Sci fi series: Evil Portent

Hello! If you like mystery/thrillers with a dash of the supernatural, a pinch of romance, and a solid dollop of humour, then you'll love this fascinating series. On Wednesdays and Sundays, I’m blogging nibble-sized chunks of new ‘Life in the Clouds’ stories. You can check in regularly and read them for free, or wait to buy the entire story when published. Current book: Evil Portent.

Image by AI Leino from Pixabay

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Life in the Clouds #4: Evil Portent ® James Field.
Previously from posts 46 - 49
 
A piercing scream reached them from somewhere out back. Bert could recognise Olive’s exquisite voice anywhere. For one reason or another she often screamed, especially at him. Ah, she was a fiery little lady at times, and Bert loved her for it. This time, Bert could tell she was genuinely terrified, and his heart missed a beat.
 
Then, to make matters worse, his horse brayed and stamped. Fearing the worse, Bert lurched to his feet. To his surprise, the Alien Father beat him to it and darted past him out through the back door.
 
“Come on, Chums,” said Bert as he followed the little man.
 
“Kill, kill, kill!” snarled the Alsatians, vaulting through the back door before Bert.
 
The Alien Father hadn't gone far. He hid behind a coal bunker, no sign of his bravery now. Bert glanced past him, and what he saw made his heart leap into his mouth, making it impossible to speak. In the middle of Olive’s lawn, the tunnel between planets gaped open, hissing and throbbing like a maelstrom from hell.
 
A massive Guardian stood there, two heads taller than Bert’s six-foot-five, shoulders half-a-metre broader than the biggest gorilla he’d seen at London Zoo. Olive's unconscious body flopped over one of its arms like a rag doll. It clasped a ray gun in its other hand, its glossy shape looking just like a kid’s water pistol.
 
Bert didn’t know what plans the Guardian had for Olive, but seeing her in such danger drove him insane. Fury vibrated through his being. Almost choking with rage, he bent his head, clenched his hands into fists of granite, and charged.
 
When the Guardian saw him coming, a smirk creased its large jaw muscles, exposing broad, strong teeth. The mocking laughter dumped hot coals into the pit of Bert’s belly, super-charging his headlong rush.
 
The Guardian raised its ray gun coolly and pointed it at Bert.
 
In the event of guns, Bert had trained his Alsatians to attack the wrist. They didn’t let him down. Only feet away from the beast, both dogs clamped their teeth onto the Guardian’s arm and wrist. It roared, threw Olive aside, and used its free arm to swipe at the dogs. Despite the animal's enormous size, compared to the Guardian, they looked no larger than miniature poodles. But they’d locked their jaws, and although the Guardian lifted both from the ground and wrenched at their necks, they held tight.
 
Head first, Bert crashed full speed into the Guardian’s stomach. It gave a blast of air and toppled over, ray gun skidding across the lawn. “Throat,” said Bert, and his dogs dropped the arm and went for its neck. In the same instant, Bert darted to his horse and vaulted onto its back.
 
The Guardian was on its feet again. Blood poured from its torn arm, but still had enough strength to wrench at the dogs and protect its hairy throat. Fearing for the safety of his pets, Bert roared a command at them. “Stand away, Chums.”
 
High in the horse’s saddle, Bert towered above the guardian. Beneath him, Bigfoot vibrated with energy and rage. Bert swung the stallion and gave a signal to kick with its hind legs. With enough force to punch a hole through a barn wall, Bigfoot’s hooves crashed into the Guardian’s chest at the speed of two-hundred miles per hour.
 
Bert heard bones crack, then saw the guardian fly backwards and disappear into the tunnel he’d come from.
 
Olive lay sprawled on the lawn, unconscious, but still breathing.
 
The Alien Father came from hiding and plunged head first into the throbbing tunnel. With a soft nudge from Bert’s heels, Bigfoot reared on its hind legs and then charged into the tunnel’s mouth, his Chums running beside him.
 
The shift between planets happened so fast it seemed no worse than jumping through a loop, a trick he’d often practised with Bigfoot. The abrupt switch of scenery spooked the horse, and it took all Bert’s coaxing to halt his gallop. “It’s alright,” soothed Bert, stroking the animal’s neck. “It’s a new trick. Sorry, I should’ve warned you.”
 
“New trick,” snorted Bigfoot. “Okay, let’s do it again.”
 
“Later,” said Bert. “Work first.”
 
Back outside the Alien Father’s house, the Guardian slumped against a wall, its chest caved in, dead. Bert slid down from his horse and called his Chums to his side. A quick search revealed bumps and bruises all over them, but no bones broken or severe cuts.
 
The Alien Father had already turned the Doodad into the ‘off’ position, closing the tunnel and stopping Earth time. A wave of relief passed through Bert. Back home, Olive lay prone on the lawn, and when he returned, if ever he did, he wanted her still lying there, where he could care for her.
 
“The Guardian was alone,” said the Alien Father. “But others will come. What shall we do?”
 
Bert wasn’t good at taking charge and giving orders. He usually let his best mate, Alf, do that. He tilted his head from side to side, weighing choices. “I think you should hide the Doodad and join the villagers at the Temple.”
 
“What about you?”
 
Before answering, Bert tugged on his bottom lip. “Well, I’m going to the Guardian’s citadel.” He wasn’t sure what he’d do when he arrived, but it seemed the obvious move.
 
“Take me with you. Mount your magnificent beast, make room for me, and pull me up.”
 
Bert’s mouth fell open. “You want to come too?”
 
“Yes. Just give me a second to hide the Doodad.”
 
Bert blew into the nostrils of his horse and stroked its long neck. “Be brave, my friend,” he breathed. “Remember the tricks we’ve practised, we’ll need them now.”
 
The horse nodded. “I remember. You want me to fight. I understand. You and me. Fight.”
 
“Good,” said Bert. “You, me, our Chums, and the Alien Father. The magnificent five versus the curse of the universe: the Guardians.”
 
The horse trotted, reserving its energy, but they covered distance fast. As they neared the edge of the forest that hemmed the citadel, Bert stopped, lowered the Alien Father to the ground, and dropped to his side. “Back on my planet," said Bert, "we have animals called sheep. They’re a lot like you, docile, but not half as brainy. We call the male sheep rams and they can be aggressive. Some have caused serious injuries, even death, to people.” He placed his hand on the Alien Father’s shoulder and fixed him with a stare. “I’m asking you to be a ram. Can you do it?”
 
“I won’t run away this time.”
 
“Good. We have to take the Guardians by surprise. You stay here and count to a hundred while I get closer. Then kick one of their lawnmowers again and go hide yourself before they see you. When they come out, I go in. Got it?”
 
The Alien Father gave a curt nod and answered with a steady low-pitched voice. “Got it. One hundred.”
 
It wasn’t much of a plan, thought Bert, but he didn’t want the Alien Father hurt. If the little fellow shows enough bravery for his part, and then runs off, good. He’d take care of the rest. “Here, take my knife. It’ll give you courage.”
 
The Bowie Knife looked like a sabre in the Alien Father’s grip. The tip rested on the ground. “Don’t you need it?”
 
“I’ve got another one,” said Bert. It was a lie, and he almost changed his mind. But he spurred Bigfoot and rode off, stopping under cover of trees when he faced the citadel’s doors. Right on cue, the Alien Father darted out and booted a lawnmower onto its back.
 
Instead of retreating into the trees, as Bert expected, the Alien Father sprinted across the neatly cut grass and kicked another lawnmower onto its side.
 
The citadel’s double doors cracked open, and a huge Guardian emerged, wielding a ray gun. The Alien Father whirled about, bent over to touch his toes, and let his guts unleash a riot of gas produced from his unusual meal and extreme nervousness; it sounded like a long sharp military blast from a bugle.
 
“You measly little turd,” screeched the Guardian as it charged, “You’ll pay for that.”
 
Part 50:
In this post: eyes as large as two jam tarts…
 
“Now,” said Bert, and sent his horse bolting across the lawn. The guardian skidded and stopped, undecided which way to run. Seeing Bert on horseback and two savage dogs rushing for the citadel door, it wheeled around and raced back.
 
Bert reached the citadel first and bolted inside. The space was as large as a tennis court, and their Doodad rested on a low plinth in the centre of the uninhabited space. A tunnel swirled and wheezed, open to the Guardian’s planet of evil.
 
“Stamp on it,” shouted Bert into the horse’s ear, and one second later a front hoof found its mark, smashing the gadget into a trillion pieces. In a flash, the tunnel collapsed, closed for ever.
 
Behind him, the Guardian scowled in the doorway, ray gun raised, rage foaming from the corners of its fat lips.
 
Bert cursed. He’d been careless. He should have set his dogs on the ugly creature. It had them trapped, too far to reach before it pulled the trigger. A fearful gnarl creased the Guardian’s brow as its finger squeezed.
 
In that same moment, a glint of steel flashed. The Alien Father had inched up behind the Guardian, both hands clasping the razor-sharp Bowie knife above his head. His face was red and blotchy as if he’d been holding his breath, which then exploded from his mouth as he drove the knife into the back of the Guardian’s thigh.
 
The Guardian gasped, eyes suddenly as wide as jam tarts cooling on a windowsill, and it swatted its leg as if a hornet had stung it.
 
That was all the time Bert needed. His horse and dogs reached the stunned Guardian and bowled it over. The Alsatians tore at its throat, and a well-placed front hoof caved its skull in.
 
To be continued…
 
The real world:
 
Rather than miss an instalment, it’s easy to follow my blog on bloglovin’. They’ll give you a friendly nudge as I release new parts.
 
Like to know more about Alf, Bert and the rest of the gang? You can read their chaotic history in What on Earth.
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