MARTINGALE Martin, in a little over 47 million years...
MARTINGALE - FUTURE ANTERIOR
Phase XXXIV, 10 avril, 47 037 915 ap. JC, 08h14
... We were on Earth. To me, it had been more than twenty hours since I had last set foot on grass, but in reality, more than forty-seven million years had passed since I had left. I was about to set foot on a land that no human being had ever known.
Cautiously, I nevertheless retrieved the 357 that Anne had slipped under the sideboard and, after checking that it was loaded, put it back in my belt. I didn't really know what to expect!...
...
"Inappropriate sector
"U-turn advised
The exploration module had sent out this message as soon as it had reached the top of the hill. Apparently, Gâ-Ïah had propelled it to anticipate any risk. And apparently, there was a risk.
— What's the matter, Gâ-Ïah? A problem?
"Inappropriate sector
"U-turn advised
"Presence of unknown fauna - Analysis impossible
— Analysis impossible? Is this famous fauna far away?
« Analyse…
“Distance – 2703 meters
"Progressing south-southwest
— South-southwest? What do you mean?
"The entity is approaching the ocean
— Towards us, what! OK Gâ-Ïah, I'll see about that. I'll join the module and go back. More than two kilometers, that gives us a little time!
« Analyse…
“Distance – 2391 meters
— Already! I wondered, joining the module. It's going fast!
The animal was still more than two kilometers away and I didn't expect to see it from here, especially since when I reached the top of the hill, I discovered a sylvan landscape where countless trees with golden colors were intertwined. It looked like a mix between oaks and large palm trees. A bit like what I had seen during my previous awakening thanks to the module, but with much narrower shapes.
But what immediately caught my attention was a creature: the creature, because although it was still far away, it was also high enough that I couldn't miss it!
« Analyse…
“Distance – 1806 meters
A feeling of fear finally appeared because not only was it going fast, but above all it seemed to be heading directly towards me, as if it had seen me! And frankly, it didn't look appealing. It looked like those dinosaurs you saw in magazines, except that here, it was on all fours and it was running really fast, like a horse. Besides, it had a bit of the head of a nag... without the horse's gaze, alas. And it was still getting closer!
« Analyse…
“Distance – 1328 meters
At this point, I was really starting to panic: the discovery of this incredible vision had paralyzed me a little and I had lost time. At this rate, it was going to catch up with me in less than thirty seconds.
— Shit! I suddenly shouted as I ran down the hill.
The ship wasn't far away... fifty meters at most, and I crossed them in less than... I don't remember! I just remember rolling in front of the airlock, throwing myself in on all fours and closing everything. Behind me, the module was also re-entering the ship through some hold or other, all the while saying these words that still resonate in my head:
« Analyse…
“Distance – 498 meters
It was as if he were there! I ran up the stairs four at a time and threw myself into the main room of the ship, yelling at Gâ-Ïah to take off. I didn't even know if the ship was designed to withstand something like that. At that moment, in front of me, through the peripheral viewing sphere, I discovered up close this gigantic thing that was throwing itself at us, from the top of the hill.
« Analyse…
“Distance – 84 meters
"Take off
I saw a oozing mouth pass over the ship, opening onto a set of teeth like I had never even imagined existed. As we took off, the nag raised its head and with a leap, rushed towards us, letting out what sounded like the neigh of the Vendée Malet horse, this evil entity appearing in the middle of the night. The beast narrowly missed us… It must have jumped several dozen meters, at least! It was truly an infernal breed. How could nature have given birth to such an animal? Was it a game? An experiment? A pastime?
A cataclysm?
Still, sitting in front of the monitor, I watched the redemptive space that was beginning to envelop us, once again, in its protective, empty mantle. I was out of breath and sweating. Far away, on the surface of the globe, everything seemed calm, but I knew that an animal of gigantic conformation must still be panting, furious at having missed such easy prey.
...
"Report of Friday, September 10
« Phase 34
"We went down to take the temperature on Earth. It's hot and the low atmospheric pressure has allowed the appearance of particularly large animal species... I'll let you see for yourself in the recordings from the exploration module. I admit that I'm not very proud of it.
"On the side of our good old Earth, I have noticed significant changes in the continents. Moreover, the South Pole has risen considerably and so has the water level!
“Here you go… Next transmission in 47 million years! Good night!”
"Martin, end of transmission!"