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There was a checkpoint at Sankey's er。 Two BVF soldiers had taken over from the policemen who had been on duty earlier in the day。 They recognised the professor's car and waved him through。
The High Street was deserted。 Many of the houses and flats did not even show lights； their windows boarded up as though a wartime blackout was in force。 Newman saw some bats flying low across the top end of Pavoirs Road。 Nowhere was safe after dark now。
He drew into the small gravelled drive and switched off his headlights； glancing about him as he opened the car door。 He would have to make a quick dash to the house。 It was dangerous to linger。
'Professor Newman！' A voice called from the darkness as he got out of the car。
He turned。 A man was standing just inside his front garden； the shadow from the tall privet hedge obscuring his features。 He was a big man； his overcoat collar turned up； trilby hat pulled well down。
'Can I help you？' Newman was puzzled。 'Perhaps you'd like to step inside。 It isn't safe outside after dark； and 。。。 '
'What I've got to say won't take a moment； Professor。' There was a note of menace in the man's voice as he stepped into the circle of'yellow light cast by the nearby street…lamp。 Something shiny； metallic； glinted in his hand。 A revolver。
'What's this？' Newman stiffened。
'A gun；' the other laughed harshly。 'Army issue 。45。 1916。 My late father kept it as a relic； with some ammunition。 I'm glad he did。 Otherwise； Professor； my task of killing you might be more difficult。。。 but I'd do it just the same。 You bastard！'
'You're mad！' Newman breathed；
'If I am；' the other said。 'It's because of you。 Thanks to your meddling with viruses I've lost a wife and a daughter 。 。。 and it took 'em a long time to die。 I watched 'em。' His voice rose to a crescendo； 'Couldn't even get 'em to a hospital。 Nobody wanted to know。 Yes； Professor； I sat there and watched 'em both die。 They were paralysed before they started to go mad。 They frothed at the mouth and cursed me with their eyes。 Yes； Professor； they went out cursing me 。。。 but they should've been cursing you； because you murdered 'em。。。 just as I'm going to murder you now！'
Brian Newman stiffened。 The man was five yards from him； and he could see the finger curled around the trigger of the revolver。 It was too far to try and rush him； and there was no chance of diving for cover。 Death was only seconds away。
Then he heard the front door opening behind him； and Susan's voice。 'Are you all right； Brian？ Oh my God； what's happening？'
'Go back inside and close the door！' he called out over his shoulder。 'I won't be a minute。'
'You're damned right you won't。' the man snarled。 'Your time's up； Professor Newman。'
'Let's talk this over。'
'The time for talking is done。' The gunman shuffled a step or two nearer。 'After you； it's me； Professor。 I've got nothing left to live for。'
Newman closed his eyes。 If only Susan had obeyed him and gone back inside。 But he knew 。she wouldn't。 In all probability this maniac would kill her； too。 And there wasn't a thing he could do about it。
He closed his eyes。 Go on； get it over with。 I don't blame you； whoever you are。 There's millions more feel like you do about me。 That's the fault of the Press。
A deafening shot crashed out。 Newman swayed on his feet； but strangely he felt no pain。 He remembered reading somewhere that you never heard the shot that got you。 Maybe 。。。 Oh God； maybe he'd shot Susan first！
Newman opened his eyes。 Susan was by his side； her arms around him。 She was crying。 The man lay face down in the drive； the revolver a foot or so away from his outstretched fingers； blood soaking into the gravel。
Still Newman was trying to work it all out。 His brain was confused。 It wouldn't function properly。 This guy was a nutter。 Not his fault； though。 He'd chickened out at the last minute。 Couldn't go through with murder。 mitted suicide instead。
'All right； Professor？'
For the first time Newman was aware that someone was standing just inside the open gates。 A tall man dressed in a jungle hat； bat jacket； bandolier across his chest。 'Don't worry； Professor。 I had him covered the whole time。 Had to be careful I didn't hit either of you； though。'
Newman nodded to the BVF soldier； noting the thin trickle of smoke ing from the barrel of the Luger in his hand。
Thanks。' he murmured。 'Thanks a million。 I was lucky you happened to be around。 I should've asked for a guard before。 I told 'em I didn't need one。'
'You've had one all along；' the soldier told him； 'only you didn't know it。 Night and day。 We can't take chances with you； Professor。 Whatever the public might think； you're the one man who stands any chance of ing up with an antidote。'
'I just hope I can justify your confidence。' Newman pulled Susan Wylie close to him； and together they went inside and closed the door。
The weather was changing。 Still the sun beat down； but now its heat was tempered by the ing of autumn。 Each morning a thick mist followed the dawn； grey vapour which dispersed reluctantly towards mid…morning； and each evening brought a refreshing coolness to the parched land。
Fleets of helicopters stood at the ready throughout the Midlands； all fitted with crop…spraying attachments； the pilots waiting impatiently for the thick mist to evaporate。 From the north Staffordshire moors as far south as Worcester； from the Wash to the Wrekin； the operation stretched； 。the largest assault on insect life in British history。
'Crazy；' Tamperley of West Midlands Fertilizers muttered to his panion as they watched the rays of the sun beginning to disperse the fog。 'It won't work。 I could've told 'em that。'
'Don't see no reason why not。' Whittaker climbed up into the helicopter； and tapped the huge tank containing insecticide。 'This stuff was withdrawn five years ago because it was proved to be detrimental to wildlife。 Don't see why it shouldn't kill bats。'
'I'll believe it when I see it。' Tamperley lit a cigarette。 'Reckon we'll be on the move in about twenty minutes。'
It was 11。30 a。m。 before they took off； the countryside around them now being bathed in bright sunshine。 Some of the trees below were already showing signs of brown in their foliage。 Drought or not； autumn would dominate the rural scene from now onwards。
Whittaker recognised Chasetown sprawling below them and the dark green and purple of Cannock Chase over to their left。 Something golden glinted in the sunlight； the ball on the main spire of Lichfield Cathedral。 They dropped lower。
Traffic was sparse。 An isolated munity； even on a small island； had nowhere to go。 Smoke hung in the air in places。 Heath and forest fires still burned； but they had been abandoned long ago。 Town fires were given priority。
Tamperley turned to his colleague。 'That's the place；' he said； pointing in the direction of a tall television transmitter； rising like a lighthouse out of a dark green ocean。 'The fields between those two woods。'
Whittaker nodded and began connecting up various attachments。 They could see other helicopters already at work； skimming fields and woods； turning； going back； three or four covering a large expanse of arable ground。 Organisation。 He had to hand it to the authorities； in spite of what Tamperley said。 They were doing everything possible。 If it resulted in failure then they'd done their best。 Nobody could blame them； only that professor who had allowed the bats to escape。 It was all his fault。
'OK；' Tamperley called。 They were flying at a height of twenty feet； skimming hedgerows； rising to negotiate a couple of spinneys。 'Let 'er go。'
'Never sprayed woods before；' Whittaker muttered to himself。 A lifelong member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds； he realised the dangers to birdlife from toxic sprays。 Yet the bats had to be destroyed； otherwise it meant the end of everything。
Back and forth they went； methodically； barely missing a square yard on a 20…acre field； Tamperley knew his job。
They finished the field and turned their attention to the spinneys； gaining additional height because of some of the taller trees。 Wood…pigeons were flying aimlessly。 They had been deprived of their morning feed on some lush clover by the helicopters and now there was no peace even in their day…roosts。
'Hey； what's that？' Tamperley yelled above the roar of the engine。
Whitaker looked down in the direction the pilot pointed and saw a small wood with dense undergrowth。
'What。。。' he began； and then he saw it； a black cloud spiralling upwards； a flock of living creatures； formation…less； spreading out as they gained height。 Has first thought was that they were starlings。 Their mode of flight was different； though； faster and more erratic。 Their aerobatics would have been the envy of any pilot。
'It's them！' he yelled。 'The bats！'
'Some of 'em；' Tamperley shouted back。 'That spinney must be one of their roosting places。 Well； we might as well give 'em the works。 I'm going down on 'em。 Let 'em have it！'
Whittaker increased the flow of insecticide as they dipped。 The spray was thick and yellow； reminding him of urine。 It hit the bats； the sheer force of the liquid sending several of them spinning to the ground。 The remainder wheeled and jinked； above and below the helicopter； some dashing themselves against the sides of the machine and falling earthwards； lifeless。
The helicopter was stationary； hovering； the full force of the nozzles directed immediately beneath it。 Bats were everywhere； hurling themselves at the glass of the cockpit as though they sensed whence this liquid death came。
There was a brief moment during which the two men thought that victory was theirs； a total slaughter。 In fact； Tamperley was already preparing to move on when the cockpit was darkened by shadows； tiny flickering shapes that merged into near…total darkness； obscuring the sunlight。
'Hell's bells！' Whittaker croaked。 'Just look at 'em！'
Bats clung to every available inch of toughened glass； somehow securing a hold on the smooth surface； upside down； hundreds of malevolent faces staring at the two men with an insane hatred beyond prehension。
'Jesus！ ' Tamperley jerked on the lever。 'Let's get back to base！'
The helicopter responded； moved forward； and then shuddered to a standstill as though a brake had been applied。 One final roar from the engine； and then it died away； stuttering into silence。 The two men could hear the shrill piping of their attackers。
'They've clogged the vanes！' Tamperley screamed。
Whittaker watched in horror as the pilot tried desperately to restart the engine； but they were already embarking upon a direct downward course； hurtling towards the spinney below； the cockpit a coffin； borne by the bats down to a quarry grave。
With a screech of tearing metal and splintering wood the undercarriage was ripped away by the topmost branches of a tall Corsican pine； the trunk spearing into the cockpit。 The machine hung precariously for a couple of seconds； its fall checked。 Then the tree snapped lower down； and the helicopter plunged on the last stage of its journey of death； jagged rocks rushing up to meet it； bats whirring above as though in triumph at their victory； then scattering in every direction as they witnessed the final destruction。
Another helicopter which had seen the bizarre scene from half…a…mile away hastened towards the spinney； the grim…faced pilot noting the clouds of bats which dispersed in all directions。
'Looked like Tamperley；' he yelled to the man at his side。
'If it was； then he's bought it for sure。 Go easy； Joe。 I never seen nothin' like it！ We don't want to get caught up in a cloud o' bleedin' bats。'
But Joe was already veering away。 There wasn't a bat in sight。 Just a column of black smoke