CARL PHILLIPS
Good heavens, something’s wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake.
Now it’s another one, and another one, and another one! They look like
tentacles to me. I can see the thing’s body now. It’s large, large as a bear and it
glistens like wet leather. But that face, it… Ladies and gentlemen, it’s
indescribable. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it, so awful. The
eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. The mouth is V-shaped with saliva
dripping from its rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate. The monster or
whatever it is can hardly move. It seems weighed down by… possibly gravity
or something. The thing’s… rising up now, and the crowd falls back now.
They’ve seen plenty. This is the most extraordinary experience, ladies and
gentlemen. I can’t find words… I’ll pull this microphone with me as I talk. I’ll
have to stop the description until I can take a new position. Hold on, will you
please, I’ll be right back in a minute…
ANNOUNCER
We are bringing you an eyewitness account of what’s happening on the
Wilmuth farm, Grovers Mill, New Jersey.
ANNOUNCER
We now return you to Carl Phillips at Grovers Mill.
CARL PHILLIPS
Ladies and gent… Am I on? Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, here
I am, back of a stone wall that adjoins Mr. Wilmuth’s garden. From here I get a
sweep of the whole scene. I’ll give you every detail as long as I can talk and as
long as I can see.
More state police have arrived They’re drawing up a cordon in front of the pit,
about thirty of them. No need to push the crowd back now. They’re willing to
keep their distance.
The captain is conferring with someone. We can’t quite see who. Oh yes, I
believe it’s Professor Pierson. Yes, it is. Now they’ve parted and the Professor
moves around one side, studying the object, while the captain and two
policemen advance with something in their hands.
I can see it now. It’s a white handkerchief tied to a pole… a flag of truce. If
those creatures know what that means… what ANYTHING means…
Wait a minute! Something’s happening…
(HISSING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A HUMMING THAT INCREASES IN
INTENSITY)
CARL PHILLIPS
A humped shape is rising out of the pit. I can make out a small beam of light
against a mirror. What’s that? There’s a jet of flame springing from that mirror,
and it leaps right at the advancing men. It strikes them head on! Good Lord,
they’re turning into flame!
(SCREAMS AND UNEARTHLY SHRIEKS)
CARL PHILLIPS
Now the whole field’s caught fire.
(EXPLOSION)
CARL PHILLIPS
The woods… the barns… the gas tanks of automobiles… it’s spreading
everywhere. It’s coming this way. About twenty yards to my right…
(ABRUPT DEAD SILENCE)
ANNOUNCER
Ladies and gentlemen, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable
to continue the broadcast from Grovers Mill. Evidently there’s some difficulty
with our field transmission. However, we will return to that point at the
earliest opportunity.
