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Another thump。
It sounded like it was inside the house。 Down below； in the basement。 And then Williams suddenly understood。 Naturally； Rheinbeck and the old lady were down in the cellar because of the tornado warnings。 That was why the house seemed deserted。
He exhaled with irritation。 He should go down there； just to report。 He rose from the fortable sofa； cast a regretful eye on the warm fire； and hobbled toward the door to the cellar stairs。
At the top he hesitated； then began to descend。 The treads protested under his weight； squeaking frightfully over the fury of the storm outside。 Halfway down he paused； craned his neck to see into the pool of darkness。
〃Rheinbeck！〃
There was that thump again； followed by a sigh。 He fetched a sigh of his own。 Christ； why was he bothering？ He was injured； damn it。
He shone his light down and around； the banister rails throwing alternating bars of yellow and black in the cluttered space。 At one end； a huge storm door had been set into the stone wall。 That was where they must be。
〃Rheinbeck？〃
Another sigh。 Now that he was closer； it didn't really sound like wind ing in a broken window； after all。 It sounded forced； soundedwet somehow。
He took another step down； and another； and then he was at the bottom。 The door was straight ahead。 He hobbled over to it； and slowly…very slowly…pushed open the door。
A candle guttered on a small worktable； where tea for two had been set up with a pot： cups； cream； tea cakes； and jam all neatly arranged。 Rheinbeck was sitting in a chair facing the table； slumped over； hands hanging at his sides； blood pouring into his mouth from a terrible gash in his skull。 A broken porcelain statue lay in pieces on the ground around him。
Williams stared； unprehending。 〃Rheinbeck？〃
No movement。 A muffled boom of thunder shook the foundations of the house。
Williams could not move； could not think； could not even reach for his service piece。 For some reason； all he could do was stare in disbelief。 Even down here the old house seemed almost alive with the fury of the storm； groaning and swaying； and yet Williams could not pull his eyes away from the tea tray。
Another thump behind him abruptly broke the spell。 Williams turned； the flashlight beam spinning across the walls as he groped for his gun； and as he did so a figure seemed to e out of nowhere； rushing toward him； boxes and packing crates falling away in a blur： a wild ghostly woman in white； her arms upraised； her tattered nightgown streaming behind her； her gray hair wild； Rheinbeck's mando knife in one of her upraised fists。 Her mouth was open； a pink； toothless hole； and from it issued a shriek：
〃Devils！〃
Seventy…Nine
The rain and wind had risen to such a furious pitch that Shurte began to worry that a new line of tornadoes might be making for Medicine Creek itself。 The water was now pouring down into the cave； and he had just retreated into the cave entrance when he heard the sounds from within： footsteps； slow and shuffling； and ing his way。
Heart pounding； silently cursing Williams for leaving him alone； Shurte positioned himself to one side of the propane lantern and aimed his shotgun down the steps。
Silent； indistinct figures began materializing out of the gloom。 Shurte remembered the dog and felt his skin crawl。 〃Who's that？〃 he called out； trying to keep his voice from quavering。 〃Identify yourselves！〃
〃Special Agent Pendergast； Sheriff Hazen； and Corrie Swanson；〃 came the dry reply。
Shurte lowered his gun with overwhelming relief； picked up the propane lantern； and descended to meet them。 At first he could hardly believe his eyes at the bloody spectacle that greeted him： Sheriff Hazen； barely distinguishable under all the blood。 A young girl； bruised and mud…spattered。 Shurte recognized the third figure as the FBI agent who had sucker…punched Cole； but he didn't have time to wonder how the man had gotten himself into the cave。
〃We need to get Sheriff Hazen to a hospital；〃 the FBI agent said。 〃The girl also needs medical attention。〃
〃All munications are down；〃 Shurte said。 〃The roads are impassable。〃
〃Where's Williams？〃 Hazen slurred。
〃He went up to the house to； ah； to relieve Rheinbeck。〃 Shurte paused； almost afraid to ask the question。 〃What about the others？〃
Hazen merely shook his head。
〃We'll send down a search…and…rescue team as soon as munications are restored；〃 Pendergast said wearily。 〃Help me get these two into the house； if you please。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Shurte put an arm around Hazen and gently guided him up the last of the steps。 Pendergast came behind； helping the girl。 They exited the cave mouth and bent into the fury of the elements； the rain ing horizontally down the cut； lashing and whipping against them； pelting them with broken cornstalks and husks。 The Kraus mansion loomed ahead； dark and silent； just a faint light flickering in the parlor windows。 Shurte wondered where Williams and Rheinbeck were。 The place looked deserted。
They moved slowly up the walk and mounted the steps to the porch。 He watched Pendergast try the front door； find it locked。 And then Shurte heard it： a muffled crash from inside； followed by a scream and the sound of a gunshot。
In one smooth motion； Pendergast's gun was in his hand； a second later； he had kicked in the door。 Gesturing for Shurte to stay with Hazen and the girl； he darted inside。
Shurte peered around the doorframe； shotgun at the ready。 He could see two figures struggling in the hall at the top of the basement stairs； Williams and somebody else： a hideous figure in a bloody white nightgown； long gray hair wild。 Shurte could hardly believe it： old lady Kraus。 There was another scream； this one shrill and almost incoherent：〃Baby killers！〃 Simultaneously； there was another flash and roar of a gun。
In three leaps Pendergast had reached and tackled the woman in white。 There was a brief struggle； a muffled shriek。 The gun skittered across the floor。 The two rolled out of Shurte's view and Williams darted down the stairs。 Perhaps thirty seconds ticked by。 And then Pendergast reappeared； carrying the old woman in his arms； murmuring something in her ear。 Moments later； Williams came up the basement steps； his arm around Rheinbeck； who was staggering and holding his bloodied head。
Shurte entered with Corrie and the sheriff； passing through the front hall into the parlor； where the flickering light Shurte had noticed from outside proved to be a fire。 There； Pendergast arranged the old lady in a wing chair； still murmuring soothing indistinct words； cuffing her loosely。 He rose and helped Shurte lay the sheriff down on the sofa in front of the fire。 Williams took a seat on a sofa as far from the woman as possible； shivering。 The girl had fallen in the chair on the other side of the fire。
Pendergast's gaze darted about the room。 〃Officer Shurte？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Get a first…aid kit from one of the cruisers and see to Sheriff Hazen。 He has an aggravated excision of the left ear； what looks to be a simple fracture of the ulna； pharyngeal trauma； and multiple abrasions and contusions。〃
When Shurte returned a few minutes later with the medical kit； he found tha