Frustration

           Iwaswalkingthroughanunknownanddesertedcitywhereabellrangdismallyandasepulchral,disembodiedvoicecalledintheemptiness:"TheBeastisLoose!Beware!TheBeastisLoose!"whenIwoketofindthatabellreallywasringing.ItwasahandbellthatjangledwithabrassydoubleclattersoharshandstartlingthatforamomentIcouldnotrememberwhereIwas.Then,asIsatupstillbemused,therecameasoundofvoicescalling"Fire!"IjumpedjustasIwasfrommyblankets,andranintothecorridor.Therewasasmellofsmokethere,anoiseofhurriedfeet,doorsbanging.Mostofthesoundseemedtocomefrommyrightwherethebellkeptonclangingandthefrightenedvoiceswerecalling,soitwasthatwayIturnedandran.Alittlemoonlightfilteredinthroughtallwindowsattheendofthepassage,relievingthedimnessjustenoughformetokeeptothemiddleoftheway,andavoidthepeoplewhowerefeelingtheirwayalongthewalls.

           Ireachedthestairs.Thebellwasstillclanginginthehailbelow.ImademywaydownasfastasIcouldthroughsmokethatgrewthicker.NearthebottomItripped,andfellforward.Thedimnessbecameasuddendarknessinwhichalightburstlikeacloudofneedles,andthatwasall

           Thefirstthingwasanacheinmyhead.ThenextwasaglarewhenIopenedmyeyes.Atthefirstblinkitwasasdazzlingasaklieglight,butwhenIstartedagainandedgedthelidsupmorecautiouslyitturnedouttobeonlyanordinarywindow,andgrimy,atthat.