The Green Drift

by John Lymington

  ‘Yes, but—there’s the boy. What about him?’

  ‘He’s at school. He’s safe. Be thankful.’

  The two men watched each other.

  ‘I’m not cut out to be a martyr for the national good! ’ Richard said angrily. ‘I think it’s a bloody waste! ’

  ‘We’re in the position of a man who has severed an artery and has no means of stopping the bleeding,’ Griswold said bitterly. ‘We have to sit and watch the blood run out. We have to telephone anything that we find out, anything that happens, anything that might be a guide to our state for the benefit of others.’

  Richard began to walk about, trying not to look out of the big window.

  ‘We have said that if we send rockets to another planet and the shells are infected with our germs, it could wipe out life on that planet in a flash,’ he said.

  ‘And this is vice versa” Griswold croaked. ‘This house is the centre of last night’s fall. There is hardly anything beyond the immediate fields, but scattered insects here and there.’

  ‘You mean the dead ones are doing it?’

  ‘I think there must be live ones somewhere,’ Griswold said. ‘Apart from the pond. I think there must be some in the house! ’

  ‘Great God, but look—’

  ‘Come here! ’

  Richard stopped at the door and turned back.

  “Don’t start a panic,’ Griswold said. ‘Remember we shall all be together. We don’t want someone to go off his head. It could make things very difficult.’

  ‘You’re a bloody cod!’ Richard said, blankly. ‘Your blood’s all cold.’

  ‘It’s frozen—with fear,’ Griswold said, and licked his lips.

  Richard looked through the window. The place was still. The whole village seemed to have been drained of life.

  ‘Cats, dogs—everything,’ Griswold said. ‘Only the cattle have to stay. Too late for them. Some of them were too near this house.’ He put a foot on the seat of a chair. ‘We have to decide how to handle this, you and I. There are seven of us here, but I wouldn’t count on any people remaining behind in the village. Just let us say we are seven, every one now mentally unstable and rapidly becoming more so. Minute by minute these people are becoming strangers to each other, yet somehow we’ve got to keep the thing balanced. You see, there might be a chance of survival, in which case it would be a pity for anyone to die because one of us let go.’

  The village had died. There was no movement anywhere in the huddle of houses. The roofs shimmered in the heat.

  ‘It’s like flesh falling away from a skull,’ Richard said. ‘Hayles wears make-up. When he goes pale the colour doesn’t change but you can see the blood going from underneath.’ He sal down suddenly. ‘I don’t think I can face this one out. What about my wife? Can’t she go?’ Griswold said nothing.

  SEVEN

  They were all in the hall. All the windows and doors were open and the humming insects came in with the faint movements of the air, slow in the sleepiness of heat. Porch stood by the main door, a curiously suspicious look on his face as he watched the others.

  Barbara sat on the stairs again, weary and puzzled. Jennifer leant on the newel post, watching her husband standing by the study door. Ellen was by the kitchen door, automatically wiping her palms on her thighs. Hayles poured a drink at the table, his face shining over the tan. Griswold leaned against the telephone table. He glanced briefly at Richard then spoke.

  ‘We’ve been asked to stick together and see this thing out,’ he said. ‘The future of the. country, perhaps of mankind, depends on us staying here and watching what goes on. We shall be in constant touch with the Government throughout this business so we may have confidence—’

  ‘Who chose this?’ Hayles broke in. ‘Who said we should—’

  ‘Fate chose us,’ said Griswold, theatrically. ‘We just happen to be right in the centre of affairs.’

  ‘What is the affair?’ Jennifer’s voice was biting, incredulous.

  ‘There is a type of spacial interference going on above us,’ Griswold said. ‘The Departments of Science and Space Research wish us to keep a constant watch on it to see what happens. The important thing is that the people who have already lived in the house, even for an hour or two, will be much more sharply—conditioned to appreciate what is going on. That is why we—the people already in the house—have been chosen—’

  ‘What about the police warning?’ Hayles snapped. ‘Are we radioactive? Is that what you mean?’

  ’Everyone is radioactive to a degree or more,’ said Griswold. ‘There is nothing new in that.’

  Barbara and Jennifer watched him intently, both sensing the evasion. Ellen stopped wiping her hands and scowled at the floor.

  ‘How’m I going to get the dinner, then? The boy comes home at four. I got to get back! ’

  Griswold smiled.

  ‘He won’t be back today. No! don’t be alarmed. Your husband will go to the boy’s school, and spend the night with him there. It has all been arranged.’

  ‘What the bloody hell!’ Hayles yelled suddenly. ‘What’s going on? Are they keeping people out of the area?’

  ‘They have to,’ Richard said quickly. ‘Otherwise we shall have more crowds and the whole thing will be spoilt.’

  Hayles stared at him.

  ‘That’s clever! ‘ he said, ironically. ‘I should have thought of that myself! ’

  ‘When you say we have been asked,’ said Jennifer slowly, watching the sweating Griswold, ‘do you mean we have been ordered?’

  ‘With Governments there is no difference,’ Griswold said.

  ‘Can we leave here?’ she persisted.

  ‘You can leave the house, of course.’

  ‘How far can we go?’

  ‘To the village if you want.’ He wiped round his neck with a handkerchief.

  ‘I could go back, then?’ Barbara said sharply.

  Griswold hesitated, watching her. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘But it would be better for the observations if we stayed together.’ He smiled broadly. ‘Well, that’s it. I’m sure you people won’t mind co-operating in a matter of such importance.’

  ‘What about that thing out in the pond?’ Porch said, and licked his Ups.

  All heads turned to him.

  ‘What tiling in the pond?’ Hayles demanded.

  ‘There’s some kind of animal in it,’ Porch said.

  ‘There’s nothing there!’ Ellen shrieked. ‘I been to see aud there’s nothing! “

  Porch closed his jaws tight and glared at Ellen. Jennifer rounded on her husband.

  ‘Is there?’ she asked quickly.

  ‘There’s some kind of electrical short in the water,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why.’

  “‘That’s where Johnny’s boat sank,’ she said. ‘You remember? That boat with the little electric engine. He tested it and it turned over and sank, and he couldn’t find it again. That was electric.’

  Richard started.

  ‘It had a waterproof battery,’ he said.

  ‘When was this?’ Griswold asked.

  ‘Last weekend,’ Jennifer said. ‘It was half-term. He was home. I—’ She looked as if she would cry and turned away suddenly.

  ‘He said he would drag the pond, but we took him back to school that evening,’ Richard said. ‘I promised to do it, and forgot.’

  ‘I’m sure we’re all vastly interested in a kid’s boat,’ said Hayles. “But I must confess to a greater curiosity about our particular situation. Are we prisoners?’

  ‘We are researchers,’ said Griswold.

  ‘We are lepers,’ said Hayles. ‘That’s why they won’t let us out! ’

  ‘Don’t be dramatic,’ Griswold said. ‘You’re not on the telly now.’

  Barbara laughed suddenly. Hayles stood a moment, boiling, then turned and looked out of the open window at a wall of flowers where the bees hummed.

  ‘Do you mean,’ Barbara said, catching the-laugh short, ‘that if I do go back there won�
��t be anybody there?’

  ‘There might be. I don’t know,’ said Griswold.

  “I don’t think I’ll volunteer,’ said Hayles and put his glass down. ‘I don’t think I want to be an observer.’

  ‘Nobody’s to go! ’ bellowed Porch suddenly. ‘That’s nobody! ’

  ‘You can shut up!’ said Hayles. ‘You’re one of the specimens!’

  ‘Nobody gets past me,’ said Porch.

  Griswold reached out, grabbed his arm, then let go and waved washout with his open hand. Porch stared at him, then at Hayles, then went sulkily away from the open door.

  ‘What’s the time?’ Ellen said.

  ‘After three,’ said Richard.

  ‘But how long have we got to wait, then?’ Ellen said, in a near scream.

  ‘Till tomorrow,’ said Griswold.

  ‘But I can’t, I must go home! ’

  ‘There’s nobody there,’ said Griswold. ‘Your family’s having a night’s holiday.’

  ‘But that doesn’t matter! I’m glad, but it’s home— You don’t understand, do you? I want to go back there! ’

  ‘We’re better all staying together, Ellen,’ Jennifer said.

  Ellen caught her breath, then just turned away, wiping her palms again.

  ‘Better get some food,’ Richard said.

  ‘Food! ’ Hayles scoffed. ‘Last breakfast?’

  ‘It helps when you have to wait,’ Richard said.

  ‘I could go back with Ellen,’ Barbara said, slowly.

  ‘What for?’ said Hayles.

  ‘I want to go back. I think—I want to go back.’ said Ellen.

  Richard saw Griswold’s face, turned downwards, watching his feet. He took Jennifer’s arm and led her into the kitchen. Jennifer closed the door behind them and turned to him angry, fearful.

  ‘What’s happening?’ she asked, her voice trembling as she tried to keep it low.

  He watched her.

  ‘We’re infected they think,’ he said. ‘But they’re not sure with what. They’re just not taking any risks.’

  He took her in his arms and they hugged together. She cried a little, but was still scared of anyone hearing.

  ‘So they’ve cut us off—as he said, like lepers,’ she said.

  ‘They’re being careful,’ he said. ‘After all. They don’t know. They’re just trying to protect others, like Johnny.’ She broke away suddenly, pushing him when he tried to hold her.

  ‘I’m not going to stay! ’ she said angrily.

  ‘You must,’ he said. ‘We’ve all got to. It’s no good, Jenny. There’s no way out of this one.’

  ‘What’s the truth, then?’ she said fiercely. ‘Tell me the truth! ’

  ‘They believe there will be an invasion of these things —these minute spiders—tonight. But—listen, will you? But their faith is based on something I saw last night.’ ‘Don’t kid yourself! There must be more than that! ’

  ‘It’s just the coincidences they’re playing on.’

  ‘Then why has that Griswold man changed so? He was like a Siberian bear. Now suddenly lie’s sweet and kind as a sugar cane crusher. He’s changed—’ She stopped and looked at him quickly. ‘Have I changed, Dick? Have I? Be honest! Tell me the truth! ’

  He went to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

  “No. You haven’t changed.’

  ‘Yet, do you mean? Have you noticed Porch and Ellen? It’s very queer, Dick. It’s frightening. Were they always like that underneath, or have they really changed?’

  ’I don’t know. But under a pressure people do change.’ ‘The way she sat out there in the wood shed, just staring at us.’ Jennifer shuddered. ‘She looked mad! ’

  ‘That’s why I jerked her off—out of it. She was better then.’

  ‘It is these spiders, isn’t it?’

  ‘Griswold says so. I don’t know. They’re all dead. They couldn’t affect us.’

  “There could be some alive!’

  She spoke sharply but quietly, as if someone else might hear.

  “Griswold said that.’ Richard said. “But where? We should have seen them moving.’

  ‘Little tiny things like that? We wouldn’t notice. We’ve only seen the dead ones. The others could gel under the skirtings, and in the lavatory basin, you know how spiders get there somehow— Oh God! it’s awful! You wouldn’t know where to look! ’ She shut her eyes a moment, then opened them again. ‘What is it they’re bringing? Is it fall out or something?’

  ’Nobody knows,’ Richard said.

  ‘But it affects people, doesn’t it? You know that. Look at Porch and Ellen, and that man Hayles—they’re not the same at all! ’

  ‘That may be because we don’t know any of them truly,’ Richard said.

  ‘Well, there’s one thing you haven’t changed in,’ she said, and shook his hands off her shoulders. ‘You’re still

  trying to make excuses for everything and everyone, still trying to pretend that everything’s all right, and will be E all right. You’re a true bloody optimist, Dick! I don’t think there could be another one in the world like you. standing there and trying to kid me that it’s nothing much to worry about! ’

  “Why not? It could be an even chance. It could come or not. There’s nobody to say it will. Nothing but a dream I had.’

  ‘You big child! ’ she said. ‘Do you really think that was f a dream? The phone call? The article in the paper? Those ghouls out there staring, feeling there is something wrong with us? Don’t be such a fool! I don’t understand what it was, but I believe what that man Griswold believes, you were in the future and saw it happen. That’s why you can’t remember about last night. You weren’t even there! ’

  ‘You can’t switch times physically like that. I must have been somewhere, even if I was unconscious!

  “You don’t know, do you? These things are affecting us. They’re affecting our minds. You know that. I’ll tell you something I didn’t want to tell, because I didn’t want to remember it! But I looked at Porch once and he—he came like a skeleton. As if all the flesh was falling off him! My God! I’ve never seen anything so horrible! Dick—! ’

  She fell into his arms, sobbing.

  ’I had the same.’ he said stroking her hair. ‘Griswold, too. And Barbara. I don’t think anybody wanted to mention it.’

  ‘But it must mean we’re changing. You could never see like that normally. Perhaps—’

  ‘What? Perhaps what?’

  ‘Perhaps insects see like that.’

  She looked up into his face, then away again quickly.

  ‘You didn’t—see anything then?’ he said, his voice hurting his throat.

  She shook her head wildly, keeping her face down. She became calmer in a little while and looked up quickly.

  ‘Where are the others?’ she said quickly.

  ‘In the hall, 1 suppose—’

  ‘But it’s so quiet! ’ she whispered. ‘Nobody’s talking.’

  ‘It’s quiet,’ he said, looking up to the wall, ‘because the clock’s stopped. That’s what it is.’

  ‘No—out there—’

  They parted. She went quickly to the door and threw it open. The hall was empty and still. He came up behind as she went out of the doorway.

  ‘Where have they gone?’ she said.

  They stood still in the empty hall. There was an absolute silence, a stillness outside as if the whole world had stopped. No bees hummed, no birds sang, nothing moved at all.

  Jennifer felt a sudden panic.

  ‘What’s the time?’ she whispered. ‘Look! It’s getting dark!’

  But it can’t be! ’ He ran to the doorway and out on to the drive. He looked at the sky. The sun was down in the »es”, a gold band of sea showed between the hills. The purple shadow of creeping night moved up the Eastern sky. “It can’t be!’

  She came behind him.

  ‘Where’s the time gone?’ she said. ‘It was three o’clock! ’ He watched the sky, his hand gripping h
er wrist tightly. ‘I’ve had this feeling before,’ he said. ’Last night was like this. It was still. There wasn’t any sound, like now. Yet you seem to feel the sky is ringing, like a glass does.’

  ‘Are they up there?’ She stared into the high dome of the sky above her.

  ‘I don’t know. Where are the others? We’ve got to find them! We’ve got to find them!’

  He began to call. His voice seemed to be killed in the stillness. Keeping hold of her hand, like children, they hurried through the garden, calling, shouting into the baffling silence. They stopped, looked round them. The shadows growing with the dusk seemed to bring the still flowers and leaves creeping slowly towards them in the dying light.

  ‘They’ve gone,’ Jennifer said. ‘They’ve run away. It’s evening. We didn’t notice the time.’

  ‘The time slipped,’ he said angrily. ‘Just as it did last night. I know it now’. This funny silence, nothing moving. It’s just like it was in the garden there—at the pub. And suddenly all the fireflies were very still, lying in the darkness like pearls on velvet. And it was like this, and the clock in the bar stopped still. It didn’t clack any more. And nobody spoke and the lights were out, yet you could see…’

  ‘Oh my God, my God! ’ she cried out. “Look, look! ’

  The pond lay still, a tarnished mirror under the darkening sky. The flags around it were wet in patches as if something had come out of the pond.

  And by the edge of the pond, a body lay, only the boots recognisable. There were strips of cloth all round, as if it had fallen off die body, rotten. The body itself was a grinning skeleton, laughing at the sky.

  Richard looked round. The shadows crawled closer. He could see them moving towards him across the grass, the gloom of the flower masses in gathering darkness encircling them in horror like a fog. In the sky the darkness crept up over the dome like a great blind.

  She was sobbing. He tightened his grip on her arm, turned and hurried her back, stumbling, towards the kitchen door. In the silence only their pained, frightened breathing could be heard as they stumbled on over the soft grass.