Author’s note – For those of you who have never read any of the Journey Of St. Laurent before: You are now reading an online serial pulp novel. If you didn’t start at the beginning, you may want to do so. Chapter 1: Down By The Bay. In fact, if you are new to the site, you may want to start with the first novel, Oasis. If you want to know just as soon as I’ve posted something new, you can watch the RSS feed or follow me on Twitter.
Mal, Devin, DarcKnyt – It’s always nice to hear from you.
52: Whoops.
There was no way that Rhett heard London ask the question. Not clearly at least. Just the same, almost on queue, he gave his response by lurching forward. He marched straight for the open passageway.
He had enough presence of mind to hold onto his gun, but the stealthy, precise movements of a man with military experience disappeared. His massive frame plodded along with stiff motions that betrayed an abundance of pain – or perhaps a loss of control.
“Rhett, hold up.” I whispered as loudly as I dared.
He grunted back but didn’t slow down.
London looked over her shoulder at me. “What’s he doing?”
Now ahead of us, Rhett stepped into the yellow light and turned. Maybe he was too tired, too sick, or who knows what else but in turning right he tripped up on his own foot.
Down the big man crashed to the dirty mine floor. The clatter of his gun skidding away from him was as good as a burglar alarm.
A surprised alien voice yelled something that must have meant, “What was that?”
“Rhett!” London broke into a run.
I lowered my pistol. “London, wait.”
Rhett put his palms on the floor and pushed up.
London crossed into the light from the corridor, reached down with her left to grab Rhett’s thick arm. She grunted and pulled, but failed to yank him to his feet.
Rhett was too meaty to lift and he was moving too slow to get himself out of the way.
The light ahead brightened.
The aliens can’t be too far down there.
I almost reached to the edge of the intersection when London shouted, “Stay back!”
She stared forward and belted it like it was meant for the aliens ahead of her, but I knew the command was really directed to me.
Strategically, it was probably the right move. The big soldier and the redhead were completely exposed, and it seemed likely the aliens did not know I stood right around the corner. She wasn’t fast and strong enough to get that shotgun into action with only her right hand, and the second I jumped around the corner they’d probably react by filling all three of us full of laser-plasma-deathray holes.
Rhett dragged his knees under him and cursed.
A distinctly alien voice said, “Stop right there.”
Hearing an alien speak that clearly shook me up. Had I heard that happen before? The last few days seemed like such a hazy dream.
London kept her gaze forward. “Don’t come any closer. Just back away.”
Several alien voices laughed, most likely thinking her remarks were meant for them.
I crept away as silently as I could manage. I’m pretty sure the aliens would have still heard me if London hadn’t chosen that moment to loudly berate their parentage.
London’s noise made sure I had time to back way out of sight. I made a mental note to thank her later. Of course, that will require making sure I find her before its too late.
The aliens barked orders to Rhett and London.
I no longer had the angle where I could see what they did. From the noise I figured that London set her shotgun on the ground and slid it across the rough floor and then helped a grunting and cursing Rhett to his feet.
My friends’ shadows grew against the wall opposite the intersecting corridor.
They’re moving further down the hall, away from me.
London put on a good show about resisting. Rhett’s progressing infection debilitated him from doing anything quickly. Never once did either of them do or say anything that disclosed or even hinted at my existence.
Their shadows suddenly disappeared and alien light brightened again from the intersection. One of the aliens had been sent to check the hall.
I pressed my back against the wall and raised the pistol to eye level. My hand shook. At that range I’d need a miracle to score a head shot.
My trigger finger twitched on the side of my pistol.
I held my breath.
A green hand holding a spherical lantern appeared.
Please don’t see me. Please don’t see me.
I didn’t like the idea of shooting unless it became absolutely necessary. I tried to steady my shaking hand by pressing my arm even harder against the wall.
The alien took a single step into the hallway.
The little lantern it carried didn’t have the power to illuminate all that much of the black corridor, but it permitted me to see the alien just fine.
The alien turned first to the right, away from me.
I clenched my buttocks and let my finger slide down and gently rest on the trigger.
The alien turned and looked my direction.
I closed one eye to get the best possible sight picture with my gun.
If the alien saw me, he sure did a heck of a job keeping it to himself. Satisfied that Rhett and London were alone, the alien turned around and walked back out of my line of sight.
I let out my breath as slowly and quietly as possible. I couldn’t believe it. It didn’t see me.
Little by little the light from the alien’s lantern dimmed.
I lifted my finger from the trigger and lowered my arm. It’s eyes are probably too adjusted to having that lantern on. Careful not to make too much noise, I walked up to the intersection.
London’s voice sounded far away and echo-ey enough, so I took a peek around the corner.
I took a peek down the hall. The light wasn’t catching much detail, but about ten yards down and on the right was a double size entrance to a room. Much further ahead, was the group of aliens with my friends.
London and Rhett walked in front. Two aliens had the skinny long guns I had seen before. One alien carried a big brown box and had a lantern slung by a strap over its elbow. The final alien followed behind with a lantern, a shotgun, and an AR-15.
I padded toward the group and ducked into the open double size door.
They must have been in here when Rhett tripped.
I clicked on my flashlight for about a second. The room was about half full with cellophane-wrapped pallets of large cardboard boxes. A pallet to my left had been torn open.
What is in these? I shuffled in the dark over to it and clicked on the light again just long enough to read the printing on the side.
“MEAL, READY-TO-EAT, INDIVIDUAL.” And underneath that, “6 cases, 12 pcs. per case.” Finally, each box was also stamped in red with, “U.S. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.”
Just another reminder of how our government sold us out. Not only had they provided the aliens with a safe haven in which to produce an army, but they also fed that army. If the existence of the aliens hadn’t been made public, how long were they going to keep it up?
My stomach told me to tear into a box and pig out, but the rest of me said to get back in the corridor before I lost which way they marched my friends.
Keep reading! Chapter 53 is here.
