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find a way to get back.'
    'All right, but if you have any difficulty go up to the
school, OK?'
    'Yes, sir.'
    'Right.' And with that the teacher walked on.
    Sean adjusted his hood to protect his face from the
rain, then hurried on along the waterlogged path.
    When he reached the bridge, he was amazed to see
that the water had swamped the road. It was swelling by
the second, and was beginning to make its way up to the
high street. He quickly headed for the video rental shop,
where a crowd had formed. Cars had stopped on both
sides of the river, the drivers staring, bemused, at the
water, some unable to go either forwards or backwards.
Just then, a police car arrived; two officers got out and
started ushering everyone further up the high street.
More people were stopping to marvel at the approaching
tide. Some leaned out of windows; some interrupted
their shopping to come and see what all the commotion
was about. Somewhere a child cried out in excited
glee.
    The river was now a monster, a terrifying one, and it
looked like there was no stopping it.

CHAPTER 6
    Although he was worried about the flood, Sean's
primary concern was getting home – it would be
difficult as the only direct route from Orchard Wells'
high street to the suburbs was now under water. There
were back roads from the other end of town that would
get him there, but it would take all day if he had to
walk. He needed a lift. Then he remembered that his
brother had said he'd be finishing college early today
and might go for a swim afterwards. If so, his car would
be at the pool.
    Sean turned and headed up the high street, taking
a left at the library, then over a small bridge that was
dangerously close to the rising stream, and into the
swimming pool car park. He scanned the vehicles.
There were people chatting on their phones, no doubt
informing loved ones of the situation. Others were
getting into their cars and driving away while they still
could. He checked each parking space, his eyes sweeping
the vehicles, until he found it – a red Ford Fiesta
with one hubcap missing. His brother was still there.
He made for the entrance to the building and went
inside.
    Mr Phoenix scanned the path and the bank leading
down to the water's edge for signs of disturbance; soon
enough he came upon muddy footprints and trampled
grass that he guessed had been left by Sean. He looked
down through the trees to the brown, swirling water
below, reluctant to go near it, but interested enough
in Sean's story to see if there was any truth in it. The
boy believed he'd been hallucinating after what had
happened to him on Sunday, but maybe someone really
had come to harm.
    Mr Phoenix made his way slowly down the slope,
using the trees for support when he slipped, but he soon
reached the water and saw signs of a recent disturbance
in the mud. It was hard to tell if anyone besides Sean
had been there. He looked around for any sign of vomit,
but could see nothing except . . . In the grass to one
side he glimpsed something dark and slimy. He moved
closer and looked down, trying to guess what it was. It
looked like oil, only thicker, more viscous, and gave off
an awful pungent smell. He squatted down to take a
closer look but had to turn away as the smell of vomit
assailed him.
    Suddenly he saw movement in the grass on the other
side of the rough path: something was making its way
towards him. He waited to see what it was – a rabbit,
he guessed – but the grass stopped moving and nothing
appeared. He walked over to the spot, crouching down
to get a better look. In the thick tangle of grass and
twigs lay something shiny and wet, long and dark – an
eel perhaps. Whatever it was, he didn't really want to
touch it, and he was about to leave it be when it shot out
from its hiding place and attached itself to his face.
    He cried out, more in revulsion than fear, and fell
backwards onto the muddy ground, scrabbling madly
to remove