My theory on the monster in the raft

[flatcapman]

I belive the creature is an Acid slime and has been either thrawed from anchinet times or bred to be a weapon. Somebody knew as there was a "No Swimming" sign hidden in the trees. It was clearly someones private lake and pet. Its a weapon but what goverment or rich manaic would be interested in an uncontrolable creature for war????

[motocop]

I belive the creature is an Acid slime and has been either thrawed from anchinet times or bred to be a weapon. Somebody knew as there was a "No Swimming" sign hidden in the trees. It was clearly someones private lake and pet. Its a weapon but what goverment or rich manaic would be interested in an uncontrolable creature for war????

Sadly my guess would be that a lot of governments and/or rich maniacs would love to have a creature like that. If I had to guess I would bet that it was a natural occuring evil. As far as the no swimming sign and the fence around the lake, maybe somebody knew about it,or maybe it was just a private lake. Either way it was a cool story.

Welcome, and keep posting.

[bobledrew]

I'm not sure that you can draw those conclusions, flatcap. Seems to me you have to go by the story. Yes, there's a no swimming sign. But that doesn't mean someone knew there was a blob on the lake that would take swimmers. Could just mean someone didn't want people going to that lake. And if that were the case, why would there be a raft at all? I think what I love about this story is the absolute refusal to get into it. King keeps a discipline of only telling / showing us what Randy, the narrator, sees and experiences. That keeps the blob (dang, I keep wanting to type blog every time I type blob) an unknown.

[sam peebles]

I agree that the blob is an unknown, and while I personally don't think it's a man-made weapon, I think it's only natural for a reader or film watcher (like flatcapman) to fill in unexplained gaps with their own imagination. That's some of the fun. That being said, in my own mind, I disagree with bobledrew that the No Swimming sign was just to keep someone out of the lake. It implied to me that at least someone knew about the blob. Of course, this is all guesswork on all of our parts, and no one is wrong, it's subjective.

[flatcapman]

I draw the conclusions to the creatures behaviour and if you know the Lure of it. These creatures are attracted to a greater evil for several reasons
1) The floating on water could indicate its a crossbreed or its evolved over time. Acid slimes are typically land creatures
2) The teens felt uneasy and I belive they were being watched.
3)The raft could had been put there on purpose for the purpose of a test on how an Acid slime attacks humans. Possibly they were filmed the whole time.
4) By the shape and behaviour patterns that was a very young Acid Slime.
If you can play Legend of Lagia on the Playstation 1 the hero fights these guys and you will see how big they can get.
I belive Mr King borrowed from AD+D for this monster but using the fear of what would a dark ages weapon be like in 1987

[sam peebles]

I've played some AD&D in my time too, but for the King universe, I wonder where you draw the conclusion that acid slimes are typically land monsters? Is this from the TSR Monster Compendium or something? I think using a Dungeons and Dragons guidebook as a reference will lead you to incorrect inferences in this case. Again, no wrong answers here, but I wouldn't jump from AD&D to The Raft. I do like the idea of some fantastical dark ages weapon in contemporary America.

[flatcapman]

Its possible that this is the last of his breed like the do do bird. There were 1000's of different slimes and ways to interpret them I belive this guy is def one of the Legend of Lagia ones. If you can google the monster from the game dark orange and I noticed theres a flattned rounded bit in the centre. Thats its eye. For having no brain matter they are very intellegent and they are lethal single minded killers. Imagine if this person/s wanted to use this creature for some revenge or warfare. I just had a creepy thought then Imgine if the blob could turn its acid off and be all over its master like a slimy blanket.

[GNTLGNT]

Blame it on Exxon....

[flatcapman]

Mayby its my imagination or my X-files styled imagination but I get the feeling those teens were tested with how effective the Acid slime could kill. The last teen had ZERO chance as the creature CAN leave the lake and would had chased him slurping like a slimy jelly but he would had bunched up like a blob striking at the teen with a self formed arm, jumped him or engulfed the car with the teen inside it. This guy is HARDLY a cute Dragon quest slime with a cutesy smile.

[flatcapman]

Also Acid Slimes are lower level monsters and a Skeleton, Chimera or Mintour would be TOO obvious for anyone who wants to breed one t be a killing machine. Imagine if a LOT of these guys were dropped into enemy terrtory??? They would eat everyone and everything in sighte and would pass away once everything is gone. But the monster has a flaw. They cannot stand Salt ala snails or slugs and if somebody turned that lake into salt water it would shrvial and die.