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With the sun at their backs Captain Yates and Sergeant Benton, no longer it uniform, flew through the azure sky of the May Day morning.

'If only helicopters weren't so blooming noisy!' said the Sergeant. 'It's by far the best way to fly. Time to look around. Even better than gliding in a way!'

Mike Yates, concentrating on the map on his knee, was in no mood for small-talk. 'Well, you have a look round and see if you can see the village,' he said. 'We should be there by now.'

'Right ahead, sir,' Benton replied, in no way abashed. 'See the church?'

Mike looked for himself and soon made out the church tower nestling in the woods. But then something else caught his eye. 'Hello, what's that?'

'Must be the dig.'

'No. beyond that. Going across that big field, a line of... they couldn't he hoofmarks?'

'Shall we go and look, sir?'

'Yes, better.'

The helicopter settled to the ground, noisily, softly, beating the grass flat with the force of its gentle descent. Mike and the Sergeant jumped out and ran over to the line of curious identations in the soft turf.

'They are, you know,' said Benton his voice tinged with awe. 'They're hoofmarks.'

'But they can't be. The animal that made these would have to be twenty or thirty feet tall.'

Benton followed the track with his eye. 'It's gone into that wood, sir.'

'Well, whatever it is, it'll have to wait. Come on. First things first,' and Mike turned and hurried back to the helicopter.

'Like—er—breakfast, you mean?' said the Sergeant following him.

'No I don't,' said Mike grimly. 'I mean Jo and the Doc.'

No sooner was the chopper in the air again than it started to descend once more and soon landed neatly in the very centre of the village green.

'Where's the red carpet then?' said Benton as they climbed out, 'and the brass-band?'

Yates looked round at the sleeping village. 'After last night I reckon they're entitled to a lie-in,' he said.

Out of the front door of 'The Cloven Hoof' came a small figure, flying across the grass so fast her legs almost became a blur. 'Mike! Sergeant Benton!' she gasped as she reached them. 'Boy, am I glad to see you two.'

'Are you all right, Jo?' said Mike, disentangling himself from her hug.

'Yeah, great'

'And the Doc?'

'Come and have a look. He's in the pub. They got him to bed.'

'Is he any better?'

'I think so, a bit. But he's still out cold.'

'He'll pull through. You know what a tough old bird he is.'

'Anyway,' said Benton , 'you're both safe. That's the main thing.'

Jo stopped by the door of the pub. 'I don't think there's any danger here,' she said, 'but out there...' and she nodded in the rough direction of the distant barrow, her eyes filled with fear.

'Look, Jo, what is going on?' asked Yates.

'I... don't really know. Something really bad . You know devilish...'

Mike caught the Sergeant's eye. 'Those tracks?'

'Look sir, if you don't need me here, I'd like to do a quick recce.' No need to alarm Miss Grant, his eyes said. 'Just fifteen minutes' shufti round,' he went on. 'Well... say twenty.'

Mike felt doubtful. Perhaps they ought to stick together. On the other hand, the sooner they got this lot sorted out, the better for everybody. 'Mm... right,' he agreed, 'but at the first sign of trouble, straight back here.'

'Oh, do be careful,' said Jo.

'Don't you worry, Miss,' said Benton cheerfully, 'I know how to look after myself.'

'Come on,' said Mike, 'let's go and see how the Doctor is —and you can tell me the whole story.' He put his arm round the reluctant and fearful Jo and gently took her inside.

Sergeant Benton looked round the green to get his bearings. They most have approached from the north-east; perhaps east-north-east. That would mean that the wood into which the tracks disappeared would be up there to the right of the church. Couldn't be far—a half-mile, perhaps. He set out, manfully ignoring the protests from his empty stomach, and made his way past the Maypole towards the churchyard. Thirty feet tall! That was some creature, whether devil or animal.