CHAPTER 311
"What are they?"
Sparrow stood perfectly still as she whispered the question, and she received no response.
Out in the dirt clearing in the center of the compound there were twelve creatures. Each one's body was roughly the size of a large man's and had a long stiff tail extending back from the hindquarters. They were like birds, but they were also like reptiles.
"Tell me you see this," Sparrow uttered while keeping her body motionless.
"You mean the savage bird goblins? Yeah, I see them alright." Reuben had his hand on his Luger.
Sparrow shifted her eyes toward Dr. Guitierrez. "Marty? You care to weigh in?"
He was stiff and trembling. The sweat was no longer pouring down his face but rather adhered to it as an icy glaze over his pale blood drained skin. Beads of stale perspiration jiggled at the ends of his beard hair as he shook. His eyes stared forward with fear.
Reuben's grip tightened over the gun at his hip. "Dr. Martin checked out a minute and a half ago. It looks like we're going to have to blaze this one without his impeccable courageousness."
Sparrow looked out at the twelve creatures. They were standing as still as statues, but she noticed they all had one thing in common. They all seemed to have their eyes on Reuben.
As Reuben began to slip his pistol from its holster there was no doubt that the creatures were responding. The vocalizations were subtle and quiet, and sounded like a murder of crows cawing and cackling at each other.
Sparrow thought of the bone structure they had seen in the building, and how there were firearms woven in with it. Was it possible that these were the ones who built it? Did they understand Reuben's intention. The animals' eyes did hold a striking sense of intellect.
"Reub, maybe that's not the best idea."
Reuben had a keen awareness and picked up on her point. His hand backed off the butt of his Luger. "What do you suggest? Those sickles on their feet weren't meant for weaving friendship bracelets I suppose."
In a sudden burst Marty let out a scream. Almost as suddenly his hands flew in the air, he did a wild about face, and ran back in the building.
"Jesus! The man blew a gasket!" Reuben spun his head and watched him run off.
He and sparrow exchanged intense glances and then looked out at the creatures. They were no longer still. Their feet were shifting. Bodies turned. Tails whipped. Vocalizations were made. The animals' voices were louder. It was unclear yet as to what they were going to do, but neither Reuben nor Sparrow liked the look of it.
"Look at those claws hacking about." Reuben's hand was back on his gun. "We are gonna be boned. Boned like a trout, unless we get out of here fast!" He tugged on Sparrow's arm. "Come on!"
Sparrow drew her pistol, nodded, and followed Reuben into the depths of the building.