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'I do not understand；' she answered him。 This strange language frightened her。 Words like Phil Winder had used but this man was not one of the smooth…skinned race。 So why did he talk like one？
She listened intently for a second。 Twigs cracked somewhere not far away。 That dog 。 。 。 She wondered if she could lift this man up into the trees。
'A dog is following me；' she breathed。 *A fierce one that will kill us both。 If I help you can you climb up into the branches of this tree？'
There was silence for a moment。 Those eyes dulled； brightened again。 'Where is Sylvia？'
Jackie grasped his uninjured arm； pulled with all her strength。 Perhaps she could make him understand。 He groaned； began to 。push with his legs。 That's it； now try and hold on to this branch。 A slow process and at any second that loathsome hound might show up。
He gripped the branch and she lifted his feet up on to a lower one。 Pull and I will push。 The bough creaked but somehow she got him up there。 Pushed again。 Now he was lying across a hammock of interlaced fir branches； they sagged but held。 It would have to do； she could not get him any further。
Jackie had just taken the weight of her body on another thick branch when she heard the dog ing。 A fast trot now； panting heavily； the need for caution gone。 The beast knew its prey could not outrun it now。
Her sweat went cold； she could smell its stale sweaty odour； heard the low killing growl in its throat。 She gripped the branch； kicked her legs and swung her body at the same time； a trapeze artist getting early momentum； a human pendulum gathering speed。
Just in time！ She was aware of the dog's spring； its snapping slavering jaws； mad eyes glinting in the forest blackness。 Had it anticipated her swing it would have hit her； instead it leaped behind； missed and fell back。 It snarled its fury； head upturned； waiting for her to fall； tensed and ready； hackles raised。
Jackie grabbed another bough； forced her protesting muscles into one last tremendous effort。 She made it； hauled herself up and gave a sob of relief as she lay across the branches； a couple of feet above her unknown panion。
The dog barked； howled； jumped at the tree trunk； its vicious claws shredding the bark； trying for a hold but failing。 It snarled； sat back on its haunches； stared at the two humans with sheer malevolence。
Jackie looked down at the man。 His body was limp but with luck the branches would hold。 If they didn't 。 。 。
She could smell the animal's breath； foul vapours that drifted up to her； reeked of putrid flesh。 A scavenger。 Jaws that had killed； mutilated。 A ravening beast whose only thought was to rip human flesh to bloody shreds； devour it raw。 Canine madness。
She trembled； wished she had some water。 The stream she had splashed through earlier； its icy cold current serving to revive her； came back to taunt her。 She should have paused to slake her thirst but there had not been time。 Likewise she had not eaten for several hours。 Hungry； thirsty； exhausted； and afraid to sleep。
The dog's jaws opened。 Not a snarl； something much more sinister。 A yawn； a noisy slow relaxation that posed the worst threat of all。 The creature had overe its initial fury and frustration； now it was resorting to patience and cunning。 It was in no hurry。 Its prey was trapped in the tree above it and there was no way of escape。 It could rest and watch。 Sleep if necessary； because its senses were so alert that the slightest movement would wake it instantly。 Time was on its side。
Jackie shivered； moved slightly and dislodged a shower of icy raindrops out of the foliage above。 Staring at that shape below； the wolf…like silhouette with eyes that glowed green fire。
She transferred her gaze to the man immediately below her。 He was desperately ill； he might die before morning； but better that he died peacefully than fell and was savaged by the waiting animal。
He moved and her heart threatened to stop as the big branch creaked。 He was restless； changing position。 His head turned to one side； craning his neck until he could see her； his eyes unnaturally bright and shiny。
'Have you seen 。 。 。 Sylvia？' Soft tones； chilling。 Tell me； have you seen her？'
Jackie did not understand； just shook her head and tried to smile。 He went into a fit of coughing； the fever inside him was raging； building up to a peak。 He had not long to go…
'Lie still or you might fall。 Perhaps the dog will get tired and go away。' She knew it wouldn't。 It had the cunning and cruelty of its master。
'She knows it is me even though I have changed like everybody else。' He was talking fast now。 'She's with that Quinn fellow； that's what hurts me most。 Somehow she escaped； just as he did。 I've been turned into an animal but I still want to see her before I die。 Everybody's going to die before long。'
His voice tailed off and she could hear him shivering； his teeth banging together。 A glance downwards； the dog's eyes flickered open for a second； closed again。 It wasn't going anywhere in a hurry。 She stretched out； made sure her grip was secure。 She wouldn't fall。 How long before it got light？ Not that it would make any difference。
She was aware of sleep claiming her； a soft soothing blanket that numbed her terror； gave her a sensation of warmth； a bed that was fortable。
It was light。 Or rather it wasn't quite so dark； a foggy greyness that created its own weird shapes。 Trees became grotesque monsters； changed back to trees again。 There was only one monster； a shaggy one with permanently erect pointed ears； lying with its head on its paws； its eyes wide and staring upwards。 Waiting。
Jackie tried to ease her stiff limbs； felt excruciating pins and needles as the trapped blood began to flow again。 The man was still there on the bed of branches beneath her； a still form with one arm that was twice the thickness of the other。 For a moment she thought that he was dead； that the cold damp night air had put an end to his suffering。 And then his head moved； his eyes ing round to meet hers； filmed but clearing slowly。
'Perhaps somebody will e before long；' she said。 If somebody did e it would undoubtedly be Kuz and his followers。 She would be rescued to meet a worse fate。
They would kill her panion because they had no use for the sick or the maimed。 Only the fittest survived。
He nodded； shifted his position； and began to convulse！ And she knew then that he was going to fall！
A bination of weakness and pins and needles robbed him of any chance of holding on。 In his own fevered mind Eric Atkinson surrendered； had given up all hope of ever seeing Sylvia again。 That single glowing ember； the spark that had kept him going； was dying。 His fingers did not even attempt to grasp the interwoven fir boughs as he started to slip。
Jackie watched in horror。 The branches bent； held him up for a final second or two but his sliding weight was too much for them and then they catapulted him down。
The dog