The Blue Germ

s the water from the Elan, eighty miles across country, travelling through hills and bridging valleys, runs past Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer, through the

s, and caught the sheen of water beyond. On the north lay the river Elan and on the south the steep side of a mountain towered up against the luminous sky. The road runs along the left bank of the river bounded by a series of bold and abrupt crags that rise to a height of some eight hundred feet above the level of

re to Birmingham?" asked Sarakoff as we

les an hour," I replied. "So tha

detection. The presence of two visitors at t

opped at the margin of the water and stared across the shadowy lake. "Y

et of water a deep blood colour. Sarakoff op

re, loosened the gelatinous contents. Then, inverting the tubes he f

d perhaps entered the dark cavernous mouth of the first culvert to start on their slow journey to Birmingham. The light faded from the sky and darkness spread swiftly over the lake. Sarakoff emptied the remaining tubes