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Four
"Isuppose,"Richardsaid,haltingly,"weweren’tinanyrealdanger...Itwaslikeahauntedhouse.Afewnoisesinthedark...andyourimaginationdoestherest.Therewasn’treallyanythingtobescaredof,wasthere?"
Thewomanlookedathim,almostpityingly;andRichardrealizedthattherewasnobodyholdinghishand."Anaesthesia?"
Fromthedarknessatthecrownofthebridgecameagentlenoise,likearustleorasigh.Ahandfulofirregularquartzbeadspattereddownthecurveofthebridgetowardthem.Richardpickedoneup.Itwasfromtherat-girlsnecklace.Hismouthopened,butnosoundcameout.Thenhefoundhisvoice."We’dbetter.Wehavetogoback.She’s..."
Thewomanraisedherflashlight,shoneitacrossthebridge.Richardcouldseeallthewayacrossthebridge.Itwasdeserted."Whereisshe?"heasked.
"Gone,"saidthewoman,flatly."Thedarknesstookher."
"We’vegottodosomething,"saidRichardurgently.
"Suchas?"
Onceagain,heopenedhismouth.Thistime,hefoundnowords.Hecloseditagain.Hefingeredthelumpofquartz,lookedattheothersontheground.
"She’sgone,"saidthewoman."Thebridgetakesitstoll.Begratefulitdidn’ttakeyoutoo.
