°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > dk.intensity >

µÚ22ÕÂ

dk.intensity-µÚ22ÕÂ

С˵£º dk.intensity ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡He¡¡pushes¡¡the¡¡gearshift¡¡into¡¡park£»¡¡engages¡¡the¡¡emergency¡¡brake£»¡¡but¡¡leaves¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡running¡¡and¡¡the¡¡headlights¡¡on¡£¡¡He¡¡doesn't¡¡bother¡¡to¡¡slip¡¡into¡¡his¡¡raincoat£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡gets¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡motor¡¡home£»¡¡he¡¡leaves¡¡the¡¡door¡¡standing¡¡open¡£
¡¡The¡¡rain¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pavement¡¡is¡¡a¡¡drumming£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡metal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vehicles¡¡a¡¡singing£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡foliage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡a¡¡chorus¡¡chanting¡¡wordlessly¡£¡¡The¡¡rain¡¡sounds¡¡please¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡does¡¡the¡¡chill£»¡¡as¡¡does¡¡the¡¡fecund¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡ferns¡¡and¡¡loamy¡¡soil¡£
¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡same¡¡Honda¡¡that¡¡passed¡¡him¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡earlier¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡¡in¡¡this¡¡sorry¡¡condition£»¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡reckless¡¡speed¡¡at¡¡which¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡traveling¡£
¡¡Evidently£»¡¡the¡¡car¡¡had¡¡skidded¡¡off¡¡the¡¡road¡¡and¡¡into¡¡the¡¡tree¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡driver¡¡had¡¡backed¡¡it¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡pavement¡¡again¡¡before¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡failed¡£
¡¡But¡¡where¡¡is¡¡the¡¡driver£¿¡¡Another¡¡motorist¡¡might¡¡have¡¡e¡¡along¡¡from¡¡the¡¡west¡¡and¡¡taken¡¡any¡¡injured¡¡person¡¡to¡¡get¡¡medical¡¡treatment¡£¡¡But¡¡that¡¡seems¡¡too¡¡fortuitous¡¡and¡¡too¡¡timely¡£¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡the¡¡accident¡¡can't¡¡have¡¡happened¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡or¡¡two¡¡ago¡£
¡¡The¡¡driver's¡¡door¡¡is¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Vess¡¡leans¡¡inside£»¡¡he¡¡sees¡¡that¡¡the¡¡keys¡¡are¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ignition¡£¡¡The¡¡windshield¡¡wipers¡¡sweep¡¡the¡¡glass¡£¡¡The¡¡taillights£»¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡ceiling¡¡light£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gauges¡¡in¡¡the¡¡instrument¡¡panel¡¡are¡¡all¡¡aglow¡£
¡¡He¡¡steps¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡car¡¡and¡¡looks¡¡at¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡toward¡¡which¡¡the¡¡tire¡¡tracks¡¡lead¡£¡¡The¡¡bark¡¡is¡¡scarred¡¡from¡¡the¡¡impact¡¡but¡¡only¡¡superficially¡£
¡¡Intrigued£»¡¡he¡¡surveys¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grove¡¡on¡¡that¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highway¡£
¡¡Quite¡¡possibly£»¡¡the¡¡driver¡¡climbed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wrecked¡¡car£»¡¡dazed¡¡from¡¡a¡¡blow¡¡to¡¡the¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡wandered¡¡into¡¡the¡¡redwoods¡£¡¡Even¡¡now¡¡she¡¡might¡¡be¡¡traveling¡¡farther¡¡into¡¡the¡¡primeval¡¡grove£»¡¡lost¡¡and¡¡confused¡­or¡¡maybe£»¡¡having¡¡collapsed¡¡from¡¡injuries£»¡¡she¡¡lies¡¡unconscious¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fern¡¡glade¡£
¡¡The¡¡closely¡¡grown¡¡trees¡¡form¡¡a¡¡maze¡¡of¡¡narrow¡¡corridors£»¡¡more¡¡wood¡¡than¡¡open¡¡space¡£¡¡Even¡¡at¡¡high¡¡noon¡¡on¡¡a¡¡cloudless¡¡day£»¡¡sun¡­shine¡¡would¡¡penetrate¡¡to¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡floor¡¡only¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡thin¡¡bright¡¡blades£»¡¡and¡¡stubborn¡¡darkness¡¡would¡¡impose¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡most¡¡of¡¡these¡¡deep¡¡reaches£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡many¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡nights¡¡since¡¡the¡¡grove's¡¡beginning¡¡had¡¡left¡¡its¡¡residue¡¡of¡¡shadows¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡still¡¡on¡¡the¡¡witching¡¡side¡¡of¡¡dawn£»¡¡that¡¡blackness¡¡is¡¡so¡¡pure¡¡that¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡almost¡¡like¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡alive£»¡¡crouching¡¡and¡¡predatory¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡weling¡£
¡¡This¡¡special¡¡darkness¡¡stirs¡¡Air¡£¡¡Vess¡¡and¡¡makes¡¡him¡¡yearn¡¡for¡¡experiences¡¡that¡¡he¡¡senses¡¡are¡¡available¡¡to¡¡him¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡imagine£»¡¡experiences¡¡that¡¡are¡¡mysterious¡¡and¡¡transforming£»¡¡yet¡¡which¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡even¡¡dimly¡¡envision¡£¡¡Far¡¡into¡¡the¡¡redwoods£»¡¡down¡¡corridors¡¡of¡¡fissured¡¡bark£»¡¡in¡¡some¡¡secret¡¡citadel¡¡of¡¡bestial¡¡passion£»¡¡where¡¡shadows¡¡dwell¡¡that¡¡are¡¡older¡¡than¡¡human¡¡history£»¡¡a¡¡mystical¡¡adventure¡¡awaits¡£
¡¡If¡¡the¡¡woman£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡is¡¡wandering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡park¡¡the¡¡motor¡¡home¡¡and¡¡search¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡the¡¡knife¡¡that¡¡he¡¡found¡¡at¡¡the¡¡service¡¡station¡¡is¡¡an¡¡omen£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡hers¡¡may¡¡be¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡with¡¡that¡¡blade¡£
¡¡He¡¡imagines¡¡what¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡like¡¡to¡¡take¡¡off¡¡his¡¡clothes¡¡and¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡grove¡¡naked¡¡with¡¡the¡¡knife£»¡¡relying¡¡solely¡¡on¡¡his¡¡primitive¡¡instincts¡¡to¡¡stalk¡¡her¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡her¡¡down£»¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡and¡¡mist¡¡cold¡¡on¡¡his¡¡skin£»¡¡the¡¡air¡¡steaming¡¡once¡¡he¡¡has¡¡breathed¡¡it£»¡¡unchilled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡but¡¡imparting¡¡his¡¡heat¡¡to¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡tearing¡¡ferociously¡¡at¡¡the¡¡woman's¡¡clothes¡¡as¡¡he¡¡drags¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡floor¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡already¡¡erect¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dream¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡wonders¡¡if¡¡he¡¡would¡¡attack¡¡her¡¡first¡¡with¡¡knife¡¡or¡¡phallus¡­or¡¡perhaps¡¡with¡¡his¡¡teeth¡£¡¡That¡¡decision¡¡would¡¡be¡¡made¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡capture£»¡¡and¡¡much¡¡would¡¡depend¡¡on¡¡how¡¡attractive¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡is¡¡convinced¡¡that¡¡whatever¡¡might¡¡happen¡¡between¡¡them¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unprecedented¡¡and¡¡mysterious¡­and¡¡inexpressibly¡¡intense¡£
¡¡Dawn¡¡is¡¡ing¡¡in¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡so£»¡¡however£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡wise¡¡to¡¡be¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡put¡¡more¡¡distance¡¡between¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡the¡¡places¡¡where¡¡he¡¡took¡¡his¡¡entertainment¡¡during¡¡the¡¡night¡£
¡¡Being¡¡good¡¡at¡¡being¡¡Edgler¡¡Vess¡¡requires£»¡¡among¡¡other¡¡qualities£»¡¡the¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡repress¡¡his¡¡most¡¡ardent¡¡passions¡¡when¡¡indulgence¡¡in¡¡them¡¡is¡¡dangerous¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡instantly¡¡gratified¡¡every¡¡desire£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡less¡¡a¡¡man¡¡than¡¡an¡¡animal¡­and¡¡either¡¡long¡¡dead¡¡or¡¡imprisoned¡£¡¡Being¡¡Edgler¡¡Vess¡¡means¡¡being¡¡free¡¡but¡¡not¡¡reckless£»¡¡being¡¡quick¡¡but¡¡not¡¡impulsive¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡have¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡proportion¡£¡¡And¡¡good¡¡timing¡£¡¡Hell£»¡¡he¡¡needs¡¡the¡¡timing¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tap¡­dance¡¡master¡£¡¡And¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡smile¡£¡¡A¡¡truly¡¡nice¡¡smile¡¡bined¡¡with¡¡self¡­control¡¡can¡¡take¡¡a¡¡person¡¡a¡¡long¡¡way¡£
¡¡He¡¡smiles¡¡at¡¡the¡¡forest¡£
¡¡The¡¡motor¡¡home¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pavement£»¡¡approximately¡¡twenty¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡the¡¡battered¡¡Honda£»¡¡shrunken¡¡in¡¡appearance¡¡because¡¡the¡¡redwoods¡¡dwarfed¡¡it¡£
¡¡As¡¡the¡¡killer¡¡had¡¡walked¡¡down¡¡the¡¡roadway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡abandoned¡¡car¡¡through¡¡the¡¡headlight¡¡beams¡¡from¡¡the¡¡motor¡¡home£»¡¡Chyna¡¡had¡¡crept¡¡upslope¡¡through¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡forest£»¡¡moving¡¡parallel¡¡to¡¡him¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡circled¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡gripping¡¡the¡¡revolver¡¡in¡¡her¡¡right¡¡hand£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡left¡¡hand¡¡flat¡¡against¡¡the¡¡trunk¡¡for¡¡balance¡¡in¡¡case¡¡she¡¡stumbled¡¡over¡¡a¡¡root¡¡or¡¡other¡¡obstruction¡£¡¡Under¡¡her¡¡palm£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡pattern¡¡of¡¡repetitive¡¡Gothic¡¡arches¡¡formed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fissures¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡bark¡£¡¡With¡¡each¡¡uncertain¡¡step¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡around¡¡this¡¡great¡¡easy¡¡curve£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡was¡¡less¡¡like¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡than¡¡like¡¡a¡¡building£»¡¡a¡¡windowless¡¡fortress¡¡erected¡¡against¡¡all¡¡the¡¡rage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£
¡¡After¡¡navigating¡¡a¡¡hemisphere¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trunk¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shoulder¡­wide¡¡gap¡¡between¡¡this¡¡tree¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next£»¡¡she¡¡peered¡¡out¡¡once¡¡more¡£¡¡The¡¡killer¡¡stood¡¡near¡¡the¡¡open¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Honda£»¡¡gazing¡¡into¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡on¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highway¡£
¡¡She¡¡was¡¡worried¡¡that¡¡another¡¡motorist¡¡would¡¡e¡¡along¡¡before¡¡she¡¡could¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡her¡¡plan¡£
¡¡She¡¡moved¡¡on£»¡¡circling¡¡the¡¡next¡¡tree¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡even¡¡larger¡¡than¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡behemoth¡£¡¡The¡¡bark¡¡featured¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡Gothic¡¡patterns¡£
¡¡In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shrill¡¡wind¡¡keening¡¡high¡¡above¡¡and¡¡collected¡¡drizzles¡¡of¡¡rain¡¡spattering¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lofty¡¡branches£»¡¡the¡¡grove¡¡impressed¡¡her¡¡as¡¡a¡¡good¡¡safe¡¡place£»¡¡dark¡¡but¡¡not¡¡in¡¡spirit£»¡¡cold¡¡but¡¡not¡¡forbidding¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡still¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡her¡¡troubles¡­but¡¡curiously£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡all¡¡night£»¡¡she¡¡didn'tfeel¡¡alone¡£
¡¡At¡¡the¡¡next¡¡trunk¡­framed¡¡gap¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡wall£»¡¡Chyna¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡again¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡killer¡¡getting¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Honda¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡move¡¡the¡¡disabled¡¡car¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡because¡¡there¡¡wasn't¡¡room¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡around¡¡it¡£
¡¡She¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡motor¡¡home¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡because¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡lay¡¡within¡¡it¡­a¡¡dead¡¡man¡¡closeted¡¡in¡¡chains£»¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡woman¡¡swaddled¡¡in¡¡a¡¡white¡¡shroud¡­the¡¡vehicle¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡ominous¡¡as¡¡any¡¡war¡¡machine¡£
¡¡She¡¡could¡¡just¡¡wait¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grove¡£¡¡Forget¡¡about¡¡her¡¡plan¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡leave£»¡¡and¡¡life¡¡would¡¡go¡¡on¡£
¡¡So¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡wait¡£¡¡Survive¡£¡¡The¡¡police¡¡would¡¡find¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡Ariel¡£¡¡Somehow¡£¡¡In¡¡time¡£¡¡Without¡¡the¡¡need¡¡for¡¡heroics¡£
¡¡Chyna¡¡leaned¡¡against¡¡the¡¡tree£»¡¡suddenly¡¡weak¡£¡¡Weak¡¡and¡¡shaking¡£¡¡Shaking¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡physically¡¡ill¡¡with¡¡despair£»¡¡with¡¡fear¡£
¡¡The¡¡taillights¡¡and¡¡interior¡¡lights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Honda¡¡dimmed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡grinding¡¡of¡¡the¡¡starter£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡killer¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡over¡£
¡¡Then¡¡another¡¡noise¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Chyna¡£¡¡Much¡¡closer¡¡than¡¡the¡¡car¡£¡¡Behind¡¡her¡£¡¡A¡¡rustle£»¡¡a¡¡snap£»¡¡a¡¡soft¡¡snort¡¡like¡¡a¡¡startled¡¡horse¡¡exhaling¡£
¡¡Frightened£»¡¡she¡¡turned¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡backwash¡¡of¡¡light¡¡from¡¡the¡¡motor¡¡home¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡highway£»¡¡Chyna¡¡saw¡¡angels¡¡in¡¡the¡¡redwood¡¡grove¡£¡¡Or¡¡so¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡Regarding¡¡her¡¡were¡¡gentle¡¡faces£»¡¡pale¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡eyes¡¡luminous¡¡and¡¡inquisitive¡¡and¡¡kind¡£
¡¡But¡¡even¡¡in¡¡that¡¡meager¡¡moonlike¡¡glow£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡sustain¡¡a¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡angels¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡initial¡¡confusion£»¡¡she¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡these¡¡creatures¡¡were¡¡a¡¡breed¡¡of¡¡coastal¡¡elk¡¡without¡¡antlers¡£
¡¡Six¡¡stood¡¡together¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fifteen¡­foot¡­wide¡¡space¡¡between¡¡this¡¡outer¡¡row¡¡of¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡the¡¡deeper¡¡growth£»¡¡so¡¡close¡¡that¡¡Chyna¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡among¡¡them¡¡in¡¡three¡¡steps¡£¡¡Their¡¡noble¡¡heads¡¡were¡¡lifted£»¡¡ears¡¡pricked£»¡¡gazes¡¡fixed¡¡intently¡¡on¡¡her¡£
¡¡The¡¡elk¡¡were¡¡curious£»¡¡but¡¡although¡¡timid¡¡by¡¡nature£»¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡oddly¡¡unafraid¡¡of¡¡her¡£
¡¡Once£»¡¡for¡¡two¡¡months£»¡¡she¡¡and¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡stayed¡¡on¡¡a¡¡ranch¡¡in¡¡Mendocino¡¡County£»¡¡where¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡well¡­armed¡¡survivalists¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡the¡¡race¡¡wars¡¡that¡¡they¡¡believed¡¡would¡¡soon¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡nation£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡that¡¡doomsday¡¡atmosphere£»¡¡Chyna¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡as¡¡much¡¡time¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡exploring¡¡the¡¡surrounding¡¡countryside£»¡¡hills¡¡and¡¡vales¡¡of¡¡singular¡¡beauty£»¡¡groves¡¡of¡¡pines£»¡¡golden¡¡fields¡¡where¡¡scattered¡¡Oaks¡¡stood¡­each¡¡alone¡¡and¡¡huge¡¡and¡¡black¡­limbed¡¡against¡¡the¡¡sky¡­and¡¡where¡¡small¡¡herds¡¡of¡¡coastal¡¡elk¡¡appeared¡¡from¡¡time¡¡to¡¡time£»¡¡always¡¡keeping¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡human¡¡beings¡¡and¡¡their¡¡works¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡stalked¡¡them¡¡not¡¡as¡¡a¡¡hunter¡¡but¡¡with¡¡awkward¡¡girlish¡¡guile£»¡¡as¡¡shy¡¡as¡¡the¡¡elk¡¡themselves¡¡but¡¡irresistibly¡¡attracted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tranquillity¡¡and¡¡the¡¡peace¡¡that¡¡they¡¡radiated¡¡in¡¡a¡¡world¡¡otherwise¡¡saturated¡¡with¡¡violence¡£
¡¡In¡¡those¡¡two¡¡months£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡never¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡get¡¡closer¡¡than¡¡eighty¡¡or¡¡ninety¡¡feet¡¡to¡¡the¡¡elk¡¡herds¡¡before¡¡they¡¡had¡¡reacted¡¡to¡¡her¡¡nonchalant¡¡approach£»¡¡whidding¡¡to¡¡farther¡¡fields¡¡and¡¡ridges¡£
¡¡Now¡¡they¡¡had¡¡approached¡¡ber£»¡¡vigilant¡¡but¡¡not¡¡frightened£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡the¡¡same¡¡elk¡¡of¡¡her¡¡childhood£»¡¡at¡¡long¡¡last¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡her¡¡peaceable¡¡intentions¡£
¡¡Coastal¡¡elk¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡somewhat¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡meadows¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡redwoods£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡was¡¡lush¡¡and¡¡green¡¡from¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡rains£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡grazing¡¡was¡¡good¡£¡¡Although¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡strangers¡¡to¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡their¡¡presence¡¡here£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rainy¡¡predawn¡¡darkness£»¡¡was¡¡remarkable¡£
¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡others¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡the¡¡herd¡¡of¡¡six¡­one¡¡here£»¡¡one¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡a¡¡third£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡more¡­between¡¡trees£»¡¡at¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡distance¡¡than¡¡the¡¡initial¡¡group¡£¡¡Some¡¡were¡¡barely¡¡visible¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bosky¡¡grove£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡extreme¡¡reach¡¡of¡¡the¡¡backwash¡¡from¡¡the¡¡motor¡­home¡¡headlights£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡as¡¡many¡¡as¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡altogether£»¡¡all¡¡standing¡¡at¡¡attention£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡transfixed¡¡by¡¡woodland¡¡music¡¡beyond¡¡human¡¡hearing¡£
¡¡Lightning¡¡spread¡¡branches¡¡across¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡put¡¡down¡¡jagged¡¡roots¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡briefly¡¡brightened¡¡the¡¡grove¡¡sufficiently¡¡for¡¡Chyna¡¡to¡¡see¡¡all¡¡the¡¡elk¡¡more¡¡clearly¡¡than¡¡before¡£¡¡More¡¡of¡¡them¡¡than¡¡she¡¡had¡¡thought¡£¡¡In¡¡mist¡¡and¡¡ferns£»¡¡among¡¡flowering¡¡red¡¡rhododendron£»¡¡revealed'by¡¡fluttering¡¡leaves¡¡of¡¡light¡£¡¡Heads¡¡lifted£»¡¡their¡¡breath¡¡steaming¡¡from¡¡black¡¡nostrils¡£¡¡Their¡¡eyes¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡her¡£
¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡highway¡£¡¡The¡¡killer¡¡had¡¡given¡¡up¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡start¡¡the¡¡engine¡£¡¡He¡¡put¡¡the¡¡Honda¡¡in¡¡gear£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡began¡¡to¡¡roll¡¡backward¡¡on¡¡the¡¡slightly¡¡sloped¡¡pavement¡£
¡¡After¡¡one¡¡last¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡elk£»¡¡Chyna¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡from¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡redwoods¡£
¡¡The¡¡killer¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡steering¡¡wheel¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡letting¡¡the¡¡momentum¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car¡¡carry¡¡it¡¡backward¡¡in¡¡an¡¡arc¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡facing¡¡downhill¡£
¡¡Through¡¡sparse¡¡ferns¡¡and¡¡scattered¡¡clumps¡¡of¡¡bunch¡¡grass£»¡¡Chyna¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡highway¡£¡¡The¡¡weakness¡¡in¡¡her¡¡legs¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡spasm¡¡of¡¡irresolution¡¡had¡¡passed¡£
¡¡Under¡¡the¡¡killer's¡¡guidance£»¡¡the¡¡Honda¡¡coasted¡¡downhill¡¡and¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡right¡¡shoulder¡£
¡¡She¡¡could¡¡go¡¡after¡¡him£»¡¡shoot¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡car¡¡or¡¡as¡¡he¡¡got¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡fifty¡¡yards¡¡away¡¡now£»¡¡sixty£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡surely¡¡see¡¡her¡¡ing¡£¡¡She¡¡would¡¡have¡¡no¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡keeping¡¡the¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡surprise£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡to¡¡kill£»¡¡which¡¡would¡¡do¡¡Ariel¡¡no¡¡good¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡because¡¡with¡¡this¡¡bastard¡¡dead¡¡they¡¡would¡¡still¡¡have¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ