Monster by A. Lee Martinez

Author:A. Lee Martinez [Martinez, A. Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 9780316049917
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2009-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

13

The hydra launched itself through the air like it was spring-loaded. Monster raised his forearm. Instead of sinking its two sets of fangs into his throat, it bit his arm. He would’ve been dead right that moment except for his immunity to venom. He didn’t even notice most poisons, but there was a slight burn in his veins from the hydra’s potent one. The fangs hurt a hell of a lot more. Monster flailed his arm, trying to shake the creature.

“Careful,” said Chester. “You don’t want to—”

One of the hydra’s heads lost its grip, and as Monster snapped his arm suddenly, the serpent’s second head popped off. The creature struck the wall hard and fell onto the carpet. It twitched a bit as two more heads sprouted from its missing neck, bringing the total to three.

Monster pulled the clinging head from his arm. “Crap, that stings.”

“You have to be careful with the heads,” said Chester. “The heads come off really easily.”

“Yeah, I know,” said Monster.

“Kind of like anole tails.”

“I know.”

The hydra was nearly through with its latest growth spurt. Monster closed his eyes.

“That won’t work,” said Chester. “Hydras hunt by smell.”

The hydra threw itself forward. Monster ducked aside, and it flew over his head and landed on the couch. He grabbed the first thing available, a hardbound coffee table book, and used it to smash the hydra. He struck it several times. The cushions put a bounce in each blow. The headless hydra lay across the couch.

It was only a temporary reprieve. The heads would grow back and the serpent would get bigger. The only thing that could be relied on to kill a hydra was fire. Monster ran into the kitchen.

The stove was electric. He didn’t have time to wait for the burner to warm up. He threw open the only door he saw in the kitchen. It was a pantry. Dead end.

“Chester, see if you can find some matches.”

Chester folded himself into a monkey and began opening drawers and cabinets with both hands and feet. The red serpent, now grown to the size of a Saint Bernard, slithered into view in the archway between the living room and kitchen. Venom dripped from their jaws, and for the first time Monster regretted his immunity to poison. Instead of receiving the mercifully quick death from the toxins, he was going to be torn apart.

The hydra’s new heads didn’t appear to be getting along very well for the moment. They snapped at their neighbors, keeping it distracted.

He could make a run for it, but the sudden obvious movement and noise would be sure to alert the creature. With six heads, the odds were that one would catch him. Or he could stand here, perfectly still, until it sniffed him out.

“How are those matches coming along?” he whispered.

“Not so good.” Chester opened a drawer. The hydra squeaked slightly, and one head turned toward the kitchen. It narrowed its nearsighted yellow eyes and flicked its tongue, tasting the air.

Monster, moving very slowly, removed a notepad and pen from his pocket.

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