Blogtober 2023
About one-third of the ship was excavated, a gray orb with no external features. The creature’s victims dug out around it with their hands and pulled out rocks to carry out of the cavern. Clarkton shined his flashlight and found a crevice behind the ship. He opened the box and released a slow drip of chemicals that would react, ignite, and explode in a few minutes.
“Joe, that thing’s headed this way,” Murphy shouted.
Clarkton looked at his flashlight and shut it off. He had UV flashlights, but they were short range, so he had left them in his lab.
“Wait until it comes down here and run to the safe point,” Clarkton called. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Clarkton saw the beam of the SUV’s headlights disappear as the creature entered the cavern. It floated to a stop beside its ship. Clarkton had already picked up a rock the size of a basketball and stepped into line behind the other men. He mimicked their gait and speed on the steep path upward.
Taking no chances, he kept his steady pace toward the rock pile, trying like Orpheus not to turn around and see what was behind him. He saw Murphy’s head pop up behind a large pile of debris, and he dropped his rock and joined him.
“I don’t know if that was the dumbest or most fearless thing I’ve ever seen,” Murphy said.
“Probably a little of both,” Clarkton replied.
The crater exploded and lighted up the sky.
Photo credit Adobe Stock #202149113
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