第77部分（第1页）

Jacks　bedroom　slippers。

Jack　screamed　her　name；　and　this　time　when　he　swung　the　mallet；　a　long

splinter　of　wood　jumped　from　the　door　and　clattered　off　the　hardwood　planking。

The　next　blow　brought　a　sickening；　splintering　crack；　the　sound　of　dry　kindling

under　a　hatchet。　The　bloody　mallet　head；　now　splintered　and　gouged　in　its　own

right；　bashed　through　the　new　hole　in　the　door；　was　withdrawn；　and　came　down

again；　sending　wooden　shrapnel　flying　across　the　room。

Wendy　pulled　herself　to　her　feet　again　using　the　foot　of　the　bed；　and　hobbled

across　the　room　to　the　closet。　Her　broken　ribs　stabbed　at　her；　making　her　groan。

〃Danny？〃

She　brushed　the　hung　garments　aside　frantically；　some　of　them　slipped　their

hangers　and　ballooned　gracelessly　to　the　floor。　He　was　not　in　the　closet。

She　hobbled　toward　the　bathroom　and　as　she　reached　the　door　she　glanced　back

over　her　shoulder。　The　mallet　crashed　through　again；　widening　the　hole；　and　then

a　hand　appeared；　groping　for　the　bolt。　She　saw　with　horror　that　she　had　left

Jacks　key　ring　dangling　from　the　lock。

The　hand　yanked　the　bolt　back；　and　as　it　did　so　it　struck　the　bunched　keys。

They　jingled　merrily。　The　hand　clutched　them　victoriously。

With　a　sob；　she　pushed　her　way　into　the　bathroom　and　slammed　the　door　just　as

the　bedroom　door　burst　open　and　Jack　charged　through；　bellowing。

Wendy　ran　the　bolt　and　twisted　the　spring　lock；　looking　around　desperately。

The　bathroom　was　empty。　Danny　wasnt　here；　either。　And　as　she　caught　sight　of

her　own　bloodsmeared；　horrified　face　in　the　medicine　cabinet　mirror；　she　was

glad。　She　had　never　believed　that　children　should　be　witness　to　the　little

quarrels　of　their　parents。　And　perhaps　the　thing　that　was　now　raving　through　the

bedroom；　overturning　things　and　smashing　them；　would　finally　collapse　before　it

could　go　after　her　son。　Perhaps；　she　thought；　it　might　be　possible　for　her　to

inflict　even　more　damage　on　it　。。。　kill　it；　perhaps。

Her　eyes　skated　quickly　over　the　bathrooms　machine…produced　porcelain

surfaces；　looking　for　anything　that　might　serve　as　a　weapon。　There　was　a　bar　of

soap；　but　even　wrapped　in　a　towel　she　didnt　think　it　would　be　lethal　enough。

Everything　else　was　bolted　down。　God；　was　there　nothing　she　could　do？

Beyond　the　door；　the　animal　sounds　of　destruction　went　on　and　on；　acpanied

by　thick　shouts　that　they　would　〃take　their　medicine〃　and　〃pay　for　what　theyd