Something in the Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

company for Sally, probably.’
    Toshiko had taken a small, hand-held device out of her coat pocket and scanned the field. It could easily have been mistaken for a sophisticated mobile phone, because that is what it had once been. Toshiko had redesigned it to accommodate a smart piece of alien kit that helped to track warps in the Earth’s localised time field, and she used it now to scan for alien technology or recent movements through the Rift.
    Professor Len eyes the device suspiciously. ‘What’s that, then? Ghost detector?’
    ‘Sort of.’ The little machine flickered with coloured lights like a miniature Christmas decoration. It bleeped and whirred as Toshiko studied the readings on the tiny screen. ‘Yep – got something,’ she announced as the device squawked. ‘Directly ahead; no, a little to the north east, about two hundred yards.’
    ‘Come on, then,’ said Gwen, starting forward.
    ‘Wait a minute,’ said the professor. ‘You can’t go across there. You don’t know the safe routes.’
    ‘Then you lead the way.’
    ‘Are you completely mad? I’m not giving Sally Blackteeth any chances. I’m staying right here.’
    ‘Don’t tell me you really believe those stories!’
    He stared at her. ‘Of course I believe the stories. So should you. What kind of staff is Jack taking on these days?’
    ‘Only the best,’ Gwen replied. ‘OK, fine. Stay here by the car. You can watch.’
    The old man looked appalled. ‘Don’t be daft, girl. I didn’t think you were coming here to walk across the Moss. I thought you were only coming to look.’
    ‘Gwen, we have to hurry if we want to investigate properly,’ Toshiko said, studying the monitor intently. ‘The temporal trace could fade any moment.’
    Gwen smiled at Professor Len. ‘We’ll say hello to Sally if we see her.’
    ‘Never mind her,’ he said. ‘It’s the bog you’ve got to look out for.’
    Toshiko was already climbing down from the roadside, stretching a leg across a ditch to reach the moss. ‘Gwen, come on …’
    ‘Just take it easy,’ advised Professor Len, admitting defeat. He clearly knew better than to bother arguing with the two young women. ‘Keep to the firm ground, where the moss is. Don’t step anywhere you don’t like the look of.’
    Gwen hopped down after Toshiko and led the way. The ground was hard and firm for the first few metres, but then it suddenly became noticeably softer – there was a discomforting springiness underfoot, almost as if they were walking across a bed. The ground gurgled and burped beneath the thin mist swirling around their ankles.
    Toshiko followed, scanning all the time. ‘Keep going … directly ahead …’
    ‘Any idea what it is?’ Gwen asked.
    ‘Definite time disturbance – that means Rift activity. Must be something odd to be this far out.’
    ‘Tell me we’re nearly there, because this mud is getting right on my nerves, not to mention my trainers. I think they’re letting in water.’
    ‘Keep going,’ Toshiko said. Their feet squelched through the soft earth as they continued.
    ‘Remember what Professor Len said; keep to the firm ground. We don’t want to drop through any holes.’
    ‘It’s hardly likely. This area is heavily saturated, but it should support our weight. There may be pools, but they’ll be visible. Just be careful and try to keep to the path …’
    Gwen watched the ground in front of her carefully as they crept forward. ‘I can’t see any path.’
    ‘It’ll be the route across the marsh used by animals. The grass will be pressed down. The reeds will be growing in the wettest parts.’
    ‘Think I’ve just found one of the wettest parts.’ Gwen let out a groan of dismay as her right foot disappeared up to the ankle in cold water. She aimed the torch and saw mud swilling over her shoe as she pulled it back out. ‘Yuck.’
    ‘Wait – it’s just up ahead,’ murmured Toshiko, holding up the scanner. ‘Look, chronon discharge and a fair degree of