think so. Something happened that made us leave the sailboat. That’s all.”
“Maybe the devil made us leave the boat to come to this place where he’s going to torture us.”
“Maybe,” said Lou. “Maybe I’m the devil.”
“Stop that.”
“Maybe I’m just waiting for the right time to kill you.”
“Stop it!”
Both jumped.
A distant clap of thunder rolled over the sea. It wasn’t especialy loud, but it rumbled ominously through the darkness.
“I’m scared,” Liz said.
Whrromp!
This one was pretty loud. Both froze. Liz moved close to Lou.
“It’s just a thunderstorm,” Lou reassured her, and added, “It’ll pass over the ocean,” hoping he was right.
A long silence followed. Both were trying to prepare for the next roll of thunder so as not to be startled. But nothing happened—all they saw was distant lightning that brightened the sea now and then.
“I have to pee,” said Liz.
“So go.”
“Never alone.”
“What do you expect, me to stand guard?”
“Just come along a couple of yards.”
“You don’t have to go that far, and besides, it stopped anyway.”
“All right. I’ll go alone.”
“But don’t go too far,” said Lou.
“
Ha.
I guess somebody is scared.”
She got up and looked around. It was too dark to make anything out. A distant bolt of lightning helped her, but it also took away some of her newfound courage. She walked a few steps toward the beach, then looked back. It was too dark to see Lou. She took another couple of steps, almost testing her own bravery. She felt frightened and excited at the same time. She felt like testing her courage again and took another few steps.
14.
At the same time, right behind in the underbrush.
A mysterious figure was moving cautiously through the woods. It observed Liz with the help of a faraway lightning bolt, then made another stealthy step.
15.
Back to Liz and Lou.
“Where are you going?” Lou said through the darkness.
Liz didn’t answer. She wanted him to get a little scared.
All of a sudden she heard some crackling noises coming out of the woods. She started, then listened.
Nothing.
She slipped her bikini down and squatted.
Lou had heard the crackling too. He was suspended on his elbow now, looking toward the underbrush.
Nothing.
Whrromp!
Another clap of thunder bounced off the sea.
Both were paralyzed for a moment. After the shock wore off, Liz felt excited from the adrenaline. She ended her business, pulled up her bikini, and ran back to Lou.
“Damn, my bladder nearly ripped me apart,” she said, excited.
“It’s a bitch. Life in the wilderness,” Lou said.
Both felt great, still buzzing from the thunder.
16.
Back in the underbrush.
The figure in the woods tried to find orientation. Then slowly it moved farther into the woods, bustled around by a tree for a moment, then beat it.
part two
17.
Jim was looking out the window.
We hear the sound of a train traveling over its rails.
Shrubby landscape is passing on the other side of the
glass. It’s about noon on a sunny summer day.
After some time the train slowed down, then stopped.
Jim kept looking out the window.
The train started to move again, slowly gaining speed.
Jim probably saw her from the corner of his eye. Right next to him, in the aisle, stood a woman searching for a seat. He looked up at her.
With an open purse in her left hand, a monstrosity of a flower bouquet in her right hand, and the ticket between her lips, she signaled something in the direction of the empty seats.
“It’s all yours,” said Jim, looking up at her, then out the window again.
The woman started to rearrange her belongings busily.
Jim’s position wasn’t only perfect for observing the outdoors, but also great for sneaking a good look at the train’s interior. Using the soft reflection in the glass, Jim stealthfully observed his neighbors.
In the reflection, two hands were putting the flowers on the seat opposite him. There was also a pair