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〃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 a woman's scream。〃
Lightning flashed； making Jana wince。 Moore came up beside her。 〃Are you all right？〃 he asked。
〃I think so。 I don't know。 I tell you； I heard a woman's scream！〃 She rubbed her arms； as if to get the circulation going。
〃The man who was here。。。 when we came in；〃 Jana went on。 〃Who is he？〃
〃His name is Schiller； he was on the U…boat when it went down。〃
〃Then。。。 he knows？ About what's happened？〃
Moore shook his head。 〃No； I didn't tell him。〃
In the darkness there was a sharp； distant sound of breaking glass。 Moore grasped the railing； straining to see。 The next streak of lightning cast strange； long shadows across the streets of the village； there were no lights on； and nothing moved。
〃What is it？〃 Jana was tense beside him； her voice a taut whisper。
〃I don't know。。。〃 Thunder boomed across the sea； but behind it Moore thought he heard the sudden splitting of timber。 A light switched on； almost at the farthest fringe of the village； and he could hear someone…a man's voice…shouting in a high； frantic pitch。 A noise like a pistol shot echoed across the roofs； and there was the sound of more glass cracking； another square of yellow light appeared； nearer to them； and Moore saw a shadow dart by the window。 In a blue lightning flash he thought he could make out figures in the streets； but then the darkness claimed the earth again。 A coil was winding within him； tightening his muscles。 He turned from the railing； went inside to the dresser drawer； and withdrew the automatic。
〃What are you going to do？〃 Jana asked him； framed on the terrace； the fear creeping across her face。
〃I'm going downstairs to check the doors and windows。〃 He put the automatic on safety and stuck it into his waistband。 〃I want you to stay in your room and be sure the terrace doors are bolted。〃
〃They're ing； aren't they？〃 It was more of a statement than a question； the voice cold behind it。
〃Go on。〃
〃No。 I'm staying with you。〃
〃You'll be safer up here。〃
〃No；〃 she repeated； holding his eyes with her own。
He shrugged； there was no time for argument。 Moore and Jana went into the hallway and were about to descend the stairs when Moore saw a sliver of light beneath the German's door。
He knocked； waited； heard movement inside； knocked again。 Schiller opened the door and stood bleary…eyed； his tie loosened and the top buttons of his shirt undone。 A chair had been positioned before the open terrace doors； and the bed was still made。 Schiller rubbed his eyes and yawned。 〃I fell asleep；〃 he said。 〃I was listening to the thunder。〃 Then he noticed the pistol at Moore's waistband； and he was instantly alert。 〃What。。。 is going on？〃 he asked； looking quizzically into their faces。
Moore stalked past the man； grasping the terrace doors； he was shutting them when another streak of lightning cut the sky in half； and the thunder echoed。 He saw that a few more lights had e on； a scattering of fireflies across Coquina village。
〃The gun；〃 the German was saying behind him。 〃What is it for？〃 He took a step toward the other man。 〃I don't understand。〃
And before Moore could reply there was a crack！ near Front Street； from the fishermen's shanties。 Whether it was a gunshot or the noise of glass being broken he couldn't tell； but then there came an eerie； ragged wail； one of terrified desperation。 Moore's mouth was dry； his mind racing。 The lightning flashed again and in that brief light he saw figures。。。 the things。。。 moving through the streets below。 The scream ceased abruptly； then came a man's voice； shouting； and a woman's shrill and hysterical。 Moore threw the bolt on the doors and； turning away； saw Schiller's face a drawn； pale mask。
〃What was that scream？〃 the German asked； his face was ashen； a blue vein throbbing rapidly at his temple。
Moore pushed past Schiller and Jana into the hallway； descended the stairs three at a time in the dark。 In the distance he heard another voice； shouting incoherently； then drowned in a wave of thunder。 A nameless dread had gripped him； and he couldn't move fast enough。 Check the windows； the doors。 The shutters…some of the shutters are weak； the storm damage not yet replaced…get them bolted。 He felt the way he had inside the submarine； his legs out of control； functioning crazily in slow motion； as if he were inside a stranger's body。
He reached the front door and shook the knob to test the lock。 It was secure。 One of the windows facing the porch hadn't been pushed down flush to the frame； Moore cursed himself； reached it in two strides； and grasped the window's top to push it into place and lock it。
Lightning streaked； a thin white thread。 And in its light Moore saw the forms that stood on the porch； groping from the darkness at the doorway。
Moore caught his breath； slammed the window down； locked it。
From the rear of the Indigo Inn there was the sudden； electrifying sound of shattering glass。
He heard the screen door open； heard the wood splinter as it was ripped from its hinges by a dozen hands。 Someone in the village screamed again； and someone else called out for God。 The rear windows were being broken out； he could hear something hammering at the back door； trying to get through。 Moore whirled around； slammed and locked the door that connected the kitchen with the rest of the hotel。 He dragged a table across it； at the same time bringing out the automatic and switching off the safety。
And then silence； broken only by his own rapid breathing and the noise of chaos in the village： screams and shouts； a gun firing； a cry of pain。
Someone was ing down the stairs： Schiller and Jana； feeling their way in the dark。
〃SCHILLER！〃 Moore shouted。 〃WATCH THAT REAR DOOR。。。！〃
Something suddenly pounded against the front door。。。 wham！ wham！ wham！。。。 with a tremendous force。 A hammer； Moore thought； ice flowing in his veins。 The things have a hammer。
He heard the door at the back of the hotel e off its frame； there was a wild crash of glass and crockery from the kitchen。
A front window shattered； the glass exploding into the room along with pieces of the aged shutter。 Jana cried out； and Moore saw the black outline of a figure throw back a powerful arm to break out the rest of the wood。 The door was struck； again and again； there was a sharp splintering sound。
Moore raised the gun； aimed directly at the thing that tore at the shutter； and fired。
A gout of flame spewed from the automatic's muzzle； the gun's roar momentarily deafened him。 The dark figure was thrown backward； and glass tinkled from the broken frame。
〃You killed it。。。〃 Schiller said； sweat glistening on his face。
〃Wait；〃 Moore told him； not moving。 〃Keep your eye on that back door； for God's sake！〃
A heavy blow struck the door that sealed off the kitchen； glass broke on the other side of it。 Moore jerked around and fired through the wood； filling the air with splinters and the acrid odor of gunpowder。 At the same time； t