Ben Hammott: Ice Rift

I would like to thank the NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team for their help in providing information about the Antarctic ice rift in the Pine Island Glacier and everyone who advised me on the extreme weather conditions and dangers experienced while traversing the remote areas of Antarctica. Any mistakes or liberties taken with this information are my own.

I had always wanted to set a book in the remote wastes of Antarctica, so when I learnt of a huge ice rift that would eventually set free an iceberg the size of Manhattan, it gave me an idea for a book.

The result is my homage to films like Alien and The Thing and authors I admire, which includes Matthew Riley, Michael Crichton and Clive Cussler.

I hope you find Ice Rift and exciting an enjoyable read.

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THE DRONE OF THE small night creatures flitting through the air and the distant howls, screeches and wails that sounded like spectral bloodhounds on the scent of prey, announced the waking of the planet’s nocturnal predators. Of all the different species that dwelled on DX666, none was more feared than the female who dwelt in the mountain. Though in part this was due to her vicious nature, what made her such a feared and expert hunter was her extraordinary ability to be able to mimic the sound and form of any animal she heard or encountered. The Mimic wielded her gift with exacting, murderous intent to draw her victims close enough to kill. Another trick she utilized was changing her skin to imitate the surroundings, whether it was rock or foliage, making her practically invisible, and then luring a victim into her trap with the call of a wounded animal. She rarely failed to ensnare a victim.

A young six limbed goat-like creature, which had yet to learn of this menace, leapt sure-footedly from rock to rock and paused to stare into the cave entrance filled with such a foreboding darkness it almost had substance. However, failing to recognize its brief life was about to end, the unsuspecting animal flicked its eyes over to the enticing bush adorned with blue berries and succulent orange leaves growing a small distance from the entrance. It bounced over to the bush and bit off a fruit laden twig.

The distant scrape of claws on rock from inside the cave signalled the approach of the feared mountain creature. Unaware of the impending danger, the animal continued feasting on the tasty foliage. Two red eyes appeared amidst the tangible gloom shrouding the cave entrance and focused on the animal. The Mimic changed its appearance and oozed from the cave like an invisible, pestilent shadow that crawled from one world to the next to spread putrid blight and savage death.

The animal squealed when the claws of death crept over its body and cloaked it in pain. Within a moment the animal was no more. Its killer had devoured everything except its bones, which collapsed into a lifeless heap. The thing of indistinct form, neither man nor beast, rose from the ground and morphed into a creature that nightmares would be hesitant to welcome.

The Mimic gazed up at the bright fireball streaking through the night sky. At first, her interest assigned it little consideration; there had been many similar occurrences before. It was only another rock falling from the heavens. Though she’d often wondered where they came from and what beast was powerful enough to throw them such a distance, they posed no threat and were thus ignored. She was about to direct her gaze elsewhere when something unusual happened; the sky-fire changed direction. With renewed interest she observed the glowing disc of flame shooting through the obsidian sky.

The object turned in a wide arc, straightened out and then veered toward the mountain that housed the Mimic’s lair. When the sky-fire became lost from its sight, the Mimic sought out a higher view point. She clambered up the rocky mountain and perched atop a large boulder. Her eyes focused on the strange object that no longer glowed, skimming above the forest canopy. The leaf-burdened boughs creaked in protest from the wash of the object that grasped leaves and twigs from their branches and carried them in its wake. Frightened shrieks from disturbed tree-dwelling beasts accompanied its passing. The frantic sound of the rustling foliage grew louder as the object approached and rose to follow the contour of the steep mountain in its path.

Though the Mimic was wary, she experienced no fear as she observed the underside of the object when it sped overhead. The lights peppering its base reflected in the Mimic’s red eyes when she turned to follow its path over the mountain. So fascinated by the extraordinary object was the Mimic, she barely noticed the storm of debris that washed over her. She had spotted something inside the strange thing from the sky―something alive!

The Mimic momentarily pondered what she had witnessed. She knew it didn’t originate from her home world and was something she had not laid eyes on before. Curiosity caused the Mimic to postpone her hunt until she had investigated the new arrival. She bounded across the rocks and disappeared over the mountain.

Unaware his arrival had been witnessed by a dangerous intelligent life-form, the pilot of the small spacecraft that had so fascinated the Mimic, glanced at the control console. A relieved smile formed on his lips at the lack of any warning lights; evidence the ship had survived the tremulous entry through the planet’s atmosphere undamaged—again. It was the part he hated most about these missions. The creaks, groans and rattles of protest the aged vessel emitted during every stressful arrival on a new planet were a constant reminder of the hard and hectic life the old ship had endured. Each entry could be its last, killing all those on board.

The pilot gazed out of the control room’s viewing ports at the dark landscape speeding past below the ship. The red glow of molten rock, flames and hot ash spewing from the crowns of distant angry volcanoes lit up the night sky. It was this volcanic activity, spread across half the planet that made this world unsuitable for their purpose. However, long range scans from the base ship currently orbiting the planet had detected something of use and the reason for their visit to the planet they had named DX666.

In the shuttle craft’s forward lights the pilot glimpsed flashes of the greens, reds and browns of the verdant forest that covered a huge area of the planet’s surface and the home of the thing he sought. He switched on the spacecraft’s landing lights and searched for a suitable place to set down. He spied a clearing in the forest and pointed it out to the co-pilot who sat a short distance away. “Put us down there and tell the crew to prepare for the hunt.” He climbed out of his seat and strode from the room.