out of the sun.

out of the east.

out of the thicket by the lake-

comes the thunder of my stolen death tube.the corpse rocks from the concussion of the blast.the backblast knocks me away from the weapon and i sprawl face down in the mud after two somersaults.i cry out in pain,fear,and triumph.one of the aliens was hit in the torso and goes down hard.there is confusion and the hell-beast are let loose.a couple of the aliens bend low and fire smaller size thunder tubes at my position.i struggle to get behind my weapon and wedge myself under the corpse’s arm.this should hold me in position and protect me from that horrendous backblast.i wrap my foot around the actuator and pull until i hemorrage.

another of my shots thunders out and vaporizes the knee of another alien.i slam my body against the heavy weapon and move it towards an onrushing assailant.i pull with my leg and scream and curse and cry and the thunder belches forth again.great spurts of blood issue from the aliens neck and i frantically try to move the gun to get a shot at a hell-beast either too stupid or too mean to retreat.i nearly tear the tendons in my leg pulling the trigger yet again.the beast falls.’damn you all to hell!’ i cry amidst the blood and death and thunder and rage.

the enemy is in total confusion and shock.they came back for their comrade and find their own weapon jutting out of their friend’s belly and being used against them.the cowards retreat again. as they run i get one more in my sights and pull for the final time.i feel the tendons in my leg go as i see the cowardly alien’s head disappear in a red mist.

instinctively i wobble through the trail behind the thicket.i didn’t think i’d survive to use this escape trail,but i planned for it last night anyway.

as i stagger through i finally make it to the lake.that favorite watering hole we were all looking forward to so much just yesterday.as my vision starts to go i see a few ducks approach me.they see i am severly wounded and help me along to a protected and hidden area of the lakeshore.

they ask what all the thunder was.i tell them my story as best i can as i’m starting to lose conciousness.they too have lost family here at the hands of those butchering aliens.when they learn of the stand i made against them,they honor me by inviting me to join their flock.a beautiful young female duck snuggles next to me and promises to nurse me to health.when i heal,the elder duck tells me,we will all fly off as a flock,together.i can put this evil behind me and start again.

as i mercifully give way to deep sleep,i see this new found family prepare for me a soft bed.the young female is already attending my wounds.i am totally spent and exhausted beyond endurance.but the only thing i feel as i drift off to sleep is gratitude.i exacted revenge for an unspeakable evil…and i will be allowed to once more live a life of hope and joy.all that was taken from me has been replaced.

it’s good to be a duck!

epilogue

at least 5 dead on duck lake,a popular hunting spot for duck hunters.authorities are not sure of the motive nor do they have any suspects for the murders.apparently,after a shooting accident that occured yesterday morning a small group of hunters and police went back to the lake to recover the body of a local hunter.during that attempt an unknown gunman or gunmen opened fire and brutally killed 5 more men,including 3 police officers and a hunting dog.police say they will be diverting more man power to this case and ‘bring in this cop murdering bastard’ if you have any information about the gunman please contact channel 6 news.

an originall short story by dick butz

‘it’s my name,it’s what i do.’