The Nick Of Time (and other abrasions)
A Heart Full Of Dust
by
Al Bruno III
(Seventeen)
The bridge of the trawler was a tangle of wires and cables, lit by a single bare bulb. The cramped confines were filled with the acrid odor of smoke but Kurt had long ago gotten used to the smell. The trawler's speed and altitude was controlled by a series of switches, while the rudder was operated by an old-fashioned steering wheel. Kurt checked the radar and cursed to himself, there was a storm coming in from the starboard side, and it was a fuckin' big one too.
Figured didn't it? The first real lead they had on Ltolox's location and now they had to turn about because of a fuckin' storm.
He reached down to the pile of a dozen canteens at his feet, picked one up and unscrewed the lid. Empty He tossed it aside. Reaching back down to the pile he tried to keep his eyes focused on the radar screen. Now if he could just find one with water in it.
A sharp metallic clang filled the bridge.
“What the fuck was that?” Kurt straightened up and looked around, wondering what part of his precious trawler was broken now. He should have never let Surkotchi talk him into this- Fool or no Fool he'd worked too long on this baby to have it ruined.
He strained his ears, what was that whistling noise?
There was another metallic clang, like something heavy had landed on the deck.
Then another.
Then another.
“Oh fuck.” Kurt whispered to himself.
He looked to the radar, there was a giant silhouette passing over them. It had come out of nowhere. Its shape was dark and beetle-like.
There was another volley of clangs.
He heard gunfire from down below and Rhea cursing. Vagabond and Lily were shouting too. Kurt pulled the knife from his belt and lowered himself down the ladder to the deck.
The trawler was overrun with Myrmex, there were at least twenty of them. There was one just a few feet away, stooped over and getting ready to pounce. With a scream Kurt launched himself, leaping onto its back. The Myrmex reared up to its full height and whistled with surprise. It spun in place, Kurt struggling to hang on. The sky was darkening as the dust storm bore down on them. There was a second shadow shifting below to the west, the Myrmex swarm was slowly rounding for another pass. More gunfire filled the air, chaos erupted on the deck as his three passengers fought for their lives.
Kurt slashed at the Myrmex's throat as tendrils sprouted from its proboscis and ensnared his arm. They dug deep into his flesh and bone. Hot blood sprayed over his hands, slickening his fingers. The Myrmex spun wildly in place. Kurt lost his grip on its throat and fell. The knife clattered from his hand and bounced off the deck. Kurt stared at the severed tendrils dangling from his arm and screamed! The fucking thing had been trying to suck out his marrow! He concentrated and the flesh puckered around the wounds pushing the invading objects out.
The Myrmex turned on him, its wounded throat spurting. His arm was once again as good as new, now if he could just reach his other knife-
With a hoarse battle cry Vagabond flung himself at the wounded Myrmex knocking it off balance. It stumbled back, crashing through the railing. With a final squeal it was gone.
Vagabond looked after it panting, “Kurt are you-”
A pair of Myrmex jumped him, one grabbing a leg the other and arm. They began to pull. Vagabond screamed
And Kurt was content to just sit back and watch.
There was an explosion of gunfire, the first shot caught one of the Myrmex in the shoulder. A second shot tore the through its torso and buried itself in the leg of the other Myrmex. They squealed with pain and dropped Vagabond, he scrambled out of the way as Rhea advanced and emptied the clip into the two Myrmex. Lily ran to Vagabond and embraced him. “I definitely need a gun of my own.”
Kurt got to his feet and grunted, “Fuck.” The deck was littered with bullet-dead Myrmex.
One of the beasts at Rhea's feet was still moving, she pointed the Desert Eagle at it. The empty chamber clicked dryly. Kurt rushed up to it and stomped on its throat. It gurgled pathetically and died. He mopped his brow, “Finally out of ammunition eh?”
She closed her eyes and whispered, “Tanali renet yarinnesh.” Twin trails of blood ran from her nose, her eyes were tired and feverish.
“Not yet,” she whispered and spun on her heel to fire at the wounded Myrmex crawling up from below decks. It dropped back down below, “I thought you said you got that one.”
Vagabond blushed “I thought I had.”
“Maybe he was trying to cut a deal with it.” Kurt sneered.
Lily rounded on him, “Well maybe you should just-”
“Children…” Rhea said pointing to the west, “Let's save the bickering for later.”
The swarm was bearing down on them, scores of wings silently beating the air.
“Don't just stand there!” Rhea shouted, “Get us moving.”
Kurt rushed back up to the bridge and turned the trawler hard to port. His passengers scrambled to find something to hold on to and secretly he was disappointed that they weren't all pitched overboard.
No comments:
Post a Comment