The New World: Crimson Winter

by Andy Skrzynski

  After swinging her arm upward, Slasher flapped his magnificent wings. She stood and watched as the large bird grew smaller and smaller while he ascended. Stay out of trouble, my friend.

  She sighed and looked for her teacher. There she is. Let’s get this thing underway.

  Hoot pressed the switch on her headband. “Caru, our archers are ready. How about yours?”

  “We’re in position and ready to go.”

  Staring at the herd of sheep, she murmured. “Time to kill some snatchers.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Reapers Blacken the Sky

  Near the Sheep Herd

  Bartuk and his friends patiently waited their turn behind the cluster of sumacs. The sheep had finally quieted in a tight, compact group. He struggled to separate all the voices filtering through his headband. With everybody talking at once, he could barely understand the jumbled conversations.

  He stared through the Halo Glasses. “Looks like the archers and denamods are ready.”

  Tradulka smiled at Woody. “Let’s flush out those aliens!”

  After vigorously rubbing his dog’s back, Woody grabbed the prized mutt’s chops. “It’s time to make a lot of noise, Bullseye. Go, chase the sheep!”

  The Australian Shepherd yanked from his master’s hands and sprinted toward the herd. Barking all the way, he leapt high in the air and raced across the backs of the sheep.

  The younger rancher yelled. “That’s the way! Keep ‘em going!”

  The startled animals scattered and cried out in fear as Bullseye kept running in a wide circle along the perimeter. The baas of the terrified sheep echoed throughout the cliffs of the mountain range.

  Tradulka grinned. “That ought to get the snatchers drooling.”

  Bartuk shook his head. “Yep, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Visions of how swiftly the alien slaughtered his Jersey’s stabbed him like a knife. I’m not so sure we oughta antagonize those things.

  Alongside the Archers

  Caru stood next to her father and watched Bullseye chase the sheep in the distance. “I hope this works.”

  Thoruk lifted his chin toward the higher elevations of the mountain. “Me too, or we’ve wasted a lot of time.”

  Just as the leading edge of the cold front blew in, a sharp screech rained down from above. Caru jerked her head in the direction of the cry. “That’s Slasher! He must be on to something.”

  While the eagle circled the peaks, it let loose another shrill warning. She looked at her father. “We better get in position. You lead the reds, and I’ll take the greens. One of the Skalags is leading the yellows.”

  Thoruk peered into her eyes. “Be careful.” He gently pulled her head toward him and kissed her brow.

  Turning, he hurried toward the group at the end of the row of archers. She pressed a button on her headband. “Mercy, you guys ready? I think they’re coming.”

  “Yes, everything’s set. After hearing Slasher, Hoot’s as eager as a cougar stalking a goat. It shouldn’t be long.”

  Caru looked at the rocky slopes as large, moist snowflakes began to fall. She mumbled. “Come on, show yourselves.”

  With her eyes glued to the crest below the eagle’s flight, she tightened the laces of her lucky vest and flipped the coat collar over her ears. Slasher dove and climbed skyward, time and time again.

  The silhouette of a head popped up over the cliff, then another, and several more soon followed. Before Hoot’s pet could complete another sweep, more than 50 snatchers stood side by side along the ridge.

  Gleaning more details from the increased light, Caru spotted three of the largest aliens. They stood next to each other at the center of the line while the commotion of the sheep filled the air.

  The tallest, more-muscled of the six-legged monsters turned toward the left and blared a high-pitched roar. The alien at the end of the long line gingerly stepped forward and began to traverse through the rocky terrain down the slope.

  After continuing to snake its way near the bottom, more snatchers from both sides of the line followed its lead until all but the three largest had reached the base of the mountain. Again, they stood in formation but crouched as if ready to pounce.

  Large scales along their haunches vigorously vibrated until maddening chirps reverberated across the clearing. The sheep cried in panic, while their bleats echoed throughout the mountains.

  The eerie mix of noises scattered goosebumps across Caru’s body. When the commotion died down, the tallest snatcher at the top of the cliff blasted another roar.

  Taking its cue from the biggest leader again, the same scout crouched lower and patiently stepped forward, three legs at a time, in the direction of the sheep. Within seconds, it sped to a trot and soon started galloping. After spotting no resistance, the rest of the aliens joined the hunt.

  While the snatchers picked up speed, Bullseye went berserk, continually gnashing and barking at the approaching threat. Caru hollered to her archers. “Nock your arrows but wait for my signal.”

  As soon as the monsters closed within 500 yards of the sheep, she fired a flaming reaper. Whistling through the air, hundreds of arrows from both teams of archers blackened the sky.

  The snatchers slid to a halt and looked up. Confused, most tried to retreat, but the tainted arrowheads struck all but a few. A handful continued their charge toward the sheep while some fled toward the mountains.

  Lifeless heaps of copper-splattered flesh dotted the battlefield while some of the monsters convulsed and others writhed on the ground in agony. Within seconds, dazzling moletrans streamed from the sky and removed the injured.

  Caru seized two more reapers and fired at one of the attackers heading toward the herd, but the barbed missile fell short. She hollered. “Bartuk, some made it through, and they’re closing fast!”

  “We see them!”

  Turning her attention to a handful retreating toward the mountains, Caru grabbed two green reapers, set her aim, and let them fly. They struck the closest alien in the chest and ahead of the rump.

  It stumbled to the ground, agonizing. Within seconds its chest exploded in a spray of copper fluid, and a moment later, its hindquarter erupted. The monster collapsed in a steamy heap.

  Encouraged, she retrieved two more reapers and hit another snatcher with the same results. She scanned the battlefield.

  Most of the aliens nearest her green group experienced similar fates and remained lifeless. She glanced at the snatchers struck by the other teams. Most must have survived and had been scooped up by moletrans.

  Just as she was about to share the news, Hoot’s voice resonated through her headband. “Use the green reapers with the mystery stuff! It kills them dead!”

  Jubilant, Caru retorted. “We’re seeing the same thing. It’s as if their hearts are exploding.”

  Tiger’s elated voice broke through the background. “Blazes, I knew the nitric acid would work! I’ve got additional supplies near Ukkiville. The drones are on their way. You’ll have more HNO3 in no time at all.”

  Speedy chimed in. “You were right, Tiger. Salty and I have switched all the drones to missiles with nitric acid. Using these and the targeted lasers gives us a fighting chance.”

  A few minutes later, Bartuk’s cheers flew over the speakers. “We got ‘em all. They only killed one of our sheep.”

  While Caru and her friends savored a moment euphoria, the sun cast its orange rays over the mountainside and the field around them. As she soaked in the warmth, Slasher’s screech startled her. She scanned the slopes.

  Two of the snatchers had hightailed it up the cliffs. When they reached the top, the larger leaders mercilessly ripped them apart. Her heart tripped as she witnessed the slaughter. They don’t tolerate the weak.

  One of the Skalag archers yelled. “Look, to the north!”

  Caru whirled and glanced in that direction. Ominous black clouds unleashed a blizzard shrouding the mountainside with a white blanket. Things are about to get nasty
.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Copper Wave

  Among the Archers

  Hoot stared at the approaching storm. We’re about to get hit with another Arctic front.

  While zipping her new coat tight around her neck, she searched for the remaining snatchers. The taller of the aliens spun half-circle and lifted its trunk high as it blasted another ear-splitting roar.

  This time, its continual blare shot an icy chill through her soul. Hundreds of colorful moletrans lit up the sky over Erik the Red.

  She gulped. What are they up to now?

  Slasher’s terrifying screech gripped her. The eagle never let up, with one cry after another.

  Off in the distance and out of site, a clamor of clicks grew louder to a fevered pitch of ear-piercing chirps throughout the bluffs. An avalanche rumbled further north where the cold front raged.

  Clouds of snow billowed high above the ridge overhead as the deafening noise grew even louder. Shivers shot along Hoot’s spine while worried groans broke out among the archers behind her.

  With her eyes bulging, Mercy shook her head. “This looks bad — very bad.”

  Suddenly, Salty’s voice boomed through Hoot’s headband. “They’re coming — thousands — maybe more!”

  Her gut burned as she yelled to the archers. “Get ready. Lots of them are on the way!”

  Within seconds, hordes of snatchers galloped past the leaders on the cliff from both sides. The aliens quickly descended over the ridge and down the slope in one continuous wave.

  Breaking through an opening in the clouds, the sun cast its rays over the attackers. The bright glow reflected through their transparent hides like molten copper flowing down the mountainside.

  Hoot grabbed a couple of reapers and faced the archers. “Pick your targets and fire when they reach ground level.”

  A fear greater than ever swarmed her body. As frantic, unintelligible chatter of despair flooded the communication waves, Storm yelled. “Get a grip, everybody! We need to settle down and kill these things!”

  Though she knew her pa was right, doubt still forced its way into Hoot’s head. How in the world can we survive so many? She clenched her bow and nocked her reapers.

  Next to the Cages

  Zo’s grizzly-fur coat failed to ward off the chill permeating his body while his eyes remained glued to the attackers. The handful of clickers that swiftly slaughtered his denamods a few days before were nothing compared to the hordes descending the slopes. “Vra, is everything ready?”

  “The cages are in place, but with all those moletrans, who knows how many are headed our way.”

  “More than we can imagine, from the looks of it.” Zo’s gut churned as a vision of Caru’s face flashed before him. I hope she’ll be…. Before the thought escaped his mind, Kree’s agonizing expression during her death smashed the Uke’s image.

  He peered at Vra. “I’m not sure how this is going to end, but I hope you know I love you and Gno. You’re the world to me.”

  She socked him in the bicep. “Stop talking like that. We’re gonna get through this, you hear?”

  “Absolutely! We’ll do this together!”

  His sister stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I love you too.”

  Pointing toward the cages, Zo hollered. “Release the denamods!”

  The Pflugerville Office

  Fearing for his friends’ lives, Salty sat at the edge of his chair as he watched the terrifying view of the aliens traversing the mountain in mass. “Bertha, if you’re truly a friend, it’s time to show us what you’ve got. Unless your BAT brigade wants to face these aliens by yourselves, now is the time to stop the chatter. You and your AI friends need to use 100% of your capacity to help us fight these snatchers. Find me the coordinates of the controlling source that keeps transferring more aliens to Erik the Red.”

  “We’re on it, Sir!”

  “Perfect, now hustle yourself down near the base of the mountain and give those suckers everything you’ve got!”

  “Say no more!”

  Salty watched the action on his drop-down screen as the massive drone descended to the clearing and hovered in place.

  Hundreds of lasers streamed across the mountainside. Limp carcasses slid down the steep slope and over cliffs to their death.

  Salty yelled. “That’s the way, Bertie!”

  Speedy’s voice raced from the speakers. “I’m coming to help.”

  “Great! Take the high point and hit ‘em as they exit their caves.”

  “On my way!”

  Two more drone IDs appeared on Salty’s screen. “Ambush! Tiger! Help Bertha protect our friends on the ground.”

  Salty’s gigantic battleship slowly moved sideways along the foot of the mountains as it rained green beams and missiles with nitric acid upon the hordes of aliens. Bright copper fluid poured over and around the boulders as more snatchers collapsed in their tracks. While the slaughter continued, brilliant bluish-white columns filled Erik the Red and dropped hundreds of monsters along the slopes.

  Bertha’s friendly voice floated over the speakers next to Salty’s desk. “Reports are coming in from the BAT pack, Sir. Moletrans are picking up aliens from the Great Wall at similar rates to the fresh replacements being released here. There’s a 97.7% probability these new snatchers are being transferred directly from China.”

  “That’s not good. Let’s help our Chinese friends eliminate as many as possible before those monsters can be sent here. Inform them that paired lasers and nitric acid have been the most effective weapons to kill these things.”

  Speedy’s frantic voice interrupted. “It’s getting out of hand. Between the moletrans and never-ending flow from the caves, the aliens are coming at us faster than we can dispose of them. Salty, should I send the package?”

  “Negative, not yet. Keep your focus and kill as many as you can. Bertie, do you have the coordinates for the source of the transfers?”

  “No, Sir. The aliens’ communications are much different than ours. Every available AI, including China’s, is trying to decipher their methods. I’ll inform you as soon as I have the location.”

  Salty’s eyes remained fixed on the screen. With so many attackers, a few escaped Bertha’s scorching barrage of lasers and missiles.

  He yelled. “Everybody be aware. Some of the snatchers are getting past the front-line.”

  Hoot responded. “We see them. The archers are picking them off as many as we can. Teli and Skeeter are helping with their drones, and so is Gno.”

  Wrenching anxiety roiled Salty’s stomach as he leaned back in his chair. If they don’t stop coming at us, I don’t know how we’re going to hold them back.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Denamods Feast

  Near the Cages

  Zo stood next to his sister while the denamods raced from their prisons. The hungriest immediately streaked toward the greatest commotion and attractive source of food — the clickers. Their high-pitched chirps continued to resonate throughout the area.

  In search of warmth from the cold winds, the giant mosquito-wasps quickly swarmed toward the hot-bodied aliens. The sting-suckers dove in unison and landed on several of the monsters’ backs. While plunging their stingers into the spine of the clickers, the denamods pierced their necks with a long proboscis. They poached the copper fluids to warm their swelling abdomens.

  Moments later the hind legs of the victims grew limp as they struggled to continue forward. Though many sting-suckers sent their victims screeching in agony, the frigid weather quickly took its toll. Within seconds, the copper fluids inside the denamods’ reservoirs congealed, and the mosquito-wasps fell to the ground.

  Zo turned toward Vra. “I know you’re probably disappointed, but your sting-suckers did well. They fought till the bitter end.” He hugged her tight.

  A booming voice snapped his attention. “Hurry, hop on the deck.”

  He spun and found Storm extending his hand and calling to the helpers. “Come o
n, we’ll take you to the archers.”

  As Ukes and Skalags alike ran toward the armored vehicle, four denamods changed course and attacked a couple of warriors. With ease, the voracious buffalo-bears overtook the men and tore them apart before streams of lasers sliced through the creatures from above.

  Zo’s gut burned as he and the rest of the people jumped aboard the metal-plated vehicle. He grabbed his sister’s wrist and approached Storm. “Can you drop us off at the Quaker machine?” He pointed at his large metal contraption.

  The broad-shouldered man smiled. “You got it, and welcome to Terminator.”

  He looked at the new passengers. “Hang on everybody!”

  With a wink, he ducked down the hole and closed the hatch. The engine whined, and the armored vehicle slowly picked up speed.

  Shaken by the death of two of his clansmen, Zo sat next to Vra on top of the cold deck and lowered his head. Shoulda done more planning.

  He lifted his blurry gaze to the action across the mountainside. As a large flock of Arctic fox-owls soared high, their white bodies disappeared like ghosts against the background of the snow-capped peaks. A few seconds later, their silhouettes appeared once again while diving toward their prey.

  He clenched his teeth. Kill those clickers!

  The fox jaws of a fierce raptor gnashed incessantly as it closed from above. Preparing to strike, the owl’s body extended its talons wide. The denamod swooped an alien and swiped its back. The unearthly monster’s terrifying chirps pierced the air as it darted for cover.

  Flying in a wide circle, the fox-owl returned for another strike. As it neared its target, two clickers leapt from boulders and grabbed each wing. Yelping, the denamod struggled while the aliens tore the limbs from its body.

  Vra yelled. “Look over there.” A tiger-gorilla clutched a smaller clicker by the throat. As it struggled in the wildcat’s jaws, a larger alien grabbed the denamod by the neck with its forelegs and slashed its chest with the serrated blade of its trunk.