第23部分(第3/7 頁)

after　the　heroine。　No；

something　was　after　her；　or　so　it　appeared　from　the　bizarre　markings

left　by　footprints；　paw　prints；　or　whatever　in　the　winter　snow。　Terror

slowly　mounted。　The　woman　was　trapped；　hunted；　doomed。　As　Chapter　Seven

ended　and　Eight　began；　she　hatched　her　escape　plan　against　seemingly

insurmountable　odds。　Then；　plicating　an　already　desperate　situation；

came　the　blizzard。　Gale　force　winds；　blinding　snows；　chilling

temperatures　conspired　to　keep　her　at　the　mercy　of　the　wild　beast　that

stalked　her。

With　a　thud；　Anne　put　the　book　facedown　onto　her　lap；　heart　pounding　in

vicarious　fright。　Mystery；　my　foot；　she　mused　with　regret；　this　book　is

sheer　horror！　It　wouldn't　have　been　so　bad　if　she'd　picked　it　up　last

night　or　last　week　in　New　York。　Here；　though；　she　was　alone；　isolated

from　the　familiar；　a　good　three　miles　from　a　shred　of　civilization。

Spooked；　it　took　her　a　minute　to　realize　that　what　she'd　assumed　to　be

the　thundering　of　her　pulse　was　the　thunder　outside。　Lightning　followed

quickly；　brightening　the　dark　side　of　the　room　for　a　shocking　instant；

its　blue…white　gleam　icy　in　parison　to　the　warm　orange　glow　of　the

fire。

Hastily　she　added　several　more　logs；　desperately　needing　to　put　the　book

down；　desperately　needing　to　read　on；　knowing　that　she　wouldn't　be　able

to　sleep　until　the　last　page　had　been　turned　and　the　mystery　solved。　She

raised　the　book　again　to　another　deafening　clap　of　thunder。　It　vibrated

through　the　house　along　with　tongued　bolts　of　lightening。

Anne's　nerves　prickled　then；　because；　in　the　thunder's　wake　came　another

noise。　This　one　was　more　human　and　threatening