First it drew together, a bubbling mass like green calf-slobber shot with blood. A rank stench of musty death curled to him from it.
Then, while he watched, a shape began to rise out of the slime; a shape—
He caught his breath. His blood froze.
It was a woman!
Now she stood erect and naked, shrouded from the hips down in the slime-mass. Her hands caressed her high, proud breasts. She laughed and stretched her arms out toward Boone.
In spite of himself, he took a dragging step forward. Then another, and another.
As from afar, the ensign's shout dinned in his ears. He half turned.