96

But nothing happens below. The nomads remain still. Alexius checks and rechecks his rifle while the controllers scan for danger.

Then Control cries out, "Crowchar, look!"

You can both see and hear them; thousands of wasps, racing up the slope toward you, moving with malevolent purpose! To your horror, you realize many of the wasps are spilling directly out of the nomads, but you don't have time to contemplate that dreadful sight as the wasps reach you.

A nomad rushes up the slope, vomiting wasps. Alexius shoots him through the heart. He drops, then gets up again. As the wasps circle him, Alexius screams and stumbles backward, shattering one of your few Byzantine oil lamps. Perhaps ignited by the gunfire, the oil immediately erupts into flame.

"Our weapons are useless," Therko says. He's buried his ax in another nomad's chest, but the woman still reaches for him, spitting wasps. "We should make for the river."

Vecla looks more afraid of deep water than of the wasps, but the dreadful insects circle overhead like vultures; you have only seconds to decide.