He awoke, hearing a sound that he could not place at first, but metallic, familiar. Of course – the door handle being turned. The door opening. Footsteps. Not just of one person; two at least....

This aimless slamming away at disconnected points was not, Selby felt, advancing their understanding of the situation; the reverse, if anything. There had to be a logical explanation, but it would need working out, step...

‘I can’t even make a guess about the details. But pretty obviously, whether it’s infection, or possession, or multiple hysteria, the process itself is contagious. There has to be, at the least, a laying on...

‘What’s to stop them breaking a window to get in?’ ‘Nothing,’ George said flatly. ‘You’re not too bad at underrating intelligence yourself. I don’t know whether the Deepings are dangerous to the rest of us...

Douglas said: ‘Aren’t you taking some things for granted, Selby? You didn’t examine Ruth for temperature and pulse rate – only the boy. She seemed cold, I agree, but she had been outside looking for...

Selby took a deep breath, and raised his glass. ‘Cheers.’ ‘Cheers,’ she said. ‘There’s something funny about being awake when everyone else is asleep. Don’t you think?’ She looked about her. ‘And with this lamp...

Marie left the kitchen to get the rest of the things from the dining-room, and there was time – not much, but enough, and without snatching or gulping – to get herself a drink from...

The voices started about an hour later. Mandy was the first to hear them. The kitchen window was barred, but she had opened it to clear the cooking smells. She called up the stairs excitedly,...

It was a relief to be in a place where the windows let in all the light, even this meagre mist-filtered light. Douglas glanced at his watch. Half past eleven. The work had taken longer...

‘You were sent away at eight, too, I suppose?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And enjoyed it?’ ‘I remember crying a bit, the first few nights. After that I enjoyed it.’ ‘Because you had it to go through, it’s...