TRENT and Melissa waited tautly. The silence pressed in on them as thick as black butter. One century crawled past. And then another.
Doan’s revolver thudded. Trent jumped involuntarily, and Melissa whimpered against his coat.
The silence crept back and surrounded them. Doan’s revolver thudded again. The .22 cracked back at it spitefully this time. Someone yelled, fiercely incoherent. Feet raced across bare flooring. Something fell over with a crash that made the air shudder. A door slammed dully.
“I can’t take this,” Trent said. “I’ve got to help him. You stay here.”
“Oh, no! Oh, no!”
“Stay right close behind me, then. Walk in step with me.”
They went out into the hall like a queer four-legged bug. Melissa was clutching the back of Trent’s coat in both fists. She could feel the musc
