Eden succeeding

the long version

On the lushly verdant planet of New Eden, mankind's first colony in space, a group of settlers have been abandoned for the past seventeen years with no contact from earth. Some in the Alpha group have managed to adapt and survive while others succumbed to a mysterious lifeforce at the heart of the planet. The Meatman spends his days hunting and his nights caring for his wife, Nessa. When a fringe group of survivors led by the powerful and charismatic Lady Malic hatch a plan to save Alpha colony, they enlist The Meatman to join their ranks. Though desirous of a solution to end this ongoing nightmare, their grisly plan will come at a cost. Can The Meatman afford to pay it? Fans of Ray Bradbury, Frank Herbert, and Stephen King's work will no doubt enjoy this science fiction/horror hybrid novelette.