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n。。。 and he had helped free them from the crypt。
Jana had to search to find her voice。 〃What。。。 is it。。。？〃 she whispered； unable to stop trembling。 〃My God。。。 my God。。。〃
Moore turned toward her and pulled her up from the floor。 He led her out of the farmhouse； keeping his grip tight on the butcher knife because he knew there could be more of them lurking very near。 They quickly crossed the porch to his truck； and he told her to get in and lock the door behind her。
As he climbed behind the wheel； Moore heard a crashing noise ing through the foliage perhaps twenty yards behind him； he twisted around； hearing Jana cry out； and saw the shadows approaching from the deeper jungle； the dark things plowing through the tangle of brush and vines。 Moore turned the key in the ignition； the engine started； and he pressed his foot to the floor。 The truck roared in response； its tires throwing up clumps of wet earth as Moore raced away up the road。 In the side mirror； he saw them break through the jungle fringe； and then he was across the airstrip and heading back for Coquina village； his hands holding the wheel so tightly his knuckles were white as bone。
〃WHAT WERE THEY？〃 Jana clutched at his sleeve； her eyes wild and confused； the fear had her now； and she was unable to think。
〃They're alive；〃 he said； his eyes darting left and right to pierce the green shadows on each side of the twisted road； the reality of what he was saying numbed him； and his temples were bathed in a cold sweat。 〃I saw them in the U…boat； and Kip saw them。 I didn't believe。。。 I didn't want to believe。。。〃 He touched the red marks at his throat。 〃I don't know why or how； but I know they're alive。。。〃
He reached the village； speeding along the deserted streets； he saw the jeep was gone from its space in front of Kip's office； but he hammered on the door repeatedly in the vain hope that Kip might be there。 As he turned away from the door he looked up and saw the thick roil of clouds in the sky； dull gray； blinding white； traces of black far in the distance。 He crossed the Square； finding the grocery locked and the blinds down over the windows； he reached the hardware store and knocked on the front door there； but the place was deserted。 He looked down High Street from store to store； everything was locked up and quiet； the streets empty； a ghost town。 A white circle of gulls swirled above Kiss Bottom； their screams ing to him on currents of wind； they swept down across the surface and then back again toward the sky。 Moore watched them flying in formation out to sea； as if abandoning Coquina。
When he returned to the truck he couldn't look in Jana's eyes because of what he would see in them； and because he was afraid of what she might see in his。 He started the engine； put the truck into gear； and drove on through the Square； climbing High Street。
And at the hotel he saw the front door was open。
He tensed involuntarily。 Though he'd left the door unlocked； he remembered closing it that morning。 Moore slid the butcher knife into his waistband； his nerves raw。
〃Wait here；〃 he said to Jana。 〃I'm going in first。〃 He left her sitting in the truck and walked cautiously up onto the porch； with one hand he drew out the knife； and with the other pulled open the screen door。 He stepped across the threshold； his senses as aware as those of an animal； abruptly； he froze in place； trying to see into the dim room。
There was a man sitting in a chair； a suitcase sat on the floor beside him。 He held the glass paperweight in his hands； his eyes focused on it as if he had found something that had been lost for a very long time。 Moore let the screen door bang shut behind him； and the man hastily…and awkwardly…rose to his feet。
Nineteen
〃FORGIVE ME；〃 the stranger said in a thickly accented voice。 〃The door was open； and I came in to wait。〃 He held up the paperweight。 〃Please。。。 where did you get this？〃 The man dropped his gaze； saw the knife in Moore's hand。 〃I。。。 meant no harm；〃 he said very quietly。
〃Who are you？〃 Moore asked。
〃My name is Frederick Schiller。 I was told I could find a room here； and when I walked up from the village I couldn't find anyone。。。〃
Moore stood where he was for a moment trying to place the accent。 Of course； it was German。 He put the knife down on a table； still cautious。
〃Where did you get this？〃 Schiller asked again； holding the paperweight as if it were a precious jewel。
Moore ignored his interest。 〃How did you get here？〃
〃By freighter from Jamaica。〃 He paused for a few seconds； then reached inside his coat and brought out a cheap brown wallet。 〃I can pay；〃 he said。
Moore waved the wallet aside。 〃I don't know what your business is on Coquina； Mr。 Schiller； but it's a bad time for you to be here。〃
〃Oh？ Why is that？〃
〃There's a storm building。 I can see it gathering in the sky； and the last hurricane we had almost tore this place apart。〃
〃My business won't take very long；〃 Schiller replied。 〃Now。。。 please。 This object。。。 where did you find it？〃
〃Aboard a boat。。。〃
Schiller closed his eyes。
〃。。。or to be more exact； what's left of one。〃 The screen door opened behind Moore and Jana came through。 She looked from Moore to Schiller and then back again。 〃Are you all right？〃 he asked her anxiously。
She nodded； running a hand across her forehead。 〃Yes。。。 I'm just very tired。 I can't。。。 I can't think very coherently yet。〃
〃Is the young lady ill？〃 Schiller asked。
〃I think I'd better lie down for a while；〃 she said to Moore。
He glanced over at the German。 〃The kitchen's at the back if you want a cup of coffee。 I am going to take her upstairs。〃 He was intrigued by the man now and wondered what his story was。 He helped Jana up the stairway to her room at the end of the hall and threw back the covers of the bed for her。 When he started to move away she reached up and grasped his forearm； her hair fanning out across the pillows。 〃I don't understand；〃 she said； searching his face。 〃I don't understand what's happening here； and I'm afraid； and I don't know what to do。。。〃
He stood looking down at her for a moment and then smoothed the hair away from her forehead； gently； as he had done for another woman a long time ago。 〃Rest；〃 he said。 〃Do you want a light on in here？〃
〃No；〃 she said。 She lay very still for a few seconds and then she put her hands to her face。 〃I saw it。。。 I touched it。。。 Dear God； I can still smell the rot of it on me。。。〃
Moore crossed the room； shutting the terrace doors。 When he looked at her again her head was turned away from him； the blond hair almost silver in the pale light。 He wondered if she would drift off to sleep； if she did； what would she dream of？ The corpse with the mangled brains？ The grinning face of a thing that should have been dead forty years ago？ She shifted her position； her hands still at her face； and Moore heard her take a long； painful breath。 He stood beside her a while longer； then left the door open as he went out。
He walked to his own room and checked the forty…five in the drawer。 It was loaded with one clip； and there were two spare clips。 He returned the gun to t