Lana had given up and was openly grinning now. We never talked about Before, or about what had happened, so it felt like this was an exciting, forbidden moment where Albert was breaking loads of rules. Dr Jones spoke even more loudly. ‘They didn’t destroy the world, Albert, as you can literally see on a daily basis. And they didn’t even go on to land at all. The coastal erosion there is as a consequence of human failings and environmental disaster, not animals.’

‘. . . and they brought their fishy friends with them to do their work, destroying and eating any of the disgusting humans left behind. Torturing them, twisting their minds, pushing their pincers into their brains . . .’

‘If we’re on to kriks now – and it’s a little hard to tell from that description, Albert – then there is no evidence to suggest that the two are connected.’

‘What?’

‘Eh?’

There was general incredulity in the audience. Quite a few people were starting to interrupt now.

‘Yes, yes!’ Dr Jones raised her hands for quiet. ‘I know that they appeared at the same time, and both probably emerged as a consequence of sea levels rising – but that doesn’t mean they’re connected.’

Old Albert gave a phlegmy cough. He hacked and hacked, so that you could really hear the rising bubbling mucus at the back of his throat. It was a masterful debating technique, because most of the audience were so revolted they had to grimace and flinch instead of shouting. ‘Look here, Missy,’ he said, waggling his finger at Dr Jones. ‘We don’t need your scientific whatnot here. When two different monsters come out from the depths of Hell, we know they’re together and we know what it means . . .’

Dr Jones nodded, her lips pursed, and walked off, defeated.

‘It means we’re all damned, that’s what it means. Mark my words, and think about your coming death. Do you want to be eaten by a killer jellyfish, or do you want to have your flesh gnawed by a giant crab?’

Chapter 10

10