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Show 14. Now that JD was gone, maybe in danger, Stephanie forgot herself. She rushed from her hiding place out into the clearing, but beyond the safety of cover, she froze. Alone, a perfect target in the wash of light from the strange craft, she couldn't take another step. Her eyes darted back and forth across the clearing. There was no sign of JD. Suddenly, she remembered the camper they'd seen when they drove in. She'd get help! She'd take the car and get help. Stephanie whirled around and raced back to the trees. "Please, God, let somebody be there!" she cried seconds later as she scrambled among JD's things in the lean-to for the keys. Before she left the shelter, Stephanie once again closed her eyes and strained to hear her brother's voice, his footsteps, anything. There was no sound at all, but the drumming in her own head. She ran to the car, but once inside, her hands shook so she could hardly find the ignition. What next? Clutch in. Gearshift in neutral. She turned the key. Nothing. Again and again she twisted the key into starting position. She tried the lights. Nothing. She leaped out of the car. She had to get help. Still there was no sign of JD and now the thing was beginning to move. To spin. Something was spinning-and the humming had started again. It grew so bright she couldn't look at it. She ran headlong down the mountain road, knowing she was without any protection. She willed herself to get to the camper before something happened. "Run, run, run," she said over and over, pushing until she thought her lungs would burst and then collapsing behind the trees, afraid but compelled to look back. The red light had changed to a strange whitish color-and the thing was rising straight up in the air. "No!" she screamed, "they've got him!" Helplessly, she watched it go. Faster and faster it rose until it was the size of a moon, then a star, and then there was nothing to see. By the time Stephanie reached the camper she was hysterical, sobbin? and calling for JD. Later she didn't remember how she'd awakened the people or what she'd said. She knew she was babbling. And she scared |
