She sat up in the bed, ready to spring to
the window if she heard steps on the stairs. When none came, but
the voices, lowered now, went on endlessly below, she slipped out
of her bed and crept to the doorway.
Sounds traveled clearly up the narrow enclosed stairway. She stood
there, swaying slightly, until at last her legs would no longer
support her. She crouched on the floor, a hand clutching her throat,
lest she scream. And listened.
She did not sleep at all. The night had been too full of horrors.
And she was too ill to attempt a second flight. Besides, where
could she go? Katie was not there. She could see her empty little
room across, with its cot bed and tawdry dresser. Before, too,
she had had Grahams protection to count on. Now she had nothing.
And the voices went on.
When she went back to bed it was almost dawn. She heard Herman
come up, heard the heavy thump of his shoes on the floor, and the
creak immediately following that showed he had lain down without
undressing.
Pages:
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477