The Undying Monster Page #2

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Unless we destroy it, it'll

destroy us. Both of us.

Please try to put it out of your

mind now, darling, and get some sleep.

Here, drink this.

Make you feel better.

Poor darling.

It must have been a shock for

you, finding him like that.

It was awful.

I can't help feeling that I'm

somehow to blame about Kate, at least.

She'd been working late and I

should have seen her home, I suppose.

But it's hardly a stone's throw to the

village through the shortcut past your place.

Jeff, there's something beyond all this that

- that frightens me.

What is it? What is this thing

that's been hanging over us for years?

The village folk will insist that

the Hammond monster has returned.

But... you don't believe in

that superstitious rot, do you?

Usually some basis

for this sort of thing.

How badly is Oliver hurt?

His wounds are deep but not serious.

Fortunately, he's got

excellent recuperative powers.

- What about his mind?

- It seems unaffected.

Most anybody might be liable to

forget exactly what happened...

after a blow like that on the head.

Haven't you any idea what sort

of a creature made the wounds?

Oliver and Kate are badly mauled.

But there's no distinctive mark to

indicate exactly what attacked them.

It could have been a

ferocious dog, of course.

Those poachers have a couple

of huge, vicious hounds.

Look here, darling, why don't you forget

about this tonight and try to get some sleep?

I'll run along. I'm sure by tomorrow

the police will find out what it was.

I've done it, Bob. It works.

Really? This must be our lucky day.

These tests turned out well too.

My dear boy, all London knows that

you solved the Kensington murder...

with your scientific tests when

everything else had failed...

but nobody's been able

to do what I've done.

- And what complicated formula, Christy, have you proved?

- Here, taste it.

- Oh, no, thanks.

- Go on. It won't hurt you.

Oh, hello, Inspector.

- Hello.

- I was about to come up and see you.

We collated the final runoff

tests on those bullets.

They were all fired from the same

revolver. Inspector Craig, have a piece.

- What is it?

- Toffee. A new recipe.

Don't tell me that you've been using

our laboratory equipment to make toffee?

- Don't mind if I do.

- Don't touch it.

Mr. Curtis, you may not think much

of female detectives, but really.

It's simply delicious. The

best I've ever made. Your pans-

- You used that pan. - Well, why not?

If making toffee isn't scientific-

But that's the pan that I used for the

hydrophobia culture, and it turned out positive.

Hydrophobia-

Hydro-

Ohh! Ohh!

That'll fix her. Here,

Inspector, help yourself.

No, thank you. She'll

have her stomach pumped.

It serves her right. She's a good

detective, but she gets restless...

unless something's happening

that makes her blood run cold.

You know, her prime passion

is dabbling in the occult.

- Maybe the Hammond case would interest her.

- What's up, Inspector?

Nothing tangible yet, but I'd

appreciate it if you'd look into it.

You might solve something there

with these gadgets of yours...

that's baffled us for a long time.

If those are orders,

Inspector, I'm ready.

Christy and I could do with

a weekend in the country.

I think it'll take

longer than a weekend.

And it might turn out

to be rather dangerous.

Well, if you're thinking

about Christy, don't worry.

- She thrives on goose pimples.

- Don't laugh at me, Bob...

but I sometimes think that

there are some things...

that can't be explained

in the ordinary way.

And I want to warn you. You had best

be prepared to cope with something...

- perhaps supernatural. -

Oh, but, Inspector Craig-

I know what you're going to

say. There's no such thing.

That from the viewpoint of science

all phenomena have a material basis.

I've never yet met a case of ghostly

interference that wouldn't stand investigation.

That's why you're the man for the job.

- Miss Hammond is waiting in your office, sir.

- Coming.

Here, read the report of

the case and then come up.

- I want you and Christy to look the Hammond girl over.

- Right.

And that's all there

was to it, Inspector.

Yes. Yes, of course. You must forgive

me for asking you up to London.

Naturally. But there's nothing more

I can add that you don't already know.

You're sure there's nothing

else you want to tell me?

Ah, may I present Mr. Robert Curtis...

chief of our laboratory staff...

and his assistant, Miss

Cornelia Christopher.

- This is Miss Hammond.

- How do you do?

You don't look like the sort of girl

who'd be mixed up in any trouble like this.

He said precisely the same thing to

Miss Coulter, the Sashway murderess...

- before he sent her to the gallows.

- Christy.

I'm sorry, my dear. I

didn't mean to shock you.

That's just my clumsy way of assuring

you that we'll find the murderer.

- But there's been no murder.

- No murder? Then what am I doing here?

My dear Miss Christopher.

The Hammond case has been

in our files for a long time.

I knew your grandfather well. He

was a brave and gallant soldier.

- I hardly remember him. I was only a

child when he- - Yes. Yes. I know, my dear.

It's always been hard for me to believe

that such a fine man could kill himself.

Unless he had a very good reason.

Miss Hammond, Scotland Yard has no desire

to pry into people's private lives...

but we'd hope that you'd tell

us about the-well, the monster.

A monster? Now we're

getting somewhere.

- There's no such thing.

- But there is a legend.

Yes.

To the effect that centuries ago one of

your ancestors sold his soul to the devil...

and still lives in a secret room in

Hammond Hall issuing forth at intervals...

to make the sacrifice of a human

life in order to prolong his own.

I didn't think you knew the story.

I'm sorry, Miss Hammond,

to have to bring a matter...

which I know must be painful

to you out into the open-

But we've done nothing to merit having our

name dragged through a newspaper scandal.

We'll keep the investigation

strictly undercover.

Then there is to be an investigation.

I'm afraid there's nothing we

can do about it. That's official.

Very well then, I'll

help you all I can.

Oh, that's odd. We were thinking

we were going to help you.

Thank you, but I'm sure I can take care

of myself. When should we expect you?

Oh, but we're moving in with you.

And I warn you, I've got

an appetite like a horse.

What a divinely gloomy old house.

Just the sort of place a

reliable ghost would haunt.

It's one of the oldest

inhabited houses in England.

We're coming to the

shortcut. Shall we stop?

Right. I'd like to have

a preliminary look around.

- Whoa.

- Want to come along, Christy?

No, if you don't mind. It's much too

early in the day to tax my poor brain.

- Be a dear and run me up to the hall, will you?

- Delighted.

Do you think it's wise, Helga, to go

down there? After last night, I mean.

Oh, don't worry. When Bobby

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