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Suddenly, she stopped. Up ahead she could hear noises; a multitude of voices, growing louder quickly. However they had managed it she did not know; perhaps by one of their devices for communicating across distances. But there was a second mob of meats headed her way.

There was only one chance, and she had to take it. Swiftly turning, she doubled back on her tracks. She would have to get past the first mob of meats and make her way to safety. They might not expect her coming. The meats were stupid. When in large groups they were even stupider.

Her luck almost held. She even managed to get past the first of the meats, who were stumbling around in the dark, their torches stabbing around erratically. Behind them, the second line was more organised and bolder, and, slipping behind a huge old tree, she decided to wait for them to pass.

She never knew just how she was discovered. Suddenly there was blinding light shining in her face, a high-powered torch blazing at her, and excited shouts. Another light shone on her, as she froze with the shock, and then another.

She could see them coming behind the light, vague silhouettes, and she snarled defiance, uselessly, her teeth flashing in the light. They came on still, slowly, more cautious, but they had her transfixed in their lights and they had her surrounded. She glared from side to side, but they were everywhere.

Something struck her, a hard blow on the shoulder, pain shooting through her, and the pain set her free. She leaped then, at the nearest part of the closing circle, teeth slashing. She crashed into the ring of light, feeling a meat fall below her, ripping another with her teeth. And then she was through the meat and running, running, and they were howling after her in pursuit.

She would never make the woods, she knew that now. They would see her in the park and then they would follow her to the ditch, and now there were so many of them and more were coming. They would find her long before she got to safety.

For the moment she had outrun the meats, though her breath burned in her chest and her muscles screamed with exhaustion. She dropped to a lope, trying to catch her breath.

She was crossing the place where the music was still blaring, the lights still blazing, far too bright and loud as before, but the doors were hanging open and she could not see a single meat around. They were all probably following her. Then, as she tried to pick up the pace again, she saw it.

Just behind the lighted and noisy house, there was a high metal-sided thing from which came a powerful smell of decay; she knew it for one of the objects in which the meats threw their refuse. Below the thing was a pool of pure liquid shadow. Panting, she trotted toward it and threw herself down, pressing herself into the darkness. She lay there, exhaustion rolling over her, and waited.

The mob came past, shouting, waving torches and weapons. A few of them had guns and a couple fired in the air with a loud flat sound. There were many more of them than had been around earlier, and it took a long time for them to pass.

Smarting from wounds in half a dozen places, letting her energies drain into healing them, she waited.

The boy came out of the restaurant. He had recovered a little from his fear, and even though he had been ordered to stay inside, he was alone and wanted to be with the people. He felt safer outside, where there were people. Also, he wanted to find out what had happened to his aunt. So, stepping warily, he came out of the restaurant just in time to see the people rush by. They looked angry and dangerous, and he did not want to join them.

Turning to go back into the restaurant, he saw a movement under the old dumpster. It was a small movement, just a twitching of the darkness, and for a moment he forgot his fear in wondering what it was. Perhaps it was a dog, hurt and scared and hiding there. Slowly, he edged closer for a look, ready to bolt if necessary.

First, he saw the curve of her back, pale and vulnerable. Then he saw her arms and the back of her head and her thighs and calves. It was a woman, a naked woman, lying curled up in the shadow, with her back to him. She looked young and pretty, and when he got closer he could see that she was bleeding from a deep gash in one shoulder, and from other places besides.

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