“I’m just not afraid,” said Lavinia. “And I’m curious, I suppose. And I’m using my head. Logically, The Lonely One can’t be around. The police and all.”
“Our police? Our little old force? They’re home in bed too, the covers up over their ears.”
“Let’s just say I’m enjoying myself, precariously but safely. If there were any real chance of anything happening to me, I’d stay here with you, you can be sure of that.”
“Maybe your subconscious doesn’t want you to live anymore.”
“You and Francine, honestly!”
“I feel so guilty. I’ll be drinking hot cocoa just as you reach the ravine bottom and walk on the bridge in the dark.”
“Drink a cup for me. Good night.”
* * *
Lavinia Nebbs walked down the midnight street, down the late summer night silence. She saw the houses with their dark windows and far away she heard a dog barking. In five minutes, she thought, I’ll be safe home. In five minutes I’ll be phoning silly little Francine. I’ll—
She heard the man’s voice singing far away among the trees.
She walked a little faster.
Coming down the street toward her in the dimming moonlight was a man. He was walking casually.
I can run knock on one of these doors, thought Lavinia. If necessary.
The man was singing, Shine On, Harvest Moon, and he carried a long club in his hand. “Well, look who’s here! What a time of night for you to be out, Miss Nebbs!”
“Officer Kennedy!”
And that’s who it was, of course—Officer Kennedy on his beat.
“I’d better see you home.”
“Never mind, I’ll make it.”
“But you live across the ravine.”
Yes, she thought, but I won’t walk the ravine with any man. How do I know who The Lonely One is? “No, thanks,” she said.
“I’ll wait right here then,” he said. “If you need help, give a yell. I’ll come running.”
She went on, leaving him under a light, humming to himself, alone.
Here I am, she thought.
The ravine.
She stood on the top of the 113 steps down the steep, brambled bank that led across the creaking bridge and up through the black hills to Park Street. And only one lantern to see by. Three minutes from now, she thought, I’ll be putting my key in my house door. Nothing can happen in just 180 seconds.
She started down the dark green steps into the deep ravine night.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine steps,” she whispered.
She felt she was running but she was not running.
“Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen steps,” she counted aloud.
The ravine was deep, black and black, black. And the world was gone, the world of safe