Doctor Who_ Storm Harvest - Mike Tucker [59]
‘Everybody get away from the pool!’ she shouted.
‘Ace, what’s up?’ Rajiid asked.
‘If he came in from the sea this way, so can they,’ Ace whispered.
‘So can the Krill.’
There was a sudden squawk from the pool, followed by a shriek. The water began to surge and foam and turn red. The dolphins were screaming now Some managed to wriggle from the pool, only to be dragged back in, squealing. Blood flew through the air. One dolphin was hurled from the pool and landed with a wet, splattering thud close to Ace and her friends. It lay there, flapping and bleeding. Its stomach had been ripped open.
It took seconds – and for those seconds the people in the bar stood in mute disbelief. Then the dam burst: they began to scream and flood 113
towards the doors, trampling and crushing each other. The police cordon broke before them. They jammed into the doorways, blocking them totally, scrambling and climbing over each other in their doomed attempts to get out.
Ace could only watch in horror.
Behind them the Krill surged from the churning water – dozens of them leaping into the bar, teeth and claws already red, snarling and spitting their fury.
114
Part Three
‘But, mother; please tell me, what can those things be That crawl up so stealthily out of the sea?’
115
Chapter Thirteen
More and more Krill surged out of the slurry of dolphin guts and water, their claws scraping over the tiles on the side of the pool. Ace could hear their laboured breathing as they adapted to the air. Their gaunt bodies were slick and wet, their vicious jaws worked spasmodically as they lumbered into the bar.
All around people were still scrambling for the exits, screaming.
Sensing prey the Krill lashed out, hooked claws tearing into the crowd.
Ace saw R’tk’tk swept towards the exit, his walker carried along by the crowd.
‘Rajiid!’ Ace was screaming. ‘Lighter!’
‘What?’ the Indian shouted.
‘Cigarette lighter!’
Rajiid snatched a lighter from the bar and flicked it across the room to Ace. She stumbled backwards, time slowing as she watched the tiny silver shape tumble through the air towards her. More and more Krill began to haul themselves out of the pool, their hissing shrieks reverberating around the room.
Ace caught the lighter and spun round. The flame spluttered into life, glinting on the cold fish-eyes of the advancing monsters. The jaws of the creatures opened wide and they screamed in unison as Ace lit the strip of towel in the bottle and hurled her home-made bomb to the floor.
The glass shattered and a sheet of flame roared across the poolside.
Ace launched herself towards the bar, clambering over the overturned tables. Rajiid started throwing more bottles on the flames as she scrambled towards him.
‘Come on, Rajiid! Out!’
Ace caught him by the collar and hauled him backwards as a Krill burst through the wall of flame, its slick skin steaming.
They dived for the exit, but the Krill pounced on to the bar counter, its webbed feet sending bottles smashing to the floor. It was cutting off their escape.
Ace ran behind the counter with Rajiid following her. She flung herself at the button on the wall next to it, ducking as the razor claws 116
sliced down and the Krill’s fetid breath washed over them. She hit the button, and the security grille slammed down from the ceiling.
Glass showered around them as the creature flailed in fury. It began to tear at the grille, ripping it apart.
Ace looked urgently around. More and more Krill were pouring from the blazing pool.
With a harsh, grating clatter the fire alarms went off, and the bar was suddenly drenched in water as the sprinkler systems kicked in.
Ace looked up in horror. They would put the fire out, and then...
Rajiid was screaming in her ear. Ace frantically looked for some way out. With a hissing shriek the Krill in front of them burst through the remains of the grille and dropped to the floor, towering over them.
Laser fire, harsh and glaring, suddenly tore across the room ripping into the Krill. Ace could see ragged holes opening up in its scaly hide but