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the bottom of the slope。 But she had to get home； that was a priority。 Her one chance to put things right。
She loaded her bags with food and went back outside into the street。 A milling throng； the traffic all snarled up； people hurrying； clambering over abandoned vehicles in their haste。
Jackie fought her way through； joined a stream going the other way。 Don't go to First Terrace this time。 Ignore everybody else。 You're on your own。 Head south。
She kept going； recognised landmarks； lost them again but knew she was going in the right direction。 People lay in the road； on the pavements； some of them dead； not because of their awful affliction but simply because they had been trampled by the crowds。 A crying child came towards her； its features beginning to peel and harden but she ignored it。 Don't stop for anybody； you can't help them。 Head for home whilst you still know where home is。 South 。 。 。 south 。 。 。 south 。 。 。
Days of burning sunshine； cool nights that brought relief。 Sleeping in long grass； heather； the air filled with strange grunts and cries； people incessantly on the move。 She hid； they must not find her； this time there must be no Kuz。
Walking； sleeping； eating wild fruit and herbs after her own food had run out； raiding the larders of deserted cottages whenever she came upon an isolated dwelling。 Mile after mile each day but never seeming to arrive anywhere； knowing that she was heading in the right direction。
A long trek throughout a summer that waned and eased into autumn。 Always on the move。 The hills were full of restless people； some of them congregating into groups which built stone structures； prepared for the onset of winter。 Fools； you will not survive when the cold es； head south whilst there is still time or else seek the protection of proper dwellings built to resist the blizzards。
And that was how she had arrived at this cottage in the hills； alive and warm whilst everybody else was either dead or gone。 Waking； only the figments of those strange dreams lingering on； frightening her because she was all alone。 She should be dead like everybody else who had been caught out by the winter。 Perhaps it would have been better that way。 But she still had the will to fight and live。
No longer did that face evade her。 Now she knew it； saw its every detail as clearly as though she had only gazed upon it yesterday。 Jon！ And only the snow was preventing her from going to him。
Endless days spent in keeping the fire going； fortunately the shed at the bottom of the garden was well stocked with coal。 Surviving。
And at nights the dreams came again。 Always Jon； how it had once been between them and how it would be when they were together again。
A bright sunny morning； the snow crisped by a severe overnight frost。 Jackie had stoked up the fire； opened the door and looked out upon an arctic world。 She tested the drift that smothered the lean…to and it bore her weight。 The snow was walkable。
Jubilation； fears crowding in on her。 If she left would she find her way in this white wilderness？ If she did not then she faced certain death once night fell and the temperature dropped。 She shivered； her skin goose pim…pling。 And then she heard the approaching helicopter。
She was familiar with the big sky…birds； the way they flew deafeningly across the countryside； hovered； sometimes landed and men got out。 Men with guns； searching。 For what？
She fled back inside； forced the warped door closed。 The helicopter would pass over； soon be gone。 Its roar vibrated some ornaments on the mantelshelf and she knew that it was directly overhead； maybe barely higher than the roof。 Whining angrily； sending a stab of stark fear into her palpitating heart。 As if it scented her。
It wasn't going away！ Even louder。 She clasped her hands to her ears； stumbled for the cover of the old sofa which had been her bed for so long； flung herself full…length behind it； could not shut out the noise。
Louder and still louder； the glass in the rotted window frames rattling； threatening to fall out。 Wind gusting； icy unnatural blasts finding their way in under the ill…fitting door。 Then silence。
Jackie cringed； moaned softly to herself； aware that the machine had landed as she had seen others do from time to time when she had been living in the settlement。 Noises； something slammed； echoed mechanically。 Voices。 The awful realisation that the men were ing here； that they had spied the smoke from the chimney and had put down to investigate。
Footsteps。 She heard the door being forced back； curled herself up into a ball； shut her eyes tightly。 Please don't see me； don't take me away。 If that happened she would never ever see Jon again； months of hoping and surviving all for nothing。
There's gotta be somebody around。' The man who entered was dressed in thick flying clothes； still wore his goggles which hid most of his rather weak features and gave him a sinister appearance。 'It's like they say； there's no smoke without fire。'
'And there's a fire all right。' The second man pointed to the fireplace with the barrel of his 。357 Magnum。 'Let's check upstairs。'
Jackie heard their heavy footsteps on the stairs； across the small landing and into the bedroom directly above。 A moment's silence and then they were ing back downstairs。 That bugger's been dead for some time。' The speaker wrinkled his nose beneath his goggles。 'So there's gotta be somebody around to have lit that fire。 Hey 。 。 。 look there！'
Jackie's brain spun as the sofa was dragged roughly to one side； found herself looking up into the barrel of the Magnum and knew only too well what it could do。 One blast and she would be dead instantly。 She had seen a youth shot once who had foolishly stoned a search party of soldiers。 Please don't kill me。 I don't want to die any more。
'Jeez！' The first man let a slow grin spread across his face。 'D'you see what I see； Bill？'
'For one o'them she's fuckin' beautiful；' his panion replied。 'Now fancy findin' her in a land where everybody else is dead。'
Jackie Quinn cringed； knew only too well what they were thinking； remembered the expressions on the faces of the throwbacks who had broken into the house in First Terrace that night so long ago。 Certain aspects of behaviour did not change even over a four…thousand…year gap。 She knew male lust when she saw it； knew what she would have to endure。 And afterwards they would either kill her or take her away with them。
They pulled her roughly to her feet and she felt the coldness of the automatic barrel against her neck； their hands smoothing over her； loosening the ties on her hide dress； baring her breasts； feeling at them。
'See this？' The one who had pushed his goggles up on to his forehead tapped the solid steel of the Magnum。 'Any trouble and BANG。 Get it？'
She understood； nodded。 The second one forced the door shut； poked at the fire。 They weren't in any hurry。 She let the other one undress her； didn't resist。 The sooner it was over； the better。 She lay back； watched as they began to take off their heavy clothing； saw how aroused they were。 She turned her head away； did not want to watch。
Then they took her。 And throughout the pistol was not far from her head。 She closed her eyes； shuddered as they pawed at her； changed over； changed back again； kept going until they were spent。
Finally they were dressing； throwing her clothing at her。 'Get dressed； you stinking whore； you're ing with us。 And when our boffins get doing things to you； you'll wish you were back here with us having the arse fucked off you！'
Jackie cried； the first time she had cried since 。 。 。 she could not remember the last time。 Physical and mental hurt that had built up inside her for months suddenly bursting its dam。 Sobbing； trembling； trying to fasten the thongs on her hide garments with shaking fingers。
'She cries。' The pilot gave a guttural laugh。 'Make a note of that for the files； Bill。 We've heard'em scream but we've never yet found one that cried。 Don't look so worried； Bill； they can't talk。 But even if she did manage to squeal nobody would give a shit。 They're animals。'
They pushed her ahead of them out through the door； the gun jabbing into her back。 She saw the helicopter standing on a flat piece of ground that the gales which had brought the blizzards had swept clear； a huge silent metal bird of prey。 And it had found its prey。
Please let me go； you've had what you want。 Please！ She stopped and something hard struck her across the back of the head so that she stumbled and nearly fell。 She almost blacked out and then they were forcing her up the rungs of the short ladder into the helicopter； shoving her into the rear seat。
'Let's go out of this God…awful place；' the co…pilot muttered。 'I can't wait to get back to base。 Hell； imagine anybody living out here。'
The chassis vibrated and Jackie clung to her seat。 The man called Bill still had the pistol trained on her； maybe though