| From: | Nightsky Nightsky@********.net |
|---|---|
| Subject: | The Desert Rhino |
| Date: | Sat, 22 Apr 2000 16:56:15 -0600 |
#shadowrun for the "awakened rhino" idea.
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THE DESERT RHINO
The harsh African plains must be one of the most uncomfortable places in the
sixth world. The dry season has turned lush plains into dust bowls. The sun
overhead beats down on me like an unforgiving giant. I've only been out here
a few hours, but I can already feel my skin turning red from sunburn. I
couldn't bare to open my eyes if it wasn't for my shades. The blazing sun is
too bright to the point that it would probably blind me. The wind is no less
comfortable. It whips up dust from the dried earth and slaps it into my face.
Sometimes it picks up enough speed to where the dust feels like needles
against my skin. I can't stand it. I have to get inside my jeep and wait for
the wind to calm back down.
In the small, mangled bushes a rhinoceros pushes his way through. It's not
a true rhinoceros, but a subspecies brought on by the Awakening. This rhino
is huge, easily half the size of my landrover. It has no problem trotting its
way across the plain. I'm amazed that this animal finds the dry bushes
edible, but it happily chews away on them as it has for decades. The rhino
doesn't seem to notice the heat either. The animal's thick hide must be good
at holding in water. The little birds on the rhino's back pace back and
forth. The rhino and these birds form a symbioses. The birds eat parasites on
the rhino, providing them food while the rhino gets rid of the unwanted ticks.
I open the sunroof and boost myself out. Once again the wind bites at me
with its dusty touch. I try to ignore it as best I can. I lug a rifle from
out and brace it across the roof. It's an old Remington 950. The weapon's
ancient, wooden grip feels rough in my hands. My fingers fumble a large,
explosive round from my pocket. The shell's casing is hot from the heat. I
bring the sights to my eyes, squinting against the sun as it glares down. The
barrel of the rifle is pointed at the rhino as it casually grazes on the
bushes, completely unaware of its fate. The trigger feels cold under my
finger, despite the heat.
I pause for a moment. I don't know why I do. The rhinoceros doesn't expect
a thing. I focus my resolve, bring my eye in line with the sights. My finger
curves around the trigger as I take a breath and hold it. My finger pulls
against the trigger.
The bird on the rhino's back flaps its dusty wings and takes flight. I see
it flying off, but my rifle is still pointed at the large mammal. The
rhinoceros stops grazing and looks up. Is it looking right at me? Does it
know what's going to happen to it? Do I know?
BANG!
