‘Please…’ It was all she could think to say.
Her screams had been unanswered. Her threats ignored.
There was a hiss from the loudspeaker and a pause before she heard the Chinese voice again. ‘The time is now 12.30. You must make your choice now. Or at one o’clock both will be released.’
Miss Cavendish stared first at the dogs, thenn moved her gaze across to the rats.
Which would be better? Perhaps she could spit and hiss at the rats, frightening them away. She couldn’t do that with the dogs. Their red-rimmed eyes, the power of the muscles beneath the brindled fur, and the size of the teeth in those crushing jaws frightened her.
But, if I’m going to die, the dogs would be quicker. She wouldn’t last long when in the embrace of those terrifying jaws.
She looked again at the rats. One of them was still gnawing at the wire, its sharp, pointed front teeth yellow as weathered gravestones. Small teeth. Sharp teeth. Her nose, ears and lips a target.
But they would go for her eyes. She would feel the small, sharp teeth biting into her eyes.
‘Please… I can’t choose…’ she sobbed.
‘As you are unable to make a decision, both will be released at one o’clock.’
‘Noooooooooo…’ she wailed.
The only answer was the sound of the speaker being switched off.
Silence.
Except for the pants of the dogs.
Except for the excited squeaks of the rats.
Except for the noise of her fear.