Joel heard a crackling of branches behind him, stiffened. Then he
caught sight of a moving trunk. More and more of them appeared,
blending with the jungle until they were scarcely discernable.
They smelled like carbolic acid! It was the weirdest march he'd ever
witnessed, the massed shuddering movement of herd after herd of the
carnivorous nigel trees. The balls of thread-like roots at their bases
squirmed like Medusa's heads, thrusting the ungainly plants forward.
A wave of trees broke suddenly from the opposite wall of the jungle.
For a moment they went unnoticed. Then someone shouted.
More trees squirmed into the clearing, green fronds asway. It looked as
if the jungle itself were creeping back over the cleared ground.
Pandemonium broke loose. The two lines of cars ground to a halt. Pale
green rays sprang at the nigel trees, bathed them futilely. The trees
inexorably tightened the circle.
A man was snatched up by a tentacle. He kicked, screamed. More men were
caught by the ravenous plants. The stench of carbolic acid stung Joel's
nostrils.
The rebels broke and ran. But there was no place to run to. They saw
only a second wavering wall of greenery, of thrashing tentacles!
Joel was white, sick at his stomach. He caught sight of Walt Eriss. The
shaggy giant was sprinting for a half-track. He almost made it. Then a
tentacle girdled his ankle.
The ex-surgeon was lifted head downward into the air, squirming,
shrieking. Then he vanished into the gaping maw of the plant.
All at once, one of the Ganelons stepped out from the midst of the
trees.
"Surrender!" he yelled. "Surrender, and we'll call off the plants."
* * * * *
He had to repeat his offer a dozen times before he could catch the
attention of the frantic serfs. Then one of the rebels threw his
projector to the ground, raised his hands. Another and another followed
suit. It was over.
Joel felt dazed.