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She was frightened。 If she didn't give him what he wanted； he would take it Any way he could。 He was no better than the Slime Beast。 Worse in fact。 You knew where you stood with the mud monster。
He lunged forward。 There was nowhere to dodge him in this cramped space。 Her foot rested on the empty packing…case； and shot out in a sudden kick。 The fowler staggered back as the wooden box crashed against his shins； and splinters embedded themselves in the flesh。 He let out a shriek of pain。
Liz darted for the doorway。 He grabbed at her and missed。 She ran out into the corridor。 Fortunately the door yielded as she pulled and then stuck。 The gap was no more than a foot； but wide enough for her。
She felt his fingers closing on her blouse as she wriggled out into the night air。 There was a tearing sound and then she was free。 Naked to the waist； but free。
Glover had to waste valuable seconds forcing the door back enough to allow him to pass through； and Liz did not mean to squander that advantage。 Leaping bounds took her on to the salt…marshes； the soft carpet beneath her squelching with each step。
The saltings were silvery beneath the full moon and she could see around her clearly。 The sea…wall lay to her right。 Beyond it stood their Land Rover。 She started towards it then suddenly changed direction。 Gavin had the keys to the vehicle for one thing。 Another factor was that the big creek would be full as the tide was in by now。
She fought down her panic。 Her best plan would be to keep parallel to the sea…wall； for way beyond the deserted lighthouse was a rickety old footbridge。 She could cross there。 After that Sutton would be her best bet。 The nearest telephone box would soon settle Mallard Glover。
She glanced behind her quickly。 The fowler was less than a hundred yards away； and he had one advantage over her。 He knew every inch of these salt…marshes。 But she had youth on her side。 The contest could go either way。
Her heart pounded wildly。 She prayed that she had the stamina to last out。 If only the mud did not bee any softer。
Liz could hear him now： closer。 She followed the banks of the big creek。 Fifteen feet of swirling muddy water lay to her right； dark and sinister。 Yet she would plunge in and swim if she had to。
She dared not delay by looking back again。 He was much closer now and the spike grass and tall reeds were impeding her progress。 She could hear the breathing； laboured and rasping。 How had he so suddenly gained on her？
She threw a quick glance over her shoulder。 Merciful God！ She screamed。 Loud and clear。 She fought to control her sanity。 pelled her aching muscles and bursting lungs to respond to an even greater effort。
It was not Mallard Glover who followed her。
It was the Slime Beast！
Subconsciously she could taste blood in her mouth。 This sudden supreme effort was almost too much for her body。 It cried out to her to surrender…to lie down and die。
Only her will…power drove her on。 Yard after yard； slowing down all the time。 The beast must catch her now！
She closed her eyes； waiting。 She prayed again that it would be quick。
Then there was silence。 She opened her eyes again。 She was alone。 The towering bullrushes around her could have concealed a thousand reptilian horrors such as the one which pursued her。 Yet why should the beast resort to stealth when it had her at its mercy？
Now there were footsteps again。 Rubber boots squelching in the mire。 Glover！ She must hide。 It was too late for further flight now for he could be no more than thirty yards away。
There was a movement and a scream of sheer mortal terror。 Then she saw Glover； staggering； yelling。 His mind pletely gone。 On his heels was the Slime Beast！ Two yards from him。 A yard。 The screaming died in a choking gurgle。 She wanted to turn her head away but she could not。 She was pelled to watch。
Scaly talons ripped through clothing and flesh simultaneously。 Blood spouted。 Greenish…grey scales became scarlet in a matter of seconds。 Clawfuls of bloody entrails were crammed into cavernous jaws。 The dripping slit…like mouth was incapable of taking it all； much of it running down on to the body and splashing in the mud。
The Slime Beast ripped at the original incision； widening the wound and enabling it to search inside for more。 Methodical yet ravenous。
At last there was no more offal。 Scraping claws yielded only bloody flesh。 It grunted with rage。 Suddenly it picked up the mangled human remains by the neck and held it up at arm's length。 A clenched claw thudded down on to Glover's skull with the force of a steam…driven piston。 Bone cracked； then split； and brains oozed out of the splinters。
The monster pulled its victim closer； into a horrific repulsive embrace。 A long sliver of yellow tongue darted back and forth glinting in the moonlight； and within seconds there were no brains remaining in the pulped skull。
The corpse was cast aside； forgotten。 The Slime Beast turned round and Liz pressed herself even closer 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 ing 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