第54部分(第1/7 頁)

their　fists　at　us　and　said

angry　words　that　I　was　glad　I　couldn't　understand。　She　turned　onto　a　little

path　that　couldn't　have　been

meant　for　cars；　shocked　people　had　to　squeeze　into　doorways　as　we　scraped　by。

We　found　another

street　at　the　end。　The　buildings　were　taller　here；　they　leaned　together

overhead　so　that　no　sunlight

touched　the　pavement—the　thrashing　red　flags　on　either　side　nearly　met。　The

crowd　was　thicker　here

than　anywhere　else。　Alice　stopped　the　car。　I　had　the　door　open　before　we　were

at　a　standstill。

She　pointed　to　where　the　street　widened　into　a　patch　of　bright　openness。

〃There—we're　at　the　southern

end　of　the　square。　Run　straight　across；　to　the　right　of　the　clock　tower。　I'll

find　a　way　around—〃

Her　breath　caught　suddenly；　and　when　she　spoke　again；　her　voice　was　a　hiss。

〃They're　everywhere？〃

I　froze　in　place；　but　she　pushed　me　out　of　the　car。　〃Forget　about　them。　You

have　two　minutes。　Go；　Bella；

go！〃　she　shouted；　climbing　out　of　the　car　as　she　spoke。

I　didn't　pause　to　watch　Alice　melt　into　the　shadows。　I　didn't　stop　to　close　my

door　behind　me。　I　shoved　a

heavy　woman　out　of　my　way　and　ran　flat　out；　head　down；　paying　little　attention

to　anything　but　the

uneven　stones　beneath　my　feet。

ing　out　of　the　dark　lane；　I　was　blinded　by　the　brilliant　sunlight　beating

down　into　the　principal　plaza。

The　wind　whooshed　into　me；　flinging　my　hair　into　my　eyes　and　blinding　me

further。　It　was　no　wonder　that

I　didn't　see　the　wall　of　flesh　until　I'd　smacked　into　it。

There　was　no　pathway；　no　crevice　between　the　close　pressed　bodies。　I　pushed

against　them　furiou