Crustaceans Read online

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Porter smiled.

  “Saving your ass. Watch.”

  He lifted some eggs and crushed, feeling shell crack between his fingers.

  The giant crab went into frenzy, huge pincers banging on the ground, hard enough to make the train rattle on its track.

  “They protect their young. That’s their job. That’s what they do.

  The Menzies woman smiled.

  “Of course. I should have seen it earlier.

  She jumped down beside Porter and helped him haul pile after pile of the eggs onto the floor of the train.

  Porter climbed back into the carriage and helped the woman up.

  “Okay glory boy. Your turn. How do we trigger the napalm at a distance?

  Stark smiled.

  “That’s the fun bit. Wilkes… your pack. Time to leave a trail.”

  Wilkes took off his pack and punctured the tank with a knife. Napalm started to spill on the floor. Young crabs squirmed in the noxious fluid, and outside the giant slapped on the ground and started to advance, coming fast.

  “Okay. Time to see if this plan of yours will work. On three…run.

  45

  They ran along the length of the train, banging through doors and slapping hard against seats and poles all the way. Wilkes dragged his backpack behind them, leaving a long slick all the way up the train.

  Shona’s ribs felt like they were on fire.

  But it’s working.

  The huge crab’s attention was all on the eggs they had left in the napalm in the end carriage.

  Wilkes reached the end of the train first. He helped Shona down.

  “Get into the tunnel,” he shouted. “As far in as you can. It’s going to be a hell of a bang.”

  Porter and Shona headed for the tunnel. Shona was relieved to see there was no slime or eggs in this area. The only crab in sight was the remaining giant, hunched over the tube train as if it was a tasty morsel.

  They reached the tunnel mouth and turned back.

  She was just in time to see Stark send a burst of napalm into the train.

  Wilkes and Stark turned and ran.

  Flame shot all along the trail they had left, running the full length of the train in a heartbeat.

  The world went away in a yellow flash.

  46

  Porter woke in a world of pain. It felt worse than his worst hangover.

  No mean feat.

  But I’m alive.

  The world filled in around him slowly.

  He lay on a gurney, in a medical tent that might well be the same one he’d been in earlier. All around him people moved, a buzz of activity. But no matter how hard he listened, there was no gunfire. And no clacking.

  He sat up. He immediately wished he hadn’t as the world span, but it righted itself soon enough.

  “He’s awake,” someone said.

  He looked towards the voice.

  The young girl he’d saved earlier took a running jump into his arms and kissed him on the cheek.

  Suddenly he was smiling.

  “Nice plan,” a voice said beside him.

  The Menzies woman was at the next bed, standing over Stark who was once more being bandaged up. A cut ran down his cheek, and one arm showed the long streak of a blistered burn, but he too smiled as he looked over.

  “We made it,” Stark said. “Thanks to you.”

  “The crabs?”

  “Cleanup team hasn’t found any. They’ve been all through the tunnels and there’s no sign. The teams up in the city arte saying the same thing. I think we got them all.”

  “And Wilkes?”

  “Off looking for some beer.”

  “Now that is a good idea.”

  Stark reached out a hand. Porter leaned over and shook it.

  “We owe you one Mr Porter. Is there anything your government can do for you?”

  Porter didn’t even have to think about it.

  “Well…the crabs destroyed my cabin, I could do with getting it rebuilt. I kinda liked that old place.”

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