Expedition

            “I bagged this one in the Jungle of Climad. You’ve been there, of course?” The few people in the spacious den of Lord Kinmont nodded that they had not been. “Pity. It’s quite a beautiful planet, you know. The Confederacy has declared it one of the protected planets so it’s still in a very primal state. Of course, I was there some years ago before the Confederacy took over so it was quite the wild place. I remember my last trip there quite vividly. Would you like to hear about it?

            “Well, I suppose there’s no harm in talking about it now.” Lord Kinmont began to wander from the room and his audience followed. “I had been tempted there by the stories of their big game. Creatures quite unlike any that had ever been seen anywhere in the galaxy and the stories were quite accurate.

            “For the first year or so of my stay, I accumulated a vast array of trophies from the most exotic of animals. Take this one, for example.” He pointed to a large beast, about the size of a full grown Earth lion. It was somewhat cat like in appearance but had six legs, a tough, spiny fur, long claws and a mouth of teeth that opened sideways. “Took nearly a week to track and two days to bring down. That was a hell of a hunt.

            “But I started to get bored. Even their most esoteric of creatures was beginning to bore me. It was all too easy, just like it had been on every planet in every other system. Then I started to hear the rumors. Deep with the caverns, there supposedly lived a creature like no other. The local natives all feared it and it was said that a cult had grown up around it and worshiped it like a God. The last of its kind, it lived in the caves and never came up into the light. It had been alive for centuries and was considered (depending upon whom you asked) savage and wise or saintly and insane. It’s name was D’mok and I had to see it for myself.

            “It took months to put together a crew willing to led me to the sacred caves and a considerable amount of money to boot. When we arrived, half of the men deserted. I think they probably were cultists, sent to lure me to the caverns. Undaunted, I went in. For two weeks, I followed the tracks further and further down into the planet. Finally, I found it’s lair.

            “There was a large, circular clearing below me with only two entrances. Through one, poured an army of cultists who were chanting and moaning. They carried the obligatory sacrifice which they strapped to the altar and began praying. Through the other entrance, came D’mok.

            “I think I even screamed a little then.

            “Not that they heard me, of course, they were too busy in their prayers. The creature slithered rather than walked, even though it had the vague similarity to a man. It was a twisted, obscene reflection of humanity that seethed with evil and sin. Whatever it was, I knew that I could not let it live. It was an abomination and cried out to me for slaying.

            “I leapt into the midst of the cultists and began firing, bringing down a number of them and scaring off the rest. Then, it was only D’mok and myself.”

            The guests were enraptured. They barely noticed that they had walked through the large Hall of Trophies and were standing in a room that was curiously bare except for a large table in the middle. “Whatever did you do?” one of the guests asked, her flabby arms quivering in excitement.

            “Do? Do, my dear woman? I did the only thing I could, I fought it with every fibre of my being. It was a glorious struggle, worthy of song!” Lord Kinmont broke into a strange, sing song tune that had no description. “He called to me, you see, in my mind. And eventually, the fight ended.”

            “Well? Don’t keep us in suspense, Lord Kinmont! Who won?”

            “Isn’t it obvious, dear? I am standing here, after all!” They all laughed even while D’Mok removed the fleshy mask of Kinmont to reveal the atrocity beneath. They were still laughing as he feasted on them. The hunting had been good tonight but too easy, much too easy. A true hunter was always looking for new challenges.