159

Confidently you push open the door, but the sight that greets your eyes as your light floods into the room horrifies you. Thousands of cockroaches cover every surface in the store room. They seethe and undulate like some grotesque, living carpet and, panicked by the sudden light that has intruded upon their world, they come rushing towards the door like a torrent of brown water.

You turn to run but the tidal wave of insects engulfs your legs. Repulsively they crunch under your feet as you retreat into the corridor, hopelessly trying to beat them back. Then you slip and fall into the swarm, and before you can regain your feet, your face is covered by the loathsome tide and you feel yourself having to fight for air. You must stand up before the insect swarm suffocates you.

Cockroach Swarm: CLOSE COMBAT SKILL 13   ENDURANCE 20

Resolve this combat in the normal way. Any ENDURANCE point losses you sustain are due to lack of air.

If you survive this encounter, turn to 349.