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Category:
Science Fiction
Publisher: Taciturn Pipe
ISBN-10: 9781947844421
Type: Fiction
Pages: 104
Copyright: May 12th, 2018
ISBN-13: 9781947844421
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
Light horror/science fiction set at the end of World War Two
May of 1945. Nazi Germany has formally surrendered, but strange things are happening in a small, nameless village near the Bavarian Alps. War weary Lieutenant Xavier Wolf and his squad, a mix of battle hardened veterans and fresh recruits, have been tasked with a mission; Get to that village and find out who's there and what's going on. Accompanied by the brilliant Captain Margaret Quizno, they discover an unexpected evil and a beautiful, mysterious young woman with an amazing gift. The war is over, but Lieutenant Wolf and his team must fight one last battle. They ultimatley join forces with their former enemy, a small group of German soldiers, but can they escape the village in time? Will any of them survive the Attack of the Dogmen?
Excerpt
Nearly two hours of his watch passed quietly before Benny heard anything. It was subtle at first; a twig snapped in the near distance at irregular intervals, then he heard a low grunt. He'd spent many hours in the woods as a teenager, hunting squirrels, deer, even black bear one year. He knew something was moving out there, and his experience told him that even the smallest animal could make a racket. But what he heard now was not some animal moving randomly about. Benny realized that whatever was moving, it was deliberate and stealthy.
After a moment he heard a poor attempt at stealth behind him and immediately knew it was Nate coming to relieve him.
The young man tromped up to him and in a nervous, loud whisper said, “I'm here to relieve you, Sergeant.”
Benny placed his hand on his shoulder, leaned in close and said, “Listen Nate, I'm not trying to scare you but I heard something moving around out there.” He pointed with the muzzle of his rifle and saw Nate's eyes widen. “Now, it's probably just a raccoon or whatever passes for a raccoon in these parts. But if you see anything, and I mean anything bigger than a squirrel, I want you to shoot first and ask questions later. You got that?”
Nate nervously licked his lips and replied, “Yes, I got it Sarge.”
“Okay, relax Nate. Repeat back to me what I said, just to be sure.”
“Um, if I see anything...” He paused.
“Anything larger than a squirrel you shoot it. And I mean shoot to kill. Like I said, it's probably nothing, but be ready for anything. Got it?”
This time Nate answered firmly. “Got it.”
Benny gave him a pat on the shoulder. He could see nervous fear in Nate's eyes, just visible in the moonlight filtering through the trees. “Listen kid, it usually takes me a while to fall asleep, and I'll be sacked out not too far away. You have any questions or doubts, or you see or hear anything suspicious, just call me over. Okay?”
After Nate gave him a grateful nod Benny gave him another pat and headed back to camp.
Nate's fear abated after several minutes of quiet, save for the usual night time noises. He heard an owl and what he knew to be some small animals screeching at each other in the distance. He had grown up just outside Juneau, Alaska, and the night time noises he heard now were not unlike what he was used to back home.
Then he heard a low grunt and the shuffle of something heavy in the underbrush not far away. His heart began to pound inside his chest. He wanted to call out for help, but youthful pride kept him from doing so at first. Nate heard a twig snap loudly off to his right. It sounded close, not more than thirty feet. He tried to control his rapid breathing, to keep himself quiet so he could hear better, to no avail. Finally he turned his head toward camp and called out in a low voice, “Sergeant Benton! I hear something!”
Nate looked back toward the dark of the forest and saw a silhouette that looked like a dog standing on its hind legs. He blinked hard, thinking he must be seeing a broken tree trunk he'd not seen before. He turned his head and again called for Sergeant Benton. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of a large shape hurtling toward him. He screamed in fear and fired his rifle from the hip, managing to get three shots off before he was slammed to the ground. A huge dog-like head with wide open jaws lunged for his throat, but Nate got his rifle up just in time. Long, yellow fangs bit into the wood and steel of his rifle. The creature shook his massive head, trying to tear the rifle from his hands. Nate somehow kept his grip while screaming in sheer terror. He could see the creatures eyes glowing red, inches from his face, and smell its putrid breath as it roared a hideous sound.
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