29.
"So just the lizards?" Gilbert was sweaty,tired and slightly pissed off, the van's air conditioning had been going out and the temperature on the drive was well over a hundred degrees. The Geologist looking at him was sweating himself.
"They aren't just lizards sir, there are dozens of them, they are like the size of small children." Gilbert held up his hand.
"Killed things like this before, trust me in a cave your not seeing things properly, there are only maybe three or four of them total. Hell I'd been in this cave before you were born killing something similar don't worry about it." The geologist wanted to say something, but Gilbert was already walking back to the van to gather some poison.
"There's a lot fucking more than four in there dude!" The geologist shouted it after him, but Gilbert wasn't listening anymore, he just wanted to get back to work and get the job done.
****
They were hunting him. He had underestimated their numbers and they had cut off his exit. There were dozens of the creatures. Gilbert knew he'd made a mistake, hadn't brought enough with him into the cave, hadn't been prepared and now it was about to bite him several times in the ass. Gilbert did a mental check of his weaponry, the revolver with a couple reloads, and a his knife dipped in a poison that had proved completely ineffective. He knew he would have to fight them, and he knew he was probably screwed, but he recalled once a conversation about how he'd want to go out, on his feet or on his knees and he had chosen feet every time. He came out from behind the rock he'd been hiding behind to the sight of dozens of the things, he had the pistol in his right hand and his knife in the other.
"GILBERT!" Gilbert thought for a moment he was losing his mind, he heard Clarissa shout after him, but he could see in the low light of the cave she was ahead of the creatures her bow with an arrow already notched.
"What are you doing here Clarrisa?"
"MAKING IT RAIN!" She fired the arrow which had some kind of whistling canister attached to it, when it was over the lizards it exploded in a burst of yellow fluid that burned the creatures like napalm. Clarissa came down a smile on her face, Gilbert couldn't help but share.
"Making it rain?"
"Best I could come up with." Gilbert looked over at what remained of the creatures, the smell was overwhelming.
"What is that?"
"Werechicken blood mixed with some kind of pixie dust? Larry said it would deal with these little bastards pretty good, and it has, I killed a couple out front that had attacked some poor geologist almost took the guys eyes out."
"I hope he didn't charge you too much for it, neither pixie dust, or werechicken blood are very hard to..."
"Gilbert."
"I'm just saying Larry likes to overcharge and you have to be ready for."
"You're welcome Gilbert."
"So Doris sent you I take it."
"She was worried you didn't fully read the description of the job, and just worried in general."
"I'll have to think about giving her a raise. I hope you brought more of that were brew, this group was the smaller of the three I'd run across." Clarissa handed over a back pack full of containers.
"Larry also said he'd heard reports the caves were infested, a lot of people like Gilbert."
"So I'm finding out, how's your shoulder?"
"Sore, but I'll deal." There was sound from behind Gilbert. The lizards were coming, sounded like an entire army of the little buggers.
"Good, because we got some exterminating to do."
"And you complain about my catchphrases."
****
Many hours later Gilbert and Clarissa emerged from the cave. Both were coated in lizard entrails, but they were victorious. The sun was setting over the horizon, the cool air felt like it had come from god himself to cool them down. Clarissa just sat down breathing none burning lizard air for a moment.
"I'm half tempted to just ride home with you, the Van's ac is shot." Clarissa laughed.
"Yeah my jeep's ac doesn't work either, I swear I was losing my mind driving down here in the weather." Gilbert joined her on the ground.
"Probably should get that looked into."
"Yeah do you know a guy?"
"Several, though I admit it's been years might be dead."
"As we all might be soon enough." Gilbert looked at the sun going down and pulled his pipe out.
"Some of us sooner than others."
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