CHAPTER THIRTY‑THREE

Lander heard a far‑ off clap of thunder. It rumbled over the treetops.

“All‑ shaking thunder! ” he cried out. “Smite flat the thick rotundity of the world! Crack nature’s moulds! ”

He held out his hands to feel the rain, but felt none. Tipping back his head, he peered at the sky. Only small patches were visible through the trees, but the patches glinted with stars.

If not thunder, then perhaps a gun. He could use a gun.

Not half the fun of laying them low with knife or ax, but handy. He could plink the rogues from ambuscade!

And gobble them up!

Like his friend, la belle dam.

He walked in the direction of the gunshot, grinning as he remembered. Oh, he’d spent hours with her. Delving, exploring, carving, tasting. Such rare delights!

His body, even now, was dark with her blood. He’d bathed in it, rubbing it onto every inch of skin that he could reach, then rolling in her heaped organs to color his back. He’d been careful, drinking at the stream, to wash off as little as possible.

Now, looking down at himself, he saw that he was as dark as the night.

A shadow moving through shadows.

He darted from tree to tree, often pausing to listen for foreign sounds and search the darkness. He seemed to be alone. If others were nearby, they moved in silence through the shadows.

Let them show themselves.

I’ll lay them low.

“Lo, ’tis a gala night, ” he said.

Ahead of him, the ground moved. He froze. Not daring to breathe, he watched the matted leaves and twigs bulge from the ground as if a great beast were rising from its grave. Debris cascaded off the growing mound. A massive head appeared. It slowly turned toward Lander.

A yell of terror exploded from him, and he ran. He dashed past the thrashing mound.

As he sprinted through the darkness, he heard heavy, crushing footfalls behind him. He looked back, and gasped.

What is it!

Oh, he shouldn’t have let it up! He should’ve pounced while it was down–hacked it apart!

Now he had no chance.

No chance!

His breath whimpered out as he charged through a thicket that tore at his legs and genitals. He broke free, and looked over his shoulder.

Oh, it towered!

Its wild hair flew.

Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair!

Oh God, don’t let him!

Lander heard voices of alarm. To the left. He lunged sideways, dashed toward them.

Pain seared his shoulder. The vest tore.

Oh God, oh God

Krulls turned to him. Then they looked up, horror on their faces. Lander crashed two of them to the ground and dashed past.

A roar shocked the forest.

“KRULL! ”

Lander glanced back. Saw the monstrous shape lift a screaming woman by her hair. Swing her. Rip the head from her body.

He threw himself against a tree trunk. He scurried up its rough bark, grabbed limbs and pulled himself higher. Higher. Hugging a branch, he looked down.

The thing had another Krull. A man. Had him by the legs. Spread the legs. Bit off the genitals. Jerked the legs until they popped from their sockets, and tore them off.

It dropped the carcass. Crouching, it twisted off the head. It picked up the woman’s head, and tucked it under one arm. Then it slowly turned.

Toward Lander?

Cringing, Lander pressed his face to the tree and shut his eyes.