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One
Perhapshewon’tnoticeme,shethought.Perhapshe’llgoaway.Andthenshethought,desperately,I’mhungry.
Thefootstepshesitated.Shewaswellhidden,sheknew,underapileofnewspapersandrags.Anditwaspossiblethattheintrudermeanthernoharm.Can’thehearmyheartbeat?shethought.Andthenthefootstepscamecloser,andsheknewwhatshehadtodo,anditscaredher.Ahandpulledthecoversoffher,andshelookedupintoablank,utterlyhairlessface,whichcreasedintoavicioussmile.Sherolled,then,andtwisted,andtheknifeblade,aimedatherchest,caughtherintheupperarm.
Untilthatmoment,shehadneverthoughtshecoulddoit.Neverthoughtshewouldbebraveenough,orscaredenough,ordesperateenoughtodare.Butshereacheduponehandtohischest,andsheopened...
Hegasped,andtumbledontoher.Itwaswetandwarmandslippery,andsheslitheredandstaggeredoutfromundertheman,andshestumbledoutoftheroom.
Shecaughtherbreathinthetunneloutside,narrowandlow,asshefellagainstthewall,breathingingaspsandsobs.Thathadtakenthelastofherstrength;nowshewasspent.Hershoulderwasbeginningtothrob.Theknife,shethought.Butshewassafe.
"My,ohmy,"saidavoicefromthedarknessonherright."ShesurvivedMisterRoss.WellInever,MisterVandemar."Thevoiceoozed.Itsoundedlikegrayslime.
"WellInevereither,MisterCroup,"saidaflatvoiceonherleft.
