Death World by B. V. Larson

Author:B. V. Larson [Larson, B. V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

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We pressed ahead, traveling in the direction we hoped Claver had gone. Soon, we came into a region full of a new variety of plant. We’d never seen the like of it before. Instead of ferns and massive trees, there were vines here, vines with heavy pods hanging from them. The pods dragged on the ground like ripe fruit.

Now, when I say there were vines, a person might mistakenly envision a sweet little beanstalk. Something a few meters high with bright green leaves. That’s not the kind of vine I’m talking about. First off, the leaves were crackling and brown as if they were dying. They were much bigger than any vine back on Earth, about ten meters high on average. The pods hanging from these vines were a dark, waxy green. Sort of like cucumbers, gargantuan cucumbers the size of SUVs that lay on the bare earth, growing fat and shiny.

“Don’t touch any of these things!” I ordered.

My squad didn’t need much encouragement in that department. They warily avoided contact with the scary-looking vegetation as we walked into the garden.

My admonishment turned out to be a good idea. There were spines on the pods, we learned as we got in among them. Red, hair-thin spines that glistened with some kind of clear liquid.

“I think we should roast this whole field,” Sargon said. “We’ve got some grenades and incendiary agents. If we light them up, they might all burn.”

“Might be a good idea,” I admitted, “but then again, they might all hatch and eat us instead.”

“I’ve got him!” Kivi said suddenly. “I’ve picked up Claver again!”

I trotted gingerly around a few spiny cucumbers to her position. “Show me.”

She did, and I experienced my first grim smile of the day. Claver was in the center of this vast field we were attempting to cross. He was at a central nodule, a nexus point where all these vines came together. He was walking around the spot, examining it carefully.

“What do you think he’s looking for?” I asked Kivi.

“I’ve got no idea,” she admitted.

Thinking hard for a second, I turned back to Sargon. “We’re going to try your idea.”

“Great!” he said, clapping his gauntlets together and digging in his pack. “I’ll set them up on a timer. Everyone give me all the phosphorous you’ve got, grenades too. We’ll retreat to the edge of the field long before—”

“No,” I said.

“No what?”

“We’re not retreating. We’re advancing. Set up the firebomb behind us. We’ll head for Claver’s position.”

“Are you sure about that, Vet?” Sargon asked. “You might burn us all alive. See these brown leaves? Notice the high oxygen levels? This will burn hot! Hell, even the breeze is heading toward the center of the field.”

“I know all that. We’ll move fast, and if Claver hides or doubles back on us again, there will be a fire right behind us he can’t escape. He’s not getting away again. If we don’t get him, the fire will.”

No one looked happy with my plan. Kivi walked up and put a hand on mine.

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