Earthblood Author:Keith Laumer, Rosel George Brown All around, sounds of destruction echoed along metal halls. A muffled blast shook the deck plates under foot. Harsh odors of hot metal and things that burned caught at Roan's throat. He came to the arched entry over the two wide steps leading down to the broad room with its threadbare eternon carpets and blackened gilt fixtures, and stopped,... more » seeing overturned tables, huddled bodies, and standing among them, legs braced wide, cradling weapons, five creatures in coats covered with tight-curled hair.
"Help me!" Roan called.
The nearest creature whirled, swung his weapon around in an easy gesture. There were horns on his head, and his eyes were black stones.
A big creature in a radiation mask stepped to the horned creature's side, knocked the weapon aside, then turned the power pistol gripped in his big fists on Roan and looked him over through the slits in his mask.
"Don't burn this one, Czack. Can't you see he's a Terry?"
"To the pit with Terries," the other snarled--but he lowered his gun.
"Stellaraire," Roan said. "Help me."
The tall creature holstered a pistol and took off the mask. Roan looked into the wide grey eyes, saw the thin nose, the edge of white teeth between the thin lips...« less