Foxley’s academy of medicine was a well-respected institution that turned out top class surgeons. One of the lecturers always attracted the most students. Whether this was because of his spiky hair, his garish clothes, or his forward thinking ideas, was a mute point.
As he stood before the dissection table, he pointed out to the packed auditorium the small generator.

“Since its discovery, electricity has been used to stimulate growth in damaged flesh, to restart hearts and I should add, to execute felons. What I intend to demonstrate today is the next step. To restore life where there is none.”

As the students gasped, Doctor Yardley pulled back the red sheet and exposed the cold corpse to their curious eyes.

“As you can clearly see, I have attached electrodes to the base of his brain. When I switch the current on this happens.”

He smiled and turning to the generator, punched the button. The students watched as the corpse shook momentarily before starting to sit up. The cheerful doctor stepped aside as the corpse seemingly returned to life.

“This display has one drawback however. Despite the seeming restoration of life, when I cut the voltage thus...”

The body sank back against the table and lay still once more.

“As you can see for yourselves, life is forthwith removed.”

The bell rang then and the doctor drew the sheet back over the cold corpse. He had dreamt of this moment for ten years now and was rightly satisfied at the astonished reaction.

Later that afternoon, he decided to advance to the final stage.
After his final demonstration that day, he popped into the surgical department and accosted his good friend, Doctor Miller.

“I heard of your demo by the way. Quite ungodly you know.”

The lecturer smiled.

“It had the desired effect.”

“I bet it did. What can I do for you by the way?”

The lecturer coughed.

“To reach my obvious conclusion, I need micro generators inserted into the brain stem, below the heart and another inserted into the lower abdominal cavity.”

“Whatever for man?”

“To keep my specimen alive my friend.”

The good surgeon guffawed.

“If I did not know you Yardley, I would send you packing.”

“Will you carry out the surgery for me?”

“On one condition.”

“Just name it.”

“If your experiment succeeds, I want at least some of the credit.”
Yardley smiled.

“I would be honoured to do that for you.”

As twenty-one hours came, the corpse lay upon the table as the surgeon inserted the micro generators. Designed by Yardley, they were similar in shape to heart pacemakers. The only difference was the level of voltage applied.

After the stitches had been applied, the surgeon stepped back with satisfaction.

“What time is it?”

Doctor Yardley gazed at the wall clock.

“Just gone three sir.”

“Six damn hours. This had better work you know.”

“Within minutes we will both find out.”

As they watched in fascination, the corpse began to tremble and the fingers to curl and relax.

“It’s starting,” Yardley exclaimed.”

“It certainly appears to be,” the surgeon said.

The eyes opened and the body sat up. As it looked around, Yardley beamed with delight.

“It works Miller. The damn thing works!”

They stepped back as the body stood upon its on legs, swaying just a little.

“He is trying to maintain balance,” the surgeon pointed out.

The smooth face suddenly animated and a cruel look crossed his brown eyes. He took a step forward and firm hands took the surgeon by the soft throat.

“What are you doing?” Yardley yelled. “Let him go now.”

An arm swept him aside as the surgeon’s throat was crushed. Dropping the lifeless body, the body lurched for the fire door and forced it open. As the lecturer watched in mounting horror, his creation stepped into the dark night.

“What the hell have I done?”

He started pulling his hair roughly, as a deep panic set in. He ran to the phone and dialled the emergency number.

“Police? This is Doctor Yardley. I have to report a murder. Yes I’ll remain here.”

He put the phone down and waited for the authorities to arrive.

When DI Nixon and Sergeant Percy arrived with the medic, the lecturer was still clearly in shock. He was sitting quietly, staring at his shoes.

The medic examined the body and muttered, “Crushed oesophagus. He certainly did not do this. He is not strong enough.”

“So what happened Doctor Yardley?”

The defeated man gazed up sadly.

“It was my fault you see. I persuaded him to insert the micro generators.”

“Can you explain what you are talking about?” the sergeant asked.

“I discovered a way to restore life to the dead. That is what we were doing tonight. Then the body simply throttled him.”

The shocked DI could hardly believe what he was hearing.

“Where did it go to?”

The lecturer pointed to the open fire door.

“Good grief.”

“You have to stop it killing again. You have to protect me.”

The sergeant took his arm and led him out as the DI stopped him.

“What does he look like?”

“He’s tall, has grey hair and is stark naked.”

“That should be good enough. Take him to the station sergeant and read him his rights eh? I may place charges yet.”

As soon as they were gone, he turned to the medic.

“Is such a thing possible doc?”

“If he says it is. I certainly could not accomplish that.”

The DI radioed for backup and the search got underway.

Elsewhere that night, the body had wandered into the rear garden of a newly married couple. Ignoring the washing line, he hammered upon the rear door until the irate householder threw it open.

He stood with open mouth at the unnatural apparition before the monster throttled him. Stumbling inside, he made his way through the kitchen and to the base of the short staircase. From the upper floor, a voice called out.

“Is that you David?”

When there was no response, she pulled on the nightdress and stepped out to investigate. She found herself confronted by the naked man and screamed in terror. Before a few seconds had elapsed, she too lay dead upon the carpeted floor.

The creature stumbled down stairs before lurching off once more to far safer climes.

When daylight finally arrived, the search had turned up nothing. The DI was about to call it a day, when the bad news came through.

When he arrived at the shattered home, even he was sickened by the killings.

“It’s the same MO,” the doc commented.

The forensic officer pointed to the grass.

“There are footprints everywhere sir. He apparently made no attempt to conceal them.”

“What was the point of killing them?” the sergeant asked.

“Only he understands that Percy,” the DI replied. “The question is where has he gone too?”

“No luck with your search then?” the doc asked.

The DI shook his head.

“Not a squeak.”

Turning to Percy he said, “You had better call in the armed units. We have to prepare for anything.”

As the call was made the doctor said, “You would think that a naked man would be easy to find.”

“That is what puzzles me doc. There were clothes upon that line but as far as I can tell, they were not disturbed.”

“Perhaps he has gone to ground?” the sergeant suggested.

“Or being protected?” the medic suggested.

“Who would protect such a monster?” the DI said.

“Perhaps someone who was blind?” Percy replied.

The DI gave him a harsh look.

“You my boy have been watching too many horror movies!”

As the authorities pondered their next move, the body crept out of the hedge where he had been sleeping. Ravenous but feeling no cold, he spied the nearby field and the happily feeding cattle.

Grunting loudly, he lurched forward and approached the innocent animals. The docile creatures did not try to run, as he manhandled one of their number to the ground. After twisting its head severely, he bared his teeth and sank his mouth into the soft underbelly.
The farmer had been working upon the tractor when he heard the anguished cries. He looked across the field and saw the figure kneeling over the stricken animal.

“You bastard.”

He ran towards his home and brought out the double-barrelled shotgun. Ensuring it was loaded, he ran at the feeding fiend.

“Get off my ruddy land!”

The body stopped eating the bloody entrails and stood to face his antagonist. The farmer stopped dead with real shock, as the creature advanced.

“Get away now!”

He fired wildly as strong arms tore the weapon from his grip.
Tossing it away, he smashed the farmer’s jaw before lifting him into the air. Raising a knee, he broke the man’s spine before dropping him onto the bloodied grass. Then he surveyed his evil work before resuming his bloody meal.

As eighteen hundred hours arrived, Charly was listening to the radio when the local reporter came on air. What the listeners did not know of course, was that the lawyer had managed to free her just weeks earlier.

“Today I am reporting from Baker Farm, the latest scene of murder to strike our happy town. I can report that the farmer was the intended victim, and that DI Nixon is determined to catch the perpetrator.”

Charly turned the radio off in disgust. Turning to the cat he moaned, “It looks as if I’m still out of the loop sweetheart. I’ll try phoning him eh?”

He was relieved when the DI answered.

“I heard that report Nixon. Whatever is going on?”

He listened to the astonishing reply.

“Have you been drinking?”

He heard the DI’s cursed response to that.

“It all sounds rather crazy to me mate. Despite the recent horrors.
Would you mind if I spoke to this Doctor Yardley?”

He waited with baited breath.

“Okay, I’m on my way. See you in fifteen eh?”

As he entered the station, the DI took him to one side.

“Traffic followed you yesterday and noted the loose exhaust mate. Try and get it fixed before they book you.”

Charly smiled.

“Where is your doc?”

“He’s in the cells.”

“You intend to charge him then?”

“It’ll have to be involuntary manslaughter if I do. Follow me.”

Within a cramped cell, the doctor sat gloomily as Charly was shown in.

“This gent needs to ask a few questions.”

The doctor looked at him.

“What do you need to know?”

Charly sat beside him as the sergeant joined them.

“Who taught the corpse to walk, may I ask?”

The question confused the lecturer.

“I don’t quite understand.”

“How long has he been dead would you say?”

“Approximately a week.”

“A week you say. Yet he still managed to get off that table and throttle the surgeon.”

“Walking is instinctive. Once learnt that’s it.”

“Even after a week of death?”

“Especially.”

Charly thought for a moment.

“Have you been told about the farm?”

The lecturer nodded.

“How do you account for that?”

“His animal instinct is in the ascendance. Something that I obviously overlooked.”

“Obviously,” Charly echoed. “So where do you think he’ll head for next?”

“That really depends on his needs. He must have been out all night so heat won’t be one of them.”

“Which leaves one possibility.”

The DI gazed at him.

“What are you getting at Charly?”

“He’ll try and find the one man who perhaps cares.”

“That would be me,” the lecturer said. “He’ll come here.”

“My thoughts precisely.”

“We had better be ready for him,” the DI said smartly. “You had better go home Charly. It would be far safer.”

The civilian shook his head.

“I would prefer to stay in here. Could I have a baton? Just in case.”

The DI nodded.

As the hours passed it seemed as though Charly’s theory was out of kilter with reality. As twenty-two hours arrived, the front doors were ripped from their hinges.

As the body lurched in, the desk sergeant hit the general alarm just before he was hauled over the chest high desk. The body threw him against the near wall and headed for the cells. At the entrance to the corridor, the DI met him.

The brave officer tried to punch the creature but the blow was easily deflected. Heavy hands swept him aside as other officers joined in the fray.

Within the cramped cell, Charly and Yardley heard the commotion and knew that time was running out. As bodies were tossed aside, the body reached the cell door. A naked foot smashed the heavy metal until it gave out at last.

In a final desperate act, the good doctor threw himself at his own creation.

“You must stop this.”

The creature regarded him for a second before twisting his head from the poor man’s shoulders. As the body dropped, Charly struck out with the police weapon.

The baton landed squarely upon the forehead of the assailant who suddenly lurched back into the corridor. As he did so, shots rang out and the bullet-ridden monster toppled over completely.

A moment later, Percy’s head poked around the corner.

“At least you are alright mate.”

“What’s the result?”

The sergeant looked grim.

“Three dead out here and the DI is a bit dazed.”

“It could have worse I suppose,” Charly muttered.

“Wasn’t that enough?” Percy asked.

“For now sergeant. You know how my mind works by now I hope. I have a dark suspicion that something far more deadly is brewing under our very noses.”

He left the cell slowly as the DI picked himself from the floor.

“You seem to be alright,” Charly muttered.

“Is it over at last?”

“For now Nixon. Only for now.”

With that puzzling remark, Charly headed toward the car park and his clapped out mini.