Dream XCII

I was with a group of researchers in a rented house on the side of a heavily forested mountain. Snow had fallen a few days previously, and lay thick on the ground; access roads were still blocked or too slippery for easy travel. While the research was fairly random and directionless, most of our worries concerned the nearby Martians and their desire to attack us.

We knew they were hostile and wanted to destroy the house, but we didn't know why. Observers had told us that they had tried to attack us the night before, but found the roads too impassible for their vehicle. In this case, the vehicle was just a large, overturned bowl that they hid beneath, slowly inching toward us. It had two large headlights which we could see shining in the night when they abandoned it. We knew that given time, they would eventually develop a means to reach us, probably using tripod machines that would travel more easily through the snow.

It was around this time that we noticed that there were several other houses in the area. It was proposed that one of the other houses might be persuaded to take me with them when they made a supply run, so that I could report the situation to our central authority.

The house we chose was skeptical and didn't want any trouble with the Martians. Their leader, though, agreed to bring me if I could solve one of their puzzles. It was a large board with sliding blocks, and I had to eliminate the blocks two by two until there were none left. I managed to solve the puzzle, but the leader of the other house went back on his word, and left before any of us could find him.

That night I was looking through the skylight and saw two enormous lights appear over the house. The Martians were back, driving a giant robot. It raised one foot and crashed through the ceiling, then stood at the head of the staircase, looking down into the lower floors.

I saw my opportunity and jumped at one of the legs, causing it to buckle slightly, but the robot didn't fall. It turned and glared at me, and began sprouting small tentacles from its shoulder blades. I leapt at the leg again, and this time the knee gave way. The robot crashed noisily down the steps and lay motionless at the bottom.