For the first time, Jacques and Charlie were standing in front of the huge body. The thick, grayish skin which covered it revealed the contours of an impressive muscle structure, enlivened at times by barely perceptible twitches. Despite his enormity, Victor seemed human. Every detail of his anatomy was similar to ours, down to his feet, each with five, perfectly aligned toes with translucent nails. Standing there, before this body at once so totally foreign and yet so familiar, was a disturbing experience. Charlie would have liked to stretch out a hand and touch the strange skin, but the...