Summary: By David Barr Kirtley Read by Alasdair Stuart Discuss on our forums. For a list of all Escape Pod stories, authors and narrators, visit our sortable Wikipedia page Special thanks to user esperri at FreeSound.org who created and/or recorded the sound effect used in this episode! They Go Bump By David Barr Kirtley Ball placed his feet carefully. Walking on rough terrain was treacherous when you couldn’t see your feet — or your legs, for that matter, or any part of yourself. All he could see was the uneven ground, the shady stones outlined with sharp sunlight, drifting eerily beneath him. His boot caught and twisted, and he pitched forward, falling and smacking his elbows rough against the ground. From somewhere up on the hilltop, Cataldo’s voice laughed. That voice — smooth and measured, with just a hint of sharpness. Ball had never paid much attention to voices before, but now voices were all he had. Cataldo’s shouted, “Was that you, Ball? Again?” Ball groped on the ground for his rifle. He felt it, grasped it, and slung it over his shoulder. He clambered to his feet, and wavered there a few moments, unsteady. Cataldo’s voice again: “How many times is that now? Twelve?” “Eleven.” Ball groaned, stretched, and looked around. “Where are you?” “By the rock.” Ball sighed. The rock. There was nothing but rocks, nothing but rolling expanses of rocks and more rocks, stretching to the horizon in every direction. The orange sky was littered with rocks, too, rocky moons. “Which rock?” “The big, triangular one.” Ball squinted up the hill. “See the tall peak?” Cataldo’s voice prompted. “Follow the gully down. There’s a patch of boulders, and then at the edge of those there’s this big, triangular –” “All right, I see it.” Ball took a deep breath. “I’m coming.” He scrambled over the boulders and picked his way carefully among smaller stones. He tried to picture Cataldo’s face — slick black hair, long, narrow face, oversized nose. Ball hadn’t seen that face all day. Now there was just the voice. “OK, I’m here,” he breathed, finally. The empty spot of nothingness that was Cataldo said, “Where’s Sweezy?” “I don’t know.” Ball shook his head, though he realized Cataldo couldn’t see it anyway. “He hasn’t said anything all day. I’ve tried talking to him.” Cataldo groaned. “Sweezy! Hey, Sweezy! Where are you?” The vast plains of boulders were stony and silent. There was no answer. “He might have fallen behind,” Ball said. “Maybe he got lost, or hurt his ankle.” “He’s out there. Goddamnit, Sweezy! Sound off.” Finally, a plaintive voice, from far down in the rockslide, called out, “I’m here. What?” Sweezy. His voice tended to waver as he spoke. It always seemed tired and prickly, that voice. Ball shouted, “We’re checking to make sure you’re still with us.” “Just go,” Sweezy’s voice said. “I can take care of myself.” Cataldo grunted in disgust, and said to Ball, “Come on. Let’s catch up with the others.” Ball turned wearily, and moved to follow. He walked in the direction he thought Cataldo had gone. Invisible soldiers. Ball chuckled tiredly. Invisible soldiers on an important mission, invisible soldiers with invisible feet. He tripped again, and fell. The week before, Ball had been safe, tucked far underground in the winding, humid, steel — rimmed tunnels of Fort Deep. He had been sitting on a hard bench outside Captain Schemmer’s office. They were giving Ball a mission; he wondered if he was going to die. Cataldo had come and gone already, but Sweezy was still in there. Ball could [...]
