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here was the flutter of brightly…coloured feathers； and streamers coiling in the air behind them。 Whatever the reason for the celebration they reeled like drunkards； loping one moment； leaping the next； squirming； some of them； on the ground； bellies to the hot sand。
Davidson's lungs were torn with exhaustion； and it was clear he was losing the pursuit。 Having gained on the procession； it was now moving off faster than he had strength or willpower to follow。
He stopped； bracing his arms on his knees to support his aching torso； and looked under his sweat…sodden brow at his disappearing salvation。 Then； summoning up all the energy he could muster； he yelled：
Stop！
At first there was no response。 Then； through the slits of his eyes； he thought he saw one or two of the revelers halt。 He straightened up。 Yes； one or two were looking at him。 He felt； rather than saw； their eyes upon him。
He began to walk towards them。
Some of the instruments had died away； as though word of his presence was spreading among them。 They'd definitely seen him； no doubt of that。
He walked on； faster now； and out of the haze； the details of the procession began to e clear。
His pace slowed a little。 His heart； already pounding with exertion； thudded in his chest。
… My Jesus； he said； and for the first time in his thirty…six godless years the words were a true prayer。
He stood off half a mile from them； but there was no mistaking what he saw。 His aching eyes knew papier…maché from flesh； illusion from misshapen reality。
The creatures at the end of the procession； the least of the least； the hangers…on； were monsters whose appearance beggared the nightmares of insanity。
One was perhaps eighteen or twenty feet tall。 Its skin； that hung in folds on its muscle； was a sheath of spikes； its head a cone of exposed teeth； set in scarlet gums。 Another was three…winged； its triple ended tail thrashing the dust with reptilian enthusiasm。 A third and fourth were married together in a union of monstrosities the result of which was more disgusting than the sum of its parts。 Through its length and breadth this symbiotic horror was locked in seeping marriage； its limbs thrust in and through wounds in its partner's flesh。 Though the tongues of its heads were wound together it managed a cacophonous howl。
Davidson took a step back； and glanced round at the car and the highway。 As he did so one of the things； black and red； began to scream like a whistle。 Even at a half mile's distance the noise cut into Davidson's head。 He looked back at the procession。
The whistling monster had left its place in the parade； and its clawed feet were pounding the desert as it began to race towards him。 Uncontrollable panic swept through Davidson； and he felt his trousers fill as his bowels failed him。
The thing was rushing towards him with the speed of a cheetah； growing with every second； so he could see more detail of its alien anatomy with every step。 The thumbless hands with their toothed palms； the head that bore only a tri…coloured eye； the sinew of its shoulder and chest； even its genitals； erect with anger； or （God help me） lust； two…pronged and beating against its abdomen。
Davidson shrieked a shriek that was almost the equal of the monster's noise； and fled back the way he had e。
The car was a mile； two miles away； and he knew it offered no protection were he to reach it before the monster overcame him。 In that moment he realized how close death was； how close it had always been； and he longed for a moment's prehension of this idiot honor。
It was already close behind him as his shit…slimed legs buckled； and he fell； and crawled； and dragged himself towards the car。 As he heard the thud of its feet at his back he instinctively huddled into a ball of whimpering flesh； and awaited the coup de grace。
He waited two heart…beats。
Three。 Four。 Still it didn't e。
The whistling voice had grown to an unbearable pitch； and was now fading a little。 The gnashing palms did not connect with his body。 Cautiously； expecting his head to be snapped from his neck at any moment； he peered through his fingers。
The creature had overtaken him。
Perhaps contemptuous of his frailty it had run on past him towards the highway。
Davidson smelt his excrement； and his fear。 He felt curiously ignored。 Behind him the parade had moved on。 Only one or two inquisitive monsters still looked over theft shoulders in his direction； as they receded into the dust。
The whistling now changed pitch。 Davidson cautiously raised his head from ground level。 The noise was all but outside his hearing…range； just a shrill whine at the back of his aching head。
He stood up。
The creature had leapt on to the top of his car。 Its head was thrown back in a kind of ecstasy； its erection plainer than ever； the eye in its huge head glinting。 With a final swoop to its voice； which took the whistle out of human hearing； it bent upon the car； smashing the windshield and curling its mouthed hands upon the roof。 It then proceeded to tear the steel back like so much paper； its body twitching with glee； its head jerking about。 Once the roof was torn up； it leapt on to the highway and threw the metal into the air。 It turned in the sky and smashed down on the desert floor。 Davidson briefly wondered what he could possibly put on the insurance form。 Now the creature was tearing the vehicle apart。 The doors were scattered。 The engine was ripped out。 The wheels slashed and wrenched off the axles。
To Davidson's nostrils there drifted the unmistakable stench of gasoline。 No sooner had he registered the smell than a shard of metal glanced against another and the creature and the car were sheathed in a billowing column of fire； blackening into smoke as it balled over the highway。
The thing did not call out： or if it did its agonies were beyond hearing。 It staggered out of the inferno with its flesh on fire； every inch of its body alight； its arms flailed wildly in a vain attempt to douse the fire； and it began to run off down the highway； fleeing from the source of its agony towards the mountains。 Flames sprouted off its back and the air was tinged with the smell of its cooking flesh。
It didn't fall； however； though the fire must have been devouring it。 The run went on and on； until the heat dissolved the highway into the blue distance； and it was gone。
Davidson sank down on to his knees。 The shit on his legs was already dry in the heat。 The car continued to burn。 The music had gone entirely； as had the procession。
It was the sun that drove him from the sand back towards his gutted car。
He was blank…eyed when the next vehicle along the highway stopped to pick him up。
Sheriff Josh Packard stared in disbelief at the claw prints on the ground at his feet。 They were etched in slowly solidifying fat； the liquid flesh of the monster that had run through the main street （the only street） of Wele minutes ago。 It had then collapsed； breathing its last breath； and died in a writhing ball three trucks' length from the bank。 The normal business of Wele； the trading； the debating； the how do you do's； had halted。 One or two nauseous individuals had been received into the lobby of the Hotel while the smell of fricasseed flesh thickened the good desert air of the town。
The stench was something between over…cooked fish and an exhumation； and it offended Packard。 This was his town； overlooked by him； protected by him。 The intrusion of this fireball was not looked upon kindly。
Packard took out his gun and began to walk towards the corpse。 The flames were all but out now； having eaten the best of their meal。 Even so destroyed by fire； it was a sizeable bulk。 What might once have been its limbs were gathered around what might have been its head。 The rest was beyond recognition。 All in all； Packard was glad of that small mercy。 But even in the charnel…house confusion of rendered flesh and blackened bone he could make out enough inhuman forms to quicken his pulse。
This was a monster： no doubt of it。
A creature from earth： out of earth； indeed。 Up from the underworld and on its way to the great bowl for a night of celebration。 Once every generation or so； his fa