CHAPTER 6
Dank and Dangerous
LUCY STOPPED AND shone the flashlight into each new passage of the crossroad junction she had just arrived at. The cables thinned out as they split off in two of the three alternate directions. It was as hot as hell in the passage, stuffy and claustrophobic; it was time for her to leave before the creature behind her caught up. The hatch her light rested on a few yards along the right-hand offshoot might provide the means for her to do so. She dragged her tired body around the corner to find out. The hatch’s rust-laden hinges squealed in protest when she pushed it open. Warm, humid air tinged with the decay of vegetation assaulted her when she shuffled forward and pierced the gloomy dank chamber with the flashlight. Though surprised by what the light picked out, she had seen too many strange things since setting foot aboard the spaceship to be more than a little shocked by its latest bizarre revelation. The dim glow that managed to penetrate the film of green grime covering the light cells running the length of the subterranean chamber highlighted a swampy vista. The gloom-shrouded scene wasn’t particularly inviting, but less so than being chewed upon by the alien creature creeping up behind her.
Swampy, algae-rich water lapped against the wall three-yards below; it would be a one-way ticket as she wouldn’t be able to climb back up. Ignoring as best she could the sounds of the approaching creature and the urge to leap down, Lucy did a quick recce of the area. Her flashlight probed the edges of the swamp for signs of the monsters she was certain must dwell in the dank habitat. Gnarled trees that wouldn’t look out of place in a spooky cemetery film set grew amongst black fingers of rock that arched over the swamp and ended in spear-like points. They had the impression of talons belonging to some immense creature hidden beneath the swamp and surrounding vegetation and if the truth be told, Lucy wouldn’t have been surprised if it turned out to be true. Anything seemed possible in this strange alien vessel. She then saw something that instilled hope that entering the swamp chamber might actually prove rewarding. A stone-effect bridge, that was obviously metal by the way its twisted form hung down at a sloping angle into the water, had once formed a high crossing from one end of the room to the other. Something had caused it to break, perhaps when the spaceship crash-landed on Earth. One end remained jutting out from the opposite wall, ending in midair. The other part of the collapsed bridge sloped up to an arch where steps led up into darkness. The escape pod had brought her far below the level of the engine room and the escape hole, so the rising stairs brought Lucy a little comfort they would take her back in the direction she needed to go.
She glanced at the gentle motion of the swamp water. It was further evidence the iceberg the spaceship was entombed in was adrift. She needed to find a way off the ship and the drifting ice before the sea claimed both. Though she had no idea how she would achieve that, or if any of her friends were still alive and trapped on the vessel, as far as she knew the engine room was her only means of escaping the ship. The rest she would worry about later. She also needed some cold weather gear. It would be suicide to climb out onto the ice dressed as she was, practically naked. It was another problem for later. First she had to make her way to the upper levels and avoid the creature in pursuit.
She gripped the open hatch door for support and dragged herself forward until she could hang from the edge and let go. As she dropped she wondered how deep the foul water was and if any creatures waited below the surface. When she splashed into the swamp up to her knees, her feet sunk into its muddy bottom a few inches. As ripples caused by her entry spread out across the thick, floating carpet of algae, Lucy scanned the swamp for signs of movement. A bubble of air plopped to the surface sixty-feet away. A second one emerged a little nearer. When the third one burst even closer, Lucy rushed for the nearest bank. The back of an amphibious creature, adorned with short, thin spikes, rose above the surface when it speeded up its charge. Lucy glanced behind. It had already covered half the distance. An eye on a long, thin stalk, that emitted a beam of blue light, rose out of the water like a submarine periscope and looked at her. Lucy spurted for the edge of the swamp; her feet slipping and sliding on the muddy bottom hampered her progress.
When others of its kind sensed a meal in the offering, six more amphibious horrors converged on the frantic splashing of possible prey.
As Lucy reached the edge, she glanced at the mass of eyes heading straight for her. She grabbed the tree root trailing into the water and climbed the steep bank. She collapsed to the ground at the top and looked down at the creatures that swam in a circle while their eyes constantly turned to keep her in their sight. Perhaps they waited to see if she would be foolish enough to re-enter their domain. If so, they were out of luck, as it wasn’t something she planned on doing.
The creature that had followed Lucy appeared at the vent opening, sniffed the air until it detected its prey and stared at her briefly before screeching and leaping into the swamp. It was obvious by its awkward half-walking, half-swimming movements that it wasn’t at home in this water-world.
The eyes poking above the water swiveled when something splashed into the swamp behind them. After observing it for a few moments, they headed for the creature and circled it like sharks. Then, as if a silent signal had transpired between them, the submerged creatures converged on their prey. Water splashed and surged as the creature fought for its life. Outnumbered and in its attackers’ natural habitat, it fought a battle it could never win and was dragged below the surface to be consumed.
Thankful the creature had been disposed of, Lucy sat for a few moments to rest. She was tired, hungry and thirsty, but assumed it would be a while before any of her cravings would be satisfied. A buzzing sound, similar to that of a mosquito, but louder, turned her head. A small creature covered in pale-grey skin and the size of a pigeon, hovered in the air a short distance away. Its two spindly praying mantis type arms ended in three digits, two shorter than the center one, which ended in a sucker. Its slightly thicker back legs were furnished with three hooked claws. Its tiny bald head was fronted by a face with two small, black, sunken eyes and a vertical mouth that gave it a permanent sad, angry expression.
Observing the strange thing it had happened across, the flying creature flittered from side to side by means of two whirring blades, similar to helicopter rotors, at the end of two arm-like appendages that grew from its shoulder blades.
Lucy watched it tilt its head while it examined her. Though worried by its presence, she didn’t experience the fear she would have from a larger ferocious creature. “You don’t seem so bad, but if you are sizing me up as a meal, I’d think again. I don’t want to hurt you, but attack me and I will.” Lucy kept her voice quiet and calm, a distraction from her hand inching towards the short branch she had spied nearby in the purple grass.
The Whirly Bug seemed to lose interest in her, as it emitted a shrill warble and flew away.
Lucy climbed to her feet gripping the short branch. Though probably inadequate against most of the alien monsters she might encounter, it felt good to have some type of weapon. Sensing she had lingered long enough, she moved through the patches of spindly trees and jagged rock formations. Luckily for her bare feet, the ground was covered in a purple, spongy grass-like growth. An increasing drone behind her spun her towards the sound. It seemed the lone Whirly Bug, having sized her up as too large or too strange a prey to tackle on its own, had returned with reinforcements.