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he　front　plate　of　the　red　Mini　two　rows　away　seemed　to　leap　at　him　like　sensational　headlines　in　a　newspaper。　He　read　them；　knew　them　by　heart；　and　they　hammered　inside　his　brain　in　the　manner　of　an　electronic　warning　system。
　　
　　He　saw；　too；　the　long　flowing　hair　of　the　girl　who　sat　behind　the　wheel　of　the　stationary　car。　Her　face　was　in　shadow；　but　he　knew　the　expression　on　it　without　seeing　it；　a　mixture　of　hurt　and　hate；　a　woman　scorned。　'e　on；'　Fiona　tugged　impatiently　at　his　sleeve。　He　shrugged　her　off　abruptly；　and　snapped　in　a　voice　which　he　hardly　recognised　as　his　own。　'I'll　take　you　home。　I　guess　I　don't　feel　too　good　tonight；　after　all。'
　　
　　Probably　the　decision　which　Professor　Brian　Newman　had　been　dreading　had　even　now　been　made　for　him；　and　he　had　already　lost　the　backing　of　Susan　Wylie　in　the　traumatic　day　which　faced　him　on　the　morrow。
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　Two
　　
　　It　was　just　after　eleven　o'clock　when　Newman　returned　to　the　Biological　Research　Centre。　The　night…porter　glanced　up　as　the　tall　professor　walked　in；　then　looked　away；　disinterested。　It　was　quite　customary　for　the　various　scientists　to　e　and　go　at　all　times　of　the　day　and　night。
　　
　　Newman　unlocked　the　door　of　his　own　laboratory；'　let　himself　in　and　turned　the　key　behind　him。　He　did　not　wish　to　be　interrupted　by　anyone　for　any　reason。
　　
　　There　were　about　a　dozen　bats　still　left　alive；　the　oxygen　machine　attached　to　the　cage　ensuring　that　there　was　no　way　in　which　either　virus　or　bacteria　could　escape　into　the　atmosphere。　The　creatures　were　still　zooming　frantically　about　their　enclosure；　and　in　the　silence　of　the　room　their　shrill　piping　and　buffeting　seemed　even　louder。　Newman　moved　closer；　watching　them。　Whereas　earlier　he　had　been　repulsed；　he　now　experienced　a　morbid　fascination　almost　to　the　point　of　being　hypnotised。　He　had　created　something；　death　in　a　form　that　had　not　hitherto　existed。　It　was　all　his　doing。
　　
　　He；　stood　staring　at　the　bats　for　well　over　an　hour；　his　mind　having　lost　all　sense　of　time。　He　understood　the　attraction　of　an　aquarium　in　a　conventional　home；　constant　movement；　always　something　happening；　however　trivial。　This　was　different；　exciting。　Death　could　occur　at　any　second。
　　
　　After　a　time　he　became　aware　that　the　death…rate　amongst　the　bats　seemed　to　have　slowed。　They　continued　to　batter　themselves　ceaselessly　against　the　glass；　but　those　which　fell　stunned　revived　after　a　time　and　resumed　their　futile　occupation。　At　first　Newman　thought　that　the　creatures　were　making　attempts　to　attack　him；　but　eventually　it　dawned　upon　him　that　this　was　not　so；　for　they　flew　at　the　opposite　side　with　equal　pulsion。　It　was　madness；　he　decided。　Their　brains　were　of　a　low　order；　yet　the　mutated　virus　appeared　to　have　robbed　them　of　everything　except　basic　instincts。　They　resented　imprisonment　and　were　determined　to　seek　freedom　in　the　only　way　they　knew；　blind　flight。　Yet；　even　in　the　midst　of　their　panic；　they　were　colliding　with　one　another　time　and　time　again。
　　
　　'God！'　Newman　spoke　aloud　as　the　answer　suddenly　dawned　on　him。　'The　virus　has　destroyed　their　radars。　They're　flying　blind！'
　　
　　Some　time　later　he　opened　the　window　and　lit　a　cigarette。　The　night　was　mild　and　humid；　freak　weather　for　early　April。　It　was　almost　like　summer。　His　thoughts　turned　to　Susan。　There　was　no　way　in　which　he　could　lie　his　way　out　of　this　one。　She　wouldn't　accept　excuses；　and　Professor　Newman　wasn't　the　type　to　plead。　One　way　or　another　it　was　over；　and　too　late　he　realised　that　he　didn't　want　Fiona　after　all。　There　had　never　been　anything　more　than　physical　attraction　between　them。　She　had　been　good；　very　good；　but　after　each　session　his　one　thought　had　been　to　take　her　home。　With　Susan　he　was　content　to　cuddle　her　until　they　both　fell　asleep。　That　was　the　difference。
　　
　　He　wondered　if　Susan　was　back　at　his　bungalow　right　now。　In　all　probability　she　was　packing　her　bags　and　loading　them　into　the　Mini。　The　chances　of　her　turning　up　at　the　Centre　of　the　following　day　were　remote。
　　
　　He　glanced　in　the　direction　of　the　telephone；　but　discarded　the　idea　at　once。　It　wouldn't　work。　A　phone　call　would　not　stop　Susan　from　leaving。
　　
　　Newman　felt　physically　and　mentally　drained。　His　thoughts　returned　to　the　bats；　and　the　knowledge　that　he　could　not　risk　any　interference　from　Professor　Rickers　and　his　students　the　next　day。　He　had　hoped　that　the　creatures　would　die　quickly；　but　now　it　looked　unlikely。　In　that　case；　there　was　only　one　solution。　He　would　have　to　destroy　them。　They　could　easily　be　gassed。　The　only　problem　was　that　the　lethal　gas　was　stored　in　a　separate　part　of　the　building；　under　lock　and　key；　and　could　only　be　obtained　with　Haynes's　permission；　which　certainly　would　not　be　forthing。
　　
　　He　tried　to　think　of　alternative　means。　Perhaps　if　he　filled　the　glass　case　with　water　and　drowned　the　occupants　。。。
　　
　　Newman　lay　down　on　the　sparse　couch　and　stretched　himself　out。　His　entire　body　was　crying　out　for　sleep；　yet　he　knew　that　there　was　no　chance　of　slumber。　His　brain　was　too　confused；　going　over　recent　events；　trying　to　work　out　solutions；　thinking　of　Susan；　of　Fiona；　of　Haynes　and　Rickers；　and　the　students。　Somehow　he　did　not　like　the　idea　of　switching　off　the　light　and　being　alone　in　the　darkness　with　those　squeaking；　thudding　bats。　His　thinking　was　being　illogical；　he　told　himself。　They　could　not　possibly　get　out；　but　until　every　one　of　them　was　dead　there　would　be　no　peace　in　that　laboratory。
　　
　　He　lay　there　just　looking　up　at　the　plain　white　ceiling。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　felt　totally　helpless。　Events　would　control　his　own　actions　from　now　on。
　　
　　Sometime　after　the　first　grey　light　of　dawn　had　crept　in　through　the　uncurtained　windows　he　dropped　into　a　fitful　doze。　It　seemed　only　seconds　since　his　eyelids　had　closed　before　he　heard　a　key　being　turned　in　the　lock。　He　sat　up　with　a　start。　It　could　only　be　one　of　a　small　group　of　people　who　had　access　to　laboratory　keys。　Haynes；　Rickers。。。　Susan！
　　
　　'Good　morning；　Professor　Newman；'　she　walked　in；　closing　the　door　behind　her。
　　
　　Brian　Newman　was　too　startled　to　reply。　He　simply　stared　at　her　in　amazement。　She　was　immaculate　in　every　aspect；　and　there　was　no　evidence　of　her　having　spent　a　troubled　night。　She　barely　glanced　in　his　direction；　taking　off　her　coat；　and　then　immediately　set　about　her　routine　duties；　sterilising　implements；　checking　charts；　and　all　the　time　ignoring　him　totally。
　　
　　Newman　sat　up　and　swung　his　legs　to　the　floor。　His　suit　was　crumpled；　his　hair　awry；　and　there　was　a　growth　of　stubble　on　his　chin。　He　rubbed　his　bleary　eyes；　and　sighed　loudly。
　　
　　'I　could　use　some　coffee；'　he　spoke　softly；　a　tremor　in　his　voice。
　　
　　'We　have　coffee　at　ten；'　Susan　Wylie　replied　formally。　'However；　there　is　coffee；　sugar　and　dried　milk　in　the　cupboard　if　you　wish　to　make　yourself　a　drink。'
　　
　　He　stood　up；　swaying　slightly。　His　head　ached　abominably。　He　looked　quickly　in　the　direction　of　the　bat　cage。　There　were　still　a　dozen　or　so　of　the　creatures　flying　crazily　to　and　fro；　bumping；　falling；　fluttering　up　again。　No　more　had　died　during　the　night；　and　that　didn't　add　up。　Either　the　virus　was　dead；　they　were　immune　to　it；　or　else　the　incubation　period　in　these　last　few　was　longer。
　　
　　'About　last　night。　。　。　'　he　began；　clearing　his　throat。
　　
　　'I　slept　well；　thank　you；'　she　replied　icily　without　glancing　up。　'Now；　if　you　will　excuse　me；　Professor；　there　are　certain　items　which　I　must　go　and　collect　from　the　stores。。。。'
　　
　　'Now　listen　to　me！'　he　snapped；　his　level　of　anger　rising　fast。　Women　had　cursed　him　hundreds　of　times　over　the　years；　pleaded　with　him；　cried；　but　none　had　ever　treated　him　with　indifference。
　　
　　She　ignored　him　and　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　door。
　　
　　'I　said　listen　to　me！'　his　hand　shot　out；　grasping　her　by　the　shoulder　and　turning　her　round　to　face　him。　'There　are　one　or　two　things　we've　got　to　get　ironed　out。'
　　
　　'I　have　no　idea　what　you're　talking　about；　professor。'　Only　her　eyes　gave　away　her　innermost　feelings；　bitterness　that　an　outward　show　of　indifference　could　not　cloak。
　　
　　'You　know　damned　well　what　I'm　talking　about！'　he　rasped。　'About　last　night　at　the　Shoal　Hill　Tavern。'
　　
　　'Oh；　so　you　went　drinking；　did　you？'
　　
　　'And　that　wasn't　all；'　his　voice　was　raised。　'I　was　with　a　bird。　And　I　was　going　to　screw　her　only　you　stopped　me！　You　put　me　off　my　stroke！'
　　
　　'Me？'
　　
　　'Yes；　you。　Out　on　a　snooping　trip。　Well；　I　don't　blame　you；　but　I　can't　stand　liars。'
　　
　　'Neither　can　I；　Professor。　And　just　lately　you've　been　telling　quite　a　few　yourself。'　Her　self…control　began　to　snap；　and　she　added　savagely；　'You　think　you're　God's　gift　to　women；　don't　you；　Brian　Newman？　Well；　let　me　tell　you　this。　All　you're　trying　to　do　is　prove　something　to　yourself；　though　God　knows　what。　Maybe　'conquer　and　move　on'　is　your　motto。　Well；　I'm　not　standing　for　it。　You　thought　you　could　drive　me　off；　didn't　you？　That　I'd　pack　and　run？　Well；　I'm　not　leaving　the　Centre。　'I'm　not　giving　up　a　good　job　because　of　you。　I'll　move　out　of　your　bungalow　so　you　can　have　her　in　the　bed　all　to　yourself；　but　I'm　staying　right　here　in　this　very　lab　as　far　as　work　goes。　I'm　not　going　to　give　you　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　me　go　to　Haynes　and　ask　for　a　transfer　to　Rickers's　lab。　The　pair　of　you　would　love　that；　in　your　own　warped　ways；　but　I'm　staying　put；　bats　and　all。　But　lay　one　finger　on　me　again；　try　to　get　familiar　with　me；　and　I'll　be　lodging　an　official　plaint　that　will　really　put　paid　to　your　career。　You've　got　me　with　you　all　the　time　in　an　official　capacity；　and　nothing　more；　whether　you　like　it　or　not！'
　　
　　'You　bitch！'　His　left　hand　went　back；　and　before　he　could　stop　himself　he　had　struck　her　across　the　face　with　a　resounding　slap。
　　
　　She　staggered　back；　tears　filling　her　eyes；　gasping　with　pain。　He　stood　aghast；　mouth　opening　to　voice　an　apology。
　　
　　Suddenly　everything　seemed　to　explode　inside　her；　and　she　was　hurling　herself　at　him；　beating　at　his　body　with　clenched　fists；　tearing；　scratching；　biting；　kicking。　He　sta