the stunted light kissed his bloody hand and flicked along the length of something long and thin and metallic , and my finger yanked back on the trigger , and the rifle kicked against my shoulder hard , and the barrel bucked in my hand as i emptied the clip , and from a great distance i heard someone screaming , but it was n't him screaming , it was me screaming , me and everybody else who was left , if there was anybody left , all of us helpless , hopeless , stupid humans screaming , because we got it wrong , we got it all wrong , there was no alien swarm descending from the sky in their flying saucers or big metal walkers like something out of star wars or cute little wrinkly e.t.s who just wanted to pluck a couple of leaves , eat some reese 's pieces , and go home .