Page 9 of Black Mamba

I approach the window, stopping a short distance before the glass. Being above them, I can only see from their hips up. There is a small one-foot lip in the window that covers the bottom before it reaches the floor, obscuring their lower halves. They appear unkempt. Their hair, similar in color, is shaggy around their heads. The one in long sleeves is holding a gun over his shoulder. It looks like a… rifle? I don’t know much about firearms.

As I eye the weapon resting in a holder, he shifts it behind him over his shoulder. “It’s just for protection from anything that might be out here,” he reassures me, peering at me as warily as I’m peering at him. “I hear there are all sorts of things living on Earth now over the radio and you can’t be too careful.”

“Right. Got it.” I nod sharply, dragging my gaze away from the weapon with unease.

I wonder if he’s been listening to the radio too.

There’s been mentions of animals—large bears, packs of wolves, boar and pig to watch for.

But there’s also been mention of… nagas.

I search the trees behind them and up the hills and mountains to my left and the forest that eventually slopes downward to my right. It’s morning but there’s no fog today. Seeing no nagas, I return my attention to the two men. The one in the black shirt glances over his shoulder before facing me again.

“Look, lady. We’re from the ship directly behind yours.” I knew it. They are alive. I’d been wondering about them. “You might be able to see us from the side of your window, if you haven’t looked already.” The man without the rifle points to his right.

“I saw your ship. I remember smoke rising from it when I first touched down.”

“Yeah, that’s the other ship, the one just past ours that was smoking. Me and Greg”—he waves his hand at the man with the rifle—“I’m Levy, by the way, went over there already. It appears part of the bottom broke off upon landing… We tried to get the attention of anyone inside but there was no answer.”

I frown, trying not to wince from the headache behind my eyes. “Do you think they made it?”

Levy and Greg share a look before Levy flicks his gaze back to me. “I don’t think so,” he says loudly. “We couldn’t see anything from their windows that appeared like it was moving. There were bodies slumped in chairs so I’m thinking the worst.”

“Is that what you’re doing now? Checking out the other ships?” I ask, suddenly curious about what they know. I haven’t stepped outside my ship yet. I haven’t dared. Not with the mention of nagas and predators on the radio. Seeing how wary but calm Levy and Greg are, it might not be as dangerous as I’m making it out to be. But I eye the trees once more. Especially the ones that keep randomly rustling.

“That’s what we thought we might do, but there’s no one else in our area but us three.”

“Just three ships landed here?”

Levy nods. “It seems so. Look, I’m glad someone else is alive, but we’re going to have to establish some sort of system to make sure we stay that way. Do you understand what I’m saying?” He tilts his head up at me.

My stomach churns, and I’m not sure if it has to do with the alcohol slogging within it or making future plans. He’s not wrong. If we’re the only ones out here, and everyone has landed elsewhere, we might need each other. But at the same time… they’re strangers and there’s no one around to stop them if they try something. “Okay. What do you suggest?”

Levy shifts back. Greg nods like he’s relieved by my reaction. For some reason it makes me feel a little better seeing them being uneasy around me too.

They’re risking their lives being outside talking to me… That’s saying something.

“I suggest we share information and make sure we stay in communication. Are you the only one in there?”

“No. My brother is in the back,” I lie. I almost feel bad about it, but I don’t want them to know I’m alone. If we’re here long enough, they’re going to figure it out eventually. But that’s a problem for another day.

Levy leans forward and looks behind me. “Can he come out?”

“No, he’s sick and sleeping at the moment. What’s happened has been rough on him.”

“Right,” he says with a nod.

Greg shifts his rifle forward as he takes a wider step away from my ship, turning to scan the landscape around them.

“What’s your name?” Levy suddenly asks, forcing my attention back to him.

I hug my middle. “Elena.”

“Well, Elena, we’re going to finish rooting around. You stay safe. If you want, one of us can check in with you and your brother tomorrow? Make sure you’re safe and let you know we’re okay too?”

“I—” I begin to say no but change my mind. “Okay. As long as you think it’s safe,” I agree, glancing at Greg who’s still searching the trees up the mountain.

“See you tomorrow then.” Levy nods, and with a cant of his head toward his companion, they both walk around the front of my ship and toward theirs.