Read Online Hellworld (Deathstalker Prelude) by Simon R. Green - Free Book Online Page A

and falling apart, yet still somehow clinging to awful forms of life. The Squad edged back down the trail, a few feet at a time, force shields spitting and crackling, edge to edge, as they formed a defensive barrier round the group. The forest had become unrecognisable. Vague shapes stirred in the frothing carpet that boiled around the Squad, fountaining up into blurred forms with teeth and claws and staring eyes. The remaining trees were slumping against each other, losing definition and meaning as they mixed and merged. The living rain continued, and the shadows became subtly darker.
    Hunter’s breathing had become painfully quick and hurried, and he had to fight for air. All his instincts were screaming at him to cut and run for the boundary, but he couldn’t do that. Panic gnawed at his courage, but he wouldn’t give the forest the satisfaction of seeing him run. He had led his people into the trap, and he would lead them safely out again. Somehow he kept the fear out of his face, and if his hands trembled he wasn’t alone in that. He fired his disrupter ahead of him, blowing away a mass of twitching branches that sought to block the trail. It helped to at last have something solid and real to face, so he could bury his panic in the rush of action. He glanced at Corbie and Lindholm beside him. Lindholm was smiling absently as his blade flashed out to cut through a reaching black tentacle. Corbie’s sword work was slower and less sure, but he fought with a furious, dogged tenacity that kept the forest at bay. Hunter looked away, disgusted at the panic that still tore at him, blind and stupid and almost overwhelming.
    If there’s any hope for this Squad’s survival, he thought bitterly, it lies with those marines, not with me. They’re fighting men … and I’m not. Not any longer.
    It seemed to take forever to reach the edge of the forest, but suddenly the gloom gave way to sharp, brilliant light, and the air was clean and fresh again. The Squad staggered away from the boundary, weak with shock and relief but still somehow holding formation and keeping their guns trained on the forest. Branches like long gnarled fingers stretched out after the Squad with slow, sinuous movements, but seemed unable to pass far beyond the forest’s boundary. Hunter slowly lowered his gun and turned off his force shield, and one by one the others did the same.
    “Looks like you were right, esper,” said the Investigator calmly. “The forest is alive and aware.”
    “Smells more like it’s been dead for months,” said Corbie. He scrubbed determinedly at the black stains that fouled his uniform, quietly pleased that his voice sounded calm and steady.
    The Squad cleaned themselves up as best they could, brushing away the marks the forest had left on them. A thick, viscous slime clung to their clothes and skin. It seemed to pulse slowly with a life of its own and had an unpleasant fleshy feel. The Squad took turns scraping it off each other’s backs and shoulders.
    “No wonder there weren’t any birds or animals in the forest,” said Hunter finally. “The forest must have eaten them all. That damn stuff’s got the perfect camouflage. You don’t realise you’re in any danger till you’re right in the middle of it.” He turned to DeChance. “What can you sense now, esper?”
    DeChance frowned. “Nothing clear. Hunger. Rage. Pain. And other things I don’t recognise. If they’re emotions, they’ve no human equivalent.”
    “What are we going to do now, Captain?” Williams’ voice was polite but pointed. “We can’t go through the forest, but going round it will add miles to our route.”
    “Then we’ll just have to walk a little further,” said Hunter. “The exercise will do us good.”
    He kept his voice carefully easy and relaxed. It now seemed certain they’d have to spend the night out in the open, the one thing he’d wanted to avoid, but there was no point in worrying his people unnecessarily. They should