“What do you think, Captain, do we go up?”
Brusilov glanced at Sergei. “We do. Everyone in…” An ominous rasp of metal cut short his order.
They all turned towards the sound and peered at the door that opened.
“Looks like we won’t have to climb after all,” said Sergei, happily.
Nikolay and Mikhail moved to the doorway and peered through into the corridor. Though dark and unwelcoming, it was for as far as they could see, free from any blockage or monsters.
Nikolay looked back at the Captain. “It seems clear.”
“Then we’ll take it.” Brusilov headed for the door and led his men along the corridor.
As Richard neared the bottom of the treacherous pile of scrap, he paused on sighting an orange glow filtering into the darkness below. Though unsure of its cause, it gave him something to head for. Light was welcoming in this world of dark shadows and the monsters that dwelled among them. He shot a glance at Talbot a few feet away and then shifted his gaze to the Insectoids moving across the mishmash of jumbled metal forms as agile as any mountain goat; they would soon be upon them. When the wreckage shifted again and sent loose sections of metal and pieces of ripped off train sliding down the pile, the two men kept climbing.
A thick metal beam, previously hanging by a thread of sheared and twisted metal, fell from the upper room. It smashed into the carriage balanced precariously against the wall and sent it sliding into the hole. It crumpled loudly when it collided with the carriage lying at an angle on top of the wreckage mountain and screeched down its length before smashing into the carriage Richard and Talbot had recently vacated. It slid to the side and rolled down towards the two men. Unable to tolerate the additional strain, the floor supporting the massive weight of the train wreck and collapsed levels succumbed to the pressure and dropped away.
Though the terrible screams of tormented, shifting metal alerted them to the fresh danger, it was impossible for the two men climbing down the collapsing wreckage to move any faster. Every foot and handhold had to be carefully picked to avoid the many razor-sharp edges and unstable supports. They both clung to a thick metal beam as they rode the wave of shifting debris.
“Look out!” shouted Talbot.
Richard spun his head at the warning and saw the carriage rolling towards them. The creatures in its path jumped onto it and over to the far side to avoid being crushed, an acrobatic feat Richard and Talbot were incapable of doing.
His face a mask of alarm, Talbot raised his weapon and glanced at Richard. “The windows!”
Richard stared at the tumbling train anxiously. Its windows already covered in cracks, exploded when Talbot sprayed them with bullets.
Talbot climbed to his feet and glanced at Richard. “Get ready.”
Though Richard doubted he would ever be ready for what was coming, he stood on shaking legs and watched the tumbling train bounce and slide nearer.
“Now!” Talbot ran up the metal beam and dived through a window.
Mumbling a prayer to a god he believed had stopped listening to his pleas long ago, Richard copied Talbot and dived into the train.
They slid across the floor and grabbed at a seat leg when the carriage rolled over. The men hung from the seat supports and then slammed into the side as the carriage continued tumbling until it came to an abrupt halt when it collided with the wall below. The force tore Richard’s hands from the metal leg and shot him through the window he had entered a few moments before. His shoulder struck the wall and he slid to the ground. As the carriage rocked, Talbot released his hold and slid to the side. Click-clacks on the carriage reminded him of the pursuing creatures. He glanced up when they moved across the cracked windows above him that splintered with their weight, increasing the length of the many cracks. Talbot climbed out as an Insectoid fell through. Glass tinkled to the ground around the Insectoid as it moved after its prey.
Talbot grabbed Richard’s arm, yanked him to his feet and dragged him through the triangle gap left by the train leaning against the wall. More creatures entered the carriage while others ran along the roof. One leaped at the two men. Talbot poked the rifle at it and pulled the trigger. The creature’s head exploded, showering him with blood. The dead creature slammed into Richard’s back, sending him screaming to the ground.
A swift kick from Talbot’s boot sent the Insectoid’s corpse flying. “Get up, there’s more coming.” Looking past Richard, he spied the orange light seeping through grimy glass. If there were windows, there might be a door.
As they fled, another section of floor gave way. The carriage tilted away from the wall and dropped into the hole with a loud crash. Some of the creatures still onboard jumped off; others not quick enough rode it down. Richard shoulder-barged the one that landed beside him and rose up on its rear spindly legs, knocking it into the hole and almost followed it down before he regained his balance. Another Insectoid a foot away snarled at him. Richard stamped on one of its legs, snapping it with a loud, satisfying crack. The creature screeched in pain. Richard followed through with a kick to its head. As the creature toppled back, Richard dodged past and ran.
Talbot shot two more Insectoids, killing one and wounding the other. When he leaped over the wounded creature writhing on the ground, it snapped at him; he slammed the rifle butt at its head, breaking its jaw. He landed awkwardly and almost tripped over the Insectoid Richard had injured. It lunged at him, but a bullet ended its attack.
Three Insectoids that had been dragged into the hole by the falling carriage appeared over the edge. Talbot kicked one back into the hole as the other two leaped at him. A scream rang out. One of the creatures splattered against the wall. Talbot clubbed the other with the rifle. It dropped to the floor, landing half over the edge. As it scrambled back up, Talbot stamped on its head. Its hard head-shell split. Blood and brain seeped from the cracks.
Talbot glanced up at Richard, who panted heavily, a metal bar in his hand dripping Insectoid blood. Talbot nodded. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, and so is the light and rifle.” Richard smiled and turned around.
The remaining Insectoids rushed after the fleeing men.
Bathed in orange glow, the two men peered through the windows when they passed. Their gazes picked out a row of transparent containers along one wall that emitted the light. Inside each were dark, indistinct forms.
Richard almost wept in relief when he saw the open door a short distance beyond the windows. He halted outside and looked back when a shot rang out. Talbot had killed another Insectoid, but more scurried down the still falling wreckage and along the floor in pursuit. It would be close; they were fast little buggers. He nipped inside the room and held a hand over the door control. As soon as Talbot’s form filled the doorway, he pressed the button. Nothing happened. Two more frantic thumps produced the same lack of action. He groaned. The spaceship was toying with them again.
Talbot’s eyes scanned the room. Two strides brought him to a metal table. He gripped an end and dragged it towards the door. The objects on top vibrated and rolled off, some fragile items smashing on contact with the floor. Insectoids, their almost primordial features highlighted in the orange glow, scampered past the windows. Richard rushed over and grabbed the other end of the table. Together they upended it and shoved it over the opening just as the creatures arrived. The table rocked when they crashed into it.