Starvenger by Chris Turner

Author:Chris Turner [Turner, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Innersky Books
Published: 2019-05-26T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Mong’s men transported the amalgo to the farthest room at the end of the hall and set it in a prominent position against the back wall. It looked like a new-fangled electric radiator. Didn’t seem to require any mechanical tweaking either; the flat facing plates continued to radiate their infernal green glow. The plates were wide enough to fit three men striding abreast, no more. None of the others spoke as Mong remained deathly silent for a time. He stared off into space like a Sphinx. “Ever am I searching for their lost worlds,” he intoned. “I can use this device to find them. Maybe acquire more samples and apparatuses that will help me resurrect their hallowed race.”

A sick feeling grew in the pit of my stomach. For what purpose and at what cost?

Mong nodded to Hadruk who withdrew a light oxygen mask from his side pack. Then he tossed it to me. “Put it on.”

Mong inclined his head to Hadruk. “Give me gauze.”

Hadruk handed him a roll. Friend Mong tore off a strip, spat on it and tossed it at me. “Look after that hand, Rusco.”

Grumbling foul words, I wrapped the stuff around my left claw. Hadruk accelerated the process by forcing the mask’s straps around the back of my head with no gentle hands.

“Hey, watch it,” I warned.

“Shut up,” he grunted.

“As for what lies on the other end of this warphole—” Mong shrugged, held up a palm. “It is a gift, I give you, Jet Rusco, to be first to venture to an unknown realm. The first to explore a new world, a place of vast potential, or perhaps terror and eerie surprise. A crap shoot. Perfect for a hustler like yourself.”

I gave a mocking salute while managing a sick grin. “I know, Mongo, why risk your own balls when some expendable stooge can risk theirs?”

“On the contrary, Mr. Rusco, Balt will accompany you on this important mission.”

“Good ole Balt? Really? Is he up to it?”

Balt stammered, licked his lips. “Sir, I’m hardly the best choice for the mission. Hadruk is much more qualified—”

“No arguments, Balt. I have thought the matter through. Are you ready?”

“I must prepare my war gear, lord—”

I put on a sour face and pushed forth. “I must freshen up and take a few things with me, like some Black Dog ale and a pint of regen—”

Mong shoved me through with a vicious snarl. I staggered between the space enclosed by the parallel plates and was gone in a second.

Harsh, strident sounds buzzed in my ears as if bees swarmed me from all directions. The eerie plates lit in full amber and an electrical surge passed through my body, hitting me square in the temple. I gave a soundless cry. A white light practically blinded me as I was sucked across gulfs, whole universes, unfathomable distances, through black holes and out the other ends.

I fell an incalculable distance then landed with a thud on a hard surface. I felt disassociated from my body as if I had been atomized.

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