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Keeping her eyes firmly on the reptile she moved awkwardly； unsteadily backwards； until finally she had the chair between herself and her adversary。 She was breathing heavily and there was a sharp pain in her chest。
She leaned on the upholstery； clasping a walking stick in either hand； wondering if she had the strength to strike a blow if the thing advanced。 She'd darned well have a go if it came any nearer。 Oh； please God； send John home soon。
She would have to shout out to warn him when she heard him ing or else he would walk right into it。 And all she could manage at the moment was a hoarse whisper。
'Go away； you devil。 Go away。'
The snake did not move； just lay there stretched out across the doormat； watching her。 Waiting。 She wondered what kind it was； some venomous viper from the swamps of somewhere…or…other； no doubt。 Her flesh crawled and her heartbeat was speeding up even faster； hurting her with those fast little hammer blows inside her chest that she had felt this past six months but had kept to herself。
The light wasn't as bright as it usually was； quite dim in fact。 Perhaps the fitting was going； due for replacement。
Elsie leaned her full weight on the back of the chair。 She couldn't stand much longer。 The pain in her hip had started up viciously but it wasn't as bad as the one in her chest。 Oh Lord； she couldn't stand it much longer。 'Go away； you devil； and let me sit down。 D'you hear me； go away？'
And then something inside her seemed to explode； an agonising pain as though she had been delivered a physical blow； throwing her back against the wall behind her。 She cried out； a pathetic little shriek of terror and the dimness turned to blackness。 She slumped forward and the chair rolled sideways on its flimsy castors； Elsie Harrison pitching headlong； unconscious before she hit the floor。
Even then the snake did not move。 Possibly there was a slight change of reptilian expression on its blunt features。 One of puzzlement。
It was after nine o'clock before the shotgun…carrying searchers had finished bing the moorland above Stainforth。 Hot and weary； their feet painful after the necessity of wearing knee…length protective rubber boots； disillusioned。 The dogs lay panting； licking at tufts of grass in the hope of obtaining a droplet of moisture but there was none。 A barren wilderness where only the heather and bracken survived； bilberry bushes loaded with red fruit that would ripen in a month or so； the domain of the grouse and the buzzard； even the free…ranging sheep preferring the lower slopes where there were patches of shade to be found。
John Price had had his misgivings from the start； a feeling that one sometimes got that it was all going to be a waste of time。 You sensed you were in the wrong place but with no alternative you had to start somewhere。
The snakes were definitely not on the moor unless they had gone to ground somewhere and it was unlikely that every one of the escaped eight reptiles would have done that。 Of course； the dogs had no idea what they were hunting； they could not be expected to。 They were the sacrificial victims； it was inevitable that should one of them e upon a reptile it would attack in ignorance and get bitten。 There was no other way； canine lives were expendable； human lives were not。
They beat out the three…thousand…acre； triangular moorland from its apex； the furthermost point。 John had to agree with Colonel Marks that that was the logical thing to do even though the slight breeze was blowing towards the ragged line of police and army。 You knew then； when you finally arrived at the rocky outcrop overlooking Stainforth village； that the poisonous reptiles were not on the moor。 A process of elimination。 Tomorrow it would be the grassy slopes down to the arable land that would be thrashed out。 On day three it would be the barley and oilseed rape fields。 And after that。。。
Nightfall was the snakes' greatest ally。 They could have been lying low further down by day and with the ing of darkness they might start to move。 Upwards。 So tomorrow whilst the searchers toiled down below； their prey could be safely ensconced several hundred feet above them up on the moorland。
But not all of them； John Price was adamant about that。 They were not hunting a flock of snakes； rather six very different species。 The pairs would stay together in all probability。 But nobody really knew； they could only guess。 The killers were in a strange alien environment and there was no way of knowing how they might react。 There was no book of rules to consult。
John heard the whine of the helicopters again。 The choppers were flying low； sweeping the grassy slopes； determined not to give up until the light was gone altogether。 A long shot； but when lives were at stake you played every card you had。
'We'll have to call it a day；' the sweat…grimed colonel was polishing his spectacles； dejection in his tone； head bowed as though their failure to find the snakes was a personal affront to his own rank and status。 'We'll make an early start in the morning。 7 a。m。 Everybody assemble at the police station。 It's the hillsides and slopes tomorrow； working back towards the village。 The choppers will be out before then； scouring。 We can only hope。'
Chief Inspector Watts nodded but declined to ment。 Everybody knew the position； the colonel had said everything there was to be said。 Surely the reptiles had to show up somewhere； the worrying factor was just where。
It was 10。05 when John Price disembarked from the camouflaged army Land Rover and began to walk the length of the village in the direction of Aunt Elsie's bungalow。 His feet dragged but mentally he was still alert。 On a balmy summer evening such as this he would have expected to see families enjoying the late evening in deck…chairs in their gardens or taking a stroll before going to bed。 The main street was deserted； lights showing in some of the houses on either side。
He passed the Rising Sun。 The beer…garden at the side was deserted； an air of desolation about the array of white…painted tables and chairs； an empty glass tipped over with insects crawling inside it after the dregs； you had the feeling that it had been like that since yesterday； that nobody had ventured out there。 Stay indoors and be safe； never mind the stifling atmosphere； that's a small price to pay for your life。
There were people in the bar； he heard their voices and the wafting aroma of beer almost tempted him inside。 God； he could swallow a pint of lager at one go。 But the thought of his aunt all alone dissuaded him。 She would doubtless be worrying； probably had been all day and he was later than he had anticipated。 The trouble with Elsie Harrison was that she was always so precise…what time will you be home； John？ Even when he just popped out for a quick half。
Between ten and half past meant she started looking out for him at five to ten。 He had not failed to notice the pack of low…alcohol shandies lined up on the shelf in the fridge； a subtle move on her part to keep him