Lucy glanced at the flashlight beam that no longer seemed as bright and wondered how much longer the battery would last. Chills ran through her at the thought of wandering blind through the monster-infested darkness. Her head turned as she listened for telltale signs of creatures that might be in the room. Though she heard no growls, sinister breathing or scrape of claws, only the groans of the ship and the protesting creaks of its stressed metal, she sensed she was not alone. When the light she swept around the room failed to pick out the object of her concern, she steeled herself for the journey and headed across the room in search of an exit.
Her feet barely made a sound as burglar-like she crept around the pieces of machinery that lay dormant, but ready to spring to life if their function, whatever that might be, were required. Cables, which hung like the limbs of an alien creature waiting to grab her if she ventured near, were offered the impression of life when the flashlight beam moved over them. There were so many tubes, pipes, cables and organically shaped pieces of machinery, Lucy worried that she might fail to recognize a monster if it remained still and silent. Her journey past them was nerve-wracking as she studied everything for the slightest movement or sign of life.
She was so intent on looking ahead that she failed to see the cable snaking across the floor. She tripped and stumbled into a mass of black tentacles that entwined her in their cold embrace. Lucy screamed. The flashlight spilled from her hand and clattered to the floor. When the beam swept across the tentacles she fought to be free from, she saw what they really were―inanimate cables stretching from the floor to the ceiling. A nervous sigh escaped her lips as she began to untangle herself, but froze. Shrieks erupted from various parts of the room as Lucy’s fears came true; there were monsters in the room and they were on the move.
Lucy pressed her body deeper amongst the cables and tried to bring the spear up to defend herself if necessary, but it was caught in the cables. She was about to free it when something scraped on the floor nearby. She stared along the path that led between the machines where shadows and shapes converged. Something slightly lighter than the surrounding darkness stepped into view and turned its head to peer at the flashlight pointing off to the side. With sharp claws and teeth brandished for the kill, it approached the light cautiously. Lucy almost gasped in terror at the clawed foot that stepped into the beam of light. Her legs began to shake and thrummed on the cables. The monster’s head darted at the sound and stepped nearer. Though her terror remained, Lucy somehow forced her legs to be still. The monster halted close enough for her to reach out and touch. It reeked of promised death and ancient kills. Its head swayed from side to side as it attempted to pinpoint the area the sound had come from.
Another monster that stalked the cause of the scream crawled along the top of the machines and paused to stare at the light and another of its kind below.
Lucy’s monster stretched its head at the new arrival and snarled viciously. The two stared at each other for a moment before the new arrival took heed of the warning, lowered its subservient head and retreated.
A whimper escaped Lucy’s lips when the vicious face swung back and looked straight at her. She turned her head away when it poked its vicious snout between the cables and sniffed her face. Lucy moved her fear-filled eyes to stare at the monster that emanated the scent of malevolence and decay. Its lips curled into a savage grin that exposed rows of sharp teeth stained with the blood of its past victims.
“Please don’t let me die. Please don’t let me die. Please don’t let me die,” Lucy repeated, softly. Her breathing ragged with terror.
The monster snarled as its clawed hands reached out and parted the cables.
On the verge of panic, Lucy maneuvered the weapon around the cables. When it sprung free she gripped it with both hands and shoved it up into the creature’s neck. Blood―black, warm and thick―splashed her. The monster shrieked, filling Lucy’s mouth with its foul, predatory breath. Fighting the response to gag, she dodged the claw that swiped at her, yanked out the spear and repeatedly thrust it into its flesh. The monster stumbled back screeching in pain. Viscous blood oozed from its wounds. Multiple shrieks again filled the room when other hungry monsters detected the scent of blood in the air and came to claim their share.
Lucy emerged from her protective cover, grabbed the flashlight, dodged around the wounded monster and ran. As she careened around a corner she almost crashed into another of the monsters following the blood trail. She dived for the floor, rolled past and jumped to her feet. When the surprised monster turned, she thrust the sword into its side. It squealed in pain. Lucy ran.
A closed door up ahead appeared in the flashlight’s erratically dancing beam as she sprinted towards it. Lucy prayed it would open. She slapped the door control and let out a sigh of relief when it moved. She looked down at her feet when cold water surged around them and spun when shrieks rang out too close for comfort. Two monsters stepped onto the path leading to the door and stared at her. One moved its head, sniffed the air and turned away to face the monster she had stabbed in the side. The wounded creature that was now prey, backed away, but it was too slow to avoid the claw that slashed open its chest. Its attacker moved in for the kill and ripped out its throat.
The other monster glanced behind at the carnage and the enticing scent of fresh blood, but looked back at Lucy when she backed through the doorway. It growled menacingly as it rushed forward. Lucy nipped through the opening and pressed the close button. She aimed her weapon at the approaching monster and prepared to fend it off, but the door slid shut before it reached her. Lucy panted heavily as she caught her breath. The sound of trickling water turned her around and the flashlight highlighted the new hell she had stumbled into. Her scream echoed through the room.
CHAPTER 19
The Iceberg
JANE AND JACK had arrived in Antarctica the day before and had spent the night on the American container ship. The following morning, after they had been briefed and studied satellite images of the iceberg, the crack along its top and the entombed spaceship, it was time for a closer look at the icy behemoth.
John Devonport, their assigned pilot, and Lieutenant Christopher Northwood, the British soldier who would babysit them, greeted Jane and Jack when they arrived at the waiting helicopter and introduced themselves.
“Miss Harper, where do you want go first?” asked Devonport.
“I need to take a look at the edges of the iceberg so I can judge its condition.”
Devonport indicated the open rear passenger door of the helicopter. “Climb aboard, strap yourselves in, put on the headsets and we’ll be off.”
“I’d prefer to sit up front for the better view,” said Jane.
The pilot nodded. “Okay, I’m sure Lieutenant Northwood wouldn’t mind sitting in the back.”
Northwood nodded his consent.
Once they were all aboard, the pilot lifted the helicopter from the deck and headed for the drifting iceberg.
As the helicopter approached the iceberg, Jane and Jack stared down at the men busy on the ice ledge around the tunnel where a helicopter had just dropped off a forklift which headed for the tunnel they had flown through in Haax’s scout ship. It seemed to have happened ages ago instead of the few days that had passed.
Jack spoke into the mic of his headset they all wore. “I don’t envy those inside.”
Jane was in total agreement. “I wouldn’t set aboard that spaceship again if they offered me ten million.”
The ice cliff that formed this side of the iceberg filled the screen and slid by when the pilot turned and flew alongside. Jane scrutinized the ice for cracks or telltale signs of deterioration. The iceberg’s immense size worked against its stability and the bobbing action of the waves would place stress on any fractures or weaker points; these were what Jane searched for. The gigantic spaceship at its heart was an unknown variable and it was difficult to predict what adverse effect it would have on the iceberg’s stability.