Ford’s head bobbed. “Okay, okay, I just…” He shook his head. “Okay, got it.” He spun, yelling to his colleagues. “I want the gas vents packed with sodium chloride dust. Let’s give old Harry here a salt shower.”

In another few minutes, a powder so fine it could have been mist started to float down onto the top of the creature. If there was a perfect image of Hell and madness, then Abrams reckoned the inside of the containment cell over the next five minutes was it – the creature expanded to twice its size, bulges formed, and hundreds of eyes popped open, mouths screamed and other pustules and protuberances bulged, formed and unformed, as dark fluid sprayed. The Shoggoth pounded on the walls and glass, the blows so strong Abrams felt them through the soles of his boots.

A huge crack appeared down the center of the many-inches-thick screen in front of the men, and Ford and Abrams began to step back. In one final act of madness, or perhaps defiance, a huge mouth on the end of a column-thick limb struck the glass, and suckered on. Dagger-like teeth dragged down the screen, gouging deep pits into the specially toughened glass.

The Shoggoth began to shrivel and melt away; steam rising until all that was left was a soup of black primordial ooze.

Abrams fists were bunched and his teeth bared. He turned to Ford, his eyes blazing. “Weaponize it.”

*

Abrams rushed back to his office, and was joined by Hartogg in the hallway. “Lester.” He reached out to shake the big Special Forces soldier’s hand. “Sorry to pull you back in, but you know what we’re up against better than most, and I need experience real close to me right about now.”

“Any time, sir.” Hartogg fell into step with the major as he moved quickly along the hall.

Abrams turned to him. “We’ve got a weapon against the Shoggoth. It works: I’ve seen it.”

“Let me at it.” Hartogg’s face was grim. “What is it?”

“Salt.” He shrugged. “Plain old table salt – melts em right away.”

Hartogg half smiled. “Sounds too easy. What about the big bastard coming up under our feet? Will it work on that too?”

Abrams frowned. “Don’t know, but anyway the general’s gonna be taking that one head on. However, we need a Plan B…and that’s what we’re about to go looking for.” He pushed into his office, pushing the door wide for his lieutenant to follow. “By the way, Senesh is off the leash. She broke out of captivity and either took Matt Kearns hostage or encouraged him to travel with her.”

“Like who couldn’t see that coming – that woman’s a tornado. She was always going to break out,” Hartogg said.

Abrams looked away. He’d underestimated her, again. “Well, we got a visual lead via various CCTV cameras and satellite images. It’s being sent to me now. We picked her up as soon as she exited the airport carpark.”