way through all organic matter that stood in their path.
Writhing, squirming, all-absorbing monsters that sent out an advance
guard of independent snake-like tendrils to capture and hold for the
lagging mother-plants whatever of live stock and humanity they were
able to find.

"Think they'll get over the river, Van?" Bart asked.

"Sure they will. Every fugitive who had a narrow escape after being in
contact with the things is a potential carrier of the seed. I found
several of them sticking to my clothing after we got away. I picked a
couple off your coat, but didn't tell you."

"Lord! What did you do with them?"

"Put them in the ash receiver in my car--like a fool. Wouldn't have to
go down for more if I'd kept them."

"Well, it can't be helped now. We'll have a job getting some down
there now, too."

"I'll say so." Van lapsed into gloomy silence.

* * * * *

They were over the landing field above Tomkins Cove, and Bill turned
on the siren whose raucous shriek operated the mechanism of the
floodlight switches by sound vibrations. The field sprang into instant
illumination, and they circled it once before swooping to a landing.
They were but a mile from the advancing terror.

The field was deserted, and the three men started off immediately in
the direction of the oncoming weed.

"We'll have to make it snappy," Van grunted. "We've got about twelve
minutes to get the pods and get back to the ship. The damn things'll
be here by that time."

They scrambled over fences and pushed through thickets. The lighted
windows of a deserted farmhouse were directly ahead, and they ran
through the open gate and across the fields. Ever, the glow of the
weed grew brighter. A terrified horse galloped wildly past them and
crashed into the fence, whinnying piteously as it went down with a
broken leg. They could see the red rim of the advancing horror just
beyond the road.

One of the detached tendrils slithered past, each glowing coil
distinctly visible.

"Lucky the things can't see!" Bart shuddered.

"Yeah," said Van. "Have to dodge 'em to get in close enough to one of
the plants. Keep your eyes peeled now, you fellows, in case one of us
gets caught."

A terrific explosion rocked the ground. They had paid no heed to the
roaring of motors overhead. The bombers were on the job! Shooting
skyward, a column of flame not a hundred yards from them showed where
the high explosive had landed in th