The Ice Warrior's Grave

Chapter 5

Location: Earth

Back on Earth it was the dead of night with a full moon casting an eerie light over the entire valley. The whole camp was asleep unaware of the dangers they had set in motion with the uncovering of the supposed grave. Even the animals, normally very vocal during the night, were silent as if they were hiding from something.

Suddenly the dark sky was lit up as a burning comet streaked across the sky looking like it had landed in the mountains near the camp. In the camp in Katy stirred and looked as if she might wake, but only rolled over fell back asleep.

A few hours later the sun began to rise, but there were no birds to greet the new day. All the animals had fled the valley in fear or were deep in hiding. The humans, oblivious to the animal's fear and the sense of foreboding that hung over the valley, slowly got up and prepared for the days work.

For breakfast today Katy had made scrambled eggs combined with the leftover sausage from the day before to make a scrambled egg bake. This breakfast, like the last one, was washed down with coffee. As they the the team discussed the plans for the day.

"Today we are going to finish excavating the strange grave site over by grid 1. So we all will take shifts in the same team as yesterday," Andrew told them. "Any questions?" he asked.

"Nope I don't think so," Nancy answered for the team.

"Okay, then lets get to work team," Andrew said standing up and depositing his dishes into a basin for Benjamin and Nancy to wash.

The rest of the team drifted off to gather equipment. The morning went about the same as the day before, with the tedious task of carefully excavating the site without disturbing it to much. By mid-afternoon the whole grave site had been excavate with a shallow trench all around it.

"Bill come have a look at this and see what you think," Andrew called.

"Coming," Bill replied. "Hmm... Well I don't know what to tell you, Andrew," he said with a puzzled look.

"What do you mean you don't know what to tell me? You're supposed to be the expert."

"Well I mean there's nothing I can about it right now maybe after we open it that will provide more clues. It is completely and utterly alien to me," Bill replied.

"Do you mean to tell us, Bill, that it is an alien grave?" Nancy asked incredulously.

"No Miss, just that this is completely foreign to me. I highly doubt that it is actually alien," Bill calmly replied. 

"Well," Nathan said bursting in, "I say we open the thing and stop chit-chatting about what's inside it."

"Alright," Andrew said sighing at his enthusiasm, "go get the crowbars."

Benjamin and Nathan went to go get the crowbars, which had been left at the camp in the equipment tent. A dark, bulky and mostly humanoid figure stood hidden in the trees watching them.

"The humans must not be allowed to open the capsule," it rasped menacingly.

Benjamin stopped suddenly," Did you hear that?" he questioned Nathan.

"I didn't hear a thing. You're probably just imagining things," Nathan replied with disdain.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Benjamin said trying to convince himself and failing miserably. Benjamin continued to glance around nervously until they reached the equipment tent. They entered it and went to the back corner where the crowbars were stored.

"Benjamin, do you know if the crowbars got moved recently?" Nathan asked.

"Not that I know of, no. Why?"

"Well than the crowbars have mysteriously disappeared, that's why."

"Are you sure they aren't here?" Benjamin asked. He walked over to where Nathan was and started looking around.

"I already did that," Nathan said crossing his arms.

"I know but maybe you missed them."

Before Nathan could prepare a biting reply a dark shape suddenly filled the entrance. Startled both Nathan and Benjamin turned around and gasped in surprise. The figure that was standing there was clearly not a human being, it was green and covered in scales.

"What in the world is that!" Nathan exclaimed.

"I am Srex. You humans will come with me," the figure rasped.

"If you think we are going anywhere with you than you're crazy," Benjamin shot back trying to sound braver then he felt.

"I have been authorized to use force if necessary," Srex calmly replied.

"I think we had better do as he says," Nathan said reluctantly.