第32部分(第4/7 頁)

he　cursed　her　luck　as　she

fumbled　with　the　door　handle；　tripped　out　of　the　car；　and　promptly　sank

in　snow　nearly　as　high　as　her　boots。　Even　through　rose…colored　glasses；

hopes　for　the　car　were　low。

She　peered　up　the　hill　in　the　direction　of　the　house。　In　ideal　weather；

the　walk　was　a　mile's　mild　uphill　challenge。　But　in　this　blizzard？　And

then　there　was　the　possibility　that　Mitch　was　stuck　somewhere；　too。　But

he　was　the　one　with　the　key。

She　sneezed　and　raised　a　parka…covered　arm　to　her　face。　If　the　door　was

locked；　she　would　just　have　to　break　in。　There　was　no　other　choice。　She

couldn't　go　back；　and　she　couldn't　stay　here。

Packing　her　pockets　with　KLEENEX；　she　closed　up　the　car。　She　zipped　the

parka　all　the　way；　pulled　its　hood　over　her　wool　hat；　pushed　her　hands

into　gloves；　and　set　off。　She　trudged　as　fast　as　she　could　through　the

mounting　snow；　lifting　one　leg　high；　then　the　other。　Her　muscles　began

to　ache。　Tucking　her　head　deeper　into　the　hood　of　her　parka；　she　plodded

on。

Thirty　minutes　passed；　then　another　fifteen。　Exhausted；　she　looked

around　for　something　to　rest　against。　But　all　was　white；　lonely；

uninviting；　and　bleak。　Looking　back；　she　saw　nothing　but　her　own

footsteps。　Looking　ahead；　she　saw　nothing　at　all。　She　pushed　on；

absolutely；　positively　refusing　to　believe　that　she　may　have　taken　the

wrong　road。

Bone…weary　and　weak　from　coughing；　she　grew　more　frightened　as　the

minutes　passed。　Signs　of　life　were　nonexistent。　The　cabin　had　to　be

somewhere。　For　another　half　hour；　she　pushed　herself　forward；　pausing

occasionally　to　blow　her　nose；　huffing　hoarsely　at　the　exertion；

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