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I paused for a moment to rest The area aroundhad stopped, yet I kept the snow pressed over it just the saain I searched for Testen I couldn’t see hiiven up the chase It wasn’t about er, or even survival with hier Coach killed for pride He would never quit

Dammit, you can never find a cop when you need one

After a few an to lose sense of both time and distance I had no idea where I was I halted, crouched in the snoas positive that the park must end just ahead with a street and houses beyond, except I had nothing on which to base that assertion except ?

Where in hell was Testen?

I marched forward Suddenly, I was out of the woods Only it wasn’t a street I had found, just a wide path The path had appeared so abruptly that I was several yards deep into it before I shied like a startled horse and retreated back along my trail I squatted behind a stand of spruce and examined the path It must lead to the street, uess Still, it ht In winter it’s never entirely dark The snow and ice always find one source or another of illunify and reflect, like the hundreds of stars in the night sky The path seeht I would be terribly exposed

I watched the path for what seerains of ice and snow propelled by the wind I could wait, I told round If Testen used the path, I’d be in perfect position to bushwhack him Otherwise, the police and sheriff deputies were bound to arrive soame Except I really couldn’t tell how serious the wound was My hand holding the snow over the wound had become numb So had my feet My exposed ears and cheeks had beco didn’t seeave myself a slow count to three and dashed forward

It was a mistake

Testen had been waiting for reater patience

He saw me, called outthe path toherever it led My legs ached and h a foot of snow I tripped, fell, skidded across the path, regained

A bullet exploded snow at my feet; another whistled past my ear

The snoas so deep

I had no speed

No chance

I tripped and fell against the trunk of the tree I couldn’t run anyun I turned to face him He was as winded as I was Worse Yes,his side There was a look of pain on his face

He had the gun I had only a branch hidden between htly

"Don’t move," Testen shouted

He was closer now

Let hiet past hi him the way he was, I knew I could escape If he came closer

He did