Here are the links:
Excerpt/Outpost Epsilon/SF/PG/Herbert
Grosshans
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1102004095?ean=2940161628027
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/899493
LULU-Print: http://www.lulu.com/shop/herbert-grosshans/outpost-epsilon/paperback/product-23799971.html
Note: Even though this excerpt does not contain any Erotica
the novel does. It is recommended for mature readers.
Stonewall went into the storage
room again and opened the other two boxes. The aliens inside looked remarkably
like the first one. As he watched the one he opened first, a sudden twitch
moved across the slack face, and then suddenly the eyes flew open.
Sitting up, the alien stared
at Stonewall.
“Don’t be afraid,” Stonewall said with a
soothing voice, not knowing if he would be understood. “We are friends.”
The dark lips formed a smile. “Friends,”
the alien repeated with a soft, female voice. She sat up, and then she
carefully climbed out of the casket.
Movement in the other two caskets told
Stonewall that all of the aliens were alive. He watched them sitting up and
leave their sleeping places. All three wore clothing similar to those of the
wounded man in the other room. Even though it was loose, he could see the
outlines of breasts on their chests.
The first one stared at
Stonewall and spoke, but of course, he didn’t understand a word. “I don’t understand your language,” he
said.
“But I understand you.” The alien looked
at Stonewall. “I recognize your language. What happened? Who are you?”
“Your spaceship crashed. We are here to
rescue you.”
“We crashed?” The female lifted her head
and looked into the fourth coffin. “What happened to Leer? Is he alive?”
“If you mean your male companion, yes,
he is alive, but he is injured.” Stonewall walked ahead of them into the room
where Peters and the alien man waited anxiously. When the three females stepped
out, the wounded man let out an audible sigh. One of the three went over to him
and squatted in front of him. She spoke to him in a soft, low voice, and then
she stood up and faced Peters and Stonewall.
“He needs help. He will die if he doesn’t
get medical attention fast.”
Peters looked at Stonewall. “Do you have
any medical training?”
Stonewall shook his head. “Just some
first aid, basics, that’s all. He needs more than that.
“This is just crazy. I’ve told
the Chief many times we need more than a few scooters and a couple of rovers.
We need vehicles that fly, not just crawl on the ground!” Peters stared at the
darkening sky outside.
“I wondered about that myself,”
Stonewall said. “Why don’t we have a small shuttle?” “Too dangerous, apparently. Because of
the giant reptiles controlling the sky.” Peters laughed sarcastically. “As if
traveling on the ground is so safe.”
“So what can we do?”
“There is no room on the scooter for all
of us, obviously. I could take him back to the outpost. Doc Flemming might be
able to help him. You’d have to stay here with these three and wait for us to
pick you up with the rover. If I leave now, I should make it before midnight.”
“I thought traveling at night is too
dangerous?”
“It is.” Peters studied the alien man
who sat in a crouched position in his seat, his breath coming in great gasps.
“But this is an emergency. I know which way to go now. It will be easier.”
“All right. If you think so. I’ll
stay here. We should be safe inside this vessel.”
“You should be, but don’t get careless.
Now, help me getting him outside and to the scooter.”
The alien man could barely stand.
Stonewall and Peters helped him outside then they practically dragged him
across the swamp until they reached the scooter. Before Peters left, he gave
Stonewall a pack, which had been stored in the back of the sidecar. “There is water and food inside. It
should be enough for you until I come back.” Peters lowered his voice. “Don’t
let down your guard. Those might be females, but we know nothing about their
species. Keep your eyes open at all times and your rifle within easy reach.
I’ll contact the base and fill them in about the situation. Don’t expect anyone
to pick you up until tomorrow afternoon. That rover doesn’t travel any faster
than the scooters, perhaps even slower.” He slapped Stonewall on the back.
“Take care and stay safe, my friend.”
Stonewall watched as Peters took off
into the forest then he waded back to the alien vessel. The three females
watched him anxiously when he climbed back into the ship.
“Thank you for helping us,” one
of them said. “I am Sheera. What shall we call you?”
“Stonewall, call me Stonewall.” He looked at
the other two. “You have names also?”
Both of them smiled. For the first time,
he noticed their long incisors.
“I am called Pteer.”
“And I am Seel.”
Stonewall tried to remember their names
and the faces that went with them. Even though at first glance they looked
alike, he noticed differences between them, the most important ones the eyes.
Sheera’s eyes were purple, Pteer’s brown and Seel had shiny, black eyes.
Watching them closer, he also noticed that their faces seemed unable to show
deep expressions, as if they were wearing masks. They looked almost unfinished.
Coarse. Their naked skulls were large, bulging out in the back of their heads.
When Sheera turned away from him, he saw
the hump on her back, and checking out the other two, he found they also had
humps.
He shrugged. Just because they weren’t
very attractive, didn’t mean they couldn’t be amiable.
Just for visiting and reading this far, I'll send you a free copy in any format you want. Just drop me a line at hegro@shaw.ca
