Chapter 312 (1/2)

So Jemma acted, because although this mysterious man filled her with increasing dread, she couldn’t deny that he lived the life that she desired. He was peaceful and calm all day, tending to the garden and cooking meals for the group. Whereas the monsters would pester others for food and special treatments, Jemma never saw any of the animals approach the man.

They didn’t dare. That was the only conclusion Jemma could come to.

Slowly, the man nodded, and beckoned Jemma closer. Abruptly, Jemma realized that they were within the group, and everyone was watching, and she had just volunteered for an activity that was being criticized. Even the monsters seemed interested, the 10 monsters in the inner circle (now that the crimson eagle arrived) opening one eye to regard her coolly.

But she couldn’t stop now. So, blushing furiously, Jemma walked carefully over to the man’s side. He offered her the basket, and Jemma took it with a grunt. Very quickly her eyes widened as her body, with a Strength she had raised to 19, became unable to support the basket. Huffing, Jemma did her best to control her fall to the ground, but almost instantly the man moved, his hand flashing into the basket. Abruptly, it was much lighter, and Jemma sighed with relief.

Still, it confirmed her opinion on the cook. His emerald eyes hinted at it, but he was definitely much more powerful than he let on.

What remained in the basket were 10 fruits, some long and skinny, others squat and fat. Some seemed almost like a large banana, while another was just a spiky ball that Jemma was slightly intimidated to touch.

“Are you just going to let this happen?” Kirk asked, his expression annoyed, as he turned to Lally.

The tired woman just shrugged, causing both Kirk and Heather to frown and regard Jemma and the cook with barely veiled fury.

In a very small voice, Jemma asked. “Which is for…?”

The 10 fruits seemed to glitter. Even Jemma could tell that they all were unordinary, even the spike ball. But the cook just smiled and shrugged, and pushed her forward. After a brief stumble, and a glance over her shoulder to confirm that the cook was coming with her, Jemma trotted up to the giant sheep, which was the least intimidating of the monsters.

Jemma hadn’t been close enough to see which fruit went to which animal, so she felt quite a lot of pressure to start. For a sheep…?

Very quickly she ruled out the spiky one, and the banana. Hesitantly, Jemma touched one that seemed unassuming, and immediately pulled her hand back. The fruit was warm, like the head of a child with a fever, which threw her for a loop. Not that one either, then…?

Finally, Jemma settled on a large fruit that seemed like an overripe peach the size of a basketball. She set down the basket and carefully removed the peach, and set it in front of the sheep, careful to suppress the trembling in her hands. The sheep didn’t seem to react at all, and instead closed its eyes, seeming to sleep.

For several seconds, she didn’t know what to do, but then she just picked up the basket and moved on. Next was the giant grey gorilla, and, feeling more confident now, she removed the banana and placed it in front of the gorilla.

The giant creature said nothing, but gave the cook a look that could only be described as aggrieved. The cook simply shrugged.

“Um…” Jemma squeaked, abruptly aware that the gorilla was 4 times the size of the man beside her, who was at least double her size. The trembling in her hands got worse. “Is there another one you’d prefer….?”

This time, the gorilla looked at the cook nervously. Still, the cook said nothing. Very delicately, as if afraid to set anyone off, the gorilla lowered its huge head until it was only a few centimeters above Jemma, who was holding the basket.

‘He’s going to eat me.’ The thought dominated her being, and drove out all other thoughts, even the thought to run. She was frozen there, before this monster.

But instead of biting, the gorilla sniffed. Then it blinked, leaned a little closer, and sniffed again.