Do you want to probe it now, Master?

- Well ...I..."

- Let me be the one. The first to go."- Sergio asked.

- Where ?

- Of course not where those two guys are ! They can be waiting to came back ! We turn this knob a little...so ! " -

- Switch on ! - Malvo said, connecting the wires.

The "Mirror" began to flicker , and regained that watery appearance.

- Want a rifle ?

- No, Master ! I'm going to take a peek... and get back. See ya !"- Sergio said, and he walks into that surface !

Malvo waited, looking at the mirror, and reading from the book "The Time Machine.."

He went to close the doors properly, for the night. He came back. He became worried. He looked at his watch : 21:00 hours...

He take notice of the numbers in the dials, writing them on paper. /Then he enters the Mirror, carrying his "HS" revolver 38'.

He felt a sensation of nausea, but then he was at a stony platform. The sky was red, and the air was chilly. The mountain was surrounded by a dark wood, that stretched in all directions.

No traces of Sergio Mateluna. Malvo looks around the mirror, that was visible , on the floor. The slabs were put together without cement or otherwise.

- Sergio ! "- He called , and his voice echoed in the distance . He repeats his cries several times, coughing with the effort .

Malvo looked at the trees ,expecting to see the body of his servant walking to him...but not such thing happened.

He remembered , then , how that young fella came to his life: his father employed him at his Bicycle Store, and when he died, Malvo keeps on employing him, as his Adjutant. Sergio was clever, unhappily he didn't finished his studies ,se he was not able to work in the technical world he was inhabiting.

Thing not uncommon in Santiago, where half the population didn't finished his studies, and became what the haphazard dictates.

- Damn !"- Malvo said, kicking the floor.

The sky became more and more dark, and the wind became a gale. Malvo came back to his house.

- Bad idea ! But it was his idea ."- He told the mirror.

He disconnect the machine ,and went to the kitchen, where he prepared his dinner: a big piece of meat, two fried eggs, chili and a piece of bread. All was hot and smelly.

He drinks a glass of wine, thinking. In that night the Adjutant must be hiding someplace, so he will not return to the Mirror, in the night. So he will connect the machine in the morning.

He wash the dish and pan, wash himself and went to bed. Suddenly, the lights flickered out... Another disconnection from the Company...

In the morning he connected the machine, who was named the "Mirror" by him, and he went the other side. It was pitch dark. Not a light, not even the stars. He came back to the door in the time /space ,re-entering his room.

- Lucky me !"- He said, disconnecting the apparatus. If he missed the mirror at the other "side "...!

Somebody was ringing the bell, so he went to see who was.

- Good morning. You Malvo Gomez ? "- Said a tall dark man.

- Yes, I am."

- I bring you a citatory. I am an officer of the Police of Investigations. Can I go inside ?"- He asked, with a kind smile but with eyes of stone.

- Yes.'- Accepted Malvo, disliking the idea.

Inside, the officer jumbled with a leaf of papers he was carrying, and he produced a little piece of brown paper, where it was typed the name and address of Malvo, and also a date.

- You must attend the 3th. Tribunal, four days from now."

- All right. Do you know why?

- There is a denounce against every Gomez who could have rented a person who works to make him the sole owner of an old building at San Pablo Street."

- Oh, that ! I wasn't . "

- But you must go and tell that to the Judge."

- I will."

- Well, I am going, now. Nice house.

- Yes, it was from my grand grandmother. Lots of years in the family."- Malvo retorted.

The guy went out, and Malvo saw a piggy faced man waiting near the door for that officer.

He called the lawyer he knew, and then he was busy all day, going to the lawyer's office and carrying papers.

That night he went the other side of here. It was day time, and the red sky was like a furnace, and the stones were hot.

He looked at the woods. Their dark appearance was there, just the same, no matter the hot weather...No traces of Sergio.

- Damned brat !"- Malvo said, descending the hill.

The tall trees were real huge, each one eight meters wide. Also, at the foot of them, the weeds were entangled ,difficult the way.

A strong smell of rotten leaves were present. The insects were existing ,and some were biting at his naked parts, with fierceness.

- ANK ANK - ARRGH !"

The terrible growl chilled every bone in his body. Malvo gripped his revolver, thinking it was a toy to present battle to such an animal capable of uttering such a bellow .

- I'm going !"- He muttered, and retrace his steps ,as quickly as he was able.

He climbed the stony hill, and find the glittering mirror at the usual spot. He walks through it, and disconnect the machine.

- No way ! A terrible pace, indeed !"- He said to himself, walking to his bottle of whisky "White Label ". He takes a mouthful of the liquor, feeling the heat going down his stomach , and up his brain. He regained some courage, and laughed a bit..

- You were scared, he ?- He asked himself, grinning.

He did a draw of the "other " place. A mountain, a big forest, and some beast growling as a Dinosaur !

Then he reads ...{1}"That who after death keeps his faculty ! Those words came from the shadows . First you must walk by the road to hell and to the grotto of Proserpine ,daughter of Ceres. In the middle of the overwhelming darkness ,until Tiresias. He is without eyes, shadow in hell. So full knowledge that the thin fleshed ones knows less than him . Before you arrive to the end of the road , knowledge shadow of a shadow and notwithstanding that, you will go in his search , no matter you know less than the drugged beasts. "

Malvo stops his chanting . The day was in his middle : it was noon.

The hour of the spirits...

Malvo went to his PC. and typed a message for the newspaper, asking for ex soldiers. The advertisement brings lots of ex soldiers to his door. He chooses seven of them, rejecting the rest, as he didn't want to expend too much. The men assembled, he told them: Gentlemen: I have a problem here, and I choose you to solve the case. My adjutant Sergio Mateluna went to a forest and he never came back ."

- How many days he is missing? - Asked Marco Poncio, a tall blonde guy.

- Five days ago. I went there, but the place it is real big. No traces of Sergio. Really, a desperate case."

- We will search for your employee, Sir. I know how to track a man. "- A dark, Indian descendent man said, in a hushed voice. His name was Francisco Castro.

- Great ! I will search for a month. Your wages will be $200.000 for each one. The equipment I am going to provide will be yours, at the end of this expedition. "

- When we depart, Sir ?- Marco asked.

- To- morrow. Remember we are going where there is no telephone, so keep in mind there will be no callings home."- Malvo explained.

The guys realized it was for real, and swore they will be ringing the bell at eight hours, next Monday.

Malvo bought food, clothes, back-packs and knifes.

The next day the explorers arrived in time, and Malvo gave them the clothes and backpacks.

- Now ! You looks like Rambos !"- He joked, directing them to the Mirror.- This is the same as in the picture " Star Gate." Just a little humbler. We are supposed to cross the other side of this mirror, that is in fact some kind of a door, and we will be there. "-

- "Like in Star Trek."- Marco Poncio said.

- Not quite."- Malvo replied.- Lets get moving."

They walked the other side . Malvo was the last, and he takes a long glance in the direction of the machine, that this time would be marching without stop. A interruption in the system, and nobody were going to reactivate the energy...

Then he crossed the threshold.

- Hey ! It 's that the forest ?"- Asked one of the explorers.

- Yes. It is big, isn' t it ?"

- It is a whole country ! But, no matter. This Indian here will lead us to our goal."-

Three men were following Francisco Castro to the feet of the mountain. The guide was inspecting the soil , in time to time.

They all reunite at the forest fringe. Castor said :- " There are traces of single man descending the hill. Straight to the woods. Once inside of it, it will be more easy for me to see the path."

- Damned Sergio ! He was supposed to just take a peek !"- Malvo explained.

- But he began searching for something interesting, perhaps, to show you."- Castro retorted.

- Possibly."- Malvo 's rage subsided.- Let's get moving."

They walked inside the forest. Castro was leading the party of eight, using his skill to trace the faint signs of SErgio's steps...

- This Indian knows what he did. I served in the same Company, back at the Buin."- Laurencio Mardones said to Malvo.

Castro retrace his steps quickly, and snorted :- " Don not call me Indian any more, you hear ? I am tired to hear you call me that. "

- Calm down, man ! All right, all right !"- Laurencio Mardonez replied.

They keep walking, hearing the birds singing to the morning.

The trees were big , green and moist. Swarms of flying insects began to bite the men, who stops their march , to put some ointment over their faces and arms.

- Little Vietnam.- Laurencio said.

- You were there?

- No, but I had seen lots of pictures."- Laughed him.

Then Castro said : - I had seen imprints on the soil, bigger than any animal I know. "- And looked at Malvo, accusingly.

- I do not know about animals here. Never seen one."- Malvo replied the implicit question.

- Better we didn't laugh or do too much noise. With this pop guns there is little we can do against a beast ."- Castro said...

They find a stream . and they drink the water, that was cool and limpid. They eat some canned food in the march.

- Can you see the trail ?

- Yes, but it is dimmed, now. The guy walked pretty fast. I wonder how he could keep on marching in a straight line. "- Castro told Malvo.

- The only answer it's that he was using a compass. Clever boy."- Malvo amazed himself.

- He passed by here about three days ago. We are getting closer."- Castro informed.

- So we could get hurry and catch him out ??

- No way, I must find the clues. I am going after him the fast I can."- Castro replied.

They walked all that day in that gloomy forest, finding several carcasses laying around.

- Our friend the big animals were there... but the imprints are two days long. "- Castro said.

- This man reads the forest !"- Lupercio Vargas said. He was a tall lean man, with bright eyes and a long knife at his belt.

It began to rain. Castro keeps on walking, straining his eyes for the little details in the branches or in the floor, looking for the clue...

At night, they stopped under a big tree, lighting a fire. Some insects came flying to the flames, burning themselves with a hiss.

Malvo opened the bags with the food, and he passed the canes around, also some beer . Suddenly, a powerful bellow was heard, faint and in the distance.

- Guess our meat eater is angry by the rain. "- Castro said, looking East.

- I hope he stay where he is."- Malvo replied.

- Yap, the fire will not hinder him in his way...to us."- Castro muttered, eating the beans from the can.

They slept near the fire, and in the morning the rain stops. The red sky was clouded, as usual.

Castro puts his back- pack and began to move. The others followed him: Malvo didn't resent the fact Castro was the leader now, as he was unable to find his own track in that half lighted forest.

A mountain was visible by the trees, and Castro was leading to it.

- Your adjutant went there."- He explained to Malvo, who was looking at him curiously.

- Fine.'- Malvo said. He was relieved, as he was thinking the guide was choosing the hill for his own personal motives.

The trees became scattered among the foot of the hill, that was devoid of vegetation: just rocks and earth was visible from there.

Big boulders were standing all over the place. Castro was absorbed looking for the clues, that was why Marco Poncio looked first at the wall of rocks and find that...

- ! Gold ! My Fortune, Gold !"- He yelled, running to the wall of rocks.

A polished surface were shining there, yellow and warm; it stretched more than a hundred meters, and six meters high.

- My God !"- Malvo said, in shock.

- Here is your adjutant."- Castro said, from some rocky formation. Malvo looked there, with wide opened eyes. Nobody was in sight. He walks to the site, and in the floor he saw a pair of bones, a leather belt, and a buckle. It was the old American Eagle...yes, it was the belt used by Sergio.

He began to cry, seated in the floor. From above, a faint rain became to pour, mingling his tears with the rain drops...

- He was attacked by a beast...a large beast... he run for shelter, but he didn't make it. See that hole, in the mountain ? He was heading for that place. Not enough fast, I am afraid."- Castro muttered.

- He was so...young !"- Malvo sobbed. He take the buckle.

- Some went early than others, Boss. The lad was a relative ?

- No, just and employee... but very faithful, and ... obedient."- Malvo tried to compose himself. But he knew he need to end the suffering , so he permitted himself to cry a lot that day.

They buried the scarce available bones. The rest of the expedition was very busy trying to get some gold out of the wall, using knives and also bullets.

Marco Poncio was the mineralogist, and he pointed to some barreled rocks. saying " Those are Al2O3 aluminium oxide, is a common rock found in metamorphic rocks, in igneus rocks, and in soils and stream sands. Corundum is a hard mineral; heavy for its size. This here are crystals of corundum, real beautiful eh ?"

- They are nice.- Malvo said, adding " But I prefer to carry the gold." - Look, Sir ! At least five kilos of gold !"- Marco Poncio shows Malvuo, after three hours work..

- Amazing."- Malvo said, weighing the chunk.

- We can return with pick and shovels !"- Poncio said.

- Or a good dynamite box !"- Laughed Vicente Gonzalez, a dark skinned man of burly constitution.

- Yes, i guess we may, now Sergio is find."- Malvo replied.

They slept over the hill, near the cavern. A fire was lit, and the men were so excited they barely sleep until the morning.

- Now we get back !"- Malvo said.

Castro began to retrace his steps , and this time they walk faster than before. The backpacks were heavy, at least 20 kilos each one was carrying there, throw away canteens, clothes and other utensils.

- I will buy me a new car and a bungalow !"- Lupercio Vargas said, walking in the rear of the line.

- And I will go to Bermudas !"- Raul Reyes laughed, jumping every root he finds in his path.

- I never thought this will happen !"- Claudio Lizama, a big muscled man said.

Following Castro, in three days they were facing the mirror. Malvo gave a deep sigh, as he was afraid the machine weren't there at his return...

They came back to Santiago de Chile.

Malvo disconnected the apparatus, and he put his hand in the different machines, sensing for overheat, but none was too hot.

The men went to the bath room, and then they assembled in the first yard.

- Well, gentlemen, here we end the trip we began a week ago. I offered you a wage, but now you have more gold than you ever dreamed of. So good bye, and good riddance to all ! - Malvo said.

- Not so fast, Mr. Malvo ! There is a lot more gold there ! We must go back !" - Marco Poncio said.

\ - Yes ! You cannot leave us behind !"- Felipe Norambuena added.

- Of course I can ! Do not forget I was the employee and we already accomplished the objective of this trip : to find my unfortunate Adjutant. Now I can rest ; I no longer thought he is somewhere searching the dimensional door. "- Malvo explained.

Castro intervened := " Well, I think this is over ! Guys, take your packs and let's go !"

Malvo reminds them the convenience of to sell the gold in small quantities, adducing :'- Chilean law said all the gold in this land is of the government. They will not believe stories about other worlds, and you will be imprisoned. So beware !"-

They went out, some of them without a farewell ...Castro was the last to go, and he said :- " Do you want to go there, Mr. Malvo ?

- Perhaps... i am just arriving, and want to repose my feelings."

- Of course. Take your time. Here is my phone. You call me, I will guide you there, such a beautiful country ! Good bye."

Malvo closed the door, putting the card in his pocket.

Santiago de Chile.

As Malvo wasn't assisted, he puts an advertisement, asking for a maid. He chooses the handsomest of the women available, a big blonde woman, called Svetia Laurencia, 23 years old.

- A nice house. I like big houses. "- She said, looking at everything with her shining green eyes .

- Great. We need to clean everything here. Also you must go to buy groceries ,wine..."- Malvo ordained, handling her $10.000.

He went to his office, where he write the adventure in the "other" side.

At 14:00 hours she calls him to lunch. The potatoes were half boiled, and the steak was half fried... Malvo called her and said: - I cannot eat this shit. You are fired."

She takes her bag and went out of the house, banging the old door...

Malvo climbs to his old Peugeot and went to eat at a Chinese Restaurant. The hunger subsided, he regained his normal self, so paid and gave a tip. Then he went to the Plaza Brazil, and bought a newspaper.

He reads how in the new " partner" of Chile, Canada, some Salmon producers, were promoting a accusation of Dumping against Chilean Salmon producers, as they cannot understand how the Chilean salmon costs $2.06 dollars and the U.S.A. and Canadian are selling they products a 15% higher ....They said it is too little money .

The Canadian worker costs $ 1.435 dollars per month, and a Chilean worker costs $ 480 per month ! 4 times less ! Also the waters in Chile didn't freeze as in Canada, so they get a year round production !

The case will be judged by an U.S.A. judge.

Malvo remembered how the Chilean were killed in the Gold Rush of the 19th,. Century in U.S.A., when they became too much competitive....The Little Chile, a Chilean town, was burned and the people killed. Good bye competitors.

' Hey ! You here ?"- A voice was heard.

Malvo looks up, seeing Brando Rosende, smiling at him.

- Old class mate ! How do you do ?"- He replied.

- Fine ! - The other said, seating at his side, on the bench.

He was tall and burly built , with black hair and using an overcoat.

- I went to paid you a visit... two months ago. But you weren't present at your Atelier."- Malvo said.

- I wasn't there ! I was in Chicago, to see how the Lake Michigan was."

- Oh, a great voyage, indeed !"

- Yes, and how beautiful that lake Michigan it is ! And the city of Chicago ! ! Big, great city ! I walked by the Bedford Park, Narragansett Avenue, I saw the Ruth Park, the Calumet river, and I was living at a nice department at Diversey Avenue. There were also the Shedd Acquarium, the Adler Planetarium...lots of places to see, and rest seeing the Lake, a real sea. I became in love with it .

But I also get in love, years ago, with Buenos Aires !"- Brando explained.

- And do you bring something from there ?

- Mostly memories ! You know, it is possible to spent a little money traveling, but there is little left for souvenirs. Perhaps a bag, a little battery radio, things like that... but nowadays all came from Taiwan or Hong Kong. China. The same tale in all places."

- Amazing.

- Yes. And you, did you travel ?

- Yes, I went to another planet.

- Very interesting. You in some Hindu sect ?

- No, in person ! I went through a ?Dimensional passageway."

- No kidding ?

- It was a rescue party, searching for my former assistant, Sergio."

- Oh, I remember him ! A kind of a hippie, or something...he and a blonde, what was her name ?

- I forgot. Well, the lad was eaten.

- Anthropophagi ?

- My guess is that is was a Dinosaur.

- My God !

- I heard some bellowing in the woods, twice. I didn't set my eyes on the beast, really."

- Believe me, you are an artist .

- Why?- Asked Malvo, grinning.

- Yes, you have a wonderful imagination.

- Thanks, but it is not being applied here.

- Do you heard about Stephen Hawking ?

- Yes, a scientist and his hobby, the Black Holes !" - Malvo replied, as his personal hobby was to read everything available in correspondence with the Outer space.

- I meet him, in person, back in England.

- You were there, too ?

- Yes, with the " Matucale Ballet". I was the Painter. I called Mr. Hawking by the telephone, and his Secretary told me, after some exchange of ideas with the scientist, that he were to receive me in his home at an appointed date. "

- Very kind of him, you being an ignoramus."- Malvo remarked

- Yes, a kind man. Here in Chile they did a real show with him, interviews, radio and TV going wherever he did. Also to the Antarctica "- Brando informed.

- Well, they said he is the Einstein of this days."- Malvo grinned

- He told me his contribution it is the Theorem of the singularity , who said the Time must have begun with the Big Bang, and its end with the Black Holes. Also he claims the discovery that the energy isn't wasted inside the Black Hole...he said there is a escape from it."- Brando exclaimed.

- I read, once, the energy went to another dimension."- Malvo muttered.

- Hawking sad the Back Holes puts limits to the science's predictability .If some information is loosed inside the Black Holes, then the scientists will not predict the future accurately."

- All this just by looking by a telescope..."- Malvo remarked.

- There are now several other ways to look unto a star, you know. Once somebody asked him if the Science is some kind of a new religion, and he replied:"- It's different, the science works. " Also he believes the physic laws could - in the future,- explain the human conscience."- Brando said.

A drugged man approached them, asking for a match. As they didn't have, the guy said :"- What's the matter with this S.O.Bs. ?"

Another guy, who was cleaning a car , yelled at him not to molest the "gentlemen", so the drugged man went his way, walking with unsteady pace.

- A pity this people throw themselves into the drug."- Brando said.

- Look here, this men are the sons of those drunkards we saw in our childhood. Not all men rise as men, you know."- Malvo asseverated.

- Most sure thing. We are not all made equal, guess there is a very important difference ,somewhere inside the brain."- Brando said.

- Yes, the painters paint their inner visions, and the writers create around themselves the world they should like to live in. I know, being myself both things."- Malvo exclaimed.

- Let's go to your machine. I am dying to see it ."- Brando said.

- I have the car parked near. Let's go."- Malvo accepted.

.

- No, Mr. Malvo, in this days I am very busy buying houses ... I want to buy them, improve them and sell them... with a profit. So why don't you call me in a couple of weeks ?"

- But, man ! I told you not to move the gold in quantities !"

- Well, no problem, Mr. Malvo ! There are guys that buy the gold and asks no question, if you gave them a discount..."

- Yes ! I know them ! But you are buying houses ! You know the Government is hungry trying to grab people from the drug business ! I guess you heard how they are searching the people from the Cartel of Juarez ! They take the cars, houses, and they put the guys in prison ! "- Malvo was horrified.

- No problem , Mr. Malvo ! You worry too much ! Relax ! Call me whenever you like, but change your mood !- Castro said, and he hang up.

Malvo was enraged with those people. Now the tax collectors will inform the Police and they will try to know from which source the money was obtained...

So he takes his personal belongings, and went to his another house, sited in Robles Street, also in Recoleta Boulevard.

- Do not worry too much, Malvo ! The gold is not Chilean ! "- Brando said, when his friend told him the news.

- Here I will be safe."- Malvo asserted.

- I think you are seeing too much TV ! "- Brando laughed.

- Do not believe the TV news are all lies. There is a law about gold. If it is not from Chile, then the gold must pay taxes at the frontier. "

- When are we going to the other side ?

- Soon. I want to put some fences at the windows, and then we could go. There are too many thieves in this days..."- Malvo replied.

So he searched for some workers, and in those travels he saw several times cars of the police near his old house. So he called Castro, but the guy was not available at his telephone number.

' - We are ready. The machine is working fine."- Malvo told Brando.

' - Then lets take a peek !"

They traverse the door into the another dimension, and they saw the woods and the red sky.

- But this is incredible ! And very strange !"- Brando said, amazed.

- Pity I hadn't find Castro, I doubt we can find the gold."

- And are you too much interested in the gold ? Enough problems you have already with it !"- Brando said.

They went back to Earth.

- Well, I will go home to pack. See ya !"- Brando said.

Malvo saw the fences, painted and ready to resist the attack... he paid the workers, and went to see the SD house. Two police cars, painted dark blue, were waiting there with the officers dressed with ties and white shirts.

Malvo keeps on driving, and he saw Castro, walking to his house from La Paz Avenue. He stops the car, and called him.

- Castro ! You going to my home ?

- Mr. Malvo ! Yes, I were walking there... my car was taking by the Police !"

Castro climbs to the old Peugeot , and Malvo went to his Robles Street house, talking with the man.

- You were right ! Some of the other members of the Expedition became millionaires with the gold , and they began buying half Chile ! So they were spotted, when the tax payments were asked . They swear you gave them the gold...The officers didn't believe them !"

- Who is imprisoned ?

- Everyone of them ! I escaped because God Almighty protect me ! I was absent when they came to my house to notify me , and when I arrived to the block, a neighbor advised me the Police were after me ! Pity, all the rest of the gold was at my safe box. "- Castro explained.

- My house of Saints Dumont it is being surveyed by the Police. Sure thing they want my head."- Malvo grinned.

- Sure.

- So I moved. There is my another house ! It is smaller, but I have here my machine."

- No kidding !

- Yes. I take all my valuables here. "

- You were right. Forgive me ."

- Do not worry. I saw too much TV...so I learned.There was a recent case in which three inocent men were imprisoned for seven years, and then the Judge told them to go home and forget the whole matter ! "- Malvo replied, and he parked the car inside the property.

Castro walked inside, and went to the bathroom. The rig bells: it was Brandon, who carried a suitcase.

- Near missing a car crash ! The damned taxi driver almost banged his car against a house ! He was running at 120 km. per hour ! "- He complained.

- Castro is here. The guide."

- Oh, the Indian fellow ?

- So not call him that ! He is very proud.

- O.K., it is this racist ideas we get at that Academy... you remember ?

- Of course. The time was after a war, so we get some of the info... "- Malvo smiled.

He clearly remembered his overall covered with swastikas and medals penciled all over the chest and back ! They played not cowboys and Indians, but nazis and communists !

- So now we will headed unto the gold ?

- Yes."- Malvo smiled, setting the machine.

- Mr. Malvo, are you traveling right now ?- Castro said, coming from the bath room.

- Yes. Some inconvenient ? - Malvo asked.

- Not at all ! The better, for me, now they are after me... "

-Let's take the bags to the other side, then. I will leave the engines running for an hour; then it will stop providing electricity to the Mirror. Then it will re- start a week from now, for two hours . "

- Too little margin of time !"- Complained Brandon.

- Well, we will be there waiting for the mirror to appear. I cannot leave this machine working for months ! So I decided this method. Two hours a day, beginning from a week from now. If we want to keep exploring, no problem. The machine will be opening the door each day for two hours. "- Malvo explained.

- And if the engines didn't work ?- Castro asked.

- Then the system will use the electricity provided by the general electric system, the one who provide energy to all the city. "- Malvo grinned, because that was a well thought system he invented for this occasion.

- Should be some person, here, waiting for us, seeing all it's O.K."- Brandon said.

- Please ! Every time I leave something in some body's hands, I found the damages was due to the person in charge. Please, let this to me."- Malvo asked.

- Your funeral."- Muttered Brandon, paled.

They carried all the bags to the other side.

- Oh. what a beautiful sight !"- Castro said, when looking at the landscape.

The forest was surrounding the mountain, and the air was warm, the light provided by the star of the system, who was over the clouds.

- Beautiful ! Well, let's see what we can carry. "- Castro added.

After some while, they began to walk downhill, leaving the rest of the bags waiting for them under some stones.

Castro begun to guide them through the forest, that was gloomy and in silence.

- Too much silence, here. Perhaps it is some kind of danger."- Castro said, after a half hour of march.

- Do not be paranoid ! No danger here !"- Brandon said.

Castro grab his hand and forced him to kneel.

- See that imprint, buddy ? It is a Tyrannosaur ! I study some imprints back in Earth, after my last voyage here... Terrible lizards, those Tyrannosaurus ! So do not forget to walk in silence..."

Brandon pushed the other aside, red faced. He disliked the Indians also to be told he was wrong in some appreciation

- Wait ! I heard something."- Malvo exclaimed.

The earth shook. Then a dinosaur emerged from the near by trees, running against them. Each of the humans run in different directions. As Brandon was kneeling, he was the slowest, so the monster bites him first.

Half his body was captured inside the giant mouth. The grinding teeth broke every bone of his chest, with a horrid noise, shaking his head from side to side.

By the forest Castro catch up with Malvo, saying : - We must climb a tree ! No salvation down here !

So they climb a big tree, just in time, as the Tyrannosaur appeared and brawled at them.

The growl shakes the leaves, and some other monsters replied from the distance.

- My God ! "- Malvo trembled, and almost fall down, with the impression, but Castro grabs his arm.

- Now take some spirit, man ! We are safe here."- He said.

But the big Tyrannosaur were not decided to loose the pray, and began banging the tree with his powerful head.

The humans began to climb higher and higher, and they were almost at the top, when the tree began the incline.

- Try to jump to another tree !"- Castro said, and they jump in unison.

From then on, they were traveling as fast as they could , walking by the branches in silence, so they leave the enraged dinosaur in the distance.

- My God ! We almost fall."- Malvo said.

- We are in the good direction. Follow me."- Castro said, and he descended to the floor, and they began marching at full speed.

- I hope the mirror stays in place."- Malvo said.

- We are not going to the mirror ! We are in for the gold."- Castro exclaimed.

Malvo shuddered in fright, but he puts his free will in the hands of the Indian at least, a fortune were going to sprout from this adventure !

- Pity we loose the food, chief !"

- Oh, I will not go back to fetch it !"- Malvo exclaimed.

- There is plenty of fruits here. Take, eat."- Castro said, giving him a potato- like fruit.

Malvo eats it. Not very pleasant, but he managed to retain the fruit in his stomach.

At night, they climb a tree and slept there.

All the animals were growling and screaming in fright, down there in the dark. Malvo counted more than 70 big bellowing, and his perspiration went profusely over his face and hands.

Castro slept at intervals, with a gun in his hand. But nothing happens to them.

At dawn, all the fierce cries subsided, and the birds appeared, yellow and red, flying gaily over the trees.

They descended, and Castro finds the trail once again.

- We will arrive there in three hours more, Chief. Have confidence."- He said.

Malvo didn't replied, as he was terrified.

They arrived to the site, and just in time to see the sun goes down. Then they slept in a cave.

At dawn they began to work,, hitting the gold and replenishing the bags with gold.

- We can carry no more than three bags each one. No more."- Castro said, and it proves right, because they hardly could walk with the weight.

At last, they arrive to the Mirror, and went through it to Earth. Once the bags solidly reposing on the floor , Malvo disconnected the machine.

- There ! We are safely back home. Pity there is one less of us."- He said.

- Yes, poor Mr. Brandon. Eaten by a dinosaur..."-- Castro replied.

Malvo takes a bath, and Castro begin calling some people, to sell the gold.

- There are several guys ready to buy the gold. Mr. Malvo. They paid half the price, but asked no questions about the precedence of it."- Castro informed.

- Half the price ! No less... well, there is plenty more of it, down there..."- Malvo shrugged his elbows.

- We will get several millions... For a ride, it is not at all bad, don't you think?"- Castro said.

- Yes, man. But think of it : each time we go, this machine keeps on running by itself. A failure, and adios muchachos. We should be stucked there for life !"- Malvo informed.

- Mm ! Bad thing... next time, I go and you wait here. Of course, I will need some help, perhaps a motorcycle... with it I can go several times a day !"- Castro said.

- Guess you could, and also being chased by several dinos !"- Malvo grinned.

- Do not be a water - feast, Mr. Malvo !"- Castro replied.

- Well, let's get on with the selling ! When this people will be ready to pay ?"- Malvo asked.

- To-morrow. I must carry the bags, with you. In the car, of course. WE will meet those guys somewhere, and we swap the bags. O.K. by you ?"

- O.K., I will carry my old '38."- Malvo said.

- Yes... I will carry another one. "- The guide said.

They went to buy a motorcycle, and they eat at a Restaurant, in Bellavista Boulevard, where Malvo spotted several acquantainces, among them , the beautiful Javiera M., who was enchanted to meet him.

- How do you do ! I lost sight of you since that trip we made."- Malvo said.

- Oh, I was in New York ! In the big Apple... nice place, indeed. I came to Santiago to sell some perfumes.. . And you , what are you doing now ?"- The gorgeous blonde asked, fixing his electric blue eyes on him.

- I am doing some adventure tourism trips, with this man here, Mr. Castro .He is my best guide."- He presented him.

- Nice to meet you, Lady. "- Castro said, standing from his chair.

- Me too. And where are you traveling, south of Chile?"- She asked.

- To another planet."- Malvo replied.

- Ja ja ! Yes, the south of Chile is like another planet, all right... Well, I will leave you now, men, as I must go with my friends... Here is my card, Malvo . Called me any time."- The tall blonde handled her card to Malvo.

They saw how Javiera walked out of the Restaurant, with several couples.

- Nice looking woman, Mr. Malvo . "

- Yes, I meet her in a trip, some years ago... "- He replied.

They asked the meal, and drinks wine, heavily. Then they goes back home, hitting the sack in no time.

At dawn, Malvo takes a shower. The sound of the water wakes up Castro, who made a phone call.

- Good morning, Sir ! We are meeting the guys at ten, in the La Paz Cemetery. "- He informed afterwards.

- All right. Let's get moving, then."- Malvo said, and takes the Peugeot out of the house.

They travel south, and turn right : the General Cemetery was there, with the guards, the mourners and the usual flowers over the chariots.

They went to the old sector, where big stone structures were .Also the people there were scarce. They stop in front of a big tomb.

- They are watching us. There, in the rear..."- Castro said.

- Yes...A big blue car.."-

The blue car start its engine and came to their side. Two persons went down, and Castro also descended, saying to Malvo :- Chief, you stay here. Just in case."

Castro talked with the guys, and they opened the rear of his car, where three bags were opened, showing the money .

Castro takes the golden bags from the Peugeot 504, and went there, showing the content.

They were satisfied, after probing some examples with the acid. Castro takes the bags and climbs to the Peugeot.

- Let's get out of here, Chief. "- He said.

Malvo starts the engine, and the car moves along the narrow street.

- Hey, came back !"- Somebody yelled.

- Better you take speed, chief. Something is going to happen, here."- Castro said, looking backwards.

Several men were running after the Peugeot, handling guns.

- Bang !

- They are shouting at us ! "- Castro said, beginning to fire his gun against the men..

Malvo gave full throttle, and they began racing by the ill paved roads . The other car was after them, too.

They arrive to the outer door , and they descend the ramp, missing by some inches another car who was passing by the street...

Two bullets hits the rear glass, throwing the pieces against them. Several little cuts were produced in the neck of Malvo and in the face of Castro, who was looking back.

- Bastards !"- Castro yelled.

Malvo was with the throttle pedal against the floor, so the car jumped to the corner, and turns left.

- Take. Use it: I will be driving."- Malvo said to Castro, handling him his gun.

Castro went to the rear seat, and began firing against the blue car, who was bullet- proof, as the projectiles banged against the glass without much damage.

Malvo arrive to Independence Avenue, and head south, not caring about the red lights.

The blue car was near them, and several guns were trying to hit the driver, without too much accuracy, due to the erratic course Malvo was following.

Suddenly, a big bus turns in a corner, and banged against the blue car, sending it against a wall, where it crashed, throwing a cloud of bricks and dust sky high.

- Slow down, chief ! Nobody is chasing us, now ! The bus send them to the Cemetery !"- Castro laughed.

- Blessed be Jehovah ."- Malvo exclaimed several times.

They arrive to the house and went to see the money , spilling the content on the dining table.

- My God ! A lot of dug, eh, Chief ? No wonder they were wanting to take it back !"- Castro exclaimed, seeing the mountain of dollars.

- I hope they cannot trace us here."- He said.

Castro paled , saying :'- Perhaps they can ! I called them from here , in the morning !"-

Malvo thought a little while, and he shrugged, saying :- " No matter. The big bosses were in that car, I guess. Also, we have more ammunition for our guns. We must keep our eyes open."

They count the bills , and in all there were $ 5.000.000 dollars in all.

- Good amount of money, to go spending at the Bahamas."- Malvo said.

- Bahamas ... always I had heard of it, but never went there. In fact, never I was out of Chile."

- This time you can go out... with a faked Passport. Plenty of money to do what you please."- Malvo assured.

- Yes, I guess we both must went out of circulation, for a long season... Those punks are really mean."- Castro said, putting the money back in the bags.

- Well, I guess you are right. To-morrow I will fetch us both some papers, and we will fly over the problems ,for a while."- Malvo said ,adding:

Midway upon the journey of our life

I found myself within a forest dark,

For the straightforward pathway had been lost."

- Dante.

- Yes , do you read it at school ?

- And memorized, too. It was exciting."- Castro grinned.

They prepared the trip , buying airplane tickets.

'' '-Very expensive, this way of traveling.¿' Castro said.

' . -Could be, but the fastest manner, too. If you prefer a bus, forget it. Several months delay, and that provided you were not killed in Central America.-' Malvo said.

'' '- Why, too much guerrillas ? ' ' Castro asked.

' Of course ! It is a modus vivendi mow, the sole occupation of entire families. For them, a human life costs nothing. They want to be, respected and feared...¿' Malvo signaled.

They closed doors and windows, prepared the alarms against burglars, and depart , two days after that conversation, in a LAN Chile airplane.

Not that the airplane was build by LAN , as all the planes are of United States of America construction...

'' - In eight hours we will be in Bahamas.-¿' ' '- Malvo said.

' '- Bahamas ! The Great Bahamas, and the other islands... I expect to find exactly what I saw in the booklet¿: beautiful women, nice blue sea , and palm trees.¿' Castro sighed.

' -- I knew not that mood of yours !¿' Laughed Malvo, as the Indian was very `poetic.

' - Guess I am going just because the Police is after me. I prefer the green forests of the south than the beauties of the Indians.¿- Castro asseverated.

The plane takes off, and the travel begin. After some hour and a half, a couple of men signaled all the crew members to lie down in the floor, because they were going to take control of the plane, to fly to Cuba.

' í - El companero Fidel is waiting for us !¿' ' - Bellowed the bearded guy, showing a submachine gun.

Malvo and Castro were crowded at the rear part of the plane. together with the rest of the tourists...

Two gorgeous blondes were terrified. One was a passenger, the other a new hostess, in her first travel to the south part of the Americas...

' - I will never came back to my country !¿' - Lamented the passenger, who was from U.S.A.,

' - Do not be afraid, lady ! We will get ride of this punks !¿' - Castro told the lady.

' - You and how many others, you pig !¿' - The guardian said, a fat man.

' - You are brave, isn't it ? Because of your gun.¿- Castro told the guy, who was the man in charge of the passengers, meanwhile his other partners were arguing with the pilot, to turns to the Island of Fidel.

The guy paid no more attention to his words, and lit a cigar.

' '- I am so terrified !¨' Said one of the hostess. It was a blonde girl, with exuberant bosoms.

' - Me too. But I swear you will be safe at my side. ¨'- Malvo said to her.

She looked at him in disbelief.

' - I was told this things happens, but never I was in one .¨- She explained.

Malvo takes her hands, and he kissed them. She blushed.

' - You are so beautiful !¨' - Malvo whispered. They were very close to each other.

' - Please ! Do not take advantage of this situation !- ¨' The blonde said.

'The plane began to move in an erratic way, and the guards began to yell to the others , preoccupied.

Suddenly, the other two came and asked _' Who of you knows how to fly a plane? -

They all began to yell in unison, and the plane began to dive. The pirates takes the parachutes and throw themselves out of the plane.

' - Please, help me to close the door !¨' - The blonde asked .

Malvo helps her, and the other passengers were running to the prow.

Castro was the first to came back . saying ¨' The pilot is dead. The plane is flying ion automatic. ¨:

Malvo went to the cock pit and found the pilot shoot in the head, leaning on the back of his seat. The plane was flying over some mountains.

' ´-Do you know where we are?-' He asked to the blond hostess, who was there.

- I guess we are in some part of Brazil. But I cannot know for sure. Could be very well Bolovia.¨' - She answered.

' Bolovia ! Well, lets try to land.¨' -Malvo said, and with Castro´s aid, they put the corpse on the floor.

Malvo grabbed the wheel, and disconnected the automatic. For some minutes all was very easy, but suddenly the plane became a monster in his arms...

'He searched for a spot to land, and he finds a place between two high mountains, so he dive there, and try to descend without wheels...

They touch ground, and he disconnect the engines, but for not avail, as the left engine hits a big boulder and fly sky high. The plane turns to the left, as if trying to recuperate the wing, but it just hit the mountain with a big crash.

Malvo regains conscience in the night,. and he saw a dim light , to his left.

Somebody approaches him, saying :¡ - You wake up, boss ? I am Castro, no, don't move ! I guess you have four ribs in bad shape. Let me help you... I found some chocolate and drinks in the debris ... ¨

Malvo tried to eat, but his head began to pound and he fainted.

When he awoke again, it was at full day -light. There were no one in sight. His chest was throbbing, and each inspiration was a stab... He waits more than an hour, and then Castro returns, with somebody else.

' - Chief ! We have another member of the expedition alive ! Look who is here !¨' - He said, and Malvo saw it was the blonde hostess, with a big bulge in the left side of her face.

'- Hi ! I almost die, down there ! ¨. - She said.

Malvo try to speak, but he couldn't , so he blinked an eye to the female. who blushed.

Three days elapsed, and Malvo was able to stand up. The head swollen, and his eyes were irritated. But he could walk, and so he looks the airplane, some 300 meters away, a junkyard in the middle of nowhere...

From the hills some streams of water were running, as the ice was melting .The blonde hostess were there, washing her clothes, and she came to him, saying : Hi ! I am Monique, your friendly hostess... remember me ?

'' - Yes.¨- Malvo said, with swollen lips.

' - Great ! You had your face terrible swollen, but now you are better. Do you remember the crash ?

' - Hardly. ¨

' - Well, we were lucky, as the other people died. Strange, don't you think ?

' - God -

' ¡ - Oh, yes ! Him... ,well, here we are, alive. Your friend went to search for help. We are on our own.¨' - She said, with sparkling green eyes.

' - No problem here, no animals.¨- Assured him.

' - Perhaps. Well, we have some food, so we will eat a couple of days. There is plenty of water, too.¨' .- The American girl said.

Malvo felt a terrible repulsion, and he vomits blood.

'She run to help him, who was kneeling. ¨- Guess you must rest some days more, Malvo.¨- She said, and they walk where Castro had build a shelter, with pieces of the airplane.

Malvo slept the rest of the day.

When the night came, she was very afraid, so she lit a bonfire, with some branches. The sky was so near she thought she could grab a star, if she rise an arm. Also the wind begin to blow, whispering old rusty songs against the rocks.

Malvo was very pale, and she touch his face. It was cold. She lean against his body, trying to gave him some heat. The fire subsided, and the darkness was absolute, excepting the brilliant stars over there.

All night she thought she heard the footsteps of Castro, but the new day arrive, after a sleepless night, and nobody arrive to the spot.

Malvo awoke, feeling weak. She saw the blonde head of the woman close to him, and she admire the childish contour of her face, white as snow. She opened her eyes, and smile.

' Hi!- She said.

' Hi. Sorry, guess I fainted, yesterday.¨- Malvo whispered in the chill of the morning.

' - No, you don't ! But you slept the afternoon, all right !¨'- She said, standing up.

' - It is terrible cold. here.¨'- Malvo asseverated.

' - I will lit a fire. ¨- She said, and she went to search for branches, that were scarce.

After a while, the fire was giving his heat, among some clouds of smoke..

' - What is your name ?- Malvo asked.

' - Monique .- She answered, with a coquettish smile.

' - Beautiful name. As you .¨- Malvo said. He looked past the debris of the airplane. The terrible mountains were there, melting their snow caps in the early summer. Up there, the air was cold. Perhaps if they walk down the mountains, to the valleys...

- We should be moving.¨- He said.

' - Oh, no ! Castro will came back, and he will bring us some help ! He said he could be finding some Indians, who could be of help. - She exclaimed.

' - Great.- Malvo replied. He was no match for the task. either. He was too weak, he felt his stomach turning.

At noon she handled him some coffee, and biscuits.

' - It is our only meal. - Monique said.

- And I couldn't eat much more. My stomach is in turmoil.- Malvo said.

- It is the concussion . Your head banged somewhere, so it is.- She said, very seriously.

They waited all that afternoon, talking and dozing. Castro wasn't coming...yet.

In the night, the cold return and they slept together in a sleeping bag made of rags, fully dressed. She slept with a smile of confidence, that Malvo was very far to feel...The pumas were somewhere, also the condors.

At dawn, they heard a rumble, and some rocks were falling from a distant mountain.

- It is the snow, that dislodge the rocks.¨' - Malvo said to her, who was very pale.

At noon they eat more biscuits and a cup of coffee. Malvo said :- Dear Monique, we better get moving. Look at the biscuits : another breakfast like this, and they will be all gone. We better descend to the plains, perhaps we will find there some fruits, perhaps some eggs."

- Yes, guess you ´re right. Castro isn't coming."- She replied.

Malvo puts an arm round her neck, and they begin the descent. He was weak, and he begin to lean more and more on her, who didn't complains. At dusk, they were still in that ravine, but the hills were of lesser altitude there, and the air wasn't chilly . They lit a fire, and this time the flames lit until dawn.

She wake up, looking at him, who was embracing her, as if protecting her body. She smile. The man was not young, but he was brave, as he hardly have strength to walk, and not once he ask to stop.

Malvo awoke, and the first thing he saw was those beautiful big green eyes on him.

- Hi !- He said.

- Hi ! Do you sleep well ?

- In angel arms." - He smiled, releasing her. She walks to the stream. and washed her face. He went there to drink, and said :- Guess we have no biscuits, this morning.

´- No, we don't . - She smiled gently.

- We better get going, Monique. Perhaps we will arrive to the woods today."- Malvo said.

They walked all the afternoon, and at dusk they were in a hill side country, with great trees scattered by the landscape.

- Ah ! the smell of wood and fresh air ! We are near the salvation !"- She said, embracing him to sleep.

- A pity.

'- Why did you said that ? You don-t want to be saved ?' - Asked she.

- I will loose your precious company.' - He said.

Monique smiled, and she kissed him for a long time . Malvo slept believing in his good fortune...

At the other day, they found a tribe of Indians. There were small and earth colored, and very friendly. They carried them in canoes to a fishing town, where they were met by a priest.

- Blessed be God !'' - The catholic monk said, and embraced them both.- It is a miracle ! I heard about a plane crash , some days ago ! And there is no more of you left ?

The monk was a tall bearded man, with kind eyes, with a brick church and some mules at his disposal.

'- There was another survivor, Mr. Castro, but he came for help in advance ! You didn't see him ?- Asked Malvo, worried.

- I am afraid your friend didn´t came this way. But we can search for him, with some people I know. Good hunters, they will trail him down in a few days. Care to stay here, to search him ?' - Father Guzman asked Malvo.

- Yes, of course, father. But she ?- He pointed at Monique, who was eating at the other room.

- She belongs to the world. I guess she must goes back where she belongs. This place isn't too healthy ...malaria, dysentery is waiting in the bushes. " - Father Guzman said.

Malvo inclined his head, with sadness. Father Guzman asked¨: Do you love her ?

- I guess I did. But. who doesn't ? She is too beautiful !¨" ' - He replied.

- Yes, my son. But she will soon forget about you. This creatures are like that. Creatures of the light...Well, I will tell her you are going to search for your friend. She will understand."- Father Guzman said.

- Yes, I guess is the correct thing to do. "- Malvo whispered.

She heard what the preacher has to said to her, and went to Malvo.

- So you are going back ?'- She asked, fixing her green eyes on him.

- It is the only thing I must do. We must search for him, he was very valiant, and ..."

- Yes, I know. He try to save us. Now is our turn to help him. I will go with you."- Monique said,

- No, please don't ! The father said there is malaria and other diseases lurking around here, also there is no medication. So let me try this for myself. You will be carried to the civilization in the next boat. "- Malvo said, feeling the heart being burned alive.

- If you said so... But assure me you will contact me ! I will gave you my address in the States, also the Agency where I work. You must contact me , after this work ."- She said, embracing him. They kissed each other, and the father moves his head, seeing that, from the distance...He felt pity for both...

Malvo went with the Indians at dawn, when she was sleeping. They walked through the forest in haste, and they arrive to the airplane in one day and a half, being Malvo helped by the Indians to walk faster than he can.

From there they went down the hill again, and the Indians were finding the trail with little cries of surprise. After seven days, they arrive to a big river, where the trail ends.

' - Your friend takes a boat here. Did he knows how to swim ?' - The guide asked .

' - Most certainly he knows how to swim. But the other side isn't visibly, from here ! I cannot believe he think in that possibility"' - Malvo replied.

' - But he didn't walk anywhere else. The trail ends here. "- The Indian said.

They began walking back to the fishing town , where they arrive in eight days march.

' - Son ! You are very pale and thin ! Came inside, and tell me all about it !"- Father Guzman asked of Malvo, and they get inside the church.

A week elapsed, another boat passed by the town, and Malvo embarked there, thanking the father for his help.

- Be with God, son !"- He wished him, and wave his hand good bye.

Malvo was penniless, so he went to the Chilean Embassy, where they provided him with food, clothes and a trip to Santiago, Chile, where he arrive a month elapsed.

He find his homes as when he depart, and the money was in the safe box , $4.200.000 in all. Malvo debts some $1.000.000 to the Embassy of Chile, for the flight.

In the next few days he paid the debts and also he hired two maids and a car driver, as he was too nervous to drive. He made them clean both houses, and then he begin writing his adventures in his new PC, a jewel he found in Ripley stores, a IBM .

When he ends the last page, he puts the story in his page in the Web, as a science fiction tale.

Then he began filling OK with himself, and remembered how Monique was embedded in his memories. All the time he spent writing, his heart was begging him to call the lady, but he resisted. Now there was no work in his agenda, so he called her to the Air Agency, where they told him they were a rule, who forbids phone calls to the hostess.

Malvo told the servants he was flying to U.S.A., so they must keep an eye on the house, until his return. Then he fly to USA, where he searched for Monique.

He arrived there the 1th. of July, and at the other day he went to the address she gave him. They told him to wait until 18:00 hours, as she was flying at the time.So he waits.

At 18:30 hours he saw her coming by the corridor, in the Air Station. She didn't recognized him, at first sight, a thing he was very disappointed, So he follow her, and talked .

' ' -Monique ! I am Malvo ! How do you do ?

' ' - Malvo ? How...? How do you find me ? " - She said, very much surprised.

She was wearing a red coat, and a white shirt. Over her head, a very handsome cap.

- Well ! Don't you remember you gave me a card ? And how do you been ?

' ' - Fine, thanks you... Oh ! This is so queer ! I thought I would never see you again ! _ ---She said, looking at him with those sparking blue eyes Malvo remembered so well.

' - Well, I hadn't forget you ! I still love you ! And do you love me ?- Malvo asked, but then he repented of his words, as she look the other way, not answering .

' - Oh, pardon me ! I guess it was all over, there in the jungle !¨"' ' - He said.

She shift his weight from one feet to another, and looking at his watch, she said : - Oh, it is not at all that ! But we are here, talking in a corridor ! Please came to my apartment, there we could chat ." - She said.

They went out of the air terminal, and taking a taxi, they arrive to a big building , where she directed him to her apartment.

' - How nice to be here ... with you !"- He said, when she shut the door.

- Please, take a seat ! I will be with you in a minute !"- She said, and she went to an inner room.

Malvo seats in an arm chair, looking with a smile the furniture. All was new. All was very functional, without the usual tales with porcelain, pictures on the walls, figures. Here a big TV set, a radio set, and a bar, where he saw several rows of bottles. In the top side, a handful of glasses.

She return ,some ten minutes elapsed, using a beautiful pink dress.

- Want a cup ? - She asked.

'- A beverage, if you don't mind.¨"- Malvo replied, as he don't stand liquors.

' - So here we are, after so many months !¨"- She said.

- Not too many time, Monique ! Of course, you must feel it was a long time, as those were bad days for us."- Malvo said.

' - Yes ! Bad days."- She said, looking at her watch . She handled him a glass with Coca Cola, and he stands up, looking at her with desire. She went to seat at the opposite chair.

' - I am waiting for a friend. Are you going to spend too much time here in Chicago ?- She asked casually, sipping from her drink.

Malvo was so amazed at her coldness, that he didn't answer. The buzzer rings, and she went to open the door. A quick conversation with the newcomer, and she presents to him a handsome young man, named Bill.

- Glad to meet you, Bill. My name is Malvo, from Chile.¨"

- Chile ? Never heard of ."- He grinned to Monique, who was terrible serious.

- Well ! Guess I must leave you now, gents ! Nothing to do here, I am sure. Have a nice day.¨"- Malvo said, and went out . Monique hardly said good bye, and she closed the door after him.

Malvo was very ashamed of all the situation, and he felt a strong inclination to go on jumping to the street, 43 levels down. But he refrain to do that, and went by the elevator to the street.

- Well, man ! End of a dream. Now let´s have some fun."´' - He told himself, and went to an Hotel, where he booked himself. He leaves there $400.000 U.S. dollars, in the safety box, and went outside with $50.000 cash.

He begin by the sex shops, and ends in a luxury den of love.... where women much beautiful than Monique could be his, for a price... Price he paid.

He awoke with two girls in a water bed. He dressed himself, and went , seeing he wasn't robbed a dime.

He began visiting museums and interesting places, with a guide the hotel provided him. The person was a woman, named Deyanira Smith (or so she said). She was very handsome, but she didn't accepted romantic situations, so Malvo keeps on visiting those pleasure places at night without her company.

Then he meet a female of thirty years , called Mary Ann, daughter of a cop. He visits his house, make friends with the brothers, and at the month of being together , she accepted him to have sexual intercourse. That changes all the relation. She became possessive, and begun making a fuss out of nothing.

Malvo was disappointed, and he bought a ticket back to his country, flying there without saying good bye to Mary Ann.

He went to his house in Santos Dumont, finding the door ajar. Inside there were no one, and all his furniture, the I.B.M. P.C. ,were missing, and also the safety box wasn't at the house.

He close the door as he could ( it was very damaged) and he went to see the Robles house. There the damages were of lesser importance, and also his Dimensional Machine was in one piece.

Enraged, he hired 20 men, as bodyguards, and a team of workers painted and repaired both houses. That accomplished, he call for private eyes, who in a week has all the former employees localized...

He interrogated them , and also made them suffer, so in the end those punks told what they did with the stolen property. Malvo and his team went home by home recovering the PC and other materials, so in a week almost everything stolen was in his possession, again.

He pushed the robbers to a foreign planet, saying: ' Here you will be fine, if you have the luck. " ' ´- And he return to Earth, leaving them for ever in those wastes...

CHAPTER FOUR.

Sergio Mateluna

Sergio Mateluna, a young thin native of 20 years old, who uses long hair and loves to read SF tales, appeared in the new planet with his eyes wide open. At last he was visiting a new planet, far away from smog, Masters and all !

He saw a big forest under his feet, as he was standing in a mountain. To all side he saw that greenery, that forest smelling to freedom !

He consciously forgot about the little peek he supposedly was taking here, and went down the hill, singing. He touched the big trunks, smell the flowers, even lie in the turf !

He didn't suspect he was being watched ...So he yelled when he saw a naked man in front of him, blandishing a club, who ends its curb on top of his skull ! He fainted.

The native smelled the newcomer. Strange visions came to his brain, so he backed a pair of steps. He recovered himself, and strip the foreigner of all his clothes, and he puts them on himself, groaning. He now was ready to return to his village, with proof of his manhood. Surely the Elders will grant him the mating rank... Little Awena will lie under him that very night...if he returns fast to his village.

He begin to run to his village, leaving the naked form lying on the turf...

At night, Sergio Mateluna awoke, feeling a terrible head-ache. The night has came, and he almost see a thing ! Terrified, he climbs a tree, and perched in a branch, trembling from cold.

At dawn, he began traveling by the branches, trying to return to the hill. When he went down and walks to the spot that he thought he will be able to see the hill, he just saw more trees, in the half lit darkness under the leaves ! He was lost...

And hungry. So he grabs some fruits, that were hardly palatable. Just the same he tried to retain the stuff inside his stomach... All the time he was aware of bellowing and sounds in the forest, so he was on the branches at almost all times. In that way, he almost fainted of fright, when seeing his first Tyrannosaurus Rex ! It was a mountain of evilness, feeding on a mountain of flesh, lying half devoured under the trees. The sound of those big teeth , breaking bones as if they were made of cheese, makes SErgio Mateluna shivers..

He saw the first sunset in that planet, mounted on a high branch, with an overcoat of leaves covering his naked body... He was having his spatial adventure, after all ! That thought made him smile.... Irreality were hidden in a corner of every days´s life...for him that corner was one day in the past...

He awoke in the middle of the night, almost frosted. He walk by the branches , to awoke his frozen body. Fire ! He should be sleeping in front of a fire. .. Pity he was with no matches...perhaps he will manage to lit a fire with some other method...

At dawn, he descended, and run a couple of kilometers, just to get warmer. He eats more of those fruits, and at noon he begin to search for a good site where to pass the night...

By the meantime, the native with the stolen clothes was running to his tribe, but also a Tyrannosaur was running after him , guided by the strange odor the clothes were exhaling...The man saw the tyrannosaur, and change direction, but he run at 10 km. per hour, and the Tyrannosaur at 38 km., so he was captured and eaten in no time.

The belt, buckle and some parts the Tyrannosaur spit to the floor...

That was the body some explorers found, afterwards....

Sergio Mateluna found a city in ruins, corroded by the rains and the trees, who roots in those big buildings ,now in a big heap`of rubble. Some statues show Sergio the race was humanoid, but the faces were eaten by the rain.

He found a club lying in a street, and he grabbed it with delight. All day he was practicing with it, throwing it to the tree trunks. At night, he kill a deer ' like animal, and starting a fire, he roosted it, eating meat that night by the first time...

A Tyrannosaur appeared, looking at him from his 4 meters altitude...The fire was very bright, and Sergio run to the opposite site, but the carnosaur didn't approach to the fire. So Sergio throw more sticks to it, believing the monster will not attack him. After a while, the Tyrannosaur disappear. One moment he was there, and in the next blink , the terrible face was not in sight.

Sergio felt a terrible fright, so he run and climb a big tree, hiding himself between two big branches. He keep looking at the bonfire. Suddenly, coming out of the darkness, the Tyrannosaur rush into the fire, and gave a terrible bellowing, not finding the little mammal he was so sure were there...The head of the dinosaur jerked to the nearest trees, trying to see the human... Sergio was breathing in tiny intakes, horrorized.

The dinosaur walks into the woods, with his terrible pace, that shook the earth...when he wants, as Sergio understand the terrible being could minimize his steps when he chooses...

He climbs a little higher, and tying himself with lianas, he went to sleep. Several times he awoke, as the carnosaurs were bellowing hard that night, and their prey also yelled hard, when attacked in their resting places...

At dawn the forest was full of bird calls, as usual, and not a sound of those dinos were to be heard...

He descended, searching for food. He walked almost until noon, arriving to a swamp. where the insects were pestering the area. Some of them went for his blood, so he return to the forest, looking for better places.

At mid afternoon he found a trail in the forest, and he begin following it, but trying to do it by the branches, at four meters altitude. It was a luck for him to do so, as suddenly the trail was full of dogs, some terrible looking creatures, red shot eyed, with bristling teeth and barking at each other. The group, about 50 of them, passed very swiftly, and the barking sounds soon were lost in the distance.

º Sergio was transpiring, because of the hot climate, and also by the perils he were finding at each moment... He went down the tree, and he walks near the trail. After three hours, he stop to see the landscape : a big mountain ,to the left of the forest, was towering about 500 meters high. He decided he were going to climb, so he begin walking to that part. He found a couple of streams, and he drinks of those limpid waters.

The mountain was pure rock, and he cannot climb to the top. He found several caves, and as the day was ending, he get into one of them, to pass the night. He puts several slabs at the entrance, to protect himself of those dogs...Then he lean on the soft sand , where he slept several hours without being molested.

He awoke in the night a couple of times , not because of some strange noise, but because of the lack of it ! A profound silence were stationed there, thing he likes very much.

At dawn he went down the hill, and search for fruits. He saw several dogs scattered by the forest, and the animals looked at him, without attacking .

Suddenly, the earth shook. He was very aware of the fact the diligence was vital to survive in those surroundings, so he climbs a tree, where he perched at a high level branch. From there he look down, searching for the dinosaur...There ! Climbing the mountain, the big beast was bellowing, as the dogs , in a close pack, were biting at his feet, barking and doing a hell of a turmoil.

The Tyrannosaur ignored them, and walk round the hill, at a steady pace.

Where did the dinosaur go ? Sergio was very interested in those enigmas, so he waits until the dogs came back from his chase, and seeing they went inside the forest, he walks to the hill, and run after the dinosaur.

Sergio was amazed of his body. Now he could run half a day without further ado, and he could climb a tree in seconds, things he barely could do when arriving to that strange new planet...

The side of the hill was full of rocks. The imprints of the Tyrannosaur were like a bulldozer´s. Also the smell was there, like hot oil. When Sergio turns the curve of the hill, he saw the Tyrannosaurs back , dark and powerful, his tail in the air, his stride at a run. He was descending to a big swamp, where some Diplodocus were fishing and eating plants. Some fantastic trees were there too, the like of which were as alien as an UFO to Sergio. The colors were different. also.

In the air some big saurs were flying, with wings like old umbrellas, dark and wrinkled. More than a thousand pteranodons were there, milling around those waters, a big expanse, some 20 kilometers wide. The coast was muddy, and some alligators, big as a house, were taking their sun bathes...

Sergio seats in a boulder. It was too much to digest. Some 20 minutes he was there, taking the landscape inside of his skull, thinking how he can go there and not be eaten. As he was a petit bouche ,for those animals. A canapé.

A little sandwich.

Suddenly, he heard rumors at his left. He lie down, looking in that direction. A bunch of savages were mumbling strange words to each others, and they were pointing to the Tyrannosaur. They were tall, dark hair, with demon faces. Their eyes were dark pools of night, in a bristled face...

In their hands some clubs were showing their pointed tips, perhaps with flints attached to the shaft, the distance was too great to see it. They descended with little care, and they yelled at the Tyrannosaur, who turns against them . bellowing hard. Sergio was amazed, as the tiny humans show no respect at all in front of the animal.

The dinosaur was facing them, and they run against him, throwing the spears. All of them 18 in all, went deep inside the body of the monster, who fall to the ground, with a startled cry. There he died, kicking with his hind legs. A river of red blood went down the hill, mingling his red color with the black color of the swamp waters...

Sergio went down the hill , trying to hide in the scattered boulders. When he was a hundred meters of the site, the troglodytes were busy jerking out of the Tyrannosaur their shafts, with powerful jerks.

Sergio inadvertently fall flat at his back, as a stone slips under his soles. He stand up, and the troglodytes were already near him, pointing their shafts against his chest. He rise his arms, not moving a muscle. The troglodytes were looking at him with red hot eyes, but one of them, the taller one, barks an order, and they return to the Tyrannosaur, paying not more heed .

Sergio was amazed. He thought he was dead meat, and then they weren't interested in him ! So much the better ! He approaches them, looking at their work : they were stripping the Tyrannosaur of his outer skin, and then they cut big slices of the white meat he was made of.

Then, they take a chunk of the meat in his shoulders, and face the hill, walking in a very quick way ,returning to wherever they came from...

Sergio, looking they were paying not attention to his presence, went with them, some 20 meters in the rear.

At a trot, they descended the other side, and then they were running by the forest. with a tired Sergio trying to trail them. Two hours running, and Sergio went to the floor, exhausted. He just cannot keep that fiendish pace ! He was there panting, when he sensed a shadow coming, he rise his head... and one of the troglodytes were there, showing his teeth, in a demoniac smile...Sergio stands up, and the troglodyte went in front of him, showing the way, but this time not running, but walking fast.

Half hour later, they arrive to a rocky formation, in the middle of the forest. Several holes were dig in the surface of that mound, and a hundred beings were there, among pottery ,furnaces, fires grilling meat...

He walk after his guide, who gave the meat to a fat woman, in one of the bonfires. The woman sliced the meat, helped by half naked young females. They all wore their hair as if never a comb was used in them.

He was ignored. He could see their glances, but not a word was spoken to him. And they did talked among each other, with grunts and short stances.

At dusk a clamor was heard, and another group arrives. This was a terrifying looking group, with people as tall as 3.40 meters, real giants, with big heads and wide eyes. They were the hunters, with the king of them all, a tower of flesh and muscles, a dark skinned man 5 meters tall, whose shaft resembles a little tree. They were carrying several hundred dinosaur eggs, in 23 baskets, and each one of the 70 warriors were carrying a hundred kilos of meat at their shoulders.

The women yelled, the children bawled, the warriors chanted a melancholic chant... Sergio was looking it all, trembling .

After the excitation finished, they begin to roast all that meat, and the women were very busy, trying to do soups in some bowls, heated by those fires. Nobody was eating, and when all the meat was ready, they clasp hands in a big circle, seating in the floor afterwards.

The women begin giving each man a piece of meat, and they all were eating, some were also chanting, the women finished his task, served themselves. scattered among the males and Sergio was all the time standing apart, looking at those feast, those terrible creatures sharing their meal in the half darkness, under a clouded sky...

He walk into the forest, and he walks for hours, and at dawn he awoke, and he was facing the hill, where a Tyrannosaur walked with powerful strides...

He searched for food, finding those fruits barely eatable.Then he went again to the swamps, round the hill and descending. He saw how some Pteranodons were feasting on the Tyrannosaur Rex 's carcass... No less than a hundred vultures of the Jurassic were there, pestering the air !

He gave a turn around , and he walks near the swamp, seeing those horrible giant crocodiles eat the birds and other animals who dare think they were peaceful logs adrift in the waters...

He found some red apples, native fashion, and he eats some of them, but at dusk his stomach was very expanded, and a turmoil was heard inside.He climbs a tree with difficulty, and he perched in a hook formed by two big branches. At midnight he was a great fever, and felt terrible pains inside his stomach. Then he sensed something at his mouth, and putting his left hand at work, found a little bug walking there. He throw it down the tree, thinking how that bug could be there, when he felt a dozen more inside his mouth, coming from his stomach ! He vomit a hundred of those little beasts, but they keep coming from his belly, so he gave a big yell and throw himself down the tree.

He bounced a couple of times, and bumped at the feet of the giant of the forest, his neck broken, thing that was a minor accident for the bugs that were emerging to life, thanks to his host !

The end.

Juillet, September 1997

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