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to the ground. The thing's hunger was satisfied for the moment - or was it? Was it capable of
remembering that it almost had two human beings within its grasp?
Liz vomited again. She hoped it could not hear her. She wondered if it had any powers of scent.
Unconsciousness would have been merciful. She would have been unaware whether or not it discovered
her. Yet the desire to faint had gone. Revolted as she was by the mutilation she had just witnessed she
was thinking clearly, decisively.
Escape was uppermost in her mind. Yet she could not run again. Every muscle in her body refused to
respond to the urge to flee. She would be incapable of outrunning the Slime Beast should it find her.
Her only hope lay in the fact that it might not detect her. Perhaps it would go away and then she could
make her way back to the blockhouse. She felt no remorse over Mallard Glover's death. He had brought
it upon himself. Had he not tried to rape her he would still be alive.
The Slime Beast remained stationary for some minutes, just standing there. Silent. Then it moved.
Casually almost. A shuffling gait treading down the bullrushes before it Liz held her breath. It was coming
directly towards her! She bit her bottom lip in order to prevent herself from screaming. She could not
run. She closed her eyes. At least she would know nothing about it!
She felt the mud squelching over her. Something brushed against her head. That nauseating stench again.
Burning into her nostrils and down into her lungs. She held her breath awaiting the crunch of the massive
foot which would crush her head into the mud and into oblivion.
It never came. The Slime Beast advanced and passed on not even noticing her half-naked body in the
rushes. A massive slimy footprint either side of her head was the only proof that it had passed by her at
all. She had missed death by three inches!
A few minutes later she struggled to her feet. Every part of her body was trembling. She must head for
the blockhouse, and find Gavin and her uncle. They might be back already. She must get help. Someone
who would destroy this loathsome beast, and then she would be back in London.
These thoughts were uppermost in her mind as she set off back across the silvery marshes.
CHAPTER SEVEN
PROFESSOR LOWSON and Gavin Royle halted on the banks of the big creek. It had been their
intention to cross it and gain access to the sea-wall a mile or so away, for from there they would have an
elevated view of the saltings. Also there was the chance that if the Slime Beast did decide to visit Sutton
village again it would have to pass this way.
Now their plans were thwarted. The tide had come in much quicker than they had expected probably
because of the full moon. Eight feet of water swirled before them and it was rising every second.
Professor Lowson turned to his companion. 'We'll have to try that rickety old footbridge further up. I had
a look at it yesterday. It should bear our weight all right provided we don't both cross together.'
The bridge had been constructed by fenmen before the war and now age was beginning to eat into its
structure.
'I'll cross first' said the Professor, testing the rotting beams with his foot. They creaked ominously. He
took another step. Two.
'Seems all right,' he commented, 'I'll.. .'
Had Gavin been much shorter he would never have managed to reach Lowson in time. The main
supporting beam parted from the planks above with a pistol-like crack. The bridge swayed, vibrated and
then collapsed.
Gavin's strong fingers caught the Professor's outstretched arm and pulled, allowing his own body to fall
backwards at the same time. Together they sprawled in the mud, Gavin supporting the other with one
hand while grabbing at a tussock of grass with the other. The steep bank was slippery, yet somehow he
managed to hold on.
Together they watched the debris being swirled round the bend out of sight
'That was close,' Lowson breathed, 'too close. Thanks!'
'We shan't make the sea-wall tonight,' Gavin panted as he edged them both back up on to the safety of
the comparatively firm spartina grass. "Guess we'd best keep walking.'
It was then that they heard the scream. Just once. Then complete silence.
'It-came from over that way,' the Professor snapped. "Somewhere by the bend in the creek, about five
hundred yards away. Come on!'
Take it steady,' Gavin restrained him. 'We don't want to run headlong into trouble. Let's follow this path
quietly through these rushes, and keep your eyes peeled.'
The path was soft and marshy and they were forced to move slowly. Every so often they paused to
listen. Everywhere was still and eerie, the moonlight casting weird shadows.
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