Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 63

Gail squeezed the trigger. The shotgun roared, drowning out the thunder overhead. Gail staggered backward across the wet deck. The blast hit the monster in the chest, punching through the pale skin and spraying reddish-pink pulp all over the bulkhead behind it. The creature dropped the trident and stumbled forward, squealing in pain. The sound reminded Gail of a boiling tea kettle.

“Hit it again,” Novak shouted. “McCann, get the hell out of the way!”

McCann skittered away from the staggering beast. Gail braced her feet shoulder-width apart and fired again. The monster toppled over, convulsing on the deck. Blood and rainwater swirled around it. The stalks on its head waved weakly, and then went still. All five eyes stared sightlessly.

“Well, we know a chest shot works on them,” Novak said.

While he helped McCann to his feet, Gail inched forward. Keeping the monster covered with the shotgun, she prodded the corpse with her toe. The beast didn’t move.

“Nicely done,” Simon said.

Gail nodded, unable to speak. Her chest hurt. The shotgun’s kick had been worse than she’d imagined. She was certain that if she lifted up her shirt, she’d find a bruise.

“Caterina,” Novak asked, “how many more of these things are there?”

The frightened woman shrugged. Gail noticed that her color was returning and her eyes no longer seemed dazed. Perhaps the shock was passing. When she spoke, she no longer stammered and her tone seemed more confident.

“At least seven. Maybe more. I’m not sure. It all happened so fast and things got confusing.”

“How many of us are left? We’ve found Paris. Is there anybody else alive?”

Caterina nodded. “Morgan, Ben, Mylon and Tatiana.”

“What about Riffle?” McCann asked.

“Morgan tossed him overboard when you guys left.”

“Fuck these starfish men,” Novak growled. “I want Morgan.”

Caterina looked at each of them. “Where are Warren and Lynn?”

“They didn’t make it,” Novak said. “But this is Simon. We picked him up along the way. Simon, meet Caterina.”

The Black Lodge agent smiled. “A pleasure.”

“Simon’s a wizard,” McCann said, “but so far, the only thing we’ve seen him do is start a fire.”

“I have other talents,” Simon said.

“Then why didn’t you do something just now?” McCann bent over and retrieved his sword. “Why didn’t you wave a hand and turn this thing into a crab or something?”

Simon sighed. “It doesn’t work like that—at least, not with me. This creature is natural, rather than supernatural. It comes from the Great Deep, but it is not supernaturally produced. An exorcism wouldn’t work on it. There are spells that would have aided us, but by the time I would have finished preparing them, you’d have all been dead. And besides—the last thing you’d want me to turn that creature into is a crab. Obviously, you’ve never seen a Clicker.”

McCann frowned. “A what?”

“Never mind,” Simon replied. “Wrong level.”

“Let’s go,” Novak said. “We’ve got people to help, a ship to regain, and Morgan to kill.”

Simon picked up the fallen trident and tested its weight. “Lead on, Mr. Novak.”

Novak turned to Gail, and held up his knife. “Want to trade weapons?”

“No.”

“Then you’ve got point.”

“Shit.” Swallowing hard, Gail stepped through the hatch. Novak followed her, then Simon, McCann and Caterina.

“Morgan,” Novak whispered. “You’d better hope these things kill you before I do.