； would have offered herself to him again for he was the male of the species and it was his right。 But he was satisfied in that respect； his uppermost desire right now to find some means of escape from this terrible place which he did not understand； a prison which denied him the freedom of the open spaces。
Throaty noises： 'What is this place and why are we here； woman？'
*I do not know。1 Cowering。 If he flew into a rage he might strike her。
He prowled the room； knocked over the flimsy bedside table and stooped to examine it； half…afraid of an obstacle which he did not understand； backing away。 His bulk caught against the door handle； sprung it。 With a howl he leaped away； stared in disbelief as the door swung slowly open。 Through the gap he spied dazzling white walls； the long carpeted corridor。 Hesitating； again looking to his mate for support。 There is a way out。' 'Where you go； I go。'
He nodded； aware how fast his heart beat； realising for the first time that his skin smarted。 He held out his hairy arms； examined them； the thick hair was patchy； uneven； and he saw toe redness of his flesh； how it burned； itched in places。 The disfort angered him； but the need to escape from here dominated his limited instinctive powers of thought。
Stealthily； a stalking beast of prey； he crept out of the room； Marlene close behind him。 A fluorescent tube flickered badly； hurt his eyes； decided him upon which way to go；
And then he saw the other woman！ She was old； her blotched flesh wrinkled； her hair grey and sparse。 Her breasts sagged； empty milk bags that were of no further use； legs skinny and weak。 The head was almost bald； the mouth shrunken and toothless； gnarled hands clutching a stick； an extra artificial limb upon which she had been leaning to support her frail body。
She saw them and her eyes widened； toothless mouth opening to emit a scream of terror； the stick raised to protect herself。
Eric went into a crouch； saw a weapon which threatened them； this hag barring their escape route； one of the old ones seeking to strike them down。 Fat had tautened into muscles； his reflexes were as sharp as any animal of the wild for his life depended upon them。
Powerful short legs springboarded him into action； had him airborne； mouthing unintelligible hatred for the old woman； spittle frothing down his shaggy beard。 A killing cry； an arm brushing aside the wielded stick； clattering it against the wall so that it thudded to the floor。 A clenched fist raised； ing down。
Just one blow； that was all that was necessary。 He scarcely felt the impact； heard only the sharp snap as the brittle skull cracked； the head jerked right back。 Something broke。 His adversary was dead even as she fell； never felt the weight of his feet as they landed on her abdomen； ballooned her intestines into a tight ball so that the stomach wall split and spewed them out； blood and matter spraying the ceiling。 He slipped in the slimy mess； fell headlong in the human offal。 One bound and he was upright again； a stinking hairy thing fleeing for the stairs with its mate close behind。 Steps going down； not knowing where they led but it was dangerous to remain here。 A landing； down another flight； then stopping as he saw people below him in the halt； slippery bloody fingers clutching the stair…rail until the wooden struts threatened to snap。 His wide nostrils flared； smelled death and fear in the stuffy indoor atmosphere。
Marlene moved close to him； whined her own terror softly。 A bunch of men and women prowled the ground floor area restlessly； skin…festered fingers examining mundane objects with the gleeful enthusiasm of young children。 A brass handbell clanged as its clapper swung； was dropped to the black and white marble floor。 Rolling in a half…circle until its momentum ran out； the watchers scattering； chattering in alarm； circling it warily as though it might suddenly e to life again and spring up at them。 When it did not it was ignored； forgotten。
The swing…doors leading out into the street spun crazily； banged one who sought to enter； had him jumping back with a howl of anguish。 Outside the street was crowded； everyone going his or her own way with urgent purposeless gambolling movements； arms hung low； some even moving about on all fours。 Backwards and forwards； a few dashing for no other reason than that they got in one another's way； not a mob because they were mindless individuals who had not yet succumbed to the gregarious instinct。 Confused； afraid； screaming whenever blue lights flashed and sirens blared。 But neither ambulances nor police cars were going anywhere； the early…morning traffic already shunted into an immovable tangle。 All transport ground to a standstill。
Screaming； there was always somebody screaming but nobody took any notice。 Here and there a couple mated openly but their copulation was ignored because it was acceptable to ensure the continuation of their kind。 Corpses lay on the pavements and in the road。
Eric Atkinson descended the remaining stairs cautiously； Marlene following close behind； he knew she was there because he could smell her fear。 Nobody was interested in them； they did not even seem aware that strangers were in their midst。 Because everybody was a stranger。
He tried to work out how to pass through the swing…doors； plate glass rotating every time anybody pushed at them； then somebody fell； perhaps was pushed； sprawled headlong and jammed the doors； pinned securely； struggling and yelling。 Eric Atkinson seized his chance； squeezed through the narrow gap； pulling Marlene after him； treading heavily over the unfortunate youth who shrieked in agony； his abdomen bulged but it was stronger than that of the aged woman on the second floor and did not split。
Outside； breathing in the fresh air； hustling and being hustled。 Some of the passers…by were still clothed； struggling to rid themselves of clinging garments； tearing at material； pulling blindly。 Frustrated； wondering how their bodies came to be obstructed by these inexplicable things which overheated burning skin and restricted their movements。
Futile flight in a strange land； roads that were circular and brought them back to the place from which they had started but they were not aware of this because the landmarks were all the same； buildings that looked identical wherever they went。
The crowds were swelling as more and more poured out into the packed streets； clambering over vehicles； some examining them with interest； overing their fear of alien objects； chattering excitedly。
A large van was pulled on to the pavement close to a bank； a black chassis with a green trim； barred windows on the side doors and at the rear。 One of the side doors was open so that you caught a glimpse of the interior。 Two men； naked except for their helmets； of which they seemed totally unaware。 Money everywhere； packets of notes； the polythene wrappings split so that the currency had showered out； a carpet of giant confetti； blue； green and brown spilling across the floor； down the steps； wafting along the road。 A fortune in street litter that was being trodden and shredded by an army of feet； ignored because nobody realised and even if they did they weren't worth anything。 A gust of warm summer wind stirred them； swirled them； swept them further away。
Eric Atkinson pulled Marlene along with him； hurrying； almost dragging her； not knowing where he was going only that his instincts screamed at him to be away from this place of artificiality which stank of death and fear。
Run。 Hide。 Anywhere； but not here。
CHAPTER SIX
JON QUINN sweated as he pushed the starter…button on the Land Rover。 On the fifth attempt the engine coughed into life； emitted a cloud of black smoke； threatened to die； but he jammed his foot on the accelerator and just caught it in time。 During those few awful moments he thought that it had packed up on him in his hour of greatest need。 He sighed his relief audibly； let the engine tick over； the rattling vibrations of the meccano…like bodywork sweet music in his ears。 When he got back he would park it on the slope facing downwards； jump…start it next time if he had to。
He checked the petrol gauge。 Half…full； five gallons averaging 18 mpg。 Ninety miles before he ran dry。 There was an old…fashioned garage in the next village that still had a hand…operated pump； probably the majority of electrically…powered ones were out of mission by now。 Tomorrow he would have a run over and fill up； take as many empty five…gallon oil drums with him as he could find； stock up before everybody else got the same idea。 If there was anybody else left。
He didn't relish the prospect of venturing into civilised parts； not even remote villages。 He was scared of what he might find。 But he would have to do it sooner or later。 Oh God； if only Jackie was here。 There had never really been anything wrong between them； just a steady drifting apart that neither of them had made the effort to check。 And now it was too late。
The engine was ticking