Journey to the Heart of Luna - Andy Frankham-Allen [57]
Rifle shots rang out, and Selenites began to fall. For a second the remaining Selenites, which numbered in the upper forties, hesitated, until a shrill noise came from K’chuk. Once more the Selenites advanced, a few more fell before the Russians’ weapons, but this time they did not stop.
“Let us proceed, Professor,” Folkard said, aiming his carbine at Nathanial.
Nathanial blinked. “Captain?” he asked, fearing some kind of betrayal.
Folkard looked at the carbine, then smiled. “All part of the ruse, Professor. The bulk of the Russian forces in the reservoir cavern may be distracted, but I am certain there will be a few more soldiers around. A Russian sub-poruchik escorting a prisoner will attract less attention.”
“I see.” Nathanial swallowed hard, and began down the ramp. “To the wooden lift then?”
“That would seem prudent.” Folkard jabbed the carbine into Nathanial’s back. “Prodoljaite, mollusc!”
Nathanial winced but said nothing. They were in the heart of the Russian camp now, and an argumentative prisoner would surely raise one too many eyebrows. Instead, he lowered his head, and continued forward towards the lift. Before he lowered his head, though, he noticed that the Selenites, who outnumbered the Russian guards, now appeared to have the upper hand. It seemed Folkard had secured his army after all.
6.
THEY REACHED the mouth of the tunnel, and Bedford held his hand up for his team to stop. Out before them was a large open area. Directly in front of them was a fenced off compound, wherein they could see several Selenites who looked almost identical to K’ovib. A few walked around, clearly wounded, while others lay on the ground. Either exhausted or dead.
A shrill sound came from K’ovib, which Bedford took to be anger. He placed a hand on one of K’ovib’s fore-legs. “Steady on there. We will avenge your fallen comrades, of that you can be certain.”
“I believe someone had gotten a head start on us, Lieutenant,” Miss Annabelle said, pointing beyond the compound.
Bedford looked. On the opposite side of the reservoir a battle was taking place. Between Russian soldiers and Selenites. Bedford smiled. “I suspect this is Captain Folkard’s work.”
“Most certainly,” Miss Annabelle agreed, “for I assume that is he with Nathanial.”
Sure enough, as Miss Annabelle had said, the captain was indeed with Professor Stone. There was no mistaking the professor’s ginger hair and height. In his suit he looked somewhat out of place, although the dirt covering him helped him to blend in a little. The other man, equally as dirty and dressed in a Russian uniform, standing some eleven inches shorter than the professor, had the bearing of Folkard. As if to confirm Bedford’s supposition, the captain now held his carbine at the head of a Russian guard, all three of them standing on a wooden platform, which stood beneath of a large scaffold of winches and pulleys. The Russian guard reached for a lever and pulled it. The gears of the pulley shifted and the platform began to lower into a chasm below.
“Where are they going?” Miss Annabelle asked.
“I know not, but I will confess,” Bedford replied, lowering his voice so only Miss Annabelle could hear, “I am relieved to see Captain Folkard here. After he left my team behind…well, I have been forced to question why.”
“Well, he is here now, George,” Miss Annabelle said, equally quiet.
Bedford did not respond to that, instead he looked behind at his team of humans and Selenites. “Look sharp,” he said, “it is time for some liberation!”
Chapter Nine
Insect Insurrection
1.
“MISS SOMERSET, I must protest. I cannot allow you to go off on your own.”
Annabelle bit back her initial response. Lieutenant Bedford meant well, but he seemed to be forgetting, once more, that she was not one of his subordinates. She took a deep breath before answering. “Then assign one of your men to me, Lieutenant. Either way, I