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Something definitely moved； dislodged a trickle of small stones close by。 He jumped； wanted to shine his torch in the direction of the noise but he did not dare。 If there's anything there then I don't want to see it。 Rats； that's what it is； rodents are bound to use these old crypts。 Repulsive but not dangerous。
His arms seemed to be virtually unscathed。 Perhaps if he could secure a grip on something then he could pull himself up； reach the slab above； open it enough to give him air； a gap through which his shouts for help might be heard。
New hope； desperation breeding determination； groping behind him； feeling with Ms fingers。 And that was when he touched something； it should have been cold rough stone； hard and inanimate。 Instead it was rough and soft 。 。 。 breathing and moving；'
He snatched his hand away with an inarticulate cry； could not help himself from swinging his torch round； a dazzling white beam that reflected a pair of tiny glittering eyes； a long thick body that ended over in the shadows some yards away。 Eyes watching him from every corner； pinpoints of unwavering evil。
Ken Aylott's reason almost snapped； hovered precariously on the brink between sanity and madness。 You've found 'em； copper； the snakes everybody's been searching for； holed up in a derelict crypt in a disused churchyard。
No； they weren't real； they were a fevered nightmare brought on by the pain from his injuries。 If he closed his eyes； and then opened them a few seconds later； they would be gone； evaporated。 If there's anything there it's only rats and I've got snakes on the brain。 They bloody well aren't snakes！
He sensed them moving； heard their bodies dragging across the uneven floor； slithering towards him。 No； they don't exist； They don't 。 。 。
Sudden agony in his leg； his whole body jerking up； pain that in no way could have e from his fall； like a heated bradawl had been bored into his flesh； gouged a burning hole right down to the bone。
The policeman managed one long shriek of pain and terror； almost succeeded in standing on his fractured limbs； then fell backwards。 The torch bounced from his hold； rolled； and shone its light back on the awful scene； cruelly showed Ken Aylott everything he did not want to see。 A 3…D horror show in which he was the principal actor。
They were everywhere； long ones； fat ones； thin ones； dazzling deadly colours shimmering in the harsh artificial light； sliding up to the convulsing human body； striking at the exposed white flesh。 Fangs that dug deep and tore mercilessly； drew blood and hungered for more。 Darted； flicked； speared him with their poison。
Ken Aylott watched his own flesh swell； bloated veins pulsing with deadly venom； reddening； purpling。 The snakes slid over him； obscene attacks； savouring this victim that had dropped obligingly into their lair。 He felt their coldness； gave up any thoughts of escape。 How long did it take a man to die from a snakebite？ It depended upon which species bit you。 He didn't have a chance； just wanted the end to be quick。
I found 'em； sir； when everybody else failed。 Didn't I？ And I won't get promotion； not even a posthumous award。 They'll always remember me as the copper who fucked up the Raglan case。
The snakes were backing off him； a sudden withdrawal that puzzled the dying policeman even in his pain…crazed state。 The bastards wanted to gloat； to watch him die； listen to his pleadings。 They'll get you； make no mistake about that。 You've fooled us all for the moment but they'll find you； they'll e with guns and blast hell out of you。
He could barely breathe now； as if his lungs had given out； collapsed； his eyes were swelling； restricting his vision。 But he saw enough； enough to topple him down into that abyss of madness； even had him trying to laugh。
He had wondered where the big fucker had got to； the twenty…foot python that should have found it impossible to hide out in any tract of English countryside。 Well； it was here now； must have been gorged and sleeping off some feast in the shadows； had missed out on the action。 Now it was here； which was why all the others were keeping their distance。
A giant amongst reptiles； a Goliath of evil； driving the others back to skulk in their corners； watching them slink away。
Aylott's eyes were just twin slits now but the fear and the pain were gone。 I've been looking for you； feller； there's a warrant out for your arrest。 You'd better e quietly without any bloody fuss。 e on； now； no nonsense； I'm a police officer。 Damn you； don't you understand？ I'm a police officer and I'm placing you under arrest。 Anything you say may be taken down and used in evidence against you 。 。 。
The python was angry because its victim was dead but all the same it lashed the corpse mercilessly； struck with an incredible speed for its size； vented its fury on the human body。 There was no need to entwine itself around the corpse； encircle the broken body and crush those frail bones； but it did so because that was its nature and it was very angry。
Tightening； squeezing； feeling its prey crunch and begin to pulp； blood oozing out across the dry floor。 Finally it relinquished its grip； reared up and looked down on the mangled form。 Its fury was vented and now hunger took over； its body expanding so that it might consume the morass； swallowing it whole； almost noiseless。 Reptilian gluttony。
The other snakes were forgotten； hidden in their various corners； afraid because circumstances had forced them to share their hideout with a king amongst reptiles。 A kind of temporary peace pact because they were the hunted in an alien land； reptilian guerrillas pelled to band together for survival。 Man was their mon foe and thus they were united in a single cause。
Down here in this dark underground place they felt safe。 They would remain here as long as possible for even the keen…scented dogs which had hunted the ground above had not smelled them out They had food…rats and mice； an abundance of voles。 The king； too； had fed
But every one of them was a killer。 Tomorrow； or perhaps the next day； their very nature would drive them out again to kill。
Chapter 13
A SUMMER dawn was beginning to infiltrate the night sky by the time sheer exhaustion finally claimed Keith Doyle and Kirsten Davis； brought brief respite from the sheer horror of the past few hours。 All around the birds were beginning to twitter and sing but they did not hear them as they slumbered restlessly in a cramped position； bodies entwined； breathing easily。
It was the numbness in his left arm which finally had Keith stirring； wakefulness ing slowly； his brain gently easing him slowly back to reality。 He thought at first that they were in a bed together； like the time Kirsten's folks had gone away for a long weekend and the couple had crammed into the girl's single bed； spent a blissful unfortable night together； an experience which they would hold dear for the rest of their lives。 It had happened again； a thrill began to course throu