a few apes in cages, and tried to tame them, but Morka always felt nauseated at their sight and smell. He had killed many thousands of them. Now, perhaps, he would have to kill millions of their wretched, noisy descendants. If they were all like that screaming female creature he had just met, it would be a pleasure!
He was awoken by the sound of feet on the floor of the barn above. The apples had done him good and he had more strength now. There were a lot of creatures above him, probably searching for him with those sticks that explode and make pain. Cautiously he uncoiled and went up the ladder step by step. He put the top of his head against the hatch and pushed gently upwards until there was a thin slit of light. He adjusted his eyes and looked into the barn. Although the faces of the creatures all looked the same to him, helpfully they all wore different clothes. There was a male creature in a long black frock coat, and he was kneeling by the body of the creature whom Morka had killed. Standing close was a female creature with blonde fur on her head – long fur that hung to her shoulders. There were two other males of the species: one in brown clothes, which had fur growing under its nose, and the other in dark-blue clothes with silver buttons.
‘His neck’s broken,’ said the Frock Coat.
The creature with silver buttons tried to stop the Frock Coat from touching the dead creature. ‘You really shouldn’t touch anything, sir,’ it said, ‘until the CID has been.’
‘This isn’t a matter for Criminal Investigation, Constable,’ said the Frock Coat. ‘This isn’t ordinary murder at all.’
‘At least,’ said the one with fur under its nose, ‘the monster cannot be far away. I’ve got a helicopter up searching these moors. We’ll track it down and kill it in no time.’
Another creature dressed in brown came running in. It stopped running and stood very upright, and put its hand to its head. Morka thought it was going to scratch its head, because the little furry apes were always scratching themselves to kill the fleas in their fur. But this action was some kind of signal. The one with the fur under its nose turned and also put its hand to its head.
‘Sir,’ said the newcomer, ‘we’ve just heard over the radio. The lady found here has come round and is able to talk.’
‘Come on, Doctor,’ said Fur Under Nose, ‘we’d better get to the hospital.’
‘One other thing, sir,’ said the newcomer, still standing bolt upright. ‘They say she’s drawing pictures on the wall.’
Fur Under Nose and Frock Coat looked at each other, but Morka could not understand the expressions on their faces. Frock Coat turned to the female creature, indicating a black box on the floor. ‘I’ll go to the hospital. You’ll find everything you need in there for a forensic check.’
Silver Buttons looked very worried. ‘Forensics is for the CID,’ it said.
Frock Coat turned to Silver Buttons: ‘Fingerprints, and ordinary human bloodstains – yes, I would agree. But Miss Shaw and I are looking for reptilian-like monsters.’ It turned to Fur Under Nose. ‘I’m ready.’
Frock Coat and Fur Under Nose hurried out, along with the creature that had stood upright all the time. Silver Buttons turned to the female creature. ‘Anything I can do for you, miss?’ it said.
‘That’s very kind of you,’ said the female. ‘But I can manage.’
Silver Buttons turned to go, then paused. ‘That fellow you call the Doctor,’ it said. ‘Is he all right in the head?’
‘He’s very all right in the head,’ said the female.
‘I’ll be wandering around if you need me,’ said Silver Buttons, and slowly walked out of the barn.
Morka considered what he must now do. He cursed himself for not killing that screaming female when he had the chance. Now the other creatures would hear from that female how he had gone down into the cellar beneath the barn. They would all come back with their exploding sticks and
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