y took some of the diminishing drug
to check their growth. Alan handed his father a black vial.

"Yes, lad--"

"No! Wait, that's the wrong drug. This other--"

Dr. Kent had opened the vial. His trembling hand spilled some of the
pellets, but none of them noticed it.

"Father, this one." Alan held an opalescent vial. "Take this one."

Glora said abruptly, "Listen! Is that someone coming?"

They thought they heard approaching footsteps. A moment passed but no
one came into the room.

"Hurry," urged Glora. "That was nothing. We're waiting too long."

"My boy--Alan, after all these years--"

As they were about to take the diminishing drug a very queer sound came
from across the room. A scuttling, scratching, and the drone of wings.

"God, Father--look!"

Over by the wall, a giant fly was running across the floor. The fly had
eaten some of the sweetish powder.

The enlarging drug was loose!

A few drops of water lay mingled with the drug on the floor. And from
the water nameless hideous things were rising!

CHAPTER IX

To Alan the first moments that followed the escape of the drug were the
most horrible of his life. The discovery struck old Dr. Kent, Glora and
Alan into a numb, blank confusion. They stood transfixed, staring with
cold terror at the fly which was scurrying along the floor close to the
wall. It was already as large as Alan's hand. It ran into the corner,
hit the wall in its confused alarm, and turned back. Its wings were
droning with an audible hum. It reared itself on its hairy legs, lifted
and sailed across the room.

As though drawn by a magnet, Alan turned to watch it. It landed on the
wall. Alan was aware of Dr. Kent rushing with trembling steps to a shelf
where bottles stood. Glora was stricken into immobility, the blood
draining from her face.

The fly flew again. It passed directly over Alan. Its body, with a
membrane sac of eggs, was now as large as his head; its widespread
transparent wings were beating with a reverberating drone.

Alan flung a bottle which was on the table beside him. It missed the
fly, crashed against the ceiling, came down with splintering glass and
spilling liquid. Fumes spread chokingly over the room.

The fly landed again on the floor. Larger now! Expanding with a horribly
rapid growth. Glora flung something--a little wooden rack with a few
empty test tubes in it. The rack struck the monstrous fly, but did not
hurt it. The fly stood with hairy le