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Nohat? I didn’t carry a cell phone--I’d lost too many--so I looked around for a pay phone No luck, of course Who used pay phones anymore, besidesslowly, a huge container dangling from its cable There’d be people over there Maybe somebody would let me borrow a cell phone or at least point me toward a pay phone Poor Mrs Willia to relax but wringing her lace-tri anxiously out the aiting for a de

So I’d head toward the pier, using the crane as ine rev, hard Tires screamed A black van shot around the corner and bu to a stop in front ofht at me, but somehow I didn’t think they’d stopped to ask directions I braced for a fight

The first one ran atI slammed both hands into his wide-open chest and shoved He flew backward and crashed into the side of the van, denting it I heard a crack as his head hit Then he slithered down the van and sat lopsided on the ground

I spun to locate the second one He jumped back as I turned Behind the mask, his eyes ide, like he couldn’t believe I’d hit his buddy that hard He jogged fro rabbedmy arm behind my back Pain shot down from my shoulder and lit up the deoing to be sorry he’d messed with me But the way ot his other arand squeezing the wrist At the sao of me now," I said, my voice a choked half-whisper, "or I’ll crush every bone in your wrist"

He tightened his hold on et a breath I stopped squeezing his wrist and clawed at his arm "Hey!" he yelled toward the van "I need some help over here Ken’s knocked out, and I can’t hold this wildcat and stick her at the saot out He also wore ato death, I’d have made some comment about how Halloas still two days away But blackness was closing in on ht spots swirled beforeA needle I hate needles--even worse than I hate ski-ain, hard, and this time my heel bashed o popa split second before he let out theyowl I’d ever heard co , I lost uy who’d been holdingBut the other guy, the one with the needle, was bearing down on me like a sprinter with his eye on the finish line I didn’t have the breath to get up and run I watched the guy come, and I snarled

The in

It started in thened, hardened, honed theing up s, like a flash fire across a wheat field My limbs contracted, coiled, then reformed in a new shape The hs bunched and thickened; black fur sprang up alongcrushed in a vise, but then the skull gave and adjusted I blinked The colors around h-pitched, pricked my ears

And then the smells The world reshaped itself into s Oil, burning, metal, ocean, sweat One s, rose up Fear Delicious My lirowled low infear s over its face, but I could see its eyes Wide, white with fear A creature paralyzed by fear is such easy prey I growled again

Hungry When you’re hungry, nothing smells better than terror

I licked ue I laid back er to pierce flesh Ready to spring

"Jesus God!" screamed the prey And then it ran

I leaped, claws out I landed on its back, felt skin give way as claws sank in, gripped The prey went down Blood flowed, that ot in the way, and rowled, lunged again, claws holding firet at the throat

A sound behind I swiveledslammed into my haunch A blast of pain, like a tree had fallen on me I snarled, ju a club The club was in both hands, lifted above its head