第32部分(第3/7 頁)

　before

long。　She　didn't　relish　driving　through　the　storm　in　the　dark。

She　thought　of　stopping　at　an　inn　for　the　night；　but　feared　that

tomorrow　wouldn't　be　any　better。　Besides；　she　had　no　way　to　contact

Mitch。　He　would　be　worried　if　she　didn't　show　up。

Her　snow　tires　clung　tentatively　to　the　road　as　she　turned　off　the

highway　at　last。　There　were　still　miles　to　go；　but　at　least　the　road　was

smaller。　Unfortunately　it　was　also　deserted。　She　pushed　the　small　car

through　a　blinding　rage　of　white。　Vistas　were　obliterated。　Only　the　low

fencing　at　the　side　of　the　road　kept　her　on　course；　though　how　long　it

would　be　before　they　were　covered　by　drifts；　she　didn't　know。

Her　hands　were　white…knuckled　on　the　wheel。　The　snow　was　a　thick　wall

behind　her；　so　there　was　no　turning　back。　She　peered　nervously　through

the　windshield；　praying　for　a　plow。　With　each　passing　mile；　she　drove

more　slowly　through　accumulating　depths。

When　her　pace　was　down　to　fifteen　miles　an　hour；　and　she　couldn't　see

more　than　a　single　car's　length　ahead；　she　felt　a　wave　of　panic。　The

sense　of　isolation　was　utter　and　intense。　Fighting　a　sudden　dizziness；

she　kept　her　foot　on　the　gas。

Dusk　had　fallen　by　the　time　she　reached　the　cottage　cutoff。　She　was　so

relieved　to　see　it；　that　she　took　the　turn　a　hair　too　fast。　The　car

skidded　and　fishtailed　before　ing　to　an　abrupt　halt　several　yards

into　the　private　way；　lodged　firmly　in　a　snow　bank　at　the　side　of　the

road。

Swearing　under　her　breath；　Anne　worked　the　gear　shift；　alternating

between　forward　and　reverse　in　an　attempt　to　free　the　car　from　the

drift。　Her　nerves　were　already　taut。　Now　s