Chapter 9 - Sounds

"Any moment now."

The figure, clad in gray and beige fatigues, lowered the heavy black goggles just enough to get a wide glimpse of the entire area. The scene was one of chaos and numbing fear. Placing the spectacles over his eyes once more, he scanned for any semblance of mutation.

The target's body showed obvious signs of distress. Large patches of red fur had fallen off to expose irritated flesh that began to ooze grey colored drainage.

Excitement tingled in the observer's hands. There was a wave of movement just below the test subject's epidermis that proved the large animal was about to change in appearance.

Screams of horror echoed through the streets of the sleepy little town. The residents were witnessing the perils of science gone wrong. Tentacles began to grow from Clifford's bare spots and whip around viscously. Any person who was within reach was either decapitated or sliced in half by the razor sharp barbs attached to the angry appendages.

"This is most excellent," the tall, lean figure boasted. He quickly packed up his gear and slowly backed down the hillside he had been using as his hidden perch.

Once at the bottom of the hill, he ran along the short strip of beach and slipped into the small motorboat that was idling softly at the ocean water's edge. Activating his radio, he spoke into the microphone, "Is the helicopter in the air?"

A husky, smooth as silk, feminine voice emitted from his speaker, "It is in the air and destined to be on site for pick up in 20 minutes. Our team is active and standing by, over."

A crazed smile pressed into the radio as the man neared the distant shore of a neighboring rock formation, "Over and out."