Chapter 110 Entrapped?

1365words2026-01-19 06:57

There are strange sounds in these gorges in these midnight hours when you want to sleep but sleep won't come. Uncanny sounds that let you wonder what on earth it could be. Jonathan is an American and a born city boy and he is now stranded here in Africa. He finds it weird and unnerving. There is this boing-boing sound like something jumping on a spring from rock to rock. Maybe a frog? He must repeatedly contain himself not to jump up and go and investigate. Then he hears branches snap as if something big is moving around on the lookout for prey and he must then convince himself that it is a normal night sound. He won't be able to see much in the dark! Warthogs, antelopes, baboons, leguans or are leopards on the prowl? He doesn't feel safe. It becomes more agitating if you don't get to sleep soon and the sounds seem to become even louder and more hazardous. At least he found a tiny hollow against a steep incline above the waterline. He would have felt much more insecure in the open down under as prey for one or another predator.

Yesterday he passed the furthest point that Boeta had investigated in this direction. Donovan went downstream away from the blind gorge from where they initially had reached the gorges. He finds himself at this stage in one of the branches to the left of the blind gorge upstream. Boeta had investigated a fair distance downstream but through this route, he more than once visited his own farmhouse a few times. It was right at the beginning after he and Koko escaped through the pool. Jonathan has respect for the young man because it was heroic action. He must have sneaked through the bushes carefully and dared to get to their pantry while he knew his parents were part of a group of monsters who wanted to catch and maim them. Boeta definitely is more than brave.

Suddenly a rather big branch snaps somewhere as if someone treads on it. He ignores it but then he hears another crackle and then something like rocks grinding against one another and then rocks that are kicked and even more branches snap. No, tonight these sounds are strange and out of the ordinary. It is more dynamic than normal. Maybe he rather should investigate. It is full moon tonight. Maybe he can see the cause of the noises. If he sees nothing or he sees the thing that makes the noises, he can take an informed decision whether to ignore it and try to go to sleep.

Slowly he rises and takes his gun and tries to focus through the telescope in the moonlight. Another branch crackles in the direction from where he came earlier and he searches in that direction. Over the dark rocks, he sees a shadow moving and he adjusts his focus. His heart misses a beat. It is a human body half bend forward carefully moving and searching over the rocks. He focuses around the figure and sees some others and suddenly he is wide awake. Sleep definitely is no option now! He now realizes that the gorge is infested with figures that silently move and examine each rock and bush. Even against the incline.

Two and two come together. This part of the gorge is open with only rocks and a streamlet. The only bushes are those against the inclines. During the day the sun is scorching and keeps them away. He has past parts where footpaths could lead to the woods and he wondered about it. The open areas and the sun down here put him at ease but a small voice warned him about it. Now he knows exactly against what the small voice warned him!

He must learn to listen to his inner voice. His intuition has now become essential for his survival. He now realizes that the monsters come down during the night with those footpaths looking for possible prey like him who thought it would be safe to overnight here. Luckily he has seen them in time. If he stays longer they are going to sniff him out but what if there is another group ahead and he is entrapped? He has no idea what lies ahead. There is no choice. Straight ahead into the unknown! He turns around and scans ahead for possible oncoming danger.

His nerves are shattered. He is in a desperate situation. Maybe it isn't wise to move now. It is dark and possibly he won't be able to move silently enough. Maybe he must search for a hiding place higher up against the cliff and hopes they don't become aware of him. In the moonlight, he tries to search for a place to climb up against but it is too dark to find something and he remembers he hasn't seen such a place beforehand. It can maybe only be a waste of time and he then misses a chance to get away. He prays that he will get a chance to get clear of them ahead.

He again scans in the direction he must go for any sign of monsters. He doesn't see any of them but he can also not see far enough to be absolutely sure. Maybe there could be some on their way. Again he looks back at the oncoming monsters. At least they are walking hunched over and seeking slowly. If he maintains the same speed as they, he could keep the distance between them constant until he hopefully finds a pool or something else that gives him a chance to escape. He will regularly scan ahead with his telescope and if monsters come from there he must quietly find a hiding place higher up against the cliff and then hope for the best.

He takes his stuff and slowly and very carefully sneaks down onto the open area. The full moon is his friend. He will have to avoid stepping on loose stones and branches and will not dare to jump from rock to rock. His boots will make too much noise and betray his presence. Cautiously he moves as stealthily as possible over the rocks. He berates himself for not listening to that little inner voice. That voice is always correct but usually, he ignores it. Could this be because of his over logical brain? He has now learned a dear lesson but if he is caught tonight by the monsters and be killed that lesson was in vain. In the future he will have to make sure he overnights in a safe place where the monsters cannot surround or trap him. He will have to explore further on the way he follows and then turn back to a safe place and not goody-goody chose a place to stay for the night.

He puts his left hand inside his shirt and rubs over the wooden crucifix. He reminds himself of their group's very important mission to get Koko eventually to the scientists who are waiting for someone with the extremely scarce immunity so that they can develop an antidote to end this ugly plague. The colonel is trying to contact survivors via short wave. Hopefully, he will make contact with the scientists. That inner voice of his wants him to believe this and he has promised himself to listen to it, not so?

A rock that looked firm, suddenly tips and slides out from under his boot. He lands on a loose branch that breaks and the sounds echo up against the cliffs that surround the silent gorge. The rather big rock now plunges loudly into the pool. Jonathan listens with upheld breath. Suddenly creepy screams can be heard followed by even more yells as the monsters communicate. He rises slowly and peeps back through his telescope and freezes as he realizes they have now heard him. No longer are they seeking slowly amongst the bushes and stones; they rush feverishly towards him.

The fat is in the fire. No reason to move stealthily and slowly. He will have to scamper for life or death and only hope the way forward is open.