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k。 I screamed at her to stop … there was one of those heavy main cables broken off right in front of us … but she didn't listen。 And she 。。。 she。。。 oh； I could smell her when she started to burn。 Smoke just seemed to burst out of her clothes and I thought： that's what it must be like when someone gets electrocuted。 The smell was sweet like pork。 Have any of you ever smelled that？ Sometimes I smell it in my dreams。 I stood still； watching Georgette Shyres turn black。 There was a big explosion over in the West End…the gas main； I suppose … but I never even noticed it。 I looked around and I was all alone。 Everyone else had either run away or was burning。 I saw maybe six bodies。 They were like piles of old rags。 One of the cables had fallen on to the porch of a house to the left； and it was catching on fire。 I could hear the old…fashioned shake shingles popping like Corn。 it seemed like I stood there a long time； telling myself to keep my head。 It seemed like hours。 I began to be afraid that I would faint and fall on one of the cables； or that I would panic and start to run。 Like 。。。 like Georgette。 So then I started to walk。 One step at a time。 'Me street got even brighter； because of the burning house。 I stepped over two live wires and went around a body that wasn't much more than a puddle。 I…I…I had to look to see where I was going。 There was a wedding ring on the body's hand； but it was all black。 All black。 Jesus； I was Oh dear Lord。 I stepped over another one and then there were three； all at once。 I just stood there looking at them。 I thought if I got over those I'd be all right but 。。。 I didn't dare。 Do you know what I kept thinking of？ That game you play when you're kids； Giant Step。 A voice in my mind was saying； Cora； take one giant step over the live wires in the street。 And I was thinking May P May P One of them was still spitting a few sparks； but the other two looked dead。 But you can't tell。 The third rail looks dead too。 So I stood there； waiting for someone to e and nobody did。 The house was still burning and the flames had spread to the lawn and the trees and the hedge beside it。 But no fire trucks came。 Of course they didn't。 The whole west side was burning up by that time。 And I felt so faint。 And at last I knew it was take the giant step or faint and so I took it； as big a giant step as I could； and the heel of my slipper came down not an inch from the last wire。 Then I got over and went around the end of one more wire and then I started to run。 And that's all I remember。 When morning came I was lying on a blanket in the police station with a lot of other people。 Some of them … a few…were kids in their prom get…ups and I started to ask them if they had seen Rhonda。 And said 。。。 they s…s…said 。。。
（A short recess）
Q。 You are personally sure that Carrie White did this？ A。 Yes。
Q。 Thank you； Mrs Simard。
A。 I'd like to ask a question； if you please。
Q。 Of course。
A。 What happens if there are others like her？ What happens to the world？
From The Shadow Exploded （p。 15 1）：
By 12：45 on the morning of May 28； the situation in Chamberlain was critical。 The school had burned itself out on a fairly isolated piece of ground； but the entire downtown area was ablaze。 Almost all the city water in that area had been tapped； but enough was available （at low pressure） from Deighan Street water mains to save the business buildings below the intersection of Main and Oak a~。
The explosion of Tony's Citgo on upper Summer Street had resulted in a ferocious fire that was not to be controlled until nearly ten o'clock that morning。 There was water on Summer Street； there simply were no firemen or fire…fighting equipment to utilize it。 Equipment was then on its way from Lewiston； Auburn； Lisbon and Brunswick； but nothing arrived until one o'clock。
On Carlin Street； an electrical fire； caused by downed power lines； had begun。 It was eventually to gut the entire north side of the street； including the bungalow where Margaret White gave birth to her daughter。
On the west end of town； just below what is monly caned Brickyard Hill； the worst disaster had taken place。 The explosion of a gas main and a resulting fire that raged out of control through most of the next day。
And if we look at these flash points on a municipal map （see page facing）； we can pick out Carrie's route … a wandering； looping path of destruction through the town； but one with an almost certain destination： home 。。。
Something toppled over in the living room； and Margaret White straightened up； cocking her head to one side。 The butcher knife glittered dully in the light of the flames。 The electric power had gone off sometime before； and the only fight in the house came from the fire up the street。
One of the pictures fell from the wall with a thump。 A moment later the Black Forest cuckoo clock fell。 The mechanical bird gave a small； strangled squawk and was still。
From the town the sirens whooped endlessly； but she could still hear the footsteps when they turned up the walk。
The door blew open。 Steps in the hall。
She heard the plaster plaques in the living room （CHRIST； THE UNSEEN GUEST； WHAT WOULD JESUS DO； THE HOUR DRAWETH NIGH； IF TONIGHT BECAME JUDGMENT； WOULD YOU BE READY） explode one after the other； like plaster birds in a shooting gallery。
（o i've been there and seen the harlots shimmy on wooden stages）
She sat up on her stool like a very bright scholar who has gone to the head of the class； but her eyes were deranged。
The living…room windows blew outward。
The kitchen door dammed and Carrie walked in。
Her body seemed to have bee twisted； shrunken； cronelike。 The prom dress was in tatters and flaps； and the pig blood had began to clot and streak。 There was a smudge of grease on her forehead and both knees were scraped and raw…looking。
'Momma；' she whispered。 Her eyes were preternaturally bright； hawklike； but her mouth was trembling。 If someone had been them to watch； he would have been struck by the resemblance between them。
Margaret White sat on her kitchen stool； the carving knife hidden among the folds of her dress in her lap。
'I should have killed myself when he put it in me；' she said clearly。 'After the first time； before we were married； he promised。 Never again。 He said we just 。。。 slipped。 I believed him。 I fell down and I lost the baby and that was God's judgment。 I felt that the sin had been expiated。 By blood。 But sin never dies。 Sin 。。。 never 。。。 dies。' Her eyes glittered。
'Momma'
'At first it was all right。 We lived sinlessly。 We slept in the same bed； belly to belly sometimes； and O； I could feel the presence of the Serpent； but we never did until。' She began to grin； and it was a hard； terrible grin。 'And that night I could see him looking at me That Way。 We got down on our knees to pray for strength and he。。。 touched me。 In that place。 That woman place。 And I sent him out of the house。 He was gone for hours； and I prayed for him。 I could see him in my mind's eye； walking the midnight streets； wrestling with the devil as Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord。 And when he came back； my heart was filled with thanksgiving。'
She paused； grinning her dry； spitless grin into the shifting shadows of the room。
'Momma； I don't w