Science Fiction: The Complete Fiction by Various

Author:Various [Various]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jerry eBooks
Published: 2021-04-26T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER IV

THE VIBRATOR

HURRYING back to the laboratory, they arrived there just as the phagocyte, its gruesome meal of goat flesh completely assimilated, spewed out a pair of horns, four hooves, some matted hair and a few partially digested particles of the animal’s bony structure.

Grown to a shapeless mass more than five feet in diameter, the phagocyte resumed its insatiable quest for more food. This time it headed for a cow-barn which stood not far from the fence which separated Davis’s ranch from that of his neighbor.

When he realized the monster’s purpose, Caslon sprinted desperately across the field, hoping to reach the barn in time to turn the cows loose; but, so swiftly did the leucocyte move that Roy was not able to overtake it.

Half an hour later, after having digested the bodies of twenty-two helpless cows, the phagocyte had attained enormous proportions. Towering to a height of twenty feet, like an animate hill of gelatin, it flowed across the fields in its ruthless hunt for more and more living food.

By this time, hundreds of automobiles were parked along the road which ran past Davis’s ranch. Attracted by the unusual sight, at least a thousand spectators gazed in horrified amazement as the unspeakable monstrosity devoured mules and horses and cows and any other animals it could find.

From three directions came the eerie wail of sirens. Presently, several automobiles and motorcycles from the sheriff’s office arrived on the scene. Obviously they had been summoned by phone calls of excited dairymen.

Armed with revolvers, rifles and machine guns, a posse of officers opened fire on the monster. Their barrage of bullets spattered harmlessly into the viscous substance of the phagocyte, having no more effect on it than a boy’s peashooter would have on a rhinoceros.

Thus, the task of attempting to scotch the terrible monster was taken completely out of Caslon’s hands. Realizing that dire consequences might result if their responsibility for the phagocyte became known Davis and Evelyn and Caslon discreetly mingled with the crowd, seeming to share in the general excitement, like any other casual spectators.

As the phagocyte, swollen to the dimensions of a large building, finished digesting the bovine occupants of the fifth dairy barn. Caslon heard someone say, “They’ve called out the National Guard.” Later he overheard another significant remark: “The artillery from Fort McArthur ought to be here any minute.”

More than two hours actually did elapse before one of the motorized batteries from San Pedro arrived on the scene. By that time, the monster had covered a trail of devastation which had brought it right into the town of Hynes.

Warned in advance of the approaching scourge, all the human inhabitants had evacuated the town. However, there were many dogs and cats and hens left behind and these were quickly devoured by the hungry phagocyte, which flowed like molten lava through the streets and into all the buildings.

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