It was very large and very three-dimensional. Its body was barrel-shaped, set with elongated vertical ridges that gave its torso a geometrical look like something machined, artificial. Its walking legs, or tentacles beneath, whatever they were, dangled like the pale roots of a dead orchid. Great membranous wings projected from either side of the body, spread wide like Chinese fans. Orr could see the bony architecture of spines that held them in place. At the top of its body was a head, a starfish-like head, the fleshy projections of which reminded him of the arms of a candelabra, a brilliant red eye at the apex of each. Those eyes—all five of them—were perfectly round and wet, a tiny pinprick pupil set in each.

In the flesh, the bogie was perfectly alien and perfectly hideous.

Orr tried to breathe, to keep standing, to do a lot of things.

Although it made no indication that it would hurt him, he knew it could crush him like a bug. His mind began to clear, all those neurotic racial memories quieting, and he stood his ground. The thing made a droning sound like maybe it was speaking to him. There were squirming parasites running down the lower section of its torso, making it look as if it was infested by worms. It had two limbs midline of its body…weird, branching things like sticks, though rubbery and boneless. They tapered into clusters of tendrils like fingers. It rubbed the limbs together and there was a crackling sound like dry cellophane.

Although he did not think it possible, he found his voice and said, “What…what in the Christ do you want?”

And that was the question, wasn’t it?

Because it made no threatening gestures. It just hovered there like some great insect, wings spread out, dripping and staring and making an occasional crackling sound with its limbs. Out in the mist, more droning noises came from at least a dozen different locations. The thing droned back, maybe calling to the others. Orr could feel the heat of its mind brush his own, but only in a curious sort of way. It was not afraid of him. It seemed to enjoy looking at him, maybe trying to understand why he was not terrified of it. It just kept staring and staring like he was a germ under a microscope.

And you ain’t much more to that monster.

He made no moves at it.

The ball was in the creature’s court.