Deathstalker 08 - Deathstalker Coda.html by Simon R. Green

Author:Simon R. Green [Green, Simon R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-01-29T06:41:24.993000+00:00

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Lewis guided the pinnace down into the nightmare jungles of Shandrakor, darting in and out of the higher treetops until he was finally able to land in the clearing that held the buried Deathstalker Standing. The air was hot and wet and sticky as Lewis and Jesamine stepped out of the ship and onto the dark spiky grass. Insects buzzed fiercely on the heavy air, and from all around came the roars and screams of life and death on Shandrakor, where every lifeform preyed on every other lifeform. Lewis looked carefully around him, keeping his hands near but not actually on his weapons. So far, nothing had entered the clearing. It looked pretty much as he remembered it, but with no signs of the extensive damage that had been done during the last attack of the Emperor's troops. The fast-growing jungle had already covered over the scars. Lewis couldn't even tell where the entrance to the Standing had been, before the castle's ancient computers blew it up, as one last service to Clan Deathstalker. Tall, wide-boled trees formed a guardian circle around the clearing, and shadows moved among them. Jesamine wiped at her perspiring face with a cloth.

"There is definitely such a thing as too much sunshine, darling. God, it's hot! And I really do hate this humidity. It does my skin no good at all. I just know I'm going to end up with another nasty heat rash." She looked about her. "Where are they? They must have heard us land. You know, Lewis, I have to say that this doesn't strike me as one of your better ideas."

"Do you want to abandon them too?"

"Well, not as such, sweetie, but… shock troops, yes. I can see that. But what about afterwards?"

"I gave my word as a Deathstalker."

Jesamine sighed. "Yes, dear, you did. Which was all very honorable. But you can't feel guilty about everything the Empire did in the name of your legendary ancestor."

"I can try to put things right. And I will. I have to. That's what being a Deathstalker means. Especially when you're the last one."

He broke off, as he and Jesamine both looked round sharply. And one by one the monsters left the tree line and ventured into the clearing, emerging into the light of day like horrid ghosts from the eternal shadows of the jungle. There were all kinds, large and small, every possible example of mixed natures and merged genes. They moved in slowly from every side, wrapped in spiked armor and twisted shapes, with too many legs and eyes, or not enough, in forms so vile and so affecting that Lewis and Jesamine had to fight to keep from looking away. She stood very close to him, almost moved to tears at the horrible shapes that had once been men and women. She still kept her hand near her gun. The monsters filled the clearing, pressing slowly forward from every side until suddenly, at some unseen, unheard signal they all stopped. One creature came forward, to confront Lewis and Jesamine.

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