Drakk

By Wayne Sharpe

After spending half of his lifetime in school learning, Tobias Tybrit was ready to strike out on his own. Accepting a position with Interspace Mining and Exploration Company was how he would make his stake that would set him up for the rest of his life. Travelling to another planet in another galaxy was a risky venture but a very large payday at the end would make it all worthwhile. Tobias prepared himself as well as can be expected and was aware the trip would be an extreme hardship for him. Life on a primitive planet with man eating monsters on the land and in the air would be most difficult to deal with to be sure. "Work hard, do my time, collect my paycheck and come back home safe and sound" were the only priorities Tobias had. These were his genuine intentions but after landing on planet Falkar Tobias was soon to find out that the meaning of life could be found in the strangest places.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781943612772

Book preview

Sharpe

A very special

thank you to Candace

who spent many hours

typing my hand

written notes.

Wayne

Drakk

Chapter One-- Crossing the delta

Chapter Two-- Colonel Gaff leads the way

Chapter Three-- A steep learning curve

Chapter Four-- Forming bonds and friendships

Chapter Five-- We are not on Earth

Chapter Six-- The Hastings incident

Chapter Seven-- Horror on Bonzoey Mountain

Chapter Eight-- Regroup and reassess

Chapter Nine-- Pondering the possibilities

Chapter Ten-- Gearing up for another excursion

Chapter Eleven-- New security rules in place

Chapter Twelve-- Sven Alfredson, personal security operative

Chapter Thirteen-- New discoveries abound

Chapter Fourteen-- Day of reckoning

Chapter Fifteen-- Mae acts to protect me

Chapter Sixteen-- Mission successful

Chapter Seventeen-- Missing Auntie Anne

Chapter Eighteen-- The unbelievable happens

Chapter Nineteen-- Learning the secret

Chapter Twenty-- Leaving Tobias behind

Chapter Twenty One-- Landing safely on Earth

Chapter Twenty Two-- Joshua returns home

Chapter Twenty Three-- Joshua and Penelope

Chapter Twenty Four-- Theresa's life lesson

Chapter Twenty Five-- Back on Falkar

CHAPTER ONE

Crossing the delta:

The sun was on orange ball nestled atop on a jagged outline of trees in the distant westerly horizon sending a red and orange hue throughout the cumulus cloud cover resulting in what look like lavender pillows floating lazily across the evening sky. The howling of a distant hound confirms darkness will be upon the delta soon. That’s when scaly beasts named drakk lizards emerge from the many tributaries and watercourses searching for food. Staying on the ground meant a fire had to be built with enough fuel to last the night or climb into the trees and hope a marauding daktal doesn’t find and turn you into its’ cliff side dinner. Crossing the delta from Tarkan hill to southerly tip of the Bonzoey mountain range is a two day trip when everything goes well, so plan on sleeping with the drakk lizards at least once. A drakk looks like a large kimono dragon with the jaws and teeth of a crocodile. Drakks have a huge appetite and will eat any animal it finds but will avoid two things, fire and sunshine. Travel in the daytime when the drakks are deep in the cool flowing rivers coming to the surface only once every two hours or so, just long enough for another gulp of air. Near sundown set camp, build a fire and make sure it doesn’t go out until sunrise when the drakks start to slip once again into the murky depths of Falkar’s many rivers and streams. Listening to survival tips on crossing the Tarkan delta was good but nothing could prepare me for the feeling one has watching the sun setting into the far treetops knowing the dinner bell is ringing and you are the main course.

Fortunately for me interspace mining and exploration has provided a caravan with more than enough fuel to burn until morning. But we still collected any sticks and animal dung we found along the way because anything could happen and spending another night with the drakks means another fire has to be built.

Living on falkar is marginal at best, dealing with flying daktals during the day and lizard monsters at night would be about enough for anybody. A fat pay check waiting back home for isolation pay should make up for working on such a primitive planet as this and make the trip worth my while. Go to school, everyone told me my whole life go to school and get a degree. I went to school; I got degrees in mineralogy, mining engineering with a major in drakkonia pyrite assaying. Now look at me on a caravan crossing the Tarkan delta on a semi inhabited planet in Andromeda galaxy far from my home in the Milky Way galaxy, Earth. I have to admit though Interspace mining provided a well-equipped team with many well paid falkarians on the payroll so there shouldn’t be any trouble as long as we avoid the hungry drakks tonight.

I made sure my bedroll was very close to the fire that was cracking and shooting sparks into the air. Falkarian grunts responsible for the fire fed the hungry flames with tinder dry wood from our reserve of combustible materials. Looking into the starry night sky a feeling of loneliness came over me when I realized how far away from home I really was. Twenty six months on the planet doing mineral exploration work, two months on the ship back to earth then in about two and a half years I should be done. But it’s not a bad deal compared to the miners who have to sign up for five year tours.

A distant hound breaks the eerie stillness no doubt warning a group of local falkarians of an approaching drakk. It’s a strange way to live dodging flying lizards by day and aquatic eating machines by night but every falkarian I’ve met has been calm and peaceful seemingly quite happy to be where they are. Sparks from the crackling fire penetrate the backdrop of distant stars, they rise quickly then disappear completely as more rush in to take their place. A strange feeling of contentment pours over my body and soul looking into outer space toward planet earth. Inside my bedroll I was strangely enough feeling very comfortable watching the fire’s flame. Dancing flames lick in and around the pieces of firewood slowly turning them into a grey ash. The consumed firewood sometimes maintains the original form keeping the shell outline with flames flitting in and out of an empty middle until inevitably the shell collapses into the glowing embers below.

CHAPTER TWO

Colonel Gaff leads the way:

Wake up Mr. Tybrit we are to be ready to move at first light. Porter will roll up your sleeve pack and Chef is serving so get a meal and prepare for a long days ride. Every morning I open my eyes to see colonel Gaff, top man of security who personally takes a head count of everyone in the caravan humans and locals first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Colonel Gaff takes his responsibility very seriously and that’s fine with me because falkar is a very dangerous place.

Walking across camp in the dull light of pre-dawn with the fires burning down makes me edgy. I see a drakk in every shadow and will not feel comfortable until the sun is high above shining bright. A pair of hounds ran past me with mouths full of food scraps looking for a secluded corner of camp to eat their breakfast. I am feeling better now knowing if the hounds are interested in eating there can’t be any drakk lizards nearby. The hounds were imported from earth when falkar was first explored by adventurers and pirates. Originating from the bloodhound strain these animals became valuable assets because they can smell a drakk a mile away and are fearless protectors willing to face any danger encountered. Over the years some hounds have become feral running wild and the falkarian people who also recognize how helpful they can be have tamed others.

Chef’s fire had a steady moving line of people leading to it as everyone in the caravan was fed from the same pot. Engineers, porters, and locals alike were served up a delicious stew and dumpling breakfast that tastes remarkably like the stew Auntie Anne would make every Saturday morning when I lived with her and Uncle Joshua while attending Rocky Mountain University. Chef is a kind old man who looks as tough as they come but has a heart of gold. He makes sure everyone in camp including the hounds are fed twice a day and always has a meal on warm for Colonel Gaff to eat anytime.

Auntie Anne was a strong influence in my life, always full of encouragement and sound guidance combined with an honest love for life and beauty. Living with her and Uncle Joshua on their ranch in the rocky mountain foothills was an experience I will never forget. The Rocky Mountains are an excellent training ground for aspiring young rock hounds to practice their chosen profession. Living on Uncle Joshua’s ranch made my years at Rocky Mountain University much easier and Auntie Anne made sure I was well nourished and well balanced.

Uncle Joshua is a kind man I am sure but always seemed to be distant and deep in thought. Many times over he could have sold the hundred section ranch he owns to become richer than most people can imagine but he loves his ranch and the wildlife still living there. Living at the base of the Rocky Mountains and owning a large portions of it provides him with the freedom to privately explore its many depressions and caves at his leisure. Uncle Joshua would take hikes lasting weeks at a time but Auntie Anne was always confident enough not to show worry.

Mr. Tybrit, the caravan is pulling out if you would ride with Chef today I would appreciate it. If you could get him to eat something that would be good. Old man, always looking out for everyone but himself. Yes sir, I will certainly try. I muttered as once again reality set in. On a semi-inhabited planet in the Andromeda galaxy searching for signs of drakkonia pyrite. Being separated from family for years is tough to deal with because so much could happen in two and a half years, so much could change. Ah, oh yes Colonel Gaff, riding with Chef today, yes sir, right away sir.

Falkar has an atmosphere and gravity a lot like Earth but the inhabitants are totally different. The planet is seventy per cent water with many lakes, rivers, and streams full of fresh water and also filled with many drakk lizards. Although wooded areas do exist, mammals are generally small and only a few larger species are present. Falkarians are human like in appearance with a developed knowledge of the many dangers specific to their planet. They live communally and appear genuinely happy to be where they are. The falkarians live in mountain villages away from the drakk