Chapter 4
Finally, units arrived at the market, but it was no longer there. It was a massive field of debris. Police were on hand to keep on-lookers back, but there weren't many, thanks to Jess' spill story.
The news media was a problem, they would brave dangers for a story, so Lester resulted to threats. Baffling to their reporters, to be sure, but all the news agencies called their reporters back.
Lester grimaced. He didn't want to deal with the media. He had more important problems: saving four men. Hopefully there were still four to save.
"Captain, how is Vale?" he asked.
"Holding steady. He's bleeding. We can't stop it. There's no water or light. We're blind and helpless."
"We'll hold out though," said Morton.
"You bet," said Thompson.
Becker chuckled. "You heard my men, Lester. We're waiting, come and get us."
Lester smiled. "Right away. Matt's on his way now, so is Carlson. He has an idea. Becker, do you think the wreckage could withstand an explosion?"
There was a pause. Jess was frantic. She had heard the idea Carlson had quickly put to Lester, and she hated it.
"Do what you have to do, sir," came Becker's reply.
"The creatures are heavily fortified with layers of bone. Nothing will pierce it in Carly's opinion," said Lester. Jess noted his use of Carlson's nickname.
"So," said Becker. "He wants to blow them up."
"May be the only way. Carly wants to rig a small, controlled charge right by the beasts, confining the blast to the damaged area. Unfortunately that market was in the heart of the city. We have to take great care."
"Understood, sir. If Carly thinks its the only way, then it is. Do it," said Becker.
Jess closed her eyes, silently crying. Would the pile of debris be enough to protect them?
"Let us know sir," continued Becker. "We're gonna dig around ourselves. With luck there will be a cellar or something we can find."
"Wait," said Jess, sniffling and trying to calm her voice. "You can move. I mean, that's great, but a two story house fell on you."
Becker chuckled. "We have maybe five feet of space above us, hard to say how much, cause there's no light. Morton has a torch, and if we barely fire up an EMD we have a flash, but its still hard to see. We can move maybe ten feet each direction. Thompson did some scouting."
"There are what feel like concrete pillars in the corners, there seem to be piles of debris around us, but we're fairly clear. We fell into some sort of square hole, protected by these pillars," said Thompson.
"Why weren't you crushed?" asked Lester.
"Don't know, been kind of busy with Vale," said Becker. "Morton, shine your torch up."
Lester and Jess waited.
"I see," said Becker. "There's a large slab of concrete set on the pillars. By sheer luck it fell onto them, protecting us. It actually, looks fairly stable."
Lester sighed. 'Fairly stable,' did not fill him with confidence that the debris pile would withstand any more force, especially not an explosion.
"See if you can find a cellar, Becker. The forces on site are standing by, waiting for Matt and Carlson."
"The creatures are still digging," said Morton, "and not going for new troops. Weird."
"Yes," said Lester. "The reports from the field are that the creatures seem oblivious to them."
"They're focused on us," said Becker.
"Wouldn't unburied prey be easier?" asked Thompson.
"You'd think," said Becker.
Matt and the others, and Carlson arrived at the same time.
"Oh, my God," whispered Abby, at the sight of the utter destruction. See saw three barrel-like creatures digging in a gigantic pile of debris. "That's where Becker and the men are?"
"Yes," said Matt. "Let's get them out."
Beside him stood Lieutenant Flowers, and the rest of Becker's men.
"I feel helpless," said Flowers. Matt smiled slightly, and put a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll get them," said Matt softly.
"What are those creatures?" asked Connor, filming them. Then he sneaked closer.
"Careful!" called Emily.
"If we find out more about them," said Connor, "maybe we can figure out a weakness." He crawled closer, joined by Abby.
"They look kind of like giant armadillos," said Abby.
"Look at the armor," whispered Connor. "That's solid bone."
"Conn," whispered Abby, "see if you can close up on their underbellies and claws."
Connor zoomed in, and then Abby took the camera.
Looking at the pictures she said, "They look kind of like turtles on the underside, soft and vulnerable under the shell. See those claws, they're perfect for digging. The face sure looks like an armadillo, the tiny eyes, long snout, bunny ears."
"Why would such a large creature be a digger?"
Abby shook her head and shrugged. They rejoined the others and shared their findings.
"Becker said they scavenged food, maybe the digging helps," said Abby, watching with the others the video Connor shot. "Maybe they aren't an aggressive predator, but primarily a scavenger."
Matt said, "They remind me of a creature we had. It lived in tunnels we'd abandoned, or in caves. It dug and scavenged. It wasn't aggressive unless provoked, or hungry."
Abby said, " It looks like an armadillo. I wonder if its a future relative. It has the armor, the ears, the eyes, the snout. An armadillo doesn't have the best eyesight, but it has excellent hearing and smell."
"Good hearing?" asked Carlson.
Abby shrugged. "I don't know. It might have good hearing. I'm guessing."
Carlson looked excited. "Mr. Anderson, we could stun them with sound. Not hurt them, or risk the men."
Matt smiled. "I like it."
"Can you rig something sonic here?" asked Abby.
Carlson smiled. "No problem. Guns go boom, you know, and I always have a wide selection of guns and fire power with me. Always," he said and he retreated to his truck.
Connor smiled. "I'm going to help make the boom," he said, and ran after Carlson.
"OK, Becker, new plan. No actual explosion, well not the piercing, ripping and blowing apart kind," said Lester.
"What do you guys have in mind?" asked Becker.
Jess thought he sounded very tired and strained.
"A small, sonic-like boom."
"Really? You're going to fly a jet over us?"
"Good, Captain, you still have your wit, I see. No, actually, we're going to shoot fireworks at you. Carlson and Connor are fastening an explosive charge big enough to release enough energy to cause a loud enough bang to hurt the sensitive ears of the creatures. Blah, blah, blah. Hopefully, the creatures are sensitive to bangs, the explosion will work without killing anyone, and we won't cause the building to collapse on you."
"We'd appreciate that, sir," said Thompson.
"How is Vale?" asked Lester.
"Pale, but he's still with us," said Becker.
"Good. Won't be long now."
"Thanks," said Becker. "Is Jess still there?"
"Right here," she said. She was happier with the new plan, even though it was still a risk, and it showed through her voice. "You'll be out soon, and I'm going to hug you like crazy."
Becker chuckled. "I'll let you."
"Good," she said.
"OK," said Lester. "Carlson says he's ready. Are you?"
"Yes," said Becker. "We can't find any cellars, or anything to hide under that won't crush us, so go ahead."
"Right, good luck," said Lester, solemnly.
"Thanks," said Becker. He paused. "See you soon, Jess."
Jess fought back tears. "See you soon."
End of Chapter 4