Doctor How and the Deadly Anemones Read Online Free PDF

Look, we can’t just stand here having an expositional conversation.”
    “Oh, my God! So it’s true!”
    “Partially. They’re not grey, for a start. As you’ve already seen, there’s a whole variety of species here.
    “So they control, like, the government and everything?”
    “Can you please stop dancing that annoying little jig? And the answer is no. All these disastrous policies are of your species’ own stupid doing. Don’t try to palm it off on a bunch of out-of-towners. Now, we have to investigate.”
    “Investigate what?”
    “The deaths of the Rindan consul and her husband.”
    “I don’t see no bodies.”
    “Of course not. Through here.”
    Holding his Tsk Army Ultraknife in front of him, the Doctor led Kevin through to the bathroom. “I’ve got my first encounter with the scene recorded,” he said. “Nothing I could do, as you can see. Just bones left of Mrs Plensca, and only the lower half of her husband.”
    “Maaan. Oh. I feel sick.”
    “Don’t keep it in if you need to let it out. But please don’t vomit on the remains. The Rindans have all sorts of rituals and they’ll want those back ASAP. More paperwork for yours truly.”
    “What d’you think happened? I mean, how did they die?”
    “I would have thought it was blindingly obvious that they were eaten – quite possibly alive. Her first.”
    “Like, I can see that, Doc. But what ate them? And where is it now?”
    “It? Maybe it was a they . Here’s what I think happened. Mrs Plensca is overpowered, her husband comes in to investigate and is ambushed by a second… assailant. They’ve got through an awful lot of flesh, I must say. Too much for just one creature which, as I’m sure you’ve worked out by now, is no longer in here. And it doesn’t seem to be the kind of species that uses the front door when exiting, either – the keys are still in the apartment and the door’s locked. And I don’t think it – or they – can still be in here. Not according to my Ultraknife, anyway.”
    Kevin became aware of a presence behind him, and jumped when he caught a glimpse of a giant spider’s leg in the mirror. “Jesus, Trin,” he said. “Sorry, I’m still getting used to you. Why’s she here?”
    “Sniffing around for evidence. Come through, Trin.”
    Kevin and the Doctor moved out of the cramped bathroom to let the super-predator in. She hunched over each set of remains for a minute, then began a slow and methodical examination of every inch of floor, wall and ceiling. She settled on an area of the shower wall, then stared at the Doctor. After a few seconds he nodded, then focused on his Ultraknife. A few seconds after that he sighed with relief.
    “It was their own, stupid fault,” he said.
    “What happened?”
    “Have you ever heard of fugu ?”
    “No. Is that like some rude acronym or something?”
    “It’s Japanese and translated literally means river pig . We call them puffer fish. It’s a delicacy. The fish contains a toxin twelve times deadlier than cyanide. If it’s not carefully prepared by a qualified chef, it could be your last meal.”
    “So you’re telling me they were poisoned, then eaten? I don’t get it.”
    “It’s just an analogy. Some cultures get a kick out of risky cuisine. I’m sorry to mention it again, but your own father was ultimately killed by the Caledonian-Caribbean cuisine your mother prepared for him.”
    “Come off it, Doc – that’s hardly the same as playing fish roulette!”
    “Isn’t it? I suppose the fish will either kill you or it won’t – but a Scottish diet will get you in the end. It’s just that it’ll take a few decades longer.”
    “Stop lecturing and just tell me.”
    “It seems that those polyps can morph.”
    “The polyps they were growing for their holy week?”
    “The same. There’s a chance that, given the right conditions, they can morph into something rather nasty – you know, a bit aggressive and carnivorous. It’s part of the whole