Slimer

Fourteen

Shelley was floating at the bottom of a black sea of infinite proportions. He was hiding. It was looking for him.

Shelley knew he couldn’t survive for much longer. The others were all gone now. He was alone.

It was a disturbing new stage in the thing’s development. As he had feared it was absorbing their very personalities in the same way that it had taken over their bodies. And in the process it was becoming intelligent itself. It was using their experiences, their thoughts, their memories, to build a single new mind around the original primitive shark mind. The Phoenix DNA/RNA had decided, in some unfathomable manner, to add intelligence to its already formidable range of survival tools…

And that single gestalt mind was undoubtedly evil. As a scientist Shelley didn’t like to use the word ‘evil’ but he had no choice. It would have been bad enough with only the central shark personality involved — while not inherently evil its voracious primal drives certainly made it inimical to human beings whatever its physical manifestation — but the inclusion of that disgusting thug Alex had brought a strong, almost overwhelming elemertt of genuine evil to the psychic stew.

Shelley shuddered mentally at the memory of the things Alex had done when he’d been in control of the group body. That poor girl… Shelley had briefly come in contact with Alex’s mind and found it indescribably loathsome. It was full of seething hatred and a desire to cause pain for pleasure. Perhaps he had led a sheltered life but it had come as a shock to him that another human being could think like that.

The horrible thing was that if the creature caught him he too would become part of that cauldron of malign emotions. Alex would become a part of him…

When Linda regained consciousness she found herself in one of the kitchens. She was lying on a mattress that had been placed on a table. There were a number of emergency gas lamps around but the place was still too dark for her liking. And it was cold. Freezing…

Paul helped her to sit up. She saw that he had put a rough splint on her arm but it hurt like crazy. And so did her back where Alex had clawed her.

‘How you feeling?’ he asked.

‘Lousy. My arm…’

He handed her a couple of pills and a cup of fruit juice. ‘Painkillers. Take them. I set your arm as best I could but you’ll probably have to have it reset when we get ashore.’

She swallowed the pills and the juice gratefully. She noted the way he’d said when we get ashore as if there were no doubt that they would. Good old Paul, still putting up a confident front. Mark, on the other hand, looked far from confident. He was sitting nearby with the flame-thrower beside him and trying to look in all directions. She realised they were in a very vulnerable and exposed position.

‘The creature.?’ she asked.

‘Haven’t seen it since the fun and games in the corridor,’ said Paul. ‘But as soon as you feel you can walk we’ll get moving. We’ve decided to go up to the roof. There’s still a storm going on outside but I think I’ll feel safer out in the open air. Also the generators are up there. We might be able to get one of them started again if we can find any fuel. Or we might be able to rig up some kind of distress signal…’

‘I’m ready to move now,’ she said firmly. But when, with his help, she got down from the table she was overcome with dizziness. ‘On second thoughts perhaps not just yet…’ she said groggily.

Paul helped her to a chair. ‘Wait a couple of minutes then we’ll try again,’ he advised. ‘In the meantime you can tell us what happened to the others.’

‘It got them. she began but was interrupted by a cry from Mark.

‘No! I won’t believe it! It hasn’t got Chris!’ He jumped to his feet and came over, leaving the flame-thrower behind. ‘I know she’s all right. She’s lost somewhere, that’s all. We’ve got to keep looking for her…’

Paul grabbed him by his shirt front. ‘Listen, you fool, you go and pick up that damn flame-thrower,’ he said harshly. ‘You’re supposed to be on watch. It’s stupidity like this that’s killing us one by one. When are you idiots going to realise what we’re up against.’ He gave him a contemptuous shove backwards.

Mark, cowed, went and picked up the weapon. But as he did so he muttered, ‘I don’t care what you say — Chris is still alive. That thing hasn’t got her.’

Linda said wearily, ‘I think it has. I’m sorry, Mark, but that’s what Alex told me…’

‘Alex?’ queried Paul.

She described what had happened after he and Mark had left her alone with Rochelle. ‘It got her first, then Alex and then.. Chris. It was with us in the cabin all the time — disguised as Ro — and we didn’t realise it,’ she concluded grimly.

‘You mean Alex was with us. By the sound of it he was running the show.’ He shook his head with disgust. ‘I guess it’s to be expected, knowing him. He probably feels right at home sharing a body with a man-eating shark. They must get on like long-lost relatives.’

‘No,’ said Linda. ‘He was in control, but only temporarily.’ She told him the way Alex had behaved before changing into the creature. ‘It was like he was under attack. He sounded terrified. Whatever’s in control of that thing now isn’t Alex.’

‘Good,’ said Paul, ‘I think I’d prefer to face a walking-talking shark than an invulnerable Alex.’

Linda shivered. ‘I don’t want to face either of them again. But did you notice, Paul, that the creature looked different? It wasn’t the same as when it attacked us in the rec room.’ ‘Yeah. It’s like it’s going through some kind of metamorphosis. Apart from the temporary shape changes it’s as if the original shark is still evolving…’

‘Evolving into what?’

He grimaced, ‘t hate to imagine. How do you feel now? Think you can walk? I’d like to get started.’

She got up. She still felt dizzy but she was determined not to delay them any longer. She didn’t feel safe in the kitchen. She kept seeing things out of the corner of her eye — movements in the shadows. Was it her imagination, or.?

‘I thought we could go outside on this level and then climb up the gangway to the roof,’ said Paul. ‘I don’t fancy going up through all five levels inside.’

Neither did she. ‘But will we be able to get out? With the power off won’t the automatic doors just stay closed?’

‘If they’re shut we’ll have to shoot our way out. They’re only glass.’ He handed her a torch and picked up his Ml6. Then he said to Mark. ‘Bring the flame-thrower and be ready to use it at a moment’s notice…’

‘No,’ said Mark. ‘I’m not coming. I’m going to keep searching for Chris.’

‘Mark, get it through your head, she’s gone,’ said Paul brutally. ‘Thanks to you. You left her alone to go have your damn fix and that thing got her. Well, it’s too late to help her now.’.

‘No, don’t say that!’ cried Mark. ‘It’s not true. She’s alive. ’ '

‘The way I feel about you right now I’d be happy to leave you down here and let you throw your life away,’ said Paul, ‘But Linda and I need your help so you’re coming with us. Now mow.⁵'.,

Mark shook his head. ‘No. I didn’t kill her. I love Chris.' I’ve got to find her. I know she’s here somewhere…’

‘I’m here, Mark.’

Chris stepped through the doorway. She looked dishevelled and tired but otherwise normal. Mark gave a cry of relief. ‘Chris, thank God. I knew you were okay…’ He dropped the flame-thrower and was about to rush forward but Paul was too fast for him. He stepped in front of him and gave him a hard blow in the solar plexus with the butt of the Ml 6. Then, as Mark doubled over, he swung the barrel towards Chris.

‘Don’t come any closer!’ he warned.

Chris halted. ‘Hey Paul,’ she said with a tired smile, ‘take it easy. It’s me…’

‘Sure. And I’m Harrison Ford. We know the real Chris got taken by that thing. Right Linda?’

‘That’s what Alex said,’ Linda agreed, staring at Chris with horrified fascination. It was almost impossible to believe that this wasn’t Chris. She — it — looked so real.

‘Alex was lying. You know what he’s like. I got away from him but of course he’d never admit that.’

‘No,’ said Linda slowly. ‘I think he was telling the truth. He gave details… said you were already dead by the time it got you… that only bits of your personality survived…’ ‘This is ridiculous,’ said Chris. ‘How can I convince you of the truth?’ She looked imploringly at Mark who was still doubled-over, trying to recover his breath. ‘Mark, make them understand. This is me.’

Paul raised the gun. ‘I’m sorry but we can’t take the chance…’ But before he could pull the trigger Mark leapt up with a wild cry and flung himself on Paul, knocking him over. The M16 clattered to the floor. Linda saw a gleam of triumph in Chris’s eyes as she started forward again.

Hoping with all her being that she was doing the right thing Linda ran to the gun and scooped it up with her right hand. Then, resting it awkwardly on her stiff left arm, she fired blindly at Chris. Chris was less than four feet away and the stream of 5-63 bullets almost cut her in half. Her body was flung violently backwards as if pulled on invisible wires. ‘No!’

The scream came from Mark. Leaving Paul he ran to Chris’s body. ‘You’ve killed her!’

But Paul was already up and-after him. He managed to grab Mark before he could fling himself on Chris and pulled him away.

‘That’s not Chris, you idiot!’ he yelled as he struggled with Mark. ‘Look at her!’

From her open mouth a black, shiny tendril had emerged, rising up like the head of an inquisitive snake. Linda felt a wave of repugnance go through her as she watched.

Mark stopped struggling. He gave a low moan of despair as Chris’s body began to collapse in upon itself.

‘Quick!’ said Paul urgently. ‘Move yourselves! Before it can attack!’ Hustling Mark ahead of him, Paul ran to the discarded flame-thrower and picked it up, then ordered Mark to grab a lamp and a flashlight. ‘Out the other door, hurry!’ he cried. ‘Linda!’

For several seconds Linda watched, almost hypnotised, as the tendrils of black slime flowed out from the rapidly disintegrating shell of Chris’s body. Then, as one of them began to pick up speed in her direction, she came to her senses and ran.

Again she found herself running down a dark corridor but at least this time she was not alone…

When they’d put about fifty yards between themselves and the kitchen Paul called a halt. Panting he lit the burner on the flame-thrower then shot a brief jet of fire down the corridor behind them. The harsh red glare revealed no sign of the creature.

‘Okay,’ said Paul, ‘now we follow my original plan. We’ll try and get outside and head for the roof…’ He turned to Linda. ‘How are you feeling? Do you think you can make it?’

All Linda really wanted to do was lie down and sleep for a hundred years but she nodded and said, ‘I’ll be fine… look outP

Her warning came to late. Mark brought down the heavy flashlight and Paul staggered as the blow caught him on the side of the head.

As Linda rushed to help him Mark whirled round and ran off into the darkness.

It was too much for him to bear. There was no way to avoid the truth. Chris was gone — and he was responsible. He couldn’t live with that knowledge, not without a fix. A big one…

He headed for Alex’s cabin. Paul had taken the three packets of heroin from him earlier so he was making for the remainder of the supply stored in the money belt. He hoped it was still under the mattress where he’d left it. If it wasn’t he didn’t know what he’d do.

He ran through the corridors without making any attempt at stealth. He didn’t care about the creature. He didn’t care about anything. Only the fix he was going to give himself soon. The fix that would banish all the demons that plagued him. The fix that would provide an entrance into a world where nothing mattered…

He found his way back to Alex’s cabin almost by chance. He shone the torch briefly around the interior, stifling the painful realisation that this was where Chris had been killed by the thing, and then tore the mattress off the bunk. The money belt was still there.

Next he went to his cabin and picked up the hypodermic and spoon he’d hidden in a cupboard. His final destination was the bathroom. It was a big room with several separate shower cubicles and a long row of sinks. He set up the lamp on the shelf above the sinks and quickly prepared the heroin. He diluted some of the white powder with water in the spoon, heating it up with a cigarette lighter. Then he filled the hypodermic and rolled up his sleeve. After wrapping his belt tightly around his right arm to cut off the circulation and make the veins stand out he drove the needle, into the biggest vein he could locate on his inner forearm.

He pushed the plunger all the way down then loosened the belt. Almost immediately his body was suffused with the unmistakable sensation of the heroin spreading through him — a kind of glorious numbness that blotted out everything and left nothing but a feeling of blank well-being. It was the ultimate anaesthetic…

Mark let his breath out in a long sigh and leaned his head back, eyes closed. Already the unbearable fact of Chris’s death and his guilt over it had been reduced to a barely troublesome pinpoint in his mind. The hypodermic fell from his hand and clattered onto the flopr.

The noise made him open his eyes. That’s when he saw it.

He could just make it out — a long black stain on the ceiling. It stretched all the way across from a ventilator grill and ended dircctjy above his head.

It took him awhile to work out what it was. He opened his mouth to scream but as he did so the black slime dropped down on him. It covered his head and face completely, filling his nostrils and slithering down his throat.

And as the creature invaded his body, breaking it down to its basic chemical compounds, his mind was similarly penetrated by a psychic presence that felt icy cold and unspeakably evil. Mark had a mental impression of something white and slimy lurking in the blackness that had enveloped him. Then he screamed as it began to rip and tear at his unprotected self…

But he was already lost in a different universe and his scream was a feeble mental flicker against an infinite ocean of darkness as the Beast consumed him…

‘It’s useless,’ said Paul impatiently, ‘we’ll never find him. Let’s go topside. We did our best.’

‘But we can’t just leave him,’ protested Linda.

7 can. Besides, it’s probably too late to help him by now. We’ve risked our lives for him long enough. I’m tired and I’m about to drop. I want to get out of here.’

They had been searching for Mark for about twenty minutes. They had checked his cabin and several other rooms but without success.

‘He’s your best friend, Paul,’ persisted Linda. ‘You can’t abandon him to that creature…’

‘He was my best friend. Now he’s a pathetic junkie who’d sell us out for just a sniff of heroin. And don’t forget it was his fault the slimer got Chris.’

‘I know, but…’ she paused. Then, ‘Look, up ahead. A glow.’ '

‘I see it. It’s coming from one of the bathrooms.’

They approached the doorway cautiously. What they saw inside shocked them in spite of all the bizarre things they’d witnessed during the last forty-eight hours.

‘Oh God…’ said Linda.

‘Careful. Get ready to move fast,’ said Paul, lighting the flame-thrower.

But the thing on the bathroom floor didn’t stir. Finally Paul walked warily towards it for a closer look.

Parts of it were still recognisable as Mark — and his clothes lying nearby were further proof of his fate — but sections of several other bodies also protruded from the grotesque mass of organic material on the floor. Arms, legs, heads, the entire upper section of a female torso, as well as bits of animals too.

At first Paul thought the whole hideous mess was dead but then, to his profound disappointment, he saw one of the appendages stir. And then one of the heads — one he didn’t recognise, thankfully — opened its eyes and looked at him disinterestedly. The eyes closed again…

‘What does it mean?’ asked Linda anxiously from the doorway. ‘What’s happening to it now?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Paul helplessly. He was wondering whether it would do any good to try and incinerate it again.

Then he noticed the fallen hypodermic and the plastic packets of white powder. He picked up the hypodermic. It was empty. Mark had obviously just given himself a fix when the thing took him by surprise.

Paul stared thoughtfully at the obscene mass of slimy white flesh with its protruding sections of human and animal anatomy. A slow smile began to spread across his face. Then he actually laughed aloud.

For Linda, under the circumstances, it was an unnerving sound. ‘What’s the matter, Paul?’ she cried. ‘Are you all right?’

He grinned at her. ‘I’ve just figured out what’s up with our unpleasant friend here. Would you believe it? The bastard’s stoned.. ’