Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Dangerous Metamorphosis

Babi was wearing a thin red bathrobe, braving the chilly night wind, ran to the parking lot behind the main building, found his dilapidated car, took out the key from the coat pocket of the bathrobe, and carefully started it Cold engine.He was about to back the car out of the parking space when searchlights swooped in and a large man in a crumpled white uniform rushed out of the main building and ran towards him, yelling. Babi ignored it and just rushed forward. The attendant in the parking lot gestured for him to stop, but he was almost knocked down by him. highway.Babi glanced at the rearview mirror in a panic. There was no car chasing him, so he dared to slow down a little bit and galloped along the New River Road towards Clarendon, but his eyes kept searching the side of the road The figure of Mrs. Monrique.

The speed of the car must not be too slow, the most important thing is to find the lady as soon as possible, before the people in the hospital can drag her back to Glenhaven, shut up in the intensive care ward, crying and crying, and no one cares.Nor can she fall into the devil's claws and kill her as she killed her husband. He kept the speed at forty miles, and searched the dark side of the road with all his strength. There were car lights looming in the distance to the west of the road, but there were no vehicles along Xinhe Road.Occasionally, the eyes of beasts on the side of the road flickered in the darkness, and as they turned and fled, the light in their eyes disappeared.There is nothing, I have already reached the Luxi Bridge, and the hope of finding my wife is getting slimmer and slimmer.

The first time I went to Glenhaven to find out about Rowena, it was here that I nearly collided with an oncoming truck and died. The Deer Creek Bridge is a full two miles away from Glenhaven. Rowena lost her eyesight. , alone, it is impossible to go so far, she will not be as strong as the white she-wolf said. Saw her, near the Deer Creek Bridge.A thin, lonely figure hurried forward, she was wearing black clothes, it was difficult to distinguish in the night - Babi stopped the car suddenly, but luckily did not hit her, no. She was safe, Babi breathed a sigh of relief, and a stone fell from his heart.Although the danger is still approaching her step by step, he still has time to help her and help her thwart the plot of the hidden son of darkness.A dozen yards away from Rowena, Babi slammed the brakes on the car. Coincidentally, the rearview mirror reflected the light of the front lights of a distant vehicle.

It was from the Glenhaven car park, but Barbie still had time.He planned to pick Rowena into the car and drive directly to Sam Quinn's foundation.The wonderful plan, Babi had the bottom line in his heart, and he held the steering wheel firmly with his hands. The renewed hope made him forget the hidden danger. Such a move was enough to dispel Rowena's misunderstanding of herself, and it could also dispel Sam's unfounded suspicions, and perhaps more than that.Rowena, who had worked with Dr. Monrik, might actually have something to tell Sam Quinn, and she might as well give Barbie some pointers—really name the Black Son.

Poor Rowena must have heard the screech of brakes, and Babi saw her scrambling to the side of the road, tripping over the pavement, falling hard on the concrete, and struggling desperately to get up.Babi opened the car door and leaned out to say hello, "Rowena! Wait - I'll help you." Rowena seemed to be startled, she curled up and turned to listen. "Let me get you into the car," cried Bobby, "and I'll take you to Sam Quinn." Rowena walked towards Babi, still hesitating. "Thank you, sir." Her voice was hoarse and breathless, "but—who are you?"

"I'll help you as much as I can, Rowena," Barbie whispered to her, "I'm Willie Barbie—" Rowena had recognized Babi's voice a long time ago, and before he finished speaking, she began to cry loudly, with her mouth open and black, no different from a real insane person.While crying and shouting, she stumbled and turned around and ran, hitting the concrete guardrail of the bridge at once. She grabbed the guardrail to avoid falling again, and then ran frantically towards the other end of the bridge. Babi was stunned and at a loss. The lights that could be seen in the rearview mirror were getting brighter and brighter. The chasing car was getting closer and closer. There was not much time left. Without his help, Rowena would Impossible to get to Sam Quinn.

Bobby kept the car in low gear, with his foot on the accelerator—he was terribly nervous. The white she-wolf appeared. Babi knew that the she-wolf could not be here, there was absolutely no dream in existence, he was completely awake, and the hand on the steering wheel was indeed his own hand, a human palm.But the white she-wolf with shiny fur is also so vivid, even more real than the running Rowena. With graceful steps, the female wolf jumped out of the darkness, ran to the front of the approach bridge, and sat upright in the middle of the road with her hind legs supported. Bobby's headlight beams shone on her snow-white fur, reflecting the sparkle green in her eyes.

The bright light must have pained her, but she still smiled at Babi, her long tongue hanging out. Babi slammed on the brake pedal, but the car still couldn't stop in time.He didn't even have time to think about whether the she-wolf really existed, or if it was a ridiculous phantom, the distance was too close, and all he could do was instinctively react. The left fender of the car hit the bridge guardrail, the steering wheel bounced back, hit Bobby on the chest, his head hit the windshield, and the squeal of tires, the sharp thud of metal, and the sound of shattering glass broke. The silent night.

The moment his head hit the windshield, Babi's eyes stared at gold stars. When he sat down again to catch his breath, his chest pain was unbearable, and his head was also throbbing. Fortunately, there was no bleeding. His mind was blank, the night chill made him shiver, and he wrapped himself tightly in the thin bathrobe.The car lay in the middle of the bridge, the motor was turned off, the right headlight was still on, the smell of gasoline mixed with the smell of burnt rubber, there must be no hallucinations of the she-wolf, but Babi still couldn't help looking forward. "Well done, Baby!" the White She-Wolf softly praised, flatteringly, "I never thought this was your most terrifying transformation!"

Then Babi saw it, and the she-wolf squinted at a pile of dark, soundless things beside her, which were just beyond the headlight beams, and Babi couldn't make out what it was--however, looking further ahead , Rowena's figure was no longer swaying on the other side of the bridge, and her hurried footsteps could not be heard, and the pain made Babi almost faint. "What?" He was too scared to speak. "Who?—" The she-wolf nimbly and briskly jumped over the pile of black things and ran to the side of the car, her eyes glowing with pride.She grinned at Babi, licking the dark red stains on her lips and canines with her tongue.

"Nice job, Babi!" she murmured cheerfully. "I felt a special connection when I called you just now—a blind woman on the highway, wearing black clothes. , not being able to hear the car due to too much nervousness, which in itself contains a great possibility of death. We are very skillful in grasping its possible links. For her, your transformation is just right. You When you knock her down, her necklace snaps and the silver beads fall away—I don't think she'll ever tell Sam Quinn who the Dark Son really is." The white she-wolf turned her head and pricked up her ears to listen. "Here they come, Babe—those fools of Glenhaven." The she-wolf hopped into the shadows of the roadside as the distant headlights shone on her. "We'd better go at once." she urged. "Keep driving and let this dead woman lie here." "Out of breath?" Babi repeated, his voice hoarse. "You—what did you ask me to do?" "It's only your duty," She said comfortingly, "Due duty in our resistance to human beings—a hateful half-breed bastard like that widow, using the powerful power of our blood, and turning against us! Babe, you've proven yourself - and now you're totally on our side. ’ Her green eyes looked in Glenhaven’s direction. ‘Keep driving! she cried out loudly, "be ahead of them!" " The female wolf flashed and quietly disappeared into the night. Babi sat numbly until the approaching headlights were projected by the reflector, and he woke up suddenly from the sudden disaster. He struggled to get out of the car, and slowly approached the dead body lying on the road in a daze. The masterpiece left by the wolf. Babi lifted Rowena's curled up soft body, he couldn't feel her pulse, couldn't hear her breathing, the blood still warm soaked his hands, and the torn black clothes were speechless Show Babi how ruthless the she-wolf's sharp canines are.The astonishment and regret made it difficult for Babi to hold back. Rowena seemed to weigh as much as a thousand catties in his arms. He carefully put her back on the ground.There is nothing more to do. Babi slowly moved away from his long shadow on Rowena, turned around blankly, and saw that the approaching headlights had crossed the last ridge, and they were about to reach the Deer Creek Bridge.The cold wind blew on his hands, the blood gradually became cold and solidified, he stood beside Rowena for a long time, waiting, not wanting to think about anything. "Drive away, Bobby!" The sharp warning startled Bobby, the voice came from the darkness, "Those fools in Glenhaven don't understand the power of thought to manipulate probability, you shouldn't let them see To you beside the dead body." The White She-Wolf urged quietly and gently, "to my garden of Trojan warriors—let's toast the Son of Darkness!" It could just be nervous talking to yourself, a deep desire buried in your own subconscious, or worse.He didn't have time to think about such mental puzzles, the headlights behind him already illuminated his surroundings. Rowena Monrick had already stopped breathing and was lying in front of his car. Her blood soaked Babi's hands. Glenhaven's nurse could prove in court that Rowena had been terrified of him for a long time. It was impossible for him to tell the jury that Rowena had been killed by a white she-wolf. The brighter and brighter lights made it hard for him to keep his eyes open. He got into the car in a panic and slammed on the engine. The motor roared. He tried to reverse the car out of the guardrail of the bridge, but the steering wheel would not turn. Do not move.He had to jump out of the car again, looking through the bright headlights behind him, it turned out that the left fender was twisted together with the wheel. Fear and tension made Bobby tremble uncontrollably, gasping for breath, he stood on the bent bumper and straightened the fender twisted into the wheel with both hands.His fingers were so wet that he couldn't hold it firmly, so he wiped it on the cold steel body plate and then pulled it again. With a "hum", he pulled it hard, and the deformed fender returned to its original position. Another car pulled up next to him. "Hi, Mr. Babi!" Doctor Bazin's annoyed voice came from behind the bright headlights, "There seems to be some trouble." Bobby reached behind the fender and touched it. The wheels and fender were far enough apart.He blocked the strong light with his hands, and ran back to the car on the road, still trembling with regret and panic in his stomach. "Mr. Barbie, wait a minute!" He heard the sound of footsteps on the sidewalk, "As long as you are a patient of Glenhaven, you are entitled to all the benefits, but you should know that you should not be discharged like this Yes, without Dr. Grant's consent, we're afraid we'll have to—" An indescribable sense of fear drove Babi to get into the car without waiting for him to finish speaking, then reversed the car and stepped up the accelerator. It shattered, and Dr. Bazin's car lights went out.Bazin, who was quite persuasive just now, suddenly filled with anger. "Babby - stop!" Babi didn't stop, he drove slowly around the victim left behind by the white she-wolf, the wheels slid on something slippery, the bent fender slashed across the bridge guardrail, Babi took control of the steering wheel just in time, and the car Roaring and rushing across the Deer Creek Bridge. The smashed headlights were no longer on, and it took Dr. Bazin half an hour to walk back to Glenhaven to make a phone call.At dawn, the police are likely to be called out, looking for a crazy man who hit someone with his car and ran away, wearing a red hospital bathrobe and driving a car covered in blood. Relying on the remaining headlight, Babi bypassed the roadside obstacles, and the white she-wolf went somewhere.Babi accelerated the speed of the car, but the body turned to the left. It must have been damaged when it collided with Bazin's car just now.He held the steering wheel tightly to stop the car from turning left. The car screamed strangely and exceeded the speed of forty miles. Babi was surrounded by deep remorse and endless loneliness. Although he left the tragic death of Rowena Monrik, he could not forget the infinite thoughts in his heart.When he was in college, he and Sam Quinn stayed at Rowena's house. She played all kinds of music they liked on the piano for them, asked Miss Alford to bring them all kinds of snacks and milk, and listened patiently Their various trivial troubles, in his painful memory, that time was the happiest in his life, she is indeed a true noble friend, but now, she can no longer give him comfort and happiness. In a dark corner of his memory, Ai Pulu smiled in the dark, her green eyes full of temptation.Babi remembered that the White She-Wolf had asked him to go to the Garden of the Trojan Warrior to drink to the Son of Darkness.The sudden impulse in the panic and helplessness drove him to make a decision to go to April Bell.She once said that she would make coffee for him, maybe she could help.Babi slowed down and looked for her address carefully. The special smile of the tall red-haired girl in front of her eyes suddenly turned into the grin of a white she-wolf with blood on her mouth.Babi was so frightened that he shivered into a ball and drove the car forward. With nowhere to go, and with his brain out of control, Babi drove off the road along the river, came to the end of a secluded side road, and parked the car in the thick bushes until the cold of dawn penetrated the bathing suit he was wearing. robe, the east gradually turns pale. Babi woke up suddenly from the drowsy numbness, and couldn't help avoiding the bright light penetrating into the car, remembering that the white she-wolf had reminded him of the danger of sunlight, and the gray wolf, Babi, had also experienced the power of sunlight.Now the daylight wouldn't hurt him, but broad daylight couldn't hide the bent fender—the police were probably looking for the old sedan that had bent the left fender over the Deer Creek Bridge parapet. It was very cold in the morning, and Babi couldn't stop shivering. He started the car again and returned to the road along the river, looking for the most secluded route, heading towards the university campus.When there was a car behind him, he kept driving forward without daring to speed up or turn. Only when the following vehicle stopped or turned, did he let out a thankful sigh of relief. Half a mile away from the campus, Babi parked the car behind a wood processing factory in a small alley. By the light of dawn, he took out a pair of pliers from under the seat, opened the water tank cover, and poured out a mixture of antifreeze He washed off the blood that had solidified on his hands with the hot water of the medicine, walked through the gradually waking streets, and limped towards Sam Quinn's small bungalow. A boy rode a bicycle and came to Babi, throwing the folded newspapers in front of every house.Babi really wanted to turn to another street to avoid the boy, but he held back and tried to remain as calm as possible. Standing on the side of the road, pretending to be sleepy, he took out a ten-cent coin from his pocket. "The Star, sir?" Babi nodded casually: "There is no need for change." The boy handed him a newspaper, took out another and threw it in front of the next door, then pedaled his bicycle and walked forward. Bobby saw him keep turning his head, looking strangely at his red hospital bathrobe and gray flannel slippers.The boy would think of Barbie when he learned that the police were hunting for the hit-and-run. Bobby took care not to let the boy see the dreaded "Glenhaven" embroidered on the bathrobe, and it didn't matter if he looked back.Then he slowly opened the newspaper, and when the big bold headlines smelled of ink came into view, Babi felt like he had been hit in the head with a sap. Prehistoric "curse" - or murderous maniac - set off a third bloodbath His body was found.Special guards are employed by the Foundation and have been placed after the deaths of two other scientists this week. Did the prehistoric curse really follow the Foundation's archaeological survey team all the way from the tombs dug in Asia to Clarendon?The survivors of this private archaeological team denied any rumors about the team's excavation results, denying that there were exciting discoveries in the human discovery site in what is now the Alashan desert area. However, the death of Spinwick has increased the death toll. to three people. Dr. Mark Monrique, the founder and leader of the Foundation, died Monday night at the Municipal Airport on the same plane as the entire team, including Dr. himself, was flying. Arrived in this city not long ago.Lex Sturt, the younger researcher on the team, died early Thursday morning while driving from Sardis Hills, about forty miles west of the city. Sam Quest, another member of the foundation, is being questioned about Spinwick's death, according to police chiefs Oscar Single and T.E. Pike.Shan and Pike hint that Sam Quinn's testimony will help unravel the mysteries of the previous bizarre deaths. Shan and Pike dismissed the "prehistoric curse", and they believed that the green wooden box brought back by archaeologists from Asia was more likely to provide a surprising explanation for the three deaths. It is reported that Quinn was the only one who stayed in the laboratory of the building with Spinwick. Shan and Parker said that Spinwick fell out of the window of the laboratory, or was thrown out of the window, and fell to his death. . The newspaper slipped from Babi's cold hands to the floor.Maybe the murder had actually happened--and Bobby was shaking his head so uncomfortably, recalling Dr. Gran's ruthless conclusion that Sam Quinn could not have been the murderer--that was unthinkable. But murder is bound to happen.Rowena Monrik was the fourth victim - mere coincidence is impossible.Beyond the strange circles of the bizarre and the unthinkable, Babi felt he could see clearly a cunning and cruel mind-force manipulating the occurrence of seemingly accidental events. "Son of Darkness," if that term means anything, is the answer. But who are the children of darkness—Babbi avoided the question helplessly, and though the sun was already up he could not help shivering a little; he hurried along the quiet street to Sam's house, pretending that nothing had happened. From the looks of it, it seems that walking in the early morning in a red bathrobe is a common thing. At this time of autumn, the world is so normal and real.The milk truck crosses the street ahead of him; a housewife in a bright yellow dressing gown opens the door to pick up newspapers on the porch; a man in black overalls, carrying a lunch box, presumably a construction worker, waits for the bus on the corner .He grinned friendlyly when he saw Babi approaching. Babi pretended to be relaxed, nodded to the worker, and continued to walk forward quickly.Wearing only a thin bathrobe, he was so cold that he had goosebumps and shivered uncontrollably.In Babi's view, a quiet city is just a veiled phantom, where a peaceful atmosphere hides hidden murderous intentions. For a sober-minded person, living in such a world is really dangerous.Even that smiling construction worker may be the evil Son of Darkness.Just maybe. Suddenly the siren blared, tearing the tranquility of the morning, Babi's heart almost stopped beating, and a police car flashed out from the corner of the street, roaring towards him.He couldn't breathe, his knee joints were weak, he continued to walk forward with a smile on his face, waiting for the cold voice of the police officer to order him to stop.However, the police car did not stop. He put his head down and continued on his way. The slippers with thin soles made his feet stiff and painful. The police radio system must have issued an order to arrest him. The car he abandoned may have been discovered and reported to the police. The police car whistling past with the whistle on just now may be investigating the situation, and the arrest operation will probably happen soon. Rolling out, it would be quick from where the car was found, and he walked another two blocks, and the police car still hadn't returned.He was out of breath, and managed to turn the last corner of the street. When he arrived at Pine Street, there was a black car parked in front of Sam's small white bungalow. Babi groaned inwardly. Could it be that the police are already waiting here? Has he?After calming down for a moment, he finally saw the words on the car door, it was a Foundation car.He almost forgot that Sam's situation was no better than his, and he was almost the object of suspicion. He would definitely come home and wait for the result with his family. Only then did Babi let out a sigh of relief, a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart, he quickened his pace and stepped onto the porch.At this point, both of them are in trouble, and Sam will definitely have a good talk with him. Together, they may be able to break the demonic knot that restricts them.Babi stepped forward and knocked on the door. Nora opened the door immediately, her face pale and tear-stained, her eyes swollen from lack of sleep.Babi hurried into the house, unable to wait for police cars with sirens and whistles to come and apprehend him, but he could not show panic.He searched the tidy, small living room excitedly, but he didn't see Sam. "What's the matter, Willie!" Nora's tired eyes lit up with dark circles. "I'm so glad you're here—it's been a rough night!" She looked at Babi's embarrassment with sympathy. "You look bad too, Willie. Come to the kitchen and I'll get you a cup of hot coffee." "Thanks, Nora." Bobby nodded gratefully, knowing that his teeth had been knocked down from the cold, and he needed a cup of hot coffee so badly, "Is Sam there?" he asked quickly, "I have something to say to him. " Nora's puffy eyes turned away. "Sam isn't here." "I saw the Foundation car out there," Babe said. "I was expecting Sam to be there." Nora bit her lip hard. "I'm sorry - I didn't mean to ask." Babi spread his hands still shaking and apologized, "I just wish he was here - because I have troubles too, and I think we can help each other. Thanks, I can drink coffee ?" Nora nodded silently, and Babi followed her back into the living room.The shutters were open and the lights in the house were still on.He was still shivering, not just from the cold, but because he looked at Sam's study door and remembered the green wooden box there that had nearly killed him. Fortunately, the human nose cannot smell the deadly aroma.He knew the tank had been moved, and Nora had no doubts about him anymore.Nora put her hands to her quivering lips as they crept past the child's room—she seemed to be sobbing soundlessly. "Little Patty's still asleep," she said sweetly. "I thought she'd wake up when the police came—they've been here for over an hour and want me to tell where Sam is." Nora must Seeing Babi's surprised expression, he said, "Don't worry, I didn't tell them you called me to remind Sam." "Thanks, Nora." He shrugged. "I don't think it really matters at all—the police are after me, and there are far worse things than that." Nora asked no further questions. She nodded to Babi and motioned him to sit down at the white enamel-topped dining table in the lieutenant. She took the coffee pot from the fire, poured him strong hot coffee, and poured Cream and sugar were handed to him. "Thank you, Nora." Babi whispered hoarsely, gulping down the fragrant and hot coffee, with mixed feelings, tears blurred his eyes.He was not alone and helpless now, he said something he didn't intend to say on a whim. "Rowena Monrique is dead!" Nora stared at Babi for a long time in surprise. "She escaped from Glenhaven Mental Asylum." Babi's voice was low, "and died on the Deer Creek Bridge. The police thought I hit it with my car, but I didn't." His trembling voice was obviously too high. , "I know I don't!" Nora sat down across the table silently, staring anxiously at Babi's abnormal expression for a long time, and finally nodded slightly with tears in her eyes. "Just like Sam," she murmured softly. "He's so frightened that he doesn't know what's going on or what to do." She glanced at Babi questioningly again, "Willie, I think there must be something wrong with this. You are an innocent victim, and so is Sam. You say—you say you can really help him?" "I think we can help each other, Nora." Babi stirred the coffee, but had to put down the spoon again, because the siren suddenly sounded outside, making his hands tremble in fright.Nora frowned, and leaned against the door of Patty's room, listening to the baby, then went back to the table and refilled Bobby's coffee without saying a word. The shrill siren finally faded away, and Babi picked up the spoon again. "Let me tell you about Sam now." Nora sighed, choked up, "Because he really needs help—very much!" "I'll do my best," Babi asked softly. "Where is he?" "I don't know—really." Nora shook her head, her blond hair tousled, hopelessly confused in her bloodshot blue eyes. "He won't tell me—it really bothers me." She He sighed again, and continued as if talking to himself, "I'm really worried that I won't see him again." "Can you tell me what's going on?" Nora's round shoulders trembled, and after a moment she puffed out her chest, suppressing her sobs. "I'll call Sam as soon as I hang up on you," she said, "Tell him you said the police would come after him and ask about Nick's death." She looked at Bobby suspiciously, "Willie, I told After him, he asked how you knew, and he spoke in a very strange tone." Nora asked Bobby nervously, "Willie, how did you know?" Babi couldn't meet Nora's questioning gaze. "It's my relationship with the press." He wriggled uneasily, repeating the unsophisticated lie, "I have to protect the source." He raised his coffee cup, and the strong coffee spilled over the tray.He asked in an irritated whisper, "What else did Sam say?" Nora lifted her white apron and wiped the tears from her eyes. "He said he had to go - but couldn't tell me where. I begged him to come home but he said he didn't have time. I asked him why he couldn't explain it to the police and he said they wouldn't believe him. He said he This trap laid by the enemy is too cunning." Doubt and fear made Nora cry, "Willie, who is Sam's enemy?" Babi shook his head blankly. "It's a terrible plot, Willie!" Uncapturable terror overwhelms Nora. "The police showed me some of the evidence they had found - tried to force me to speak, and told me their theories. I - I couldn't believe what they said!" Babi asked hoarsely, "What evidence?" "A note," Nora murmured, "on yellow sticky note paper, in Nick's handwriting—or rather like his handwriting. It says something happened on their way back from Asia. The quarrel was about the treasure they brought back in the green wooden box. Sam wanted it for himself, and asked Nick to help him get it—that's what the note said, Willie." Nora shook her head stubbornly. "The note also said that Sam overdosed on Dr. Monrik's heart medication and that the doctor died at the airport - in order to prevent him from putting the treasure in the Foundation museum. It also said that Sam deliberately put us Broken brakes and derailleur on the car that caused Lex Sturt to crash and die on the Sardis Hills - Seems like a bit of a stretch to justify the fact that the Foundation had a nice car and he let Lex use us The car." Nora's voice was heavy, her expression panicked, "the note concluded by saying that Nick had long been worried that Sam would kill him, kill him, and take all the treasures for himself." She paused and raised her voice. "The police think that's what Sam did. They believe that the note was written by Nick. They say Sam and Nick were the only two in the room. They found the broken chair and a trail of blood leading to the window. They think Sam killed him." Nick, and then throw him out the window - but you know, Nick has a problem with sleepwalking." Although scared, Nora was obviously suspicious, "You must remember, right?" Babi nodded, and Nora wanted him to say yes. "I remember," he said hoarsely, "and. I don't believe Nick Spinwick would write a note like that." It was written by the cunning white she-wolf, he figured to himself, when she jumped onto Nick's desk and took the pencil in Nick's hand with her forepaws.At the same time, the scaled boa constrictor dragged Nick's body to the window. But that was madness—he dared not say it. "Sam didn't come back at all?" he asked feebly. Nora shook her head vigorously, and Babi glanced at the big sedan parked at the door, and she seemed to understand. "Oh—that car!" she said, taking a breath, "Yesterday Sam had someone from the Foundation bring it up and say it was for me because our car was gone—it was Lex's That one." She kept her eyes on Bobbi's face, "Sam said the enemy couldn't possibly know there was something wrong with our car, but it seems they do." Bobby lowered his eyes and stirred his coffee. "Do you know what steps Sam took?" "Just know he's gone," she said, wiping another tear hard. "I don't know where he's gone. He said that Dr. Important tasks were left to him alone. He didn't say what kind of mission it was, I told him to take the car, but he said he didn't have time to come back, he said he could use a Foundation van.He just wouldn't tell me where to go. " Nora picked up a tissue and blew her nose vigorously. "Willie," she said in a low, hoarse voice, "how can we help him?" "We've got to find him first," Bobby said, picking up the coffee mug with trembling fingers, "but—I think I can find him," he whispered slowly, "I think I can find him—because He guessed that by noon the police in four neighboring states would be hunting the van, and I knew where Sam was going." Nora leaned eagerly across the small dining table. "Where, Willie?" she sobbed hoarsely. "Where is he?" "It's just a feeling." Bobby shrugged uncomfortablely in the red hospital robe, "Maybe I'm wrong—I don't think so. If I'm right, don't you?" Good to know. I guess the police will be back soon—for Sam, and for me." Nora put her pale hand to her throat. "The police!" she gasped, "you won't—bring them here?" "Of course not, Nora." He forced a smile. "I'll be on my guard—I'm in as much danger as Sam's. Now, you pack up some of his stuff. Clothes, boots, sleeping bag, matches." , pans, food, and rifles—his scouting gear, you probably still have it?" She nodded, and hurriedly got up to get it. "I still need that car," Bobby said again. "Go to him." "Go away," she said, "take what you need--when I write a note to Sam." "Okay—but hurry up," he said to Nora, "the police are after me, don't forget." He stood up and faced Nora seriously. A most vague feeling, but I think it is worse than it looks - and extremely ugly. We must help Sam, not just for himself. He is the last hope, with an evil force that people have never feared more To contend, he is the last hope." Nora nodded slowly, gripping the corner of the little table with her hands. "I understand, Willie." Nora's dark-rimmed eyes widened and her body trembled, "Sam wouldn't tell me—even if Patty's puppy was messed with the night the crate was home. He didn't say anything the night he died. I could tell he was upset about it, and I figured something was wrong since their plane landed." She added, lowering her voice, " There is something hidden in places we don't know about, something so silent and hideous that we can't even call it by any name." But it has a name, Babi thought to himself, and its name is "Son of Darkness."