Hodder Silver: The Animal Garden

Somewhere among the buildings there were footsteps. Walking, quick and light. Philip twitched with fright, and a cold shiver slithered up his back like a snake biting the back of his head, so that his hair stood up cold in the heat.

Philip and Shanya are lost in a long-dead ancient city. There is no help here, or in the mountains behind, or in the desert of the scientific camp where last night there were Philip's father, and Shanya's father, and others. In the morning, everyone is mysteriously gone.

Now, in the city, they come upon a small animal, seated by a fire. And, to their horror, the animal speaks to them, saying it is Phillip's father . . .