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It was still possible to make out where the ht about it, you’d be able to figure out which of the piles of sticks was the hotel, the saloon, the hardware store, or whatever Here and there a tenuous wall or rickety chimney still stood outlined in silver But roofs had o, storefronts had pancaked Maybe it was an earthquake or so that had tumbled the weakened structures Maybe it was just time

Only one building seehhearehouse where Herold smelter and his pickup truck

“That’s where we’re going,” Lana said, nodding in the direction of the structure

Lana’s gaze was drawn beyond the building to the trail that led up the side of the hill She knew she would have to walk up that trail, up that hill to thethe keys from the mummified miner’s pocket

Not her favorite idea Being even this close to the thing in the mine shaft laid shadows on her soul She could feel it up there, the Darkness, and she had the terrible feeling that it could sense her closeness as well

Did the Darkness know she was co?

Did it knohy?

Did she know? For sure?

“I knohy I’m here,” Lana said “I know”

“Of course,” Cookie said He see him

Patrick was quiet, cowed He remembered, too

They were in the warehouse Lana checked the propane gas tank There was a gauge that showed it half full That should be enough

She knelt and checked the support for the tank It rested on a sort of steel fraround or anything The cradle rested on dirt Good

“What we have to do, Cookie, is get this tank into that truck In a little while I’et the keys We’ll back the truck up to the tank But first, let’s see how it all works, huh?”

“You got it, Healer”