The Beast by Paul Kingsnorth

Author:Paul Kingsnorth [Kingsnorth, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Science Fiction, Horror, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Contemporary, Fiction, British Literature, Fantasy
ISBN: 0571322077
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2016-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

s no god and god is everywhere. everything is breathing so what is the complication here. all these questions there are no questions. here is an earthworm here is the yellow flower of the broom here are my feet on the ground sometimes i find it hard to see them. i move them but i do not know how. god is the sound of a cat in the cloud. the cat god. i have not seen a tree for days. i would like to lick the clear water droplets off the leaves of a rowan. i will walk i will walk on. the running is the pain the running from. i will walk on.

listen.

there is a noise outside right outside.

there.

a scream.

it is loud and sharp and long and it tears me from my sleep. it is close. it is very close. i sit up in my bed in shock and i look around me. the shock runs in me like water runs.

the sound hangs in my ears. it was a scream. it was a shriek a howl. it was close as close as if it were coming from outside the door. right outside.

something is outside the door.

i sit up and i go to the window. outside there is cloud everywhere deep rolling thick grey fog. i can’t see anything. i go to the door and i open it and the cloud rolls in. i slip my feet into my boots and i step outside onto the stones of the yard. it is mountain cloud it is sodden and weighty and it seems to move of its own will. it swirls and clusters and creeps about it writhes and coils around me. i can see the shape of a wall dimly perhaps a building nothing else. everything is grey and white and close.

the noise comes again. it is a scream a howl. it is very close.

it is right here.

i am glad that the people are gone. i don’t think i have ever seen any people at all. there is a memory of them. now they are gone and there is no biting no climbing over there is no running from them all just to be. there is only the cloud and the wet grasses here and the sound. the sound and what is that sound.

the first scream came from my right i am sure of it. i am standing still in the cloud in this yard outside alone and now the scream comes again and this time it is in front of me is it closer i think it might be closer.

i wonder what is above the cloud. perhaps an aeroplane.

this time the sound is to my left. it is painful. i can hear it breathe after it makes the noise. now i hear it again now it is behind me.

it is circling me.

it is circling me in the cloud.

now i hear its footfall on the stones. i am frightened i am terrified. i am calm.

i am very calm i am on an aeroplane above the cloud.

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