by Ben Hammott
“Is there no way we can make it to your base camp when the others arrive and we've rescued Lucy?” Jack asked. “It's so near.”
“Not with that wind. We'd be blown off our feet and maybe even carried away. Also, the wind chill must be about minus seventy or more. Even with all our layers of warm weather clothing there's a chance we'd freeze to death long before we reached base camp, and you don't even have that.” Jane glanced around the cavern. “I'm afraid we're trapped down here until the blizzard is over, or it dies down enough for us to risk facing it.”
“Don't you have a Sno-Cat up above? Surely if we could reach it we can drive to your base camp before the cold froze us.”
“I agree. If the wind gusts, which have already blown one Sno-Cat into the rift, which you have first-hand experience of, died down, and if we managed to climb out of the ice rift without being blown away or smashed to our death against the ice, and if we managed to get the Sno-Cat started, and if the whiteout I believe is presently above our heads suddenly cleared so we could actually see which direction the base camp is without driving into the rift, or miss it all together, then, yes, there's a chance we could make it.”
Jack smiled weakly. “Okay, I get the point. For the moment we're stuck down here with the monsters.”
“At least we stand a slim chance against them. The weather that's presently up there is a killer.” Jane was famished. She crossed to the storage containers and searched through them until she found the sandwiches Pike had prepared for the team. She glanced over at Jack, who still gazed forlornly at the hole in the cavern roof. “Jack, do you want something to eat?”
Jack dragged his worried gaze from the opening and nodded. “I don't suppose there's a beer in there?” He joined Jane by the crates.
Jane pulled out a large thermos flask, unscrewed the lid and sniffed its contents. “No beer, but there's coffee, or hot chocolate if you prefer.”
“Coffee will be most welcome.”
They sat down, ate sandwiches and sipped hot coffee while they waited for their friends to arrive.
“I hope Lucy's okay,” said Jane.
“She should be fine as longs as she stays in the room. Maybe the Hunters have finished eating by now, so if the others aren't back in a minute, I'll go and get her.”
“I'm coming too,” said Jane, even though setting foot aboard the spaceship again was the last thing she wanted to do, she wouldn't abandon her friend.
*****
The Hunter howled when it sighted its prey and increased its speed to reach it.
Henry and Theo saw their chance to escape the monster, a grill in the vent floor. Theo crossed to the far side, pulled it open and urgently ordered Henry to drop through.
With the sound of the monster's devilish screech washing over him, Henry slipped through the opening and dropped to the floor. Theo raised his gaze at the loud scrape of claws on the metal tunnel. The monster appeared in his flashlight beam. Its slavering jaws eager to receive flesh dripped with anticipation. He cursed. It was too close for him to escape. He thrust the grill in front as a shield when the monster grabbed for him. It crashed into the grill. The force knocked him away from the opening. The monster tried to claw at him, but the grill that almost filled the width and height of the tunnel prevented it from doing so. Theo was pushed along the vent by the force of the monster's fervent attempts to grasp its meal.
Henry stared at the opening. The monster briefly appeared, then it was gone, and so was Theo. Powerless to do anything to help, he listened to their struggles. Theo shouted out panicked instructions. To save his friend, Henry rushed along the corridor.
*****
Though Richard’s view of the alien was only imagined, he could hear its raspy breath. He moved his head slightly to peer through gaps between the item-covered racks that blocked most of the creature from his sight and glimpsed parts of a pale ghostly form. Though he was scared and could see no way to survive this encounter with the alien monster blocking his only escape route, his strong sense of self-preservation kicked in. He dragged his unwilling body upright and moved along the rack until he stood at the end of the gap that stretched the length of the room. The monster stood between him and the only exit. All he had to do was get past the monster and he'd be free. He put a hand to his headlight, rested a finger on the on switch, and waited.
The monster sensed the human move. Dragging its ruined leg, it shambled through the doorway. Objects scattered by its feet skidded across the floor and crashed noisily into the metal racks. When the monster reached the end of the shelf, it paused, turned to face its prey and screeched like a nightmarish phantom.
In mingled horror and frightened anticipation as to the events about to unfold, Richard followed the progress of the ghostly form through gaps in the shelves. When the terrible vision lurched into view at the far end of the room and roared, he almost slunk back into the corner to hide from his fate. Plucking up the courage he desperately needed, he screamed what he thought was a terrifying war cry, switched on his head lamp and rushed at the monster.
It was hard to say which one of the two life-forms in the room were most surprised by this unexpected event. Though the Hunter's eyes widened slightly to register its surprise, the rest of its face failed to register any concern for the small, weak creature rushing to attack it.
The cowardly side of Richard, forced into action by his sense of self preservation, sent frantic messages to Richard's braver side to stop this foolhardy action that would only get him killed, and return to the far corner of the room and cower in fright. Richard's braver side ignored the warnings and forced him to relinquish its ownership of the valuable scanner.
Though reluctant to do so, Richard valued his life more. With all his strength behind it, he threw the scanner Frisbee style at the creature's head. When it left his hand, Richard stumbled on the objects littering the floor.
Without directing his gaze away from the creature rushing at it, the monster reached out a clawed hand and grabbed the makeshift missile from the air.
A screech of metal signalled Richard’s collision with the edge of the last rack in the row. It bent from the impact. The last two twisted fastenings holding it in place popped out. The rack toppled, taking Richard with it.
The monster dropped the scanner and made a mistake. Ravenously hungry, when its prey appeared so near, instead of grabbing for the falling metal shelves, it went for the food pressed against the far side. Its claws stretched through the gaps in the shelves and were about to grasp the flesh of its victim when the rack crashed into it, knocking it to the floor with a glancing blow to the head.
Richard dodged the clawed hands that groped for him, steadied himself and shoved a shoulder hard against the rack. While it fell, he bounded up the side. He glimpsed the monster's face through a gap between the shelves and smiled before diving through the space between the rack and the top of the doorway. He rolled as soon as his hands touched the floor, and in one fluid motion jumped to his feet and ran as fast as he could away from the room and the monster inside.
*****
Henry opened the door and rushed through as soon as the gap was wide enough. A short dash brought him to what he searched for, an intersection. He rushed to the right and stared at the grill in the ceiling too high for him to reach.
*****
The grill screeched on the sides of the vent as it and Theo were forced backward at speed by the frustrated monster unable to get at its food. Well aware that the grill was only thing protecting him from a gruesome, painful death, Theo gripped it so tightly his knuckles were white.
Hunger for the feast so close prevented the Hunter from working out that if it stopped and yanked the grill from its prey's grip, it would be able to feed.
Theo, though terrified by the sight of the monster he stared at through the gaps in the slatted grill, somehow held his panic in check. If Henry was successful there was still a chance he'd live through this latest nightmare. He twisted his head back to discover the
source of the sound behind him. Another Hunter appeared out of the shadows and quickly advanced with a devilish screech. It grinned menacingly with saliva drooling from expectant jaws and grew closer at an alarming speed. Theo's chances had run out. Death beckoned him.
Henry turned when the door back along the corridor rasped open. Footsteps approach the intersection. The fear that had gripped him swiftly receded when he spied the beam of light dancing erratically. Monsters don't have torches. Someone rushed into view.
“Richard!” Henry called out.
Richard slowed and glanced at Henry, equally surprised by the encounter.
“Quick, help me. We need to save Theo.”
Richard was confused by Henry's request; Theo was nowhere to be seen. He stared hesitantly at the frantic man while he considered his options. The engine room was close now, probably only about fifty yards along the corridor. He could reach it in no time and escape from the ship. Nevertheless, he thought it might be wiser to help the old man. “What do you want me to do?”
Henry pointed up at the vent grill. “I need you to lift me up so I can remove the grill. Theo's trapped inside.”
Richard positioned himself below the vent and cupped his hands. Henry placed a foot in them and stepped up. Groaning with the old man's weight, Richard hoisted Henry high enough to grab the vent. Henry pushed up the grill. Something slammed it back down. He glimpsed a pale form move across the vent― another monster after Theo. He wouldn't stand a chance. He punched the grill aside, grabbed the monster's rear leg and yanked it through the opening. Unable to support the struggling man's weight, Richard let go and stepped back. Henry dropped to the floor, dragging the monster with it. The Hunter's head smashed against the side of the vent opening before thudding to the floor between the two men. Richard, shocked to see the Hunter's sudden appearance, kicked out at its face. Every blow brought another screech from its teeth-filled mouth. The Hunter lashed out with a claw. Richard darted out of its reach. Henry attacked. He stamped on the monster's head, hoping he could repeat the same effect as he had on the last one. The monster twisted to face the new attacker. Claws reached out to slash and rip. Sharp claws ripped open Henry's leg from thigh to shin. He screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground. Another swipe ripped through his clothes and skin, so deep one of its claws snagged on a rib, pulling Henry atop the monster.
Theo dropped through the open and slammed the grill into place so forcefully it jammed. He fell onto Henry and the monster. An ice axe headed for his face. Theo screamed.
Richard, stunned by the monster's brutal attack against Henry and the amount of blood pouring from the man's life threatening wounds, turned to flee when he remembered he wasn't completely weaponless. He whipped off the rucksack and pulled out Eli's ice axe. He stepped forward and raised the axe above his head. He aimed for the Hunter's face. Before the axe had covered half the distance, Theo dropped atop Henry and the monster. The tip of the axe narrowly missed Theo's face when the man jerked his head to the side. The axe point entered one of the monster's eyes. It howled and bucked. Theo and Henry were thrown to the floor. Richard pulled out the axe with a gruesome slurp and struck another blow that smashed through the monster's teeth and tongue. A third blow entered its forehead. The monster's frantic throes pulled the axe from Richard's grasp. He backed away. The monster's movements grew weaker until it moved no more. Panting heavily, Richard slid down the wall to rest.
Theo rushed over to Henry. A quick examination of the man's wounds told him his friend wouldn't survive. He felt a hand grip his arm weakly and looked at Henry's pale face when he spoke.
“You are alive, my friend.” Henry's voice was weak.
Theo smiled. “Thanks to you, old man.”
Henry nods at the wounds he cannot see. “Is it bad?”
Theo nodded sadly.
Henry smiled weakly. “It's just as well. I'm too old for this adventurous lark.”
Henry and Theo glanced up at the vent. They'd forgotten about the other Hunter. Its claws appeared through the grill slats that still separated it from its meal. The bending metal screeched with its efforts to pull it free.
Henry pushed Theo away. “You must go before it gets through, or my sacrifice will have been in vain.”
“But I can't―”
“You must. Now go, quickly, you don't have much time.”
Richard climbed to his feet. “He's right, Theo. There's no saving Henry, but we can save ourselves. I'm leaving with or without you.” He turned away.
With tears misting his eyes, Theo looked at Henry, who grew weaker by the minute. Death wouldn't be long in coming.
“Go, Theo, please.”
Though reluctant to leave his dying friend, Theo backed away. “Goodbye, Henry.”
“Goodbye, my friend.”
Theo turned and fled.
Henry stared at the Hunter monster glaring back at him through the vent. It could smell his blood and it wanted a taste. The Hunter's attempts to free the slatted cover increased. Henry glanced around. His eyes came to a rest on the axe buried in the dead monster's head. He dragged his weak body painfully over to the corpse. The tortured screech of metal rang out. The grill dropped to the floor with a loud clatter.
Henry gripped the axe handle and wiggled it free. The monster dropped to the ground and roared. Gathering his last vestiges of strength, Henry swung the axe at the sound. The monster grabbed Henry's arm that held the weapon and twisted. A loud crack of bone accompanied Henry's pain-filled scream. The axe slipped to the floor. Henry faced the monster and stared into its evil, soulless eyes. The fiend's jaws opened. Its tongue slid across sharp teeth. Though he dreaded what was about to come, Henry smiled defiantly at the monster. Claws neared his face. He knew there would be pain. He almost welcomed it, because death would soon follow, and he would be frightened no more. At least the time it spent eating him would give his friends a chance to escape.
Driven by its primordial need to eat and kill twinned with an indomitable will to survive and its lack of any empathy, dispatching its prey quickly to spare it pain wasn't something the Hunter considered. It dragged one of its sharp talons from its prey's forehead down to its chin and bathed in the scent of fresh blood, red and thick, seeping from the cut. It leaned closer, ran its tongue along the blood trail and lapped it up. It licked its lips with a satisfied slurp. It wanted more, much more. It gripped a flap of skin and tore off a chunk.
Henry felt the pain and heard the scrape of claw upon bone, his bone. The creature's rough tongue scouring the sensitive cut brought a fresh wave of torment. The sound of ripping skin, his skin and the intense pain almost brought him the relief he desired, but unconsciousness abandoned him. He remained alert to witness his pain and death. He felt his warm life-giving blood run down his face and neck and saw the claw reach out for more. Death won't be long now. I'm coming, Martha.
Henry screamed.
When Death welcomed him into its fold, he was glad to be there.
Escape
JANE PULLED THE WALKIE-TALKIE from her pocket. “I'll try to reach base camp. Scott and Pike must be worried about us and, if I can reach them, I can let them know what we've found. They might be able to contact someone to get us some help once the storm dies down.”
“Good idea. I'm sure as soon as NASA finds out about the spaceship they'll move Heaven and Earth to get here.”
Jane smiled. “If they believe us, that is.”
“Good point. If you do get through, let them know Richard and I are here and to let those at Byrd Station know we're okay.”
“Will do.” Jane pressed the speak button. “Jane to Ice Rift base. Are you receiving me? Over.” She released the button and waited. Only static and shrill white noise replied. She tried again. “Jane to Ice Rift base. Are you receiving me? Over.”
The static continued.
Jack glanced up at the opening. “The storm must be blocking the signal.”
“And being below the ice doesn't help.” She looked up at th
e hole. “Reception might be better if I climbed up to the opening.”
“If you think it's safe, it's worth a try.”
They turned on hearing footsteps. Richard and Theo approached. Both looked like they had been in a battle and some of the blood on their clothes looked fresh. Theo walked with a slight limp and wore a sad expression. With the absence of Henry and Max, it was an indication something awful had happened. Richard smiled at them; he no longer looked smug.
“Where's Henry and Max,” Jane asked, fearing the answer would confirm her suspicions.
“Dead!” was Theo's reply.
“The monster's got them,” added Richard. He noticed the sandwiches, walked over and helped himself.
Jane laid a hand gently on Theo's shoulder. “I'm sorry, Theo.”
Theo glanced around the cavern. “Where's Lucy?”
Jane quickly explained that she was still on the ship and why they'd left her there.
“So we have to go back,” said Theo, not relishing setting foot on the monster infested spaceship again.
"Some of us do,” said Jack.
“Well, I'm not going,” said Richard, between mouthfuls.
Jane glared at him. “Now why doesn't that surprise me?”
Richard smiled.
She noticed Theo looking up at the hole. “The blizzard hasn't lessened any.”
“I was afraid of that,” said Theo, wearily. “So we're stuck down here, with them!”
“Until the blizzard passes or abates enough for us to risk facing it.” Jane held up the walkie-talkie. “I can't get a signal down here, so I'm going to climb up just below the hole to see if I can get through to Scott. Let him know what's happening and what we've found.”
Theo glanced at the rope dangling from the opening. “It might work, but be careful.”
Jane slipped on a harness, grimaced when the straps pressured chaffed skin caused by her earlier fall, and attached the rope.