Creature from the Black Lagoon Page #3

always seems unbelievable, Lucas.

One accepts these things as legend.

But to actually believe there's a kind of

human being that can live underwater...

This is no legend,

as you'll soon see for yourself.

What about the Kamongo? Science

hadn't heard of it until a few years ago.

And the Kamongo lived

way back in the Devonian age.

Interesting that the fossil I found

was out of the same period.

The Kamongo was a fish

that breathed air.

- What does that prove?

- Nothing.

Except that the Kamongo fish, which has

lungs, exists today here in the Amazon.

It hasn't changed in millions of years.

That doesn't prove

the possibility of a gill-man.

If the evolution of that species reached

a dead end back then and still survived,

why couldn't another?

Where is he?

I was sure I had him in my finder.

For a merman, he takes a fine picture.

- This wasn't imagination, Doctor.

- I'm sorry, David.

What proof do we have

if we never find it again?

If you hadn't stopped me, we could've

taken it. Dead or alive, what's it matter?

Aarghhh!

- What happened?

- Chico!

- What happened?

- Zee!

- Chico... Chico...

- Zee!

Chico is gone. My brother was dragged

down into the water by a demon!

Come on, everybody, look around. Quick!

A demon, eh? Well, that's no more

far-fetched than your gill-man.

There are many strange legends

in the Amazon.

Even I - Lucas -

have heard the legend of a man-fish.

Over here! Quickly!

Look!

All right, Lucas. Start your pumps.

Now all we have to do is catch him.

- You'll never take it alive.

- I want to try, Mark.

All right, David.

We can always do it my way.

If we could just be sure of its reaction.

Do you suppose it remembers

Mark's attack and seeks revenge?

I welcome it.

You'll get your wish all right.

I've got a hunch this... this creature

remembers the past and more.

I don't want him creeping up on us

while we're sleeping.

I know a way to bring him up now.

Rotenone. A drug which the natives make

from roots for catching fish in still waters.

Sometimes I catch fish that way.

I show you. Look.

Excuse.

One taste of the poisoned water

and the paralysed fish

float up to the top with a big hangover.

Well, come on, let's try it.

- Still no sign.

- Nothing but the little ones so far.

Could be he's dead from the wound.

Then again, maybe the rotenone

isn't going deep enough.

Maybe we should fix the rotenone

to sink deeper down, eh?

Yeah. Anything is worth a try.

- What was that?

- I don't know.

Come on, come on.

Are you talking to me, Mark,

or something out there?

Both, David.

They won't believe it back home,

none of them.

I wouldn't have believed it myself.

Sitting out here,

waiting for some monster to appear.

That's why we've got to take him.

- Why won't they believe, Mark?

- Because we deal with known quantities.

With knowledge

we've accumulated up to now.

We've just begun to learn

about the water and its secrets.

Just as we've only

touched on outer space.

We don't entirely rule out the possibility

of some form of life on another planet.

Then why not

some entirely different form of life

in a world we already know is inhabited

by millions of living creatures?

We must have the proof.

Argh!

In the water!

The lantern frightened him off!

No.

There he is!

- It's foolish to go after him.

- But he's drugged.

- I'd wait.

- If he has gills, he may suffocate.

- How long does the effect last?

- Hour. Maybe two.

But for that thing, who can tell?

- Carl, follow me in a rowboat. Bring a net.

- I'll go with you.

I keep you covered.

That's where he went under.

I'm going to take a look. You wait here.

Hey, take it easy.

He went through here. Come on.

Zee!

No!

Oh, David! David!

We got him.

We got him!

Don't kill him!

- What happened?

- Give me the net.

How is he?

He's dead.

That's the last one.

- Will he live?

- I don't know.

If he can survive both the rotenone

and being out of the water so long.

You sound as if you feel sorry for him.

He could have killed you just as easily.

- But he didn't.

- It makes no difference now.

The point is, he won't do any more killing.

- Well, Lucas, we can start back.

- Mark, we're not finished here yet.

We've got to study that grotto.

- Collect photographs, data.

- I've got all the proof I need.

- Get going, Lucas.

- We're not going until we finish our work.

All right, David,

if it'll make you feel any better.

Oh, Doctor, would you mind staying

behind and keep an eye on our prize?

Don't be long, David.

You'd better get some rest.

- Hi.

- Oh.

Thought I'd come up and get some air.

What do you suppose

is taking them so long?

David's very thorough.

But shouldn't you be resting, Kay?

I couldn't sleep.

- Listen to the sounds.

- Hunting calls, mostly.

Animals out for the kill.

Some of them are cries of fear,

like people who whistle in the dark.

I'm not exactly blind, Kay.

You're worried about what's happened

between Mark and David.

But once you admit the simple fact

that you're in love, which you have,

then it becomes a good idea

to be the scientist about it.

- It's not as easy as that.

- Why not?

If it weren't for Mark Williams,

I wouldn't have my work, or even a job.

It's true

he helped train you and gave you a job,

but he needed you

just as much as you needed him.

- You're oversimplifying.

- You've repaid him many times over.

A good part of his present position at the

institute is due to your valuable research.

And another thing...

Get back, Kay!

Go on, get back!

No! No!

Dr Thompson!

How is he?

If infection doesn't set in,

he may pull through.

The fool. It wouldn't have happened

if he hadn't been careless.

There's no one to blame.

Four men dead so far.

And if he dies, what a useless waste

of experience and ability.

Nobody meant it to happen, David.

Mark, I'm for getting out of this lagoon

just as fast as we can.

Without taking what we came for?

We didn't come here to fight monsters.

We came here to find fossils.

Later we can come back

with a properly equipped expedition.

- Be reasonable!

- Reasonable?

Oh, what else could I expect?

But you, Carl. It means as much to you.

You're driving yourself too hard,

and the rest of us along with you.

- We're staying until we get him.

- Or until somebody else gets killed?

No, we're not.

Lucas? We're getting out of here

just as fast as we can.

I'll make the decisions around here.

But you are wrong, Mr Williams. On the

water, the capito makes the decisions.

We will do as you say.

You'll listen to me.

You wish to say something, mister? Eh?

Dr Maia, would you please

to pull up the anchor?

I will start the engine.

Look out! There's something here!

Look out!

Look out!

Pull back! There's something here!

- Put it in reverse!

- Pull back! Pull back!

Nothing was there

when we came in.

It was put there

to keep us from getting out.

By him.

- I check below for damage.

- I'll go aft and keep watch.

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