The imbecile fell.
And now, alien abandoned host, racing across the floor on its tentacles towards the shimmering, blue-white tank.
Burke snatched up a second oil-jar; hurled its contents.
The oil slapped over the creature in a wave. Fire leaped from the flaming tapestry to meet it.
The next instant the alien itself was a threshing, blazing ball.
Then a ceiling timber crashed down on it in a shower of sparks.
The threshing stopped.
Burke ran for the nearest door....