Northwood turned and fired a short burst at them. Blood sprayed from the side of one. It took a few more bounding strides before it tripped and rolled across the ice. Unable to fight their instinct to feed, two Hunters leaped on the corpse and ripped off chunks of warm flesh. Northwood aimed at the two feeding Hunters, easier targets now they were stationary, and fired a short burst at each. Both collapsed across the corpse they had been devouring. Wary of the loud weapon that turned in their direction the remaining two Hunters drifted away and ran in a wide arc towards the helicopter. They were trying to cut off the humans’ retreat.
The pilot, who had stepped out of the helicopter for a smoke, was busy observing the dark skies on the horizon growing speedily closer, and fretted that it would soon be upon them. When gunshots rang out, he at first credited them to distant thunder, but the second burst turned him around. He stared in the direction his passengers had headed to see if they were on their way back and glimpsed two dark shapes amongst the airborne ice and snow sweeping across the iceberg and three smaller shapes rushing towards him. He thought he detected shouts carried on the wind and peered at the three hazy shapes that had to be Jane, Jack and the lieutenant. The flashes of gunfire from one of them confirmed it, but who were the other two? As far as he was aware they were the only ones on the ice. He gazed at the two shapes in an attempt to bring form to their indistinct outlines. Was it the Russians?
When the two shapes came nearer he saw exactly what they were―monsters―and they would reach him before his passengers did. He climbed back though the rear door he had left open, threw himself in the pilot’s seat, and revved the idling engine while fastening the seat harness.
The Hunters fought their fear of the loud machine that had previously caused them to seek refuge in the ice crack, and focused on the food inside. When it began to rise into the air the lead Hunter jumped. It landed in the doorway and gripped the frame to stop from toppling out when the helicopter tilted.
The pilot fought the controls when the sudden extra weight tipped the machine off balance. He glanced back and physically trembled at the horrific monster that turned its evil head and snarled at him. Two gunshots rang out. The Hunter jerked and screeched when it toppled back through the doorway. The pilot, momentarily shocked, recovered when he turned back and realized the helicopter was heading for the ice. He quickly compensated, skimming a few inches across the surface before lifting the machine into the air. Shaking from the adrenaline rush, he glanced down at the ice. The lieutenant had his rifle raised and beside him Jack pointed and shouted, his words drowned out by the loud engine. No doubt they were pissed because he had abandoned them, but he would have been dead if he hadn’t. He would pick them up, but not until he knew where the other monstrosity was. His searching eyes swept the ice as he spun the helicopter, but he saw no sign of the second monster.
Something breathed behind him and sent a blast of warm putrid air over his neck. Fearing what he already knew was there, he slowly turned his head. The Hunter’s snarl seemed like a grin to the pilot. Its head darted forward and blood splashed the cockpit controls and canopy.
After Northwood had shot the Hunter clinging to the helicopter, Jane and Jack had watched the helicopter plummet. When it had swerved perilously close to the ice, they had thought it would crash, but at the last second it had lifted into the air. It had been enough time for the remaining Hunter to climb aboard. The pilot was unaware he had gained an extra passenger and though Jack had screamed a warning, his voice couldn’t compete with the helicopter’s deafening engine and went unheeded. Northwood was unable to get a clear shot at the Hunter as the helicopter had turned, putting it on the far side. They were helpless to do anything as the monster climbed inside. A few moments later the helicopter danced erratically and then headed straight for them.
Jane, Jack and Northwood ran out of its path.
The helicopter crashed and screeched along the ice until it struck a lump and rolled over. The rotors sheared off and flew through the air like missiles. The tail snapped free and was dragged across the ice by its spinning rotor. It cut a circular path in front of the three runners before running out of momentum.
Jack glanced behind at the sound of buckling metal and saw the body of the helicopter tumbling towards them. “Head right,” he shouted.
The three runners veered right. The rolling carcass of the helicopter missed them by inches. They halted and watched the helicopter come to a hesitant halt.
Jack rested his hands on his knees and panted heavily.
Jane, also panting heavily, lay on the ice to rest.
Northwood, the fittest of them all, breathed heavily but remained standing. “I’m going to check on the pilot.” He headed for the mangled wreck.
Jane sat up and looked at Jack. “No one could have survived that crash, could they?”
Jack shrugged. “It’s unlikely, but I’ve seen cars mangled almost beyond recognition and the drivers walked away with only a few scratches and bruises.”
Jane looked at the helicopter. “But if the pilot could survive, so could the Hunter.”
Jack gazed over at the wreck for signs of movement. Though he doubted there would be any survivors, there was always a slim chance. “Hey, Lieutenant, remember the monster,” Jack called out.
Northwood turned his head. “It’s not something I’m ever going to forget.”
Jack helped Jane to her feet and she glanced around at the desolate surroundings. “Now what do we do? We’re stuck on the ice with the damn monsters again.”
Jack smiled. “Maybe only those few Hunters got out, but if the helicopter’s radio isn’t damaged, we can call for help.”
Jane held his arm as they walked towards the crash. “That’s one of the things I like about you, Jack, you are forever the optimist.”
Jack smiled. “I’d be happy to hear the whole list if you…”
A crunching of metal cut short Jack’s reply.
The helicopter rocked as something moved about inside.
Northwood aimed his weapon at the wreckage while cautiously moving around to the cracked canopy.
“Maybe the pilot did survive,” said Jane, hopefully. “He was strapped in―the monster wasn’t.”
Northwood stared at the front of the helicopter. Blood, human or alien, covered much of the cracked transparent canopy and blocked his view of the interior. When he stepped nearer he glimpsed something moving within. It was nothing more than a shadow and revealed no details to whom or what it was. He stepped closer. There was a clear patch on the left side that would allow him to peer inside.
Jack and Jane halted a short distance away and apprehensively watched the soldier. Both sensed something was going to happen.
“This is a bad idea,” whispered Jack, reluctant to distract Northwood with a warning now he was so close to the crashed vehicle.
The cockpit windscreen erupted in a spray of transparent shards when something crashed through it and landed on the ice between Jane, Jack and Northwood. It was Devonport’s head.
The Hunter leaped from the helicopter wreckage, skidded towards Northwood and slashed at him with a claw, knocking the weapon from his grasp. Northwood tripped to the ground and stared at the horror that attacked him. Its head and skin was covered in cuts and one eye a mangled mess. The Hunter slashed savagely at Northwood’s face, neck and chest with raking claws, dishing out a death that was mercifully swift if not pain free.
Jack thrust the flashlight into Jane’s hands and snatched Northwood’s rifle from the ice, aimed it at the Hunter and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. He gave it a quick examination, but unfamiliar with the weapon, he failed to see the problem.