按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
last few days we're dealing with a virulent disease which could be capable of striking us all down。'
Somewhat reluctantly Professor Rickers donned a white coat and gauze mask；； the others following suit。 Brian Newman stood back。 He was content to be a spectator from now on； as he was confident that whatever there was to be found inside the dead bats； Rickers would find it。
For the next hour the three of them watched Rickers working painstakingly； dissecting bat after bat； examining entrails with the aid of a microscope； making notes on a scrap of paper； scraping furry remains into a plastic bag； and then starting on another tiny corpse。 They could not see his expression behind the mask； and not once did he indicate his findings。
Finally； with every bat dissected and the remnants enclosed in the waste bag； Rickers removed his mask and gloves and turned to the others。 His expression alighted briefly on Newman； disbelief and mockery in his eyes。
'These bats died of a brain disease；' Rickers said。 'Meningitis； which is what they were injected with anyway； so that's hardly surprising。 The virus is dead； so we can hardly be expected to pronounce a mutation。 To ascertain that we should have to examine a living creature； but as they have all apparently escaped there is no opportunity to do that。 Doubtless they will die from meningitis in the wild； their bodies will never be found； and that will be that。 I would doubt very much whether mankind or even wildlife is at risk。'
Haynes was gloatingly triumphant as he turned to Newman。 'You are making mountains out of molehills； Professor Newman；' he said； drawing himself up to his full height。 'And it would seem that a whole week of work has been needlessly wasted。'
'I tell you； the disease is deadly！' Newman spoke hotly。
'I suggest you pile your negative report；' Haynes turned to the door； ignoring his protest。 'Let me have it by tomorrow； please。'
Two minutes later only Susan and Brian Newman remained in the laboratory。
'And that's that。' Newman sighed； 'Officially； anyway。'
'What are we going to do？'
'We can't do anything except wait。 Whatever happens now will happen in the outside world； instead of in the laboratory where we stood a chance of controlling it。' His hand found hers and squeezed it lightly。 'By the way； I'm sorry about last night。'
'So am I。 What are you going to do； though？ I mean； about that girl？'
'I dropped her off home； and as far as I'm concerned that's that'
'So we're back to square one。 Just you and me。'
'Perhaps we can manage to make a go of it this time。' he said； avoiding her gaze。
'Maybe。' She picked up a broom and began sweeping up broken glass。 'Like everything else； we'll just have to await developments。'
Chapter Three
The Wooden Stables； as the sprawling； untidy outbuildings were known； had fallen gradually into a state of disrepair since the war。 Once they had been the property of the Marquis of Anglesey； and thoroughbred stock had been stabled there。 Then； with the breaking up of the estate； which had once stretched from Cannock Wood down to Lichfield； they had undergone a series of ownerships； and the quality of horseflesh housed there had deteriorated along with the structure。
Walter Williams cursed to himself as he swung the old Austin pick…up truck off the Cannock Road and felt the wheels spinning in the mud of the rough track。 It had not rained for almost a fortnight now； but the bridle…path was still like a quagmire。 He revved up； and as he felt the vehicle shoot forward he made a mental note to bring a load of slag up next time and attempt to fill in one or two of the pot…holes； something which he had been meaning to do ever since he had bought the place three years ago。
Dusk was gathering； and the shadows from the conifer wood on his left prompted him to switch on his headlights。 The twin beams lit up the dereliction ahead of him； a vista of crumbling brickwork and rotting timbers； with gaping holes in the slate roof of the nearest building。 Something large ambled out of the shadows and trotted towards him as he brought the vehicle to a halt。
'Hello Penny； old gal；' he called out to the piebald mare as he climbed out and went round to the tailboard。 There were four bales of hay in the back of the truck。 With luck he wouldn't have to e up here again for two or three days。 He would be glad when his daughter； Shirley； was old enough to look after her own horses。 It had been the same all along； the rabbit； the guinea…pig； the dog； even the goldfish。 Walter had had to tend to the lot。
The mare nuzzled him as he let the tail…board down。
There's a good girl；' he coaxed； fondling her。 'But where's Stango？'
Stango was Penny's mate； a black stallion who looked good until one examined him closely； and realised why he was housed in the Wooden Stables。
Walter peered into the darkness。 It was strange； indeed； that Stango had not e to meet him。 Perhaps the horse had already bedded itself down in the building。 It had never happened before； though。 Then he heard the drumming hooves in the field。
'Hey； Stango；' he called。 'Good boy。 C'm'ere！'
Stango came into view at a fast gallop； moving from left to right； passing in front of the truck but making no attempt to approach it。 With a whinny the animal came to a halt about twenty yards away； and stood there flicking his tail restlessly the way he usually did in hot weather when the flies were troublesome。 He pawed the ground and snorted。
'What the devil's up with you？' Walter walked steadily towards the horse； hand outstretched。 Stango backed away； and in the darkness Walter Williams saw the whiteness of his rolling eyes。 The stallion snorted and； breaking into a canter； galloped away to the other end of the field。
'Bloody vandals been up 'ere again；' Walter muttered。 Throwin' stones at 'im； I suppose。 No wonder the bugger's upset。 Better 'ave a look an' see if Vs 'urt。'
But Stango had no intention of letting Walter Williams approach him。 Ten minutes later a breathless and angry Walter was shaking his fist at the silhouette of the horse which stood on the opposite side of the small field。
'AH right； bloody well stay there if that's how you feel； damn you！' he snarled； and returned to his task of unloading the bales of hay from the pick…up。
'C'mon； old girl；' he called to the watching Penny as he struggled to the nearest building carrying a bale。 'Some nice fresh hay 'ere。 e and get it。'
But Penny would e no further than five yards from the doorway。
'So you're bein' bloody stupid； too； are you？' Walter was fast losing patience。 With a final curse he threw the bale into the stable。 It thudded onto the stone floor； rolled over； and then； as it came to rest； he heard a movement in the rafters。
He stood still； listening。 The noise came again。 A soft rustling sound like moths beating against a lampshade。
Sparrows roosting in the rafte