The column proceeded without pause or any sign of slowing down. They pushed on through the night going deeper into forest. It felt like they had been on the move for hours, during which captain Maguire had struggled desperately against his bonds
It was a hopeless attempt with the only results being that the fibres binding his wrists only tightened. Almost cutting into his skin of his wrists and causing him excruciating pain. Finally exhausted from his exertions ,captain Maguire gave up trying to undo or at least wriggle his hands free.
Watching their athletic captors energetic pace, he caught himself almost admiring their athleticism. That was before the reality of their situation dawned o him again. He and the research team were being carried off to who knew where. He realised that with each step their captures took they were being carried away from their last known location.
As long as he could not activate the homing Application on his communicator their chances of being located by the crew of the Sandawana were zero to slim. The pain of the bindings digging into his wrist combination the constant of rocking him made him delirious. Causing him to drift in and out of consciousnes he noted the changing landscapes as the column pressed on. The night eventually gave way to the breaking of dawn, with the column leaving the forest and started up a winding mountain trail. Captain Maguire was almost certain they were close to the end of their journey.
It would be the best time to make his move. When their captors would not be expecting him to spring at them. Believing that the research team had long been subdued, their captors would be relaxed.
Finally at long last as captain Maguire had anticipated they walked through an entrance of some sort concealed from the outside with overhanging shrubbery. Inside the cave it was surprising warm after the chill of early morning. In the light of the glowing fire, he could see that their captors were all heavily built young men. They wore short skirts covering their lower bodies. A series of marks criss crossed their naked abdomens.They were armed with spears, primitive battle axes and knobkerries strapped to their backs.A was a fire burning in the centre of the cav providing light and warmth.
Several elderly persons set on slabs warming themselves around the fire. A square jawed broad shouldered young man who appeared to be the leader, motioned for the others to stop where they were just after entering the cave .
He proceeded alone to stand in front of the gathered elders who look up at him as he came to stand before them.
"Commander", Mitra greeted.
"My elder we have brought", the commander of the warriors announced.
"Bring them", Mitra instructed.
"Yes my elder", replied the commander before gesturing to the others to bring their captives before the elders.
As the captives were brought before the elders, Mitra instructed, "untie them".
The warriors momentarilly looked at each other to confirm what if they heard right, and then their commander for confirmation.
The warrior' commander gave a silent nod to confirm the order.
Mitra spoke soothingly to captain Maguire and the members of the research team. Cognisant of the fact that they most didn't understand a word of the language they were being spoken to in,he hoped the gentleness of his tone would assure them that they were safe.
When his bonds were loosened, captain Maguire realised he was too weak to even make a grab for his blaster. More over there was a calming effect in the white haired elder's words that assured him that he was safe. There was an orderliness about the scene before his eyes which informed him the beings before him could not be the savages he had imagined them to be.
The ankle length robes the elders were wearing and the gentle demeanor said their new hosts were civilised people.
Mitra again addressed captain Maguire pointing to the communicator strapped to his utility belt. Captain Maguire slowly reached his hands to his belt. Then decided to take the opportunity to go for his blaster, he felt the tip of a spear at his throat as a snarling warrior stood menacing pointing the sharp tiped weapon at him
As soon as he withdrew his hand from the blaster the warrior withdrew the spear from his throat. Again the white haired elder pointed at the communicator strapped to his belt. He slowly reaching for the communicator taking care not to provoke the warrior who was watching him closely.
Retrieving his communicator, he activated the universal language translation App on it.
"Welcome to fire mountain", the white haired elder greeted him with a warm smile. "We have been expecting you. Please feel free there is no need to fear. You are after all our guests".
"Is this how you treat all your guests or was this treatment specially reserved for us", retorted captain Maguire angrily, rubbing wrists to restore circulation to his hands. As the members of the research team also got to their feet rubbing their wrists.
"I must apologise for our warriors rough treatment", the elder calmly apologized.
"Who are you people?" captain Maguire asked.
"Naturally you are curious", said the white haired old man. All will be revealed in due time", said the white haired elder.
"How could you be expecting us", captain Maguire asked.
"Prophesy", calmly replied Mitra.
""And you are wearing robes made of cloth how is this possible? asked captain Lucinda coming to stand beside captain Maguire. This is a prehistoric age when dinosaurs still roam the Earth. The technology to weave cloth should not exist. How is this possible?", she repeated.
"Calm yourselves", said Mitra pleasantly. "I know you must have many questions. We shall attempt to answer them all".
"To begin with we are not in a prehistoric age. Our history is recorded on papyrus from the time of the particle", Mitra explained calmly.
Particle?", remarked captain Lucinda.
"He came down from the sky", explained Tleka coming into the discussion.
"It was he who told us about you. He prophesied that one day the mighty ones from the sky would come".