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ning through him。 He twisted around； looking toward the jungle； and as the shadows fell upon him he knew the moment had finally e。 And though he saw his fate clearly he would not give himself up to them。
〃KIP！〃 he shouted； his voice breaking。 He turned toward the open church door。
Before he had taken more than a step he tripped over an exposed root and fell to the ground； the glass eye shattering to bits beneath him。 〃KIP！〃 he screamed； feeling the shadows reach him。
Boniface's glasses had fallen off； almost blind； he crawled away from the things； his mouth trying； but unable now； to make a sound； his fingers gripping into sand and earth。 And then one of them placed a booted foot on the old man's throat and crunched down。 Boniface tried to fight back； but his strength was rapidly fading； he was choking on his own blood。 The living corpses hissed all around him； illuminated by the building fire； and their claws flashed down to rend him apart。
When Kip reached the door； he stood paralyzed with shock at what he saw。 The things turned their heads toward him； the fiery caverns of their eyes seeking fresh blood。
Kip saw the faces of Hell's warriors； things that had crewed a boat through the dark currents of the underworld。 There were five； and more ing through the jungle。 The one that had crushed the reverend's throat had a face half covered with a yellowish fungus； white tufts of hair clung to the head； and the sunken remains of its eyes burned into Kip with a searing hatred。 When the thing's tight gray lips parted in a death's…head grin； Kip heard it hiss。 A ring emblazoned with a swastika on its right hand caught the firelight。
And then they came for Kip； their talons groping for his throat； teeth bared。
Kip steeled himself。 When they were almost upon him he raised the ax he'd taken from the corner of the church and brought it smashing down onto a grisly skull of a head。
The thing shrieked； a high rattle of reed…dry cords； and fell backward。 The others were ing for him； moving so fast he had no time to think； no time to step back； slam and bolt the door to gain a few extra minutes。 He clenched his teeth； smelling their dead reek； and swung back and forth with the ax； wading into their midst as they grasped at his chest and arms and legs； tearing at his clothing and then his skin。 The ones he struck down dragged themselves back to grasp at his legs； he kicked at them； staggering and almost falling。 A hideous face streaked with fungus hissed at him； he chopped at it with the ax and it smashed into fragments。 Something caught at his knees and he almost fell forward into their midst。 He knew that if he fell he was dead。
He fought for balance； swinging wildly； listening to their evil rattles and high； eerie moans。 A claw emerged from the mass of bodies； probing for his eyes； he ducked his head； began to fight with fists； feet； elbows； and knees； kicking them back； hammering at them； crushing their skulls with the gleaming blade。 One of them leaped forward； seizing him around the throat； another grasped his back and began to chew at his exposed shoulder； making hungry grunting noises。 Powerful fingers caught at the ax； trying to wrench it away from him。 They closed in on all sides； flinging themselves at him； trying to tear through his throat with teeth and nails。 A wrench glittered in the light； ing straight at him； but he caught the shock of the blow with the ax handle and then slammed the blade into an arm socket。
Panic choked him； there were too many。 TOO MANY！ he shrieked。 The ones with crushed faces and broken bones would not give up； they still struggled to devour him。 He fought away from the thing on his back； and another took its place； sucking at the blood that trickled from his shoulder gash。 THE JEEP！ he heard himself cry out。 The jeep！ Get to the jeep！ He caught on to the side of his vehicle for support； holding his arms over his face to ward off the claws； then battering with the blade left and right。 He fought away； dragging himself into the back of the jeep； feeling the things grasping at his legs to pull him into their ravenous midst。 Kicking at them； wrenching his legs free； Kip watched them ring the jeep to prevent his escape； saw the terrible fury in their mad eyes。
A thing with a remnant of a red beard started to climb up after him； but Kip brought the ax down with all his strength。 The head was almost torn from the body； the mummy fell backward； yellow bone glinting in the gaping wound。 More claws reached for him； the dead eyes were cunning and desperate。
Kip backed away； his muscles throbbing； sweat streaming from his body and the blood dripping from his fingertips。
And then his foot bumped the gas can he'd brought along。
He slammed the ax into it； ripping it open； he lifted it； splattering gasoline over the things and throwing the rest of it into the fire just behind them。
The explosion threw him over the front seat against the windshield。 The flames roared into the sky； embers swirling in a whirlwind。 Several of the things burst into flame； the fire caused a panic among the others。 They fought away from each other and began to run toward the green wall of the jungle； flaking into ashes with each step。 They crawled across the ground like maddened animals； screaming and moaning under the fire's blazing touch。 A few of them reached the jungle and crashed through into the foliage； the others lay where they had fallen； melting like waxwork figures。
Kip threw himself behind the wheel and roared away from the church； feeling that in another moment he might go totally mad； his entire body shook； his heart pounded； and cold sweat dripped from every pore。
The village lay ahead； dark and quiet； peaceful and unaware in the night。
And a long time yet before morning。
Twenty…one
DAVID MOORE THREW the sodden sheet off and leaped from his bed； he was awake as soon as his feet hit the floor。 He stood in the hot darkness； his mind a nightmare landscape； trying to pinpoint what it was that had filled him with terrible alarm。
Moore opened the terrace doors and stepped out； gripping the railing。 On the horizon there was a brief flash of lightning； followed by the hollow； still…distant rumbling of thunder。 The ocean was churned high and white； and somewhere the storm was building。 Moore stood where he was a moment longer； listening； wondering if it was the thunder that had awakened him； he went back into the room； switched on a lamp； and hurriedly dressed in a cotton shirt and jeans。
There was an insistent knock at his door。 〃Who is it？〃 he said。
〃Jana。 Let me in； please。〃
He opened the door。 She came in； wearing the same clothes she'd fallen asleep in； her eyes were red…rimmed； and beneath them there were dark hollows。
〃I heard something；〃 she said。 〃I know I heard something。〃 She had rested for only moments at a time； and in her nightmares were things that watched her from thick shadows； licking their lips with bloated tongues。
〃Thunder；〃 he said quickly。 〃It woke me too。。。〃
〃No！〃 She shook her head and moved past him to the terrace； where she peered down into the darkness。 〃I thought I heard