First Contact by C W Tickner

First Contact by C W Tickner

Author:C W Tickner [Tickner, C W]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Humanarium Publishing Ltd
Published: 2019-03-27T22:00:00+00:00


Chapter 19

They are hunting me. I’ve been hiding from search parties for two days. It’s an inconvenience, but not difficult. During my younger years I explored every nook and cranny on board and now find myself in the air ducts that surround the core.

Smoke filled Geck’s nostrils as he woke. His mouth was parched and gritty with what tasted like ash. He opened his eyes and found smoke drifting past. He was part way down the canyon wall on a steep slope and fire was sweeping along the rim as lightning plagued the sky. He closed his eyes to stop the stinging, then forced them open again as a loud “squip” sounded from somewhere out of sight.

He cursed loudly. He was wrapped up inside the moss as if being smuggled inside a roll of carpet with just his head poking out the end. Craning his head around, he could see up the slope to where he’d been standing at the top. A clear path of moss trailed down to his position, but the rest of the bank was a raging fire.

He tried to move his hands, but they were firmly clamped to his sides by the moss. The only hope was if the moss started to burn. If it caught, then perhaps it would unravel. But, if it burnt through the top and it didn’t let him go, then it would roll down in a heap and tumble him off the edge. His chances were nil.

What a fool he’d been running off from the only good thing since he woke on the ship. Claire. Through all the fighting, all the screw-ups, and all his hatred for the service, Claire had always there. And he’d just dropped her at the first disagreement and stumbled off to become a moss burger.

‘Squip?’

‘Get out of here, you silly bugger,’ Geck said to the creature.

It was still lurking out of sight and he felt like kicking out at it in frustration. It was probably about the only thing he could do in the situation.

There was a tearing sound near his calves and he thrashed around in a futile attempt to break free. Was the moss thing consuming him?

Suddenly, he could move his feet. He almost cheered. The sound of shredding continued until he could shift his knees. He twisted his head around to try and see what was happening. The puddle dragon popped its head up out of the moss near his legs and cocked it to one side so that it could peer at him with one eye.

‘Squip.’

The pesky little dragon was actually freeing him.

‘Good boy, or girl,’ he said quickly. Had he finally found a creature with intelligence on this planet?

It soon became apparent that there was an ulterior motive for the creature’s heroic actions, when there was a tugging on his utility suit’s waist pocket. A ripping sound confirmed it as the pesky thing tore open the tough fabric where Geck had stuffed his last chocolate bar.

‘I guess the rest is up to me then, you greedy little-’ A waft of smoke caught in his throat and he coughed.



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