Metal Boxes - Trapped Outside (18 page)

Jay and Peebee stood up, stretching their necks to the sky, bellowing rage, and wonking madly. They flapped their wings, snapping and popping them, and their tail spikes beat a tattoo on the rocks around them. Dollish screeched in terror and curled into a ball. Jay put a protective hand on his head. Everyone looking at Jay’s hand on Dollish’s head could see she meant it as a calming gesture, everyone except Dollish, who fainted.

A marine shouted in the distance, “Armed defenders to the wall.” The shout was taken up by a dozen voices up and down the canyon. Men and women, healthy or not, grabbed weapons ranging from shoulder mounted rail guns to sharp-edged rocks and raced towards whatever defensive position they’d been assigned. Everyone seemed to know which way to run.

Stone bolted toward the rock wall protecting the canyon even before the call to arms. He was fast, though not as quick as he should be, his unfamiliar body was still giving him problems. Jay and Peebee bounded after him, dodging around people like water around rocks. Even with his head start, suited marines with nanite-enhanced muscles wrapped in the best combat suits the Emperor’s money could buy beat him easily to the wall. He was still a few yards away when Corporal Tuttle grabbed him around the waist with her good arm and jumped onto the wall’s parapet.

The walkway protected by the wall was designed for suited marines who stood taller than normal humans. The few high steps were filled with Numos, Allie, and high ranking NCOs all quickly deposited by marines bouncing their leaders into command position. Not having a step to stand on, Tuttle fixed the problem by keeping her arm wrapped around Stone’s waist and holding him up to see.

The canyon was just a notch, cut by water over the years in a small escarpment, rising no more than a few hundred feet above the forest floor. He couldn’t see anything along the rim above. The forest in front of him spread out as far as he could see, a wild patchwork of green and red with barely an open space. The only open space was a hundred yards between the canyon opening and the forest. Stumps and fallen trees littered the area. Numos must have cleared a buffer zone.

A whispered buzz tickled his ear and he looked up. A small torpedo-like drone flitted by, slipping into camouflage mode before passing over his head, to hover over the forest. He recognized it as one of Agent Ryte’s information drones. However, when it disappeared this time, he continued to see its shape. He could see through it like looking at a clear glass container. He could see the container and everything behind it. He looked over his shoulder, but couldn’t see Ryte anywhere.

Motion caught his eye in the jungle along the escarpment wall. A pair of humans were rushing toward them as fast as they could run. There was a clear, well-used path from a small break in the wall. The two kept looking over their shoulders, running for all they were worth along the uneven dirt path.

Stone shouted, pointing at the couple. “Someone go get those people.”

A pair of suited marines saw the couple and bounded over the wall. Grabbing the two, they bounced back. As they dropped the pair, Numos shouted at the two marines and pointed back over the wall. The two suited marines bounced again, disappearing into the forest. Stone caught glimpses of them as they jumped and bounced high enough to clear the treetops. They returned quickly, one carrying a woman trying desperately to close her medical corps utility uniform bottoms.

Tuttle’s faceplate was up. She chuckled. “Bad timing for Janice’s diarrhea to flare up again and get stuck down by the latrines. Wonder what all of the fuss is about?”

Stone didn’t wonder. He could see a long line of somethings crawling toward the escarpment. Behind the line he was row upon row of creatures moving silently through the brush. The line disappeared into the distance to the left and to the right. There were so many creatures in the swarm they could easily swamp the wall. Stone reached up and slapped Tuttle’s faceplate, never taking his eyes off the oncoming horde. She took the hint and closed up. Even through the suit, Stone could feel her tense up.

The line of creatures moved without the rustling of a dried leaf or a scent on the wind. They were crab-like with long spider legs and saucer-like bodies about the size of a midsized coffee table. One huge pincher waved in front of them as they advanced. The crab swarm followed the small stream leading them toward the canyon. Overtaking an unwary beetle-like creature, the swarm didn’t slow its relentless march toward the escarpment and canyon. A pincher snapped out, grabbed the beetle, and crunched it. Ripping a few pieces off, the crab shoved the gooey mess into an open maw on its underside. It stopped to feed on the rest, allowing a crab from the second line to step forward. A crab from the third line stepped into the vacant spot in the second line and so-on, a rippling move forward as the feeding crab dropped further and further back. All along the silently moving line, small forest creatures were being snapped up, killed, and fed upon. A ripple along the center of the crabs advance showed the creatures were shifting in line, moving toward the water to drink and then away again, giving their place for their crab buddies to drink.

The sour odor reached Stone’s nostrils again, the death scent was from the animals trapped and killed by the crabs. The crabs killed small and large animals alike. A massive gazelle larger than a suited marine was trapped when a pincher snapped closed around its leg before it realized the crabs were there. The gazelle fought back with long spiral horns, gouging, kicking, biting, even flipping a few crabs over, impaling them through their wide-open mouths, but the animal was eventually torn apart and devoured. The dead crabs were flipped upside down, legs pointing to the sky and passed back, row-by-row disappearing into the distance.

Tuttle dropped Stone to his feet. A massive gun appeared in her hand as if by magic.

Numos shouted. “Stone, what are those things? Can we turn them?”

Stone shouted back. “Sorry, Major. I’ve never seen them before.”

Numos said, “Weapons on the line. Prepare to fire on my command.”

Stone wondered where his rifle was. The TDO-960A was a slug thrower. It might stop the crabs and it might not. For all he knew it might just make them angry. The advancing line was already in firing range, yet everyone held their fire as commanded. If available, he would have asked the scientists, even xeno-biologist Triplett, if they knew what these things were and if they were as dangerous as they looked. He glanced behind him. Jay and Peebee stood at the base of the wall. They were pacing back and forth. He wasn’t sure if they were ready to attack or wanted to run away. He wasn’t sure he knew either.

“
Bad. Bad. Bad.”
Jay said. “
Something killing everything is coming this way
.”

Peebee shouted, “
Danger. Too much killing
.”

No one around them reacted, so he doubted if anyone could hear the drascos except him. He wondered if really being able to hear them meant he had to be crazy. He called to them. “Jay and Peebee, you stay here.” He scrambled up the rock wall and stuck his head over the top for a clear view.

Allie abandoned her step to a marine with an automatic six-barrel chain gun. She rushed over to climb the rock wall, standing next to Stone. Digging her toes into a rock crevice, she braced an arm on the top of the wall, pointing her handgun at the crabs. Stone heard her give a small grunt of pain as she twisted her back slightly while getting into a solid firing position.

A sharp crack broke the silence. An explosion chewed up a small patch of ground a few feet in front of the crab line. The spout of dirt was almost dead center on the wall where Stone stood. He glanced up at the noise. EMIS Agent Ryte stood on the corner where the escarpment met the canyon walls. Her small handgun pointed at the explosion. He wondered what kind of ammunition she had that could fit into a small handgun and cause such a big explosion. He could see her gesturing wildly at two suited marines. They must have been on overwatch on the canyon rim. The two marines grabbed a huge rock and threw it.

The rock smacked into the forest floor at the point of Ryte’s gun explosion. The rock sent a shower of dirt and sticks scattering in all directions. The line of crabs halted as one. Up and down the line, crabs twitched, shifted their spider-like legs, and snapped their pinchers at the air, but they didn’t move forward. The twitching spread like ripples back through the lines behind until it looked like rows of chorus dancers, moving out of sync.

The crab nearest the rock moved forward. It tapped the rock, squatted down until its saucer-like body almost touched the forest floor and then stretched up to the full height of its legs. It looked as if it was studying the rock, peering at its base, and then glancing at its top. It looked that way, but Stone couldn’t see any eyes on the creature. The crab squatted and stretched a few more times. One spider-like leg stretched forward and tapped the rock. Satisfied the rock was a rock, the crab climbed, danced, and twitched on the top.

In quick succession, Ryte fired another small explosive charge a few feet in front of the crab. A second rock followed, landing close to the explosion. The crab froze and spun in a circle, twitching a few times. Ryte blasted another hole to the right of her second shot and a third to the left, both closer to the protective wall. Rocks followed behind, crashing to the ground with a thump that vibrated up through the wall. No one spoke and no one with a weapon moved their trigger finger more than a fraction of an inch away from firing.

TWENTY-THREE

The crab on the rock squatted and stretched a few more times. The whole front line began squatting and stretching in sync with the crab on the rock. Then they moved, pivoting in neat precision, splitting into two groups, one swinging to the right and one swinging to the left. The close edge of both lines brushed the escarpment wall forming a perfect ninety-degree angle from the high rocks. It began moving forward again, this time away from their canyon.

Ryte’s miniature explosions, huge chunks of falling rocks, and a rapidly diminishing water supply must have convinced the crab swarm that their original course was too dangerous for such a small return. The stream, blocked by the wall built across the canyon’s opening, stopped all but a trickle of water. The crab leader must have determined it would be best to split into two columns, each looking for a new water supply to follow, a route that wasn’t subject to crushing rocks falling on them.

Stone watched for fifteen minutes before the last few rows appeared. Carried overhead were dead crabs being torn to pieces, their guts stripped away from their shells and fed to rows of smaller and smaller crabs, being herded by larger crabs. Large injured crabs at the rear limped along, apparently still useful to the swarm. Empty shells, spider-like legs, and cleaned bones of all sizes lay scattered behind the retreating crabs.

Just before the swarm split into two, it stopped with a couple of connected lines of junior sized crabs. They began their twitching dance again, copied by the smaller offspring. The column that split to the right reversed its course. The back rows melted together, stretching out. Crabs crawled over each other as the right columns scrabbled to regain their respective rows. Another half hour passed before the whole mass finally moved off to the left.

Stone glanced up at Ryte. She stood with her hands on her hips and a satisfied smile on her face. She wore a skin colored, skin tight outfit, giving her the appearance of standing naked in the sun with the wind blowing through her hair. She looked like an avenging god from Olympus minus sword or lightning bolt. Instead, she held her dataport reader, using it to guide her drone. She stuck up a hand and closed her fingers around the drone just as it popped back into normal visual range.

Stone imagined it looked like she called the small torpedo-like drone into existence with the wave of her hand, by magic. That was, anyone except him and he was having difficulty believing his senses. His sense of smell had gone berserk, overlaying bizarre scents where no odors belonged. He now heard noises from farther away than ever before, or rather, he could identify sounds and amplify or mute them at will. He wondered about his sense of taste. He didn’t know if it’d changed. He hadn’t eaten or tasted anything since he woke up. He was hungry and thirsty enough he would have to find something soon and that would be his taste test. His sense of touch was diminished, feeling the press of rocks on the wall as he clung to it, but without the sharpness of rock edges.

His sense of sight now enabled him to see something he shouldn’t have seen and to see it clearer than ever before. Staring at Ryte, he could see her hard nipples pressing against her skintight coveralls and see the tiny fine hairs on her neck, just below her ears, as the slight breeze blew her long hair back.

He would have continued staring at her, how could he not, but Allie sighed and spoke, “There’s a waterfall that way and a creek running back into the forest. I’ll bet my next two paychecks those critters are following the water, both for the water and for the hunting along the creek banks.”

Stone nodded, yanking his eyes away from Ryte. “I wonder what they would have done if neither line had found water before they split. Would they have split and become two groups or would they have merged and continued in one direction or the other.”

Allie shrugged, “Or decided to come back and continue along their original course despite the danger of explosions, falling rocks, and your new girlfriend.” She glared at Ryte.

Stone said, “I’m glad we aren’t going to have to find out. And she isn’t my girlfriend. You are.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

Stone wasn’t sure if she was talking about the crab swarm, Tammie Ryte, or herself.

Allie pointed at a couple of suited marines. “Get up on the rim and follow along behind those things for a while. Don’t get too close, but I want plenty of warning if they decide to turn back.” She turned back to Stone, without bothering to watch the two marines bounce up the canyon walls.

Stone wondered at her confidence. She was so sure in her leadership she trusted her followers to obey without bothering to verify their actions. He knew her well enough to know she would follow up later for a report, yet she trusted their willingness to obey and perform. He shook his head wondering if leadership confidence was a marine thing or if he could learn to do it, too.

He was surrounded by leaders of all types, both good and bad. He learned things from them all of the time, but when he tried to apply what he learned, he made mistakes. Both Grandpa and Thomas said it didn’t matter if he went left or right, just pick a direction and go. Still, he couldn’t help replaying his choice of abandoning their compound and going south. How many people died because he ran south? Would more have survived if he had run west or east? Could they have defended the compound?

“Excuse me, Ensign Stone?” A voice interrupted his thoughts.

He looked down from his perch on the wall. Dr. Wyznewski stood with a couple of scientists waiting for his attention. Triplett stood a few feet away, shunned and ignored by her fellow civilians. With a sigh, he climbed down the wall, followed by Allie and Tuttle.

“What can I do for you, Doctor Wyznewski?” he asked.

The man’s eyes twinkled, “Call me Whizzer.”

“Whizzer?” Stone grinned.

“Yeah, I’ve been called that by everyone except my parents since I was in the fifth grade.”

Stone nodded. “Whizzer it is. You can drop the ensign and just call me Stone. Everyone does.”

Whizzer smiled, “Everyone except your family and they call you Trey, right?”

“Then you know about my family?.”

Whizzer snorted, “Possum poop on a popsicle, Stone. Everyone knows who you are. Did you think your identity was a secret? I’m a scientist. Not a great one, but good enough to know it behooves me to know who I’m working for.”

“Fair enough. What can I do for you?”

Whizzer glanced at his fellow civilians. “Me and a couple of the boys would like to go outside the wall and scavenge along the trail left by those whatever they were.” It didn’t matter to him that half of his boys were female and all of them were past the boy and girl stage by fifty years.

Allie said, “Absolutely not. It’s still too dangerous. We’re tracking those creatures, but we don’t know if they will double back on us yet.” A couple of marines bolted over the low gap in the wall rushing off in the latrine’s direction. She signed with resignation. “Well, apparently the latrines are available again.”

Stone asked, “What’re you scavenging for, Whizzer?”

Whizzer looked startled, “Hell’s bells, Stone! We won’t know what we’re looking for until we find it. It’s all scientific curiosity.”

Stone gestured toward Triplett. “Are you taking her with you?”

Whizzer said, “Of course. She’s one of the best xeno-biologists in human space. Looking at strange creatures is her bailiwick. Whatever else she might be, she is an expert at non-Earth fauna. Look, Stone. I’m a geologist. I can barely tell the difference between a hare and a hedgehog. Doctor Triplett’s knowledge is invaluable. Believe me, none of us are interested in discussing her politics or her views on anything other than her scientific knowledge.”

Stone said, “We don’t have the manpower to send marines to protect you outside the wall. We’ll come help if you get in trouble, but out there you’re on your own.”

“Terms understood and accepted.” He turned and raced toward the barricade exit, bounding over the low wall at the gap with more youthful exuberance than his age would indicate. The other scientists followed. Triplett followed, slowly and sedately as if trying to hold on to what little dignity she imagined she still retained.

Unseen by any civilian, Private Tighe slipped over the wall in a spot away from the gap, climbing up and over with one hand quicker than Stone could have managed with two. The marines on watch ignored her. Stone and Allie saw her and neither commented.

Allie said, “Whizzer took off like he was afraid you’d change your mind.”

Stone said, “I might have. Letting civilians go without a protective detail is a stupid thing to do. You answered no to his question, remember?”

Allie nodded. “Yes, it’s a stupid thing to allow. So why?”

Stone shrugged, “They could die in here just as fast as out there. At least this way, they’ll get killed on their own terms. It’s their choice to go, not mine. I just didn’t tell them they couldn’t have a choice. They are grown-ups, right? And educated ones.”

Allie looked around and spotted a marine out of his combat suit. He had a bandage across one shoulder and was bracing his leg with a homemade crutch, “Evans, get up on the wall and keep an eye on those …” her voice dwindled away as a four-foot crab shell sailed over the wall, floating on air like a Frisbee on the wind. It looked more like the spun metal shield for a modern gladiator than an animal’s remains.

Whizzer came racing back through the wall gap, chasing after the crab shell. He managed to scoop it up just about the time it dug a divot into the rocky soil. He grabbed the shell by its edge, curled his arm, and with a mighty twist and grunt, flung the shell skyward. It fluttered a bit against the breeze and managed to sail over the wall and out of the canyon. The older scientist whooped with childlike enthusiasm and raced after his new toy.

Evans laughed. “Aye, aye, Lieutenant Vedrian. Babysitting overwatch duty.”

Allie said, “Just try not to let them get themselves killed, Marine.”

Stone slipped his hand around Allie’s and gave her a squeeze. “I know holding hands with someone higher up in the chain of command is against regulations, so if anyone asks, you’re just helping me keep steady on my feet after a long illness.”

“Screw regulations, Stone.”

Stone gave a poor imitation of a shocked look on his face, “Why Allie Vedrian! That is not a very marine thing to say.”

“Well, I don’t see we’re going to get out of this alive, so what do I care if someone knows I’m dating the governor?” She leaned over and kissed him.

Stone said, “Wait. I’m not so sure we’re dead here. I don’t see any way out, but that doesn’t mean we’re dead.”

Allie laughed, “I’m not saying I’m ready to give up, lie down, and die. I’m going to go kicking and screaming, fighting tooth and nail to the last breath. I’m just saying the odds are against both of us getting out alive. The last roll call is coming quicker than I planned, so after lunch, I plan on stripping you naked and performing a complete and thorough inspection, just like this.” She leaned over and kissed him soft and wet.

The odor of wet, dark chocolate swirled around his head. He wasn’t sure whether the odor was overpowering or if something else was making him dizzy, but he suddenly felt weak in the knees. “After lunch? Maybe we should—um, you know, before?”

“No, ‘um, you know’ comes after lunch.”

Stone asked, “Well, I am hungry. When’s lunch?”

Allie shook her head and waved Major Numos over. “That’s the problem, Ensign Stone. Lunch. We’ve tried sending hunting parties out, we’re only about half sure of what we can and can’t eat. Plus, our hunters are marines. We’re fighters, not scavengers.”

Numos added, “Dollish has been good about cooking whatever we bring back, but even having lost as many people as we have, it’s difficult finding enough food to go around.”

Allie nodded, “We have gone through all of the databases we can find on plants and animals, including yours and Commander Wright’s from your first stay here. We even pressed Doctor Triplett for more data on what animals were edible, however, she keeps saying she needs more time to study the animals before authorizing us to eat anything.”

Numos said, “Anything except the big male you killed back in the meadow and with as many of us as there are, it didn’t take us long to go through him. We did leave a lot of him behind when we departed for the safety of this canyon, but what we carried barely lasted a day.”

Stone shook his head, “So, no lunch?”

Numos said, “I was just about to send a hunting party out when you woke up. Good thing they didn’t go, they might have been caught in that crab mob. I wouldn’t have sent out suited marines and unarmored marines wouldn’t have stood a chance out there.”

Allie agreed, “I imagine our suits will hold up to their pinchers, but I wouldn’t want to be the marine to test the theory.”

Numos said, “No, and it’s only a guess we can out run them. We’ve only seen them marching and doing fancy parade ground maneuvers. We don’t know how fast they are, if and when they decide to move quickly.”

Stone shook his head again, “So, no lunch, really?”

Numos turned and ordered a group of suited marines to hunt on the plateau above the escarpment.

Stone shouted at them, “Do not hunt drascos. Anything else is fair game if it looks edible.” Each marine grabbed an unarmoured marine holding baskets and ropes. They rapidly scaled the canyon walls and disappeared over the rim.