His sentence ended in a bellow of terror as a dark shape catapulted down along the polished curve of the hull. Long arms clutched Harmon's beefy neck in a death grip. For a moment two figures struggled and wrestled furiously on the rim of the port.
His sentence ended in a bellow of terror
Then Harmon lost his grip and they fell, missing the tilted stairway by inches. Harmon emitted one choked wail as he whirled through the air with the dark figure still clutching his throat. Mud spattered as they struck, and in a last effort Harmon tripped the trigger of his weapon.
A sheet of flame billowed out, followed by a spreading cloud of steam tinged with the stench of charred flesh. The two humans clung to the stairway, sickened and gasping for breath.
"Nick, oh Nick!" Susan choked out. "He must have climbed up over the tail fins."
"Who?" Nick was still half stunned.
"Klev." Susan was crying. "It was Klev. I had to hold Harmon's attention and give him a chance."