Green Shadows - Dray Prescot Short StoryByAlan Burt Aker aka Kenneth Bulmer 1996 By H. K. BulmerIllustrations 1996By Charlene ParenteauI n their engaging way the Star Lords hurled me headlong into rip-roaringblood-pulsing adventure stark naked and unarmed--and as well as adventure intodiabolical situations where I could get myself killed with spine-shatteringease. Like now. The situation into which I tumbled was clear simple and deadly. TheEveroinye sent their phantom Blue Scorpion all gigantic and glowing to snatchme up from home in Esser Rarioch. They dumped me down here where squamousmonsters with fangs and exceedingly sharp claws sought to rip me up for a lightsnack. In a gravel-floored cavern lit by pale phosphorescent fires I DrayPrescot of Earth and Kregen had to be about my business with sharppromptitude. quotBe quick Or were all deadquot The woman crouching against the cave wallshrieked it out. The two men with her just screamed. On the gravel a few paces off lay a harness of plate armour. From its breathsand sights flowed a greens ichor. The cavern stank with the throat-cloggingodour of rotting flesh. In the visor an Acid-Head Gimlet stuck fast. The gauzywings of the dragonfly killer shimmering with pseudo-life reflected for aghostly moment in the blade of the sword as it tumbled from a lax gauntlet ontothe gravel. Time only to feel a heartbeat of sorrow for the poor devil whod worn theplate--a gloating hissing and movement against the caverns oppressive radiancesnatched my attention. In the mouth of the tunnel ahead bulked the monstrousshape of a reptile-man and from his green- taloned hand a second Acid-HeadGimlet flew. The wings glimmered in the phosphorescent light. The gimlet head glistenedwith the acid that would melt me down to the soles of my naked feet. No time todo anything but dive forward in a desperate try for the sword fallen from thearmours open gauntlet... My fingers touched the hilt knocked it a handsbreadthacross the floor. No time now to curse to do anything but scrabble forwardseize the sword and flick it up in the way the Krozair Disciplines taught.click me