The Mantooth

led her deeply. She could not understand how he could be so indifferent about the fate of her only friend. She herself had remained

dly before her, her first unobstructed view. And she could summon just enough geology

igh central erg in two long arms that reached out west and southwest beyond the edge of sight. Eroded by wind and wate

y below them, a shallow gorge crept slowly southward to end in a shadowed overhang at the foot of the sandstone ridge. How the two lines of vastly divergent rock had come together to form such a neat corner she could not guess. Perhaps

ddy pools and small clusters of wide, African-looking trees. Large herds of grazing animals sauntered across it at a distance which defied close description. But at

orizon to the north was similar, but here the hills were sharper, velveted with pine, and broken by stark projections of weather-

only certainty was that the nuclear holocaust had been everything its foretelling prophets had said it

y had she been left to go on living? She remembered the words of the Spirit: 'glorious struggle,' and 'the flame within.' But where was the glory when all she could feel was pain and emptiness? Where was He now? And as she looked out upon the scene that Nature played b

, still trapped inside the cave, still in great danger. And as the sun continued to set far in the west, turning sky to purple and cl

ted a deep orange-red and pocked with growing shadows. Straining her eyes in the failing light, she thought she saw a large, multi-winged crea

oudly. 'Come quick, ther

cally in dark silhouette against a fading sky, his eyes perceived the outline of the Mantis, undisputed monarch of the Valley. Even at that distance he could read its fea

eep his voice down. 'Now we will see what ha

s body made such journeys an exhausting ordeal. He was weary to his very heart. But the Mantis was also a master

s conscious thought he feared nothing. He simply had no desire to encounter a powerful enemy before regaining his full strength. But as the breaths began to come easier, he

lowly into the air. Hovering closer, he searched for clues while reading the subtle currents of air that curled gently across the windface. He

sharply through his veined and veinless body. He did not try to stem the feeling, knowing that in certain measure it gave him strength. He simply allowed the bitterness to occur inside him, strong and distasteful, then waited for the long wisdom

knew. Feeling trapped, it rushed directly at him. The Mantis

. To the Mantis it was just another battle, dueling a foe it had fought many times in the past. But to the spider, still young, it was an entirely new and ut

ed hind legs into carefully etched footholds in the rock. Swaying from side to side he tightened his grip, e

o real chance against him. But he also knew that it was his place in Nature to kill it. There could be no m

. Holding it securely in place, he used his superior height to bring down powerful jaws upon its vulnerable forehead. From there it was only a matter of ritual. The acidic saliva softened it

eyes and forehead were gone. It felt a moment of searing pain, fo

e turned and strode slowly to the safety of his lair. Reaching the entrance, he thought he caught a glimpse of shadow dart past him and

ep his voice down. 'Long life to the Mantis, protector of

the spider? I mean. . .he is dead now.' She felt compelled to say something

t him none in the Valley would be safe, even for a short time. Still, it is hard to feel sorrow for one w

s. What will hap

anger. The wolves are ancient allies of the mantis.' He spoke proudly now, filled with the knowledge that he alone among his people knew of this relationship. 'The wolves, like all hun

know when he had finished speaking. She wa

an he's no long

oo excited by the presence of the Monarch to let her childish ign

e Mantis to know it too. Or did you not know he could kill us even more easily than the spider?' Again he was surprised by her reaction. She seemed hurt and afraid. 'Don't

this is all so new to me. I don't know wh

myself think it. We are safe here, for this night at least

oved past him into the shelter. Finding a place where fewer stones piqued the floor, she crouched and looked back at

al

es

. .for sav

ou fed me, and car

e let her voi

her wistfully as she drifted off into sleep, protected from outside danger by