My Amazoness from Pellucidar 1 of 6

Hello from the Hollow Earth, by Terrill Clark

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My Amazoness from Pellucidar Part 1 of 6

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Good Morning Everybody. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Samuel Adams.

Yes, yes, you’re quite right to point out that my parents must’ve had a fun sense of humor; considering their choice to name me after a brand of beer.

Very funny. May I be allowed to continue?

Thank you. Please, call me Sam.

Now, I’m here to tender my account of my encounters with that one Mamono that everyone has heard of. Yet few have actually met.

The Amazoness.

I’m sure you’ve read of that unique brand of Mamono/Succubus, as mentioned in the Monster Girl Encyclopedia? The work penned by that ancient writer, The Wandering Scholar.

They are unique in that they warrant their own set of pages. Yet in real life they are seldom, if ever, encountered.

Which, when I was growing up. Was something that I found to be oddly fascinating. Why were they? Out of all of the other Mamono mentioned in those Volumes, did the W.S. choose to mention them? They who shared many characteristics with Cryptids?

Nothing more than Urban Legends. Often used as Boogymen to frighten an Incel-boy into good behavior. Particularly, when one tired of listening to an Incel’s endless tales of woe and their lack of ‘luck’ with the fairer sex. Either Human or Mamono.

I’m here to say; They Exist.

Ah yes, here we go. More laughter.

I suppose it was inevitable. I have to admit, the notion does sound ludicrous. And yes, not too long ago I too would’ve joined in your laughter. If I heard then, what I’m claiming now.

You’ll notice that I’m not laughing? There’s a good reason for that. Do you wish to know why?

If you do, then lean back and sit a spell. For I have a tale to tell.

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When I was a boy, I had an almost overwhelming sense of Anger, and Frustration. Both were family traits, that had been passed down to the Adams since time immemorial.

Unfortunately, before I learned (mostly) how to get a handle on either, I often found myself in trouble. Usually for the property damage I’d caused.

To my credit, I seldom damaged a person. And even then, it was because the other boy started it. Or, the other boy was a bully, and I wasn’t going to allow that.

Fortunately, unlike so many other boys, I had a good father. He instilled in me 5 Good Things, before he went on to his own reward.

• Trust in God, because HE has a plan.
• Work hard. If you do something. Do it right the first time.
• A man provides for his family.
• Forgive Yourself. Forgive Others.
• Pay your debts.

In addition to those 5 traits he taught me. My father also showed me the best way to deal with my incessant anger, was to ‘study the hell out’ of every problem that frustrated me so. Pardon the phrasing.

Thus, I learned to categorize. Which, as I grew up, stood me in good stead. The end result of which, after a short stint of military service, and time in college, I became a geologist.

Which paid me well, and offered me plenty of opportunity for travel.

But that was then. This is now. At the time of the beginning of my account, I was a Middle aged man, and in dire need of money.

Why? Well a long story short, I was working to pay off the medical bills that my wife. God-rest-her-soul, had incurred during her battle with the big ‘C’. In the end. She died in my arms; in the bedroom we’d shared for so long. Yet not long enough.

What did I have to show for our troubles? The bills.

They were legion.

Sadly, the American Medical system being what it was, I ended up having to declare bankruptcy. Subsequently, I lost my house, my retirement investments, and just about everything else. All to feed the insatiable maw of the Oklahoma Cancer Institute.

But on the bright side. Bankruptcy did allow me to get my debt repayment schedule down to something that. With a little luck, and a whole lot of work. I’d end up paying off (hopefully) before I died.

But, I’m not bitter. I stand with #1. For did HE not give me the opportunity to meet the woman; who became my beloved in the first place?

We met in college. She was Samantha Smith. A Good Catholic. While I was a Suffering Baptist. Forgive me my little joke.

We got along wonderful.

We both wanted to marry, but her family wouldn’t give us their blessing unless I converted.

So, I did. Much to my family’s dismay, I attended Catechism class, followed the Catholic precepts, the whole nine yards. It was tough, but I persevered.

For Love.

Within the hour of my being recognized a member of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, I was given two of the most precious things in my life. My wife, who officially became Mrs. Samuel Adams. Along with a Rosary that had been blessed by the Pope himself

Unfortunately, my wife and I’s nuptials were cut short.

I had a, ‘sort-of’, heart attack.

It’s been said that Blood is thicker than water, but mine was thicker than most. I was prone to blood clots. Embolisms they were called.

That one, was a Pulmonary Saddle Embolism, the doctor called it. According to him, if it had been just tiny bit larger, I would’ve been the late Samuel Adams.

But God had a plan. I survived with HIS help. And with a little bit of help from the secular world. Blood-thinners. They were dreadfully expensive. But well worth the price of life.

So, I ended up as a single Middle-aged man, with no prospects for the future. Other than to produce money for a faceless organization.

Such is life. But what’s the alternative?

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My story began in earnest; one day in March of 2025, as I was driving through downtown Oklahoma City. Just as the Crystal Bridge-Myriad Botanical Gardens was passing on my right, I got the call that would change my life.

My hands-free phone started ringing. Now, just before I tell it to connect, I quickly grab ahold of my Rosary hanging from my rearview mirror, and give it a quick kiss.

‘Blessed Virgin Mary, help me in my hour of need.’ I silently prayed.

“Answer!” I call out, and my phone immediately connected with a click.

“Hey Sam! That you?” said a familiar voice. At that sound, I smile partly in relief, and partly in hope. I give my Rosary, still swinging from my kiss, a thankful nod. 

“Hello Carl, how’s it going?” I reply, trying not to sound too desperate. “I thought you were down for the count? Something about you catching a nasty strain of Corona?”

“What can I say Sam? The rumors of my demise, are greatly exaggerated. Yada yada.” He laughed, so did I.

“I take it this isn’t a social call?’ I asked hopefully, after we got done.

“Definitely not.” He shot back. I felt my smile turn into a grin then.

“There’s an installation team out near Binger. They need a Geologist.”

“Binger? Where’s that?”

“About an hour southwest of Oh-Kay-Cee. Go west on Forty till you hit Bridgeport, and then south on Two-Eighty-One a fair spell.”

“Got it. What are they installing?”

“A repeater station for a Fiber Optic,7G relay.”

“Electronics? Why do they need a field geologist?”

“They’ve uncovered a ‘Weird’.”

“Indian?”

“According to the on-site engineer: “No freaking way!” Carl laughed. I return it, sympathetic. Uncovered Indian artifacts were the bane of construction anymore.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s made of basalt.”

“What? Basalt! That’s an igneous rock. What’s it doing in Oklahoma?”

“That’s what they need you to find out.”

“Any more particulars?”

“Fraid not.”  He says. I whistle.

“So why are they calling so late?”

“They’re on a contract. If you can get your hiney on out there, and give them your official ‘Not-An-Indian’ Artifact. Then they can get back to work without too much more difficulty. You know the set, ‘Bonus for early completion’.”

“Sounds like they’re desperate.”

“Enough so to pay triple your usual fee. Less my cut of course.”

“Damn!” I reply, and then wince when I realize what I just did. I kiss my fingertips and place on the Rosary Cross for just a moment.

‘Sorry.’ I think. ‘I’ll make up for it later.’ I implored.

“You interested?”

“Is the Pope Catholic?” I shoot back. He laughs.

“I’ll send you the info. Right now, just head on out, so that I can tell ‘em you’re on your way.”

“Roger! Roger!” I reply. Just as the connection cuts. I glance once more at my Rosary, and give the BVM a silent thanks. True, this job was going to interfere with my plans to watch the eclipse that night, but practicality takes priority.

As I pull onto I-40 and speed up, I start reciting a prayer of thanks. Then I get started on working off my Venial sin for profanity. Which takes more than just a few Hail Mary’s and Our Fathers.

Aren’t I a Good Catholic? However, it’s hard to meditate the Mysteries properly. When you’re doing 80 on a highway with a speed limit of 60.

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It took me about an hour to drive west on ’40, to Bridgeport. There, since it was a Friday, I splurged and got myself a Sonic Premium Fish Sandwich. It was delicious. Almost, pardon the term, sinfully so.

Then after I turned south on 281. It took me another hour to get to Binger. During which Carl’s information made it to my phone, including the site engineer’s phone number.

I called her, and we made introductions. She then informed me of the installation’s location, and directions to same. It turned out to be located a half-mile west of the city, a spot called: Ghost Mound.

‘Great!’ I thought ‘Not in the least bit ominous.’ I sigh and roll my eyes.

There was one weird thing that caught me eye, when I drove through Binger. Shoggoth.

Now be aware that I have nothing against the Shoggoth and all. But normally they’re rare in Oklahoma. You’d be lucky to see one in an area the size of OKC, if at all. 

But, out here in the boonies? I saw at least a dozen of them oozing around town. It made for quite the sight; I can tell you.

After another half-hour, I found my way to the site. In amongst a fairly level plain interspersed with Oak trees. Stood a small hill festooned with short grass, scrub-brush, and coniferous trees. At the top, was a layer of sandstone capped with the site installation.

The drive up the dirt road was steep, yet manageable. When I got out of my camper-van, and started walking around. I noticed that despite all of the heavy equipment. The place was deserted.

“Hello!” I called out, “Is anyone here?” I shouted nervously, as I felt an unreasoning fear dancing up my spine. This was due to the stories of Headless women (not a Dullahan apparently!), who were purported to haunt the local hills and mounds, according to Carl.

“Hello!” I was answered by a familiar feminine voice.

 “Are you Mr. Adams?” A rather fetching young woman greeted me. What with her high cheekbones, and straight black hair that peeked out from under a construction hardhat, I reckoned that was probably from one of the local First Nation Tribes.

Undoubtedly, she was one of the few remaining members of her tribe, due to their popularity with certain segments of the Mamono such as the Coyote.

“That’s me.” I smile, and try not to suck in my gut. ‘Man, you’re so pretty.’ I think to myself, as I try to recall the penalty for lustful thoughts.

“Aimee Lovecraft?” I asked hesitantly. “Did I get the pronunciation right?”

“Aamehe’e, actually. Close, but not quite.” She corrected, annoyed.

“Sorry.” I apologized, disappointed at not being able to make a good first impression.

“It’s all right.” She smiled.

 Don’t get me wrong. Even though she was young enough to be one of my non-existent daughters. I had no intention of committing the sin of fornication.

Yet, I was still human enough to appreciate the sight of a woman who took care of herself. After all it was my wife who was dead, not I.

 “So where is it?” I ask as I look around. As I do, I notice that the hilltop is laid like any other 7G-installation. There’s a cell tower with its vertical trough-like antennas already mounted and ready to go. The repeater station shelter was atop it’s cement slab. And there was a handful of backhoes and flatbeds, scattered all over the grounds.

“It’s over here.” She waves, and then notices something over my shoulder. “Hey! Is that your camper van?” She said with a frown, pointing. I look.

“Yeah, it’s mine. Is it a problem?” I ask, feeling bad for some reason.

She smiles again, and I feel instantly better. She motions at me to follow her. So, I do, following her like an eager puppy dog. It was then that I noticed that she had the buttocks of a runner.

‘Nice Mounds.’ I thought.

“No. It’s not.” She said over her shoulder, as we commenced slogging through dirt/gumbo.
“In fact, it could be a help. Are you interested in making some extra money on this job?”

“Sure, why not? What do you have in mind?” I said, keeping a calm face. I had to, as some evil thoughts began to percolate through my mind.

“Since we uncovered,…whatever it is? All of our security personnel have quit.” She frowned.

“Quit? What the heck for?”

“Well, the contracting company is owned by a local tribe. As are the Security personnel. Apache one and all. According to them, ‘Ghost Mound’ is supposed to be haunted by a headless woman and man. They’re supposed to be guarding something,…”

“Ancient? Evil? Arcane?” I interject with my best Rod Serling voice. She laughs. It’s a nice one.

“No, I’m afraid not. At least not that I’m aware. You know how it is.” She said as she came to a halt. 

“Traditional Superstitions and all. Well anyways, since there won’t be any security personnel. Could I impose on you to camp out here tonight? If you do, I’ll pay you the local per diem anyways.”

“I think I could do that. Get paid to watch tonight’s Eclipse? It would make for a nice fringe benefit” I grinned. “So where is this anachronism?” I ask, as I look all around us. She looked at me and smirks.

“You’re standing on it.” She replies quietly. I can feel my eyebrows shoot up. After which, I look down and finally notice that we’re on what appears to be a large basalt slab.

“What in Tarnation!” I yelp. As I looked all around us. It was big!

“What the heck is that thing?” I exclaim. She gave me a sidelong glance.

“That’s what I’m hoping you can tell me.” She says dryly, grinning.

“I’m surprised someone didn’t try to break this thing up!” I continued, as I became fascinated with the object. “It’s so large.”

‘Definitely not Native American!’ I thought.

“Someone,” the attractive Engineer said, waving her hand to get my attention. “Did try.” She said, pointing to a backhoe. I looked where she was pointing and was surprised at the sight of an Excavator with a heavily damaged bucket. Every one of its ‘teeth’ had been broken off.

Looking around, I couldn’t see any sign of matching scrape marks on the slab.

“Woah!” I exclaim, my mouth hanging open.

“Yeah.” She replied.

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Several hours after sunset, I’m in my camper/van, typing in my preliminary report onto my laptop. I’ve got notes, and open books all around me.

Taking a break from my typing, I looked out my windows at the night sky, and I noticed that the darkness caused by the Lunar Eclipse had already begun. Soon, it would be at totality.

‘Hmph!’ I snorted. ‘How would a Mamono act during a Full-Moon/Lunar Eclipse.’ I idly wondered.

I had parked my rig, so that my windshield looked out over the construction area. All I had to do then, was raise my head if some strange movement occurred. Thankfully, the pretty engineer-lady had a set of connecting power-cables for me to hook up to main power.

Taking a break from my data collection, I snuck a peek at my computer’s clock. It said: March 14, 2025, 1:48 A.M. Noting that I still had a few minutes until the eclipse was at totality, I returned to my report.

Object is a lone circular stone slab, 9.42 meters in radius.” I had begun with.

 “A test digging on one edge, southwest side, indicates that it extends at least one meter into the surrounding soil. Very likely much further. I will attempt to dig deeper tomorrow, to ascertain if object can be removed intact.”

“The Dorsal surface has a design similar to an Eastern Asian Yin-Yang symbol/Triskele pattern. There are three tapering lobes, as opposed to the traditional two.

Like the Yin-Yang, these three lobes have a central hole. The circumference contains a furrow. Said furrow and aforementioned holes, are approximately a third of a meter deep. All edges are sharp with little to no evidence of wear or erosion.

Begin anomalies.

• Base Material. Basalt (?) At first glance, the stone appears to be black basalt. This particular basalt is anomalous. Because even the darkest known basalt, is not as dark as this specimen is. Also, it does not match the spectrographical readout of any basalt samples on line.
• Hardness (H = 7+). While Basalt has a specific hardness of 6. This object is harder than that. I attempted to scratch the specimen’s surface with a Quartz-tip blade. I am unable to make an impression, despite multiple and increasing levels of force. Thus, I give it a rating of 7, possibly much harder. Unfortunately, this will make the specimen extremely difficult to extract sans explosives.
• Magnetic Anomaly- The use of a compass is impossible while standing on the object. Compass needle is dynamic, never once orienting in one direction, even when I’m standing on the circumference. Yet if I take one-step off the slab, I pick up the normal local magnetic field. I am unable to explain how or why this phenomenon occurs.
• Calculations indicate that the object has a dead weight of 532 Tonnes/586 Tons. Which would be a problem for excavation. Since a fully loaded train box-car weighs, on average, 130 Tons.

Finally, I took a break from my data collation. I lean back and put a hand over my face.

‘Crumbs.’ I complained. ‘Whatever it is. It’s definitely not an Indian Artifact.’ I chuffed. ‘Which doesn’t do me any good.’

‘Artifact? Hell! It’s a full-blown Anachronism!’ I concluded. Unfortunately, that conclusion was one that wouldn’t make the Installation Project Manager happy, I was afraid.

That conclusion would lead said Manager to demand an explanation from Site Survey, and why they didn’t manage to find it previous.

Naturally, they would (Invariably) complain about,…well something, anything really, to avoid their responsibility.  Which would lead to,…

‘End result, I’m not getting paid.’ I realized with a heavy sigh. ‘I just ended up spending a night out in the Oklahoma sticks, at my own expense.’

I was about to write something more, when. Suddenly, I started to get a sensation of ‘eeriness’, accompanied by a slight anxiousness. Luckily, it was one I’d felt before.

I reached out, and after a brief search, I was able to find my Infrasound detector. Sure enough, as per my suspicions. I detect a subsonic vibration that hadn’t been around before.

Quickly, I added the info into my report.

• At approximately 1:57 A.M. something in the local region has started to emit a (18.98 Cycles Per Second) signal. I am unable to ascertain the source at this time.

I was about to make another entry, when, out of the corner of my eye, I detect a flash of light.

‘What the,…?’ I think as I jerk my head up and peer through my darkened windshield.

At first, there’s nothing to see. But then, suddenly on the left side. I see it again. A series of brief pulsating lights coming from the area of the slab. I sigh.

“Damned copper thieves!” I sigh in frustration. I immediately pull out my cell and try to dial the local sheriff, to make a report. As per the pretty-engineer’s instructions.

However, I’m unable to get a signal. Which is strange, since I had access to the internet not 20 minutes ago.

“Great!” I mutter nervously.

‘What now? Ignore it and hope that they go away?’ I thought, as I weighed the pros and cons.

 ’If I confront them, and they’re human I might get hurt or killed. But if I don’t, and they take something. Then I’ll get the blame. Site management will use it as yet another excuse to deny me my fee.’ I grumble.

But I already knew the answer. I went ahead and typed in the particulars into my report.

After which, I sign off my computer. Then I pack a few items into my standard survival backpack.

Why? Because if anything else, I’d have something on my back to prevent, or slow down a blade. After all, I wasn’t that keen to meet with my dead wife, just yet.

After leaving my keys atop the sunvisor, (for quick retrieval and departure) I stepped out of my van, and left the door ajar.

“HEY!” I shout loudly out into the darkness, as I turned on my flashlight and swung it around to make myself noticeable.

“You all better get out of here! I’m packing some heat, and I’ve NO PROBLEM using it!” I bluster. I didn’t actually have a firearm, as I didn’t want the mortal sin of Murder staining my soul.

Silence.

I didn’t hear so much as a single muttering, clanking noise, footfall, or anything else for that matter. Not even the standard sound of crickets chirping, which was odd.

 Looking around in the dregs of moonlight that fell down from between the broken clouds, I couldn’t see any sign of anyone. There was no evidence of intelligence, other than the city-lights of Binger that lay off to the east and south. I

Looking up, I saw that the Lunar Eclipse was almost at totality.

‘For goodness sakes, Sam! It’s just another eclipse. Dragons don’t eat the moon.’ I thought as I let out a relieved sigh. ‘There’s nobody here but you.’

‘Well nothing for it. Since I’m up and about, I better go over and check things out.’ I grumble.

A few seconds later, I see the lights flashing again. They’re purple. Stranger yet, they’re in the direction of the slab.

“Huh?” I mutter aloud.

Slowly, using the flashlight to keep myself from tripping over something. I tiptoe my way over. Once there, I find an unusual sight.

The Triskele/Yin-Yang symbol?

Its flat surface is now glowing with a deep purple radiance. While both the furrows and the circular indentations, are sparking akin to a Saint-Elmo’s fire; chasing around the indentations like a miniature particle accelerator.

Like an idiot, what do I do?

I step out onto the slab to get a closer look  Just as I reached down to touch one of the circular indentations, my watch beeped to indicate that the Eclipse had finally reached totality. Simultaneously, it was also when my finger made contact with one of the indentations.

For a second, and only a second. I felt the indentation- shift. Which surprised the heck out of me!

So much so, that I jumped backwards and landed on my butt. When I did, I involuntarily looked up, and noticed something very peculiar.

Upwards far away, on what should’ve been the black of the Moon’s surface?

Impossibly, a light had appeared in the center.

Before my mind could register it. I heard the sound of tinkling laughter. I immediately sprang upwards to stand at full attention and started to survey my surroundings.

“Show yourself!” I shouted outwards. I had no reply at first. Then it came again. This time it came from a direction I could identify.

But it was impossible.

For the unearthly tinkling laughter, came from underneath me!

“What?!” I exclaim, as I began to back away from the center of the slab. Which was by now lit entirely with an internal purplish glow!

Then, suddenly, like a lone star, a bright-light illuminated itself from deep within the slab. It was almost as if the slab was now a glass window, peering into an unimaginable depth.

My first instinct?

To get out of there! On the off chance I’d fall into,…whatever gulf might appear below me. I took no more than a few long steps, and then I slammed into something.

I fell backwards to land painfully onto my rump, shaking my head, dazed. After a few seconds, I looked out and could see no evidence of any kind of barrier between my distant van, and myself.

Yet, when I got back up and reached out a tentative hand. I soon encountered an invisible resistance.

“What the,…:?” I began, and that was when I heard the tinkling laughter below me begin again.

This time it was louder. Much more so. As my panic began to increase, I looked downwards to where I’d seen the star.

I froze when I saw that that distant star, was now approaching upwards at me! Akin to the headlight of an oncoming train! Growing larger and larger!

As it came closer, the sound of the unearthly laughter grew louder until I was forced to cover my ears. The light intensified. I squeezed my eyes shut in pain. The ground beneath my feet began to sway. An earthquake?

I risked opening my eyes for a moment and through the blinding white light got an impression of strange complicated things dancing all around me. Which may have been (what?).

And then the slab seemed to give way beneath me and I was plunging downwards, I was caught by a whirlwind and hurled upward, was tossed head over heels, dashed from side to side, hurled downward again, until my senses left me altogether, save for a sensation of bitter, bitter, cold.

Then I felt nothing, not even the cold.  I became convinced, that I was dead, slain by a force that had lurked below the slab since the beginnings of Time.

Then I ceased to think at all.

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Day 1

I awoke, to darkness, and silence.

After a short while, I realize two important facts.

One that I was lying down.

Two that I really needed to urinate. As in, ‘like a race horse’ needed to.

Unfortunately, my flashlight was nowhere with arms reach, despite repeated tapping and groping. There was nothing around me save the furrows of the slab upon which I lay.

Due to the oppressive silence, I got the impression that I was in some sort of cave. Then, I heard a scuttling sound!

“Uhm,,…” I began, “Hello?” I called out.

“hello.” I heard someone call back faintly.

“Hello! Can you help me!?” I called out immediately in desperation.

“hello, can you help me?” I hear again, also faintly.

‘Echo.’ I realized, despondent. Then, I remembered something. My cyalume sticks! I always packed a dozen of the things in my backpack. Which, unlike my flashlight, I’d not lost.

After a minute or two of overly loud crinkling plastic, I managed to break one out of its container. Quickly, I snapped and shook it.

With that verdant glow that arose from between my hands, I viewed my surroundings and was alarmed beyond measure. For all around me, arose slabs of white/yellowish stone blocks, reaching upwards to some darkened spot overhead. While around me, I could see no sign of egress. It was an unbreakable cage.

With the cyalume’s light, I checked my analog wristwatch. According to it, I’d been out for no more than an hour. Which left me dumbfounded.

“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto.” I spoke aloud.

Carefully, after making sure I had no viewers, I went ahead, unzipped my pants and relieved my painfully desperate bladder.

“Ooooh.” I sighed happily, and relaxed. If anything else, I now had a measure of relief. Just as I finished, I felt an errant breeze tickle my left ear. Intrigued, I slowly made my way and followed it as best I could.

A couple of times, I lost it and felt despair once more. But, after a few patient moments, I reacquired it.

Eventually, I found that what I thought was a sheer flat limestone slab, was instead an optical illusion. The breeze came from a corridor whose walls blended with the stone along either side.  Cheered, I made my way through, fully expecting to encounter something.

I did. A maze.

A veritable labyrinth! Over the following hours, I lost track of time. Undoubtedly, I crossed my path more than once, as evidenced by the footsteps I found in the dust beneath.

‘Strange.’ I thought, when I remembered there hadn’t been any dust in the spot where I awoke.

So, I soldiered on. When one cyalume faded, I tossed it aside and I broke out another. I’d have used a torch, if I had found anything to make one with. But there wasn’t anything, only the endless corridors, the dust, and the silence.

Always the silence.

After the fifth cyalume stick faded itself out. I decided to stop wasting them, and just use them as I deemed fit.

Which turned out be a good idea. For within a few minutes, my eyes had adjusted to the darkness and I noticed that it wasn’t quite so gloomy in one direction.

Following it, after several twists and turns, it became noticeably brighter until I could see the walls without aid! After a few minutes more, I sank to my knees in delight. I was finally near the opening to this,…whatever it was.

Naturally, I remained there to pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her aid in my deliverance.

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My first impression of the incoming air, afterwards?

Hot. Humid. Oppressive.

Naturally, I assumed I was still in Oklahoma. Perhaps I’d been transported to a spot underneath one of the nearby Wichita mountains?

But after peering outside, I decided against it. For all around that hewn cave’s entrance, was a panoply of trees and bushes, the like of which one would never see in Oklahoma. Outside the Crystal Bridge’s south end that is.

Verdant green surrounded me, in the slight breeze that wafted through the air. On it were carried a myriad of scents both repugnant, and stimulating. All of which I was hard pressed to put a name to.

Other than my footfalls and the sound of my voice, it remained mostly quiet. With just the occasional cry of some unknown animal off in the distance.

Off to the right was a small waterfall erupting from an artesian well. I filled my canteen with that water.  But only after I carefully strained it through my backpack water filter. I didn’t need to be afflicted with dysentery or giardia, with no way to treat it.

Looking up, I noticed that the sun was directly overhead. Which seemed odd to me for some reason. After checking my wristwatch, I soon saw why. According to it. It was now 3:30 in the morning of March 15, 2025.

“Okay….” I sighed, distressed by this new anomaly. I sat down and tried to take stock of the situation. Then I was overjoyed, when I remembered that I had a satellite phone in my backpack.

That delight turned into frustration, when it simply refused to find or make a connection. I tried the same with the GPS signals.

“Oh, come on!” I exclaimed heatedly after I reset it, and got the same results.

‘Okay Sam!’ I thought to myself. ‘You’re tired, you’re hungry, and you’re stressed. What should you do?’ I asked myself.

‘Get some sleep, and get something to eat. That will solve all three problems. After that, you’ll be in a much better position to do something constructive.’ I realized.

So, after making my way back to the cave and going in a goodly distance, I pushed out a nice cavity in the dirt and dust. Then I lined it with leaves from a nearby bush outside.

“Bed made.” Yay. From the pack, I selected an MRE at random. It turned out to be: Veggie Omelet (The Vomelet).

‘Ugh!’. I thought, doing my best not complain, or curse. I then blessed it and choked it down. Then, automatically I rinsed my mouth out with water, cleaned up and put myself to bed. Using the backpack as a sort of pillow.

I soon fell asleep, and dreamed strange dreams.

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Day 2

When I awoke refreshed. My mind said a day had passed. But my watch said otherwise. Six hours at best. The Sun outside? Still steadfast in its mooring directly overhead.

After I did my morning (?) routines as best I could manage. I took one of my blood thinning pills. Luckily, I’d gotten my script filled just a couple of days prior. So, I should be good for a month, two if I halved my dose.

 I then stood outside the cave entrance and contemplated things.

The night (?) before I had discovered a little used leather-bound journal buried at the bottom of my pack. Using the mechanical pencil along with, I made a sketch of the cave entrance. It was standard practice for me to document.

I did the sketch on the off chance I’d find my way back here. Obviously, I couldn’t remain where I was. Hopefully I’d return with someone who could reactivate the,….whatever it was, that had gotten me here in the first place.

Satisfied with my crude drawing, I made my way up the hill, or temple, or whatever it was atop the cave Why? To seek out landmarks, and to make another sketch. Said landmarks would give me a chance to orient myself. Allow me to triangulate a return journey.

Alas, my efforts were in vain. I reached the bare apex, and to my utter horror there wasn’t a single unique thing to see within eyeshot.

Even with my pocket binoculars, I couldn’t detect a horizon! Everything just seemed to recede into the distance. until they faded into the atmospheric haze!

Despite that, I spent the better part of an hour searching. All to no avail. I was encircled by a sea of flat jungle with no distinguishing characteristics. Then, glancing up, I saw an extraordinary sight.

The Moon. Or perhaps I should say, A Moon. Why? Because it resembled no heavenly body I’d seen before, either on the internet or in fanciful drawings.

I trained my binoculars, and studied it. It was strangely smooth, with few craters. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d have said there were oceans and forested land on it. But, the magnification of my binocular wasn’t good enough to tell.

Just as I decided to climb back down, was when I noticed something in the sky to the rear of me.

Turning, I was amazed at what I beheld! Two more moons. One far off in the distance, and the other near. As I watched, I could tell that it was getting larger by the minute! I began to get a vague sense of trepidation concerning it. I also got the mistaken impression that I could have almost reached out a hand and touched it when it passed overhead!

The extraordinary thing? This large moon, and the previous two shared no colors or patterns. Each had a unique set of markings.

Gauging its course, it appeared that if it didn’t change.  Then I’d soon be in an eclipse. I made my way down, just in time. Once there, that eternal light finally began to fade.

Within a minute or two, I was under total darkness. As darkness finally descended. The heretofore quiet jungle, erupted into noise! Blood curdling screeches, hollow sounding territorial markings, raspy roars and countless other sounds, too numerous to describe.

A chill went up my spine, as I felt any number of eyes focusing on me.  Yet when I looked around in the gloom. I could see nothing apparent.

Thankfully, my doused breakfast cook fire was easily rekindled. I sensed, no, felt, that my moving away from it would be a mistake.

So, keeping myself between the fire and the walls of the cave, I settled down and kept watch. To wait on the off chance that someone,…human at least, would notice my fire and perhaps come to investigate.

That was when it hit me!

‘Oh my god!’ I thought, ‘Not only am I NOT on the North American continent, I’m not on earth!’ I quavered as I kept looking all around me nervously.

‘A change of plans.’ I realized, ‘Well at least I don’t have to worry about being late with a mortgage payment anytime soon.’ I joked to myself as I began to chuckle, then I began to laugh uncontrollably. I soon discovered, that I couldn’t stop.

Then I heard something deep in the jungle, laugh back at me. In the same tone and timbre as I had. That quieted me down. But it got my hackles up! I was on extra-vigilant alert for the rest of the,….night?

Which lasted a mere three and a half hours. During which, I beheld yet another set of extraordinary visions. This time of something resembling stars far off in the sky. Yet an instinct told me that they weren’t. Even with the binoculars, that feeling wouldn’t go away.

If I had to hazard a guess, what? City lights, cooking fires, and the like. Though in one far corner, I espied what appeared to be a blood red moon, hovering in one spot. It frightened me for some unnamable reason.

As the eclipse ended, so did the night time animal noises. Emboldened, I struggled on my backpack, and decided to follow the stream that flowed from the waterfall.

Why? Because I remembered something from my days in the military. Something about following water to eventually find something resembling human civilization. But at that point, I’d have been happy to find some Mamono.

That thought was in retrospect, ironic.

Just as I entered the forest canopy, I turned and gazed back at the cave. To burn it in my memory. I blinked as I resumed my course, and followed the stream. Unaware of the fact, that I my efforts then had been utterly futile.

For I would never see the place again.

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Oh dear reader, I could regale you with a thousand tales, of the days,…

Pardon me.

Even now, years (!) later, I still fall into that habit.

My using old standards of time, that simply cannot accurately be translated into the concepts that I eventually was forced to adopt.

But I get ahead of myself.

I could regale you with a thousand tales of the,…times,…and events that followed.

I had hoped to find some sort of civilization, or at least a settlement within a day or two.

No such luck.

Food wise? Many of the plants seemed familiar in one way or another. But I had no idea which plants were edible, or not. I didn’t care to find out the hard way. Since I knew I’d not get a second chance.

Yet inevitably, I knew that I’d be forced to.

So, to delay that inevitable day. I did my best to ration my food.

Of Animal life? Oh, there was evidence a plenty for them. But, being there when they were, was difficult. Almost impossible. At least for anything smaller than I.

I had started my Journal entries with Day numbers. When it subsequently became clear that such was an impossibility; due to the sun’s motionlessness, I switched to marking them as ‘Sleeps’. Which was about as accurate as I could manage.

Sleep 5
I’ve had to resort to cutting off a strip of cloth from my jacket to cover my eyes. So as to get some sleep. The reason being, this incessant sunlight has played havoc with my circadian rhythm. According to my watch, I’ve just spent the last 35 hours awake. 

Sleep 8

Today (?), I beheld a number of large lumbering beasts. They sported two, four, six, or more legs each, and not always in pairs. Appearance wise, they resembled cows. Due to their rubbery gait, I surmised they had no bones. Sketched. The stream has become a creek.

Sleep 9

I carved out a Jo-staff from a tree sized Mushroom. It has the consistency of oak. After a long hiatus, I have resumed practicing my Katas. This has given me some measure of control in this benighted land.

Sleep 11

I saw what appeared to be a herd of man-sized chickens. They bore viciously serrated ankle-spurs, along with a number of pointed teeth poking out of their semi-beaks. One chased me. I got away barely. Sketched.

Sleep 17

I was nearly bowled over by a house sized boar. Its tusks, worthy of an elephant. It had what appeared to be a coating of black goo that dripped. Not downwards, but upwards into the sky. Atop its back, was a large saddle blanket sans saddle, riddled with strange markings.  It peered down at my quivering fear-filled form with beady eyes, snuffled once, then moved off, seemingly unconcerned. Sketched. The creek is now a river.

Sleep 18

I miss any kind of  human contact. I’m not sure if I’ve been hallucinating or not. Yester-day(?), just before I fell asleep, I could’ve sworn I saw something that looked akin to a Eastern Asian Dragon (Ryu) bobbling about in the sky before a storm. My concern lies with the fact that the head portion of the Ryu, appeared to be of a feminine human. One with surprisingly large breasts.

Sleep 23

My backpack filter has stopped working. With no replacement filters, I am forced to try some water. I will use the survival technique of straw sucking through a puddle created by a scoop/hole.

Sleep 24

I have had some mild diarrhea. But it appears to have stabilized. This is one bout of good news.

Sleep 37

I sought shelter from a cloudburst underneath a strange seeming tree. I was driven off by a band of two-tailed monkeys with faceted eyes. They didn’t give chase. It was just that feeling I got when they saw me. Every one of them, even the babies at their mother’s tit, lifted their head and turned to look at me in unison. All utterly silent. I got the impression that I wasn’t welcome, no matter what I did. The storm soaked me. My watch has ceased to work. Sketched.

Sleep 42

Am I going insane from solitude? Creatures passed by overhead. Even Hieronymous Bosch himself would’ve been hard pressed to paint them. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have said they were engaging in an aeronautic sex orgy.

Sleep 54

 Today, I have hope again.

It was a hoof print. Just one. Alone in the middle of a sand bar. But upon closer inspection I saw something that made my heart leap for joy.  The hoofprint held the broken off head of a horseshoe nail.

I fell down and bawled a thousand tears of relief.

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Later, after giving an appropriate thanks to the BVM. I cleaned myself up, and decided to follow wherever the tracks lead. If it led to nowhere, I could always trace them back to their presumable starting point.

Sleep 60

I used the last of my split blood thinning pills. After this point, I will be living on borrowed time. Hopefully, I will be able to catch up to the person I’m following, and….

Sleep 61

The horseshoe trail has come to a stop. It’s almost as if the horse’s rider is wary of being tracked. He must’ve taken counter measures to elude me.

Why? I’ve made no effort to hide myself. I’ve even called out several times. I’ve yet to receive an answer.

My food rationing has done me some good. My paunch, has long since melted away. Which unfortunately, has made it hard to keep my pants on. With the use of my Leatherman attachments, I have drilled four extra four holes in my belt.

I’ve run out of food. It’ been three days of not daring to eat any of the available fruits, despite the temptations presented. The most notable of them being that queerly shaped, low-hanging fruit. It had begun populating the region in which I and my quarry had journeyed.

Soon, I espied one. There it was, just a few feet away, hanging down from one of its strange seeming flowers. That tree holds scores of them.

I would’ve boldly gone up and grabbed one of them, but it was the flower that set my nerves on edge. It resembled an inverted Venus Fly Trap. Long spiky teeth-fronds, poised to ensnare, with the fruit hanging from the center of its maw. I didn’t bother with a sketch.

A truly intriguing fruit it is too. It resembled a heart. No, not one of those four-chambered organs you’d see in an anatomy class. Instead, it was akin to a Valentine’s heart. Two lobed, with a pink gemstone shininess. It gave off a maddening scent. Mostly due to my hunger, no doubt. For enhanced dexterity. I laid my staff and backpack onto the ground, a few feet away from the flower.

‘If I eat it, and it’s poison. Would that be suicide?’ I pondered, as I held my hand out, but didn’t quite touch it.

‘Yet if I do not, and I die of starvation. Then that would be a willful suicide.’ I determined.

‘Besides, it could be safe.’ I finished. So, I closed my fingers around it and jerked.

Immediately, just as I suspected. The jaws of the Fly-trap, closed around my hand and held me fast!

“Hmph!” I snorted derisively. Assured by its delicate touch, I tried to pull my hand free.

To no avail.

That blasted flower held me in a steel like vise! Despite my ever-increasing struggles and desperation, I simply could not get myself free!

It was then, that I finally experienced the first sign of another human in a very, almost too long time.

Laughter! At my expense.

“Ha-ha! Hoh-ha! Ha-ha!” came the sound from somewhere behind me. Turning as best I could, I beheld who it was that was laughing so uproariously.

It was an Amazoness.

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