Сумерки

           Theskysuddenlydarkenedfurther,and,asIlookedovermyshouldertoglareattheoffendingcloud,Irealizedwithashockthattwomenwerewalkingquietlytwentyfeetbehindme.

           TheywerefromthesamegroupI’dpassedatthecorner,thoughneitherwasthedarkonewho’dspokentome.Iturnedmyheadforwardatonce,quickeningmypace.Achillthathadnothingtodowiththeweathermademeshiveragain.MypursewasonashoulderstrapandIhaditslungacrossmybody,thewayyouweresupposedtowearitsoitwouldn’tgetsnatched.Iknewexactlywheremypepperspraywas-stillinmydufflebagunderthebed,neverunpacked.Ididn’thavemuchmoneywithme,justatwentyandsomeones,andIthoughtabout"accidentally"droppingmybagandwalkingaway.Butasmall,frightenedvoiceinthebackofmymindwarnedmethattheymightbesomethingworsethanthieves.

           Ilistenedintentlytotheirquietfootsteps,whichweremuchtooquietwhencomparedtotheboisterousnoisethey’dbeenmakingearlier,anditdidn’tsoundliketheywerespeedingup,orgettinganyclosertome.Breathe,Ihadtoremindmyself.Youdon’tknowthey’refollowingyou.IcontinuedtowalkasquicklyasIcouldwithoutactuallyrunning,focusingontheright-handturnthatwasonlyafewyardsawayfrommenow.Icouldhearthem,stayingasfarbackasthey’dbeenbefore.Abluecarturnedontothestreetfromthesouthanddrovequicklypastme.