Sarcophagus: Their mistake wasn’t finding it, it was bringing it back!

by Ben Hammott

  The woman’s scream that came to an abrupt halt sped Coleman up the stairs. He aimed his weapon along the corridor lined with passenger cabins. He turned to Setsuko and Greyson when they caught up and pointed at one of the small numbered signs above each of the doors. “It’s in cabin seven.” He looked at Greyson. “How does the gold net affect the creature?”

  Greyson shrugged vaguely. “I’ve no idea, but the Maya used it to capture it once, so I assume it will do so again.”

  “If we can move to the door and hold the net over the entrance until we can secure it in place, will it stop the creature from getting out?”

  Greyson shrugged. “I’ve no idea, but it’s worth a try, as the net seemed to have stopped it escaping from the sarcophagus.”

  “This is what we’ll do. You and Setsuko hold the net and follow me. As soon as you are near enough, stretch the net across the entrance. If it works and keeps the monster contained in the cabin, I’ll shoot it.”

  “And if the net doesn’t work?” asked Setsuko, worried she would panic at seeing the monster a second time.

  “If it doesn’t kill me first, I’ll empty my gun into it and hope it’s enough to kill it.”

  Greyson handed Coleman his weapon. “You might need this one also.”

  Coleman slipped the weapon strap over a shoulder, and they silently moved to the open door of cabin seven. Coleman kept his rifle trained on the entrance while Greyson and Setsuko each held a side of the net.

  Coleman nodded to Greyson and Setsuko. They stretched out the net and rushed for the door. Holding it as high as they could, they placed it across the doorway.

  The monster turned with a lump of flesh dripping blood hanging from its jaws. The gruesome meat chunk dropped to the floor when it screeched at the sight of the net blocking its only exit, recalling it would suffer excruciating pain on contact with its flesh. A human stepped into view and aimed the weapon that spat hot lumps of pain at it. It leapt to the side as loud explosions rang out. Bullets pinged off the walls as they followed its erratic progress. It toppled from the top bunk when bullets tore into its side and crashed to the floor.

  Coleman watched in satisfaction the monster writhing and jerking with each bullet that entered its flesh. Unsure where its vital organs were, he spread them across its chest before moving to its head where he assumed its brain had to be. The monster fell still as the rifle clicked on an empty chamber. Coleman discarded the empty weapon, snatched the one from his shoulder and aimed it at the monster.

  When Coleman didn’t pull the trigger, Setsuko asked, “Did it work?” Her ears were ringing from the proximity of the gunfire.

  “I think so. It’s not moving.”

  Setsuko and Greyson peered around the edge of the doorway at the still form of the monster. Blood seeped from the wounds covering its body and pooled on the floor.

  “No creature could sustain that many hits and survive,” answered Coleman, confidently.

  Greyson turned away when he saw the half-eaten corpse of cabin seven’s female occupant. “All the same, this isn’t a normal creature, so until we’re certain it’s dead, we should find some way of keeping this net in place until we’ve worked out a way to dispose of it.”

  Coleman stared at the creature for signs of life, but saw none. “Better safe than sorry, I suppose, but why don’t we just drape the net over it.”

  “That would mean going in the room, and I don’t trust it. You’ve seen how quick it can move. If its faking death, it could be waiting for us to come nearer,” explained Greyson. “Only when we are certain it’s dead should we risk entering. We can then wrap it in the net, weigh it down with something and drop it into the ocean.”

  “You’re the expert,” conceded Coleman. “Setsuko, let me take your place while you go and find a hammer and nails so we can fix the net in place.”

  Coleman supported the net and Setsuko rushed off.

  Coleman studied the monster. “Am I right—you found this thing in a Maya temple?”

  “Buried beneath the temple, actually,” Greyson replied.

  “You should have left it there.”

  Greyson nodded. “With the benefit of hindsight, I would have. We never opened the sarcophagus, so we had no idea what it contained, but who could imagine there would be anything living inside”—he indicated the monster with a nod of his head—“let alone that monstrosity.”

  “I thought you said there were drawings on the wall depicting warriors capturing the monster with this net and sealing it in the sarcophagus?”

  “There was, but that all happened hundreds of years ago,” said Greyson. “I mean, really, who would have thought if it was something that actually happened, it would still be alive? If I had known, believe me, I would have left it well alone.”

  Hurried footsteps announced Setsuko’s return with the required tools. They pulled the door shut and nailed the net in place. To hide the golden net, they fixed a blanket over the top.

  “I’ll station a guard here when I’ve found out how many of the crew have survived,” said Coleman. “But first we need to inform the captain that we’ve killed the monster. He can then attempt to bring some sort of normality back to this vessel for the remainder of the voyage.”

  “Good luck with that,” said Greyson. “People have witnessed fellow passengers, friends and family members ripped to shreds and eaten. You really think they are going to forget that and sip tea and cocktails on the promenade?”

  “That’s not what I meant. Of course, they won’t forget, but they will learn to cope with it. That’s the thing about us humans, we’re a resilient species.”

  Greyson wondered how resilient humans would be with a hoard of these monsters running loose. He was glad there was only one.

  They headed toward the bridge to inform the captain about the monster.

  *****

  Some of the stress receded from Captain Magellan’s face after being informed of their successful mission. He looked at Coleman for confirmation. “So, it’s over?”

  Coleman nodded. “Yes sir.”

  The captain glanced at Setsuko and the archeologist. “Well done, you three. Though I still don’t fully understand what has happened here, we can go through the details later, we must now concentrate on our surviving passengers and bring some semblance of order back to the ship. God knows what the authorities are going to make of this when we reach port in two days.” He looked at Coleman. “But that’s something to worry about later. I suggest you three go and grab something to eat and then take a few hours rest. You look like you all need it.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” said Coleman. “It would be most welcome.”

  “I’ll make a ship wide announcement that the…um, creature has been killed and the danger is past. I plan to have tables and chairs set up in the bar as I don’t think our passengers will be keen to ever eat in the bloodstained dining room again. During dinner, I propose you, Coleman, along with Mr. Greyson, if he’s willing, dispose of the creature’s carcass as you deem appropriate.”

  “We plan to wrap it the net, cover it with a tarpaulin, tie weights to it and throw it overboard,” explained Greyson.

  “Excuse me, Captain,” said the chief purser, who had been lingering to one side. “Won’t the authorities want to see the thing responsible for so many deaths? I mean, well, if I was told an unknown species ran amok killing people and it was described to me, I’m not sure I would believe it without seeing the creature responsible with my own eyes.”

  Captain Magellan nodded. “You make a good point, Chief.” He turned to Coleman. “We can’t leave the creature’s carcass so close to where the passengers sleep, so take it to the hold and wrap it in something to stop the rats getting at it. The authorities can decide what to do with it when they’ve finished their investigations.”

  “I am not so sure that is a good idea, Captain,” argued Greyson. “No one has encountered a creature like this before. We have no idea what’s it’s capable of. It survived for h
undreds of years entombed in a stone box and changed from a small creature into one vastly more dangerous.”

  The captain looked at Greyson. “It bleeds, yes?”

  “It does, but…”

  “And Coleman fired umpteen bullets into it,” interrupted the captain.

  “Yes, but…”

  “And it’s dead?”

  “I admit, that seems to be the case,” Greyson relented, “but I still think getting it off the ship would be the wisest and safest thing to do.”

  “That may be, but it is not you that has to explain to the authorities what was responsible for the deaths of some of my passengers and crew. As my chief purser rightly said, no one is going to believe an ancient Maya god monster rose from the dead and went on a killing spree without seeing the thing responsible for themselves. The monster’s carcass will be taken to the hold and the authorities can decide what to do with it when their investigations have been completed.”

  “I understand that, Captain,” pushed Greyson. “However, I still think you are making a mistake. What if it’s not dead and starts killing again? At the moment it’s contained, and an ideal opportunity to dispose of it.”

  “I have made my decision and I am sticking to it.” Captain Magellan turned to Coleman. “Arrange for it to be taken to the cargo hold while the passengers are at dinner. To hopefully satisfy Greyson’s concerns, chain it up and have an armed guard keep an eye on it. If it shows any sign of movement, tell the guard not to hesitate to shoot it.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Coleman.

  As Coleman, Setsuko and Greyson exited the wheelhouse, the captain began his ship wide announcement that he hoped would calm his frightened passengers.

  *****

  Coleman and Greyson stood in the foyer as the last of the survivors entered the bar for the evening meal. When everyone was seated, Captain Magellan appeared on the small stage where singers, magicians and comedians had once entertained passengers before half of the ship had been reconfigured to carry cargo. The captain began his address by going over recent events and his sorrow and regret for those who had suffered and died.

  Coleman turned to Greyson. “It’s time we went and moved that creature into the hold.”

  “I understand the captain’s reason for not throwing it overboard, but I’m still not convinced it’s the safest thing to do given its history and survival powers,” said Greyson.

  “Maybe, maybe not, but if it’s dead it can’t do any more harm. We’ll cover it with the net, wrap it in a tarpaulin and a chain and store it in the cargo hold for the authorities.” He placed a hand on Greyson’s shoulder. “I’m sure it will be okay and I’m expecting a free invite to this exhibition of yours for all the trouble you’ve caused me.”

  Feeling responsible for unwittingly bringing the monster aboard, Greyson was wracked with guilt from the resulting suffering and deaths. “A free ticket is the least I can do.”

  As they approached the double doors opening on to the stairs leading down to the passenger cabins, they saw one hanging askew from a broken hinge. A sense of dread swept over the two men. They rushed through the doors and almost tripped over the claw-ripped body of the crewman tasked to guard the room, sprawled on the half-turn landing.

  Coleman knelt and checked for life signs. “Dead, but not for long as he’s still warm.”

  They cautiously descended the final flight of stairs and peered along the corridor. The splintered door of room seven lay on the floor and beneath it the golden net. A nervous glance in the cabin confirmed the creature had escaped.

  Greyson poked the net with a foot. “It crashed through the door without touching the net.”

  “Shit!” cursed Coleman. “We slipped up. But how could it be alive with so many bullets in it.”

  Greyson pointed at the cabin floor. “I’ve no idea, but your bullets are no longer in it.”

  Coleman stared at the scattered bullets deformed by their impacts with the monster’s flesh and bones. “What the hell is happening here?”

  “Like I said before, we’re not dealing with a normal creature.”

  Coleman glared at Greyson. “You can repeat that as many times as you want, but it ain’t helping.”

  Both men gazed back along the passage when screams filtered down from above. Both knew the cause. They rushed along the corridor and up the staircase.

  Captain Magellan bade the room to a minute’s silence in respect for the dead and bowed his head.

  Though the human weapons had failed to kill it, the effects of the creature’s regenerative metabolism repairing the extensive damage to its body and organs had taken their toll. The weakened creature climbed along the gantry above the stage and peered through the gap above the curtain at the gathered humans. Saliva dripped from its fangs in anticipation; there was more than enough food below to bring it back to full strength.

  The woman who sat at a table nearest the stage, studied the handsome captain appreciatively as she wondered if he was married. Recently widowed, she missed the companionship of her late husband and had elected to go traveling in the hope of finding a replacement. She smiled coyly at the captain. He would fit that bill nicely. Distracted by movement, she raised her gaze to the top of the curtain. Something moved within the shadows. When it appeared and started climbing headfirst down the curtain, her shrill, fear-filled scream drew the attention of everyone in the room.

  The bowed heads in the room jerked up when the piercing scream rang out. At first their eyes congregated on the screaming widow, but soon flicked to the menacing creature climbing down the stage curtains. The captain had lied to them. The monster wasn’t dead, but it had changed, more deadly and larger now. Screams, yells and the scraping of chairs filled the room as panic set in, and people tried to flee from the monster.

  The captain stared at the screaming woman in disbelief. Was she having a heart attack? He then gazed around the room as others began screaming and rushed for the exit in a mad panic. When something thumped to the stage behind him and a foul waft of decay like breath from a corpse invaded his nostrils, he spun and glimpsed the creature far too close for him to escape. He barely noticed the blur of movement from one of the monster’s front limbs, but he felt the excruciating pain when sharp talons scraped across his face and sent him reeling off the stage. He crashed into the widow’s table, breaking glass and dinnerware. The table toppled over on its side. The rising edge of the table struck the screaming woman under the chin, jerking her head back with an audible crack. She was dead before she struck the floor.

  The monster let out a long warbling growl that sent a fresh wave of terror coursing through the room. People pushed, pulled and knocked others aside in their haste to exit the room.

  The monster leapt off the stage. Claws, teeth and an insatiable appetite drove its frenzied attack through the room.

  *****

  Greyson and Coleman sprinted across the foyer as people flooded into it and peered through the blood-streaked glass wall into the lounge bar. The carnage that greeted them was almost impossible to comprehend. Torn and broken bodies were strewn around the lounge and barely a surface wasn’t covered in blood.

  Coleman noticed movement and gazed at the monster ripping flesh from a corpse. He pushed through the doors, raised his gun and fired. The first bullet tore a gash in the creature’s arm. The second missed when the creature’s lightning reflexes sent it flying to the side. It skidded on a tabletop, knocking glasses, cutlery and crockery to the floor, and bounded across the room. It snatched up a screaming wounded female in its jaws, jumped onto the stage and climbed up the curtain. Coleman sighted on the creature, but it disappeared before he could get off another shot.

  Coleman’s eyes had scanned the lounge for survivors and rushed over to help a man with a long gash down his leg to his feet and led him into the foyer.

  Greyson turned away from the carnage. It was no wonder the Maya wanted rid of the monster. “Doesn’t that thing ever stop killing and eating?”

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p; Coleman glanced around at the frightened survivors who had escaped the monster’s latest attack. “It does seem to have an insatiable appetite.”

  “I hate to ask, but what do we do now?”

  “I guess finding out who is left alive and warning everyone aboard who aren’t aware the monster is back should be our first step. We then find somewhere safe for the survivors to wait while we work out a plan to kill it.”

  Greyson looked at the gun that might drive the monster away, but couldn’t kill it. “Well, good luck with that. So far everything we’ve tried has failed.”

  “Well, I’m not giving up,” stated Coleman. “We’ll reach port soon. If it gets on land it could prove impossible to catch.”

  “I may have an idea. When I was in my room resting, I put together a plan to trap and kill the monster if it turned out it wasn’t already dead and somehow escaped from cabin seven. I’m not sure if it will be successful, but as I see it, anything is worth trying.”

  Coleman would try anything if it would end the monster’s killing spree. “Let’s head to the wheelhouse, warn the survivors over the ship’s radio, and then you can explain this plan of yours to me.”

  Greyson glanced guiltily into the corpse laden room as he followed Coleman over to the grand staircase. The monster proved that some things are better left undiscovered. He wished he had remained at his desk in London, and then perhaps none of this would have happened and these people would still be alive.

  *****

  It was the trail of blood that first alerted Coleman and Greyson that the monster had come this way. The half-eaten body of the unfortunate woman the monster had grabbed when it fled confirmed their fears.

  Coleman slowed and aimed his weapon at the smashed door of the wheelhouse. He took in the bloody body of the chief purser just inside the room and the blood-splattered control console beneath the large window that stretched the width of the bridge. Another body hung half in and half out of a smashed section of glass. He cautiously approached the door and scanned the interior. Two more half-eaten bodies were strewn around the room, but there was no sign of the monster. The door that led out onto a small walkway where steps led down to A-deck stood wide open.