Nightmare Planet by Donald S. Rowland

Author:Donald S. Rowland [Rowland, Donald S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Venture Press
Published: 2017-04-10T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER IX

Barlor took two security guards with him when he departed from the landing area in Denson’s shuttle. He waited for confirmation that the force-field had been closed behind him before moving away from the area, and then he sent the craft speeding over the brilliantly-sunlit ground at a height of fifty feet. He could see a group of the kangaroo-type animals in the distance — the ones that had fled from near the woods when the trouble started, and in the absence of the skilled experience of Professor Norvall, who had accompanied Denson, Barlor had a semantics transmuter to hand.

He brought the shuttle to a hovering position over the kangaroos and studied the animals. They appeared to take no notice of the shuttle, and Barlor glanced around at the two guards in the rear of the cabin. One was on the alert at the Ilor ray projector, the other watching from a viewport.

“I wouldn’t want to face one of those big animals with my bare hands,” one of the men commented.

“I plan to do just that,” Barlor said. ‘Tm going to set the ship down about twenty yards from the herd and then alight. You will close the hatch behind me and keep me covered. You can leave the screens down, but be ready to erect them at the first signs of trouble.”

“Captain, do you think that’s the safe way of handling it?” one of the two protested in respectful tones. “I think one of us should be out there to cover you.”

“Taking care of the ship is what counts,” Barlor retorted. “Just do like I say, and keep me in view at all times. If anything should happen to me then make a report of it. Now we’re going down.”

He swung the shuttle away from the kangaroos and set it down some twenty yards beyond the group. Checking his sidearm, he ensured it had its lowest setting. Then he slung the semantics equipment from one shoulder and motioned for a guard to take his place at the control seat.

“You know how to handle the ship,” he said. “If anything does go wrong for me then get back to the landing area. Now cut the shields and let me out of here.”

He alighted from the craft and stood upon firm ground, the bright green turf short and springy under his feet. When he looked at the herd of kangaroos he drew a swift breath, for they looked gigantic from ground level, at least fifteen feet tall and proportionately built. Some of them were sitting on their powerful haunches, staring at the ship, but others were grazing like sheep, cropping the grass, moving slowly as they fed, and the silence that filled the sunlight was heavy and brooding.

Barlor loosened the weapon in its holster and tightened his grip upon the semantics equipment, then clenched his teeth and started walking away from the security of the ship. He glanced back over his shoulder once and saw both guards watching him intently.

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