第14部分(第4/6 頁)

Their　piercing　whiteness　is　of　brief　duration。　Soon　the　marshmarrow　rims　flatten　to　anvil　tops；　and　the　clouds　reveal　their　darker　nature。　They　impose　themselves　before　the　late…afternoon　sun；　and　the　day　darkens　early。　Then　a　gust　of　wind　whips　the　dust　along　the　road；　chill　warning　of　what　is　to　e。

In　the　house　a　door　shuts　with　a　bang；　curtains　billow　into　the　room。　I　rush　to　close　the　windows；　empty　the　clothesline；　secure　the　patio　furnishing。　Thunder　begins　to　grumble　in　the　distance。

The　first　drops　of　rain　are　huge。　They　splat　into　the　dust　and　imprint　the　windows　with　the　individual　signatures。　They　plink　on　the　vent　pipe　and　plunk　on　the　patio　roof。　Leaves　shudder　under　their　weight　before　rebounding；　and　the　sidewalk　wears　a　coat　of　shiny　spots。

The　rhythm　accelerates；　plink　follows　faster　and　faster　until　the　sound　is　a　roll　of　drums　and　the　individual　drops　bee　an　army　marching　over　fields　and　rooftops。　Now　the　first　bolt　of　lightning　stabs　the　earth。　It　is　heaven’s　exclamation　point。　The　storm　is　here！

In　spite　of　myself；　I　jump　at　the　following　crack　of　thunder。　It　rattles　the　windowpane　and　sends　the　dog　scratching　to　get　under　the　bed。　The　next　bolt　is　even　closer。　It　raises　the　hair　on　the　back　of　my　neck；　and　I　take　an　involuntary　step　away　from　the　window。

The　rain　now　bees　a　torrent；　flung　capriciously　by　a　rising　wind。　Together　they　batter　the　trees　and　level　the　grasses。　Water　streams　off　roofs　and　out　of　rain　spouts。　It　pounds　against　the　window　in　such　a　steady　wash　that　I　am　sightless。　There　is　only　water。　How　can　so　much　fall　so　fast？　How　could　the　clouds　have　supported　this　vast　weight？　How　can　the　earth　endure　beneath　it？

Pacing　through　the　house　from　window　to　window；　I　am　moved　to　open…mouth