Starfall Muta by David Alan

Author:David, Alan [David, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Venture Press
Published: 2016-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

‘Pull forward the back of your seat,’ Ralip instructed as she switched off the power. There’s a storage space behind it. Get into it and remain silent until I come for you. I’ll go out and check what’s been happening.’

Clark obeyed quickly, and felt stifled as he got into the narrow space revealed by pulling forward the seat. He caught a glimpse of Ralip’s face as she pushed the back of the seat into place, and then all sounds were muffled as she left the craft.

He switched on the booster of the semantics transmuter and lifted the microphone in an attempt to pick up voices. A moment later he heard Ralip’s high pitched tones, and he knew the woman was nervous. Her voice came through the machine, and in English, and he listened intently.

‘I am honoured by a visit from Quartus!’ Ralip said.

‘Ralip, I have been waiting here more than an hour! Why have you left the farm today? After the raid last night you knew I would be here to ask questions.’

‘Your men were here at first light. I told them all I could.’ Ralip’s tones were lower now, as if she had made an effort to control her fear.

‘A dead Ogrin has been found close to this farm, between here and the jungle.’ The male Brutan’s voice was hard and thick, unsteady and guttural. ‘A number of Ogrins was killed last night by our forces, but this particular one died from the effect of an alien weapon, similar to the type used to destroy at least one of our patrol craft in the jungle. A number of aliens have landed on this planet and we are searching for them. Have you seen anything of strangers?’

‘Nothing at all, Ouartus! What do these aliens look like?’

‘Similar to us in appearance, but not of our size. They appear to be of a size between us and the Marscs.’

‘Are they dangerous?’

‘All aliens are classed as dangerous. We have more than enough trouble with the Ogrins and the Marscs, without the addition of intruders arriving. Two large space craft were destroyed as the snooper patrol picked them up. But from each of them a handful of aliens escaped. They have been in action against us, and it is obvious from the reports I’ve seen that the aliens are living with the Avics.’

‘I’ll call you if I see anyone around who looks suspicious,’ Ralip said. ‘What do you want to know about the Ogrin raid that happened last night?’

‘You were taken prisoner by an Ogrin, the one we found dead in mysterious circumstances. How do you account for the fact that he is dead and you are at liberty and unharmed?’

‘I cannot account for it. I was being carried by the Ogrin when he was killed. I was stunned in the fall, and when I regained my senses I returned here, waiting for daylight.’

‘Very well! But don’t take any chances. I suspect the aliens will attempt to reach the spaceport at Rini and try to escape in a spaceship.

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