– What time is it? Shea clarified as they began to move up the plateau along the river.
– On the ground? Like Mesozoic, Liera said so…. Luan replied without hesitation.
– No. I’m talking about the watch, – Shea responded a little irritated and no longer in a chant.
When the Lemurians experienced anger, anxiety or irritation, which happened to them very rarely, they stopped singing and switched to ordinary speech. But now was a special moment, and Shea’s excitement was understandable.
Luanu glanced at the makeshift chronometer attached to one of the hands of the front pair and said:
– 12 pm. Earth time.
– Well. We have time – Shea calmed down a bit.
Already two hours later, Earth time, Shea and Luana were at a cliff, from which water was falling with a roar and noise. Luanu was right: the river ended in a waterfall.
They set up camp and decided to have a little snack.
The air gave off steam and dust, there were many unfamiliar sounds around: hooting, grinding, creaking – but they were all exclusively of natural or animal origin. That part of the plateau that was overgrown with fern jungles stretched for hundreds of kilometers to the south, it was possible to determine from the sun that if they went this way, they would not have time to pass the plateau in both directions and return to the ship before dark.
But they had no choice.
«We still have the pleasure of meeting local birds,» Luana remarked while munching on pasty bread.
– The main thing is not to come face to face with Pterodactyloidea. These creatures are bloodthirsty, «Shea sang. He was pleased that so far they were all in time.
The water rushed past them incredibly swiftly – here the stream doubled its speed, and with a deafening roar fell into the abyss. Luanu thought there might be fish in the water. And if the river is shallow, then you could try to dive. But here it was dangerous. «Eh, it was necessary to check where the river was flowing quietly,» thought Luana.
Shea heard his thoughts.
«You don’t know what kind of monsters can be found here. The river looks harmless, but giant gavials can scurry along the bottom.
– What is this? – switched his attention from inner to outer Luana.
«You’d better not know.
– Okay, but if I meet them when we wade across the river, at least give a hint that it is they!
«It’s a four-legged something, with a toothy mouth and a constantly hungry stomach. Eats everything. Especially the one that flutters unnecessarily in the water, «Shea replied calmly.
Luana whistled.
– I would not like to meet him.
«You shouldn’t, that’s for sure,» Shea shook his head.
A sudden flap of wings from directly overhead at Shea’s caused both Lemurians to break away from their food and rise to their feet.
– Damn, what is it? – Luanu was indignant. He stood and, crazed, looked at a huge bird, more precisely a lizard, it was impossible to make out: either a bird, or a lizard.
– Hush hush. – Shea, not at all frightened, was already establishing mental contact with a bird of gigantic proportions, which dared to break their fragile solitude. «You…..you’re still a baby, right? Everything will be fine, – he continued to persuade the bird lizard. – We will not offend you.
– Baby? Is it a kid? What then is the adult? Why are you even talking to him? Let me take the vajra… and…
– We are guests here. Shea looked at Luana menacingly. «Besides, it’s a pteranodon. He doesn’t have tons of teeth. It feeds on small crustaceans that it catches from the river. He will not harm us.
These words calmed Luana a little. But he still didn’t trust this lizard bird. Lizard birds have been found on earth since ancient times. Even older than the records of the blue planet held by the Lemurians. Each adult individual could easily swallow, if not an adult cow, then the whole calf for sure. Therefore, the indigenous inhabitants of the Earth – the ancestors of the Maya and some tribes of the future Africa always hid their children when the pteranodons approached. But it was just a pteranodon chick and it was not dangerous. The fact that there are people on Earth, that is, someone other than animals, fish and insects – Luana and Shia did not yet know.
– Shea! What did you have with that girl like her? Lefia?
Shea stared at Luana in surprise, clearly wondering where he got such a deep knowledge of his personal life.
«Lefia and I are just friends. – still answered Luana’s insolent curiosity, Shea.
– Do you know, Shea, that Liera was wildly jealous of you for her??? Just gnawing blood on fingers and elbows?? Shea winked sarcastically at Luan.
And then he burst out laughing. Wildly, unrestrained. So that the laughter of this young Lemurian echoed through all the nearby mountains.
– I’ll tell you so, friend. Liera loves you and is waiting for you to return to her. Marry her. You won’t find a better girl. I guarantee! —
Shea smiled dreamily and a little shyly.
– Well, let’s settle here. And maybe I’ll propose to Liera.
Luana whistled.
«This is masculine, Shea. This is a man’s!
Luana finished chewing, stood up and pulled all four upper limbs with a crunch.
– Hey Shea! Let’s race along the coast, catch two minutes? Who is the first to be at the foot of that hill – that is a fine fellow? M?
– Eh, Lou! What a child you are! Shea sighed. And suddenly he added:
– Lets do it!
Luana did not have to persuade him for a long time, he took off from his place in hundredths of a second, taking with him his hefty hiking backpack.
– You asshole! Shea laughed and rushed after him.
Two friends ran as fast as they could. Exactly two minutes, and they both stood out of breath at the foot of a massive humpbacked hill.
«I want to ask you something, friend. Shea put a hand on Luan’s shoulder.
– Ask what you want, brother! Luanu smiled a dazzling white-toothed smile.
– When we get back home, please go with me to the temple. I want to pray for my parents.
I want you to be with me in
this day. We are on the verge of great changes, perhaps after we settle here, I will never be able to return to their graves and be with them.
I want to say goodbye.
Luana nodded in understanding.
The sun began to set below the horizon. And the two friends hurried back to the ship.
It was a little more difficult to go further. Both Lemurians were already a little tired. And every time, when a huge mouth of an insect-eating plant appeared on their way, they sighed heavily and started vajras.
Over time, they were able to reach a large flat area, where a surprise awaited them.
On