stupor；　holding　with　all　my　strength　to　the　numbness　that　kept　me　from

realizing　what　I　didn't　want　to

know。

The　rain　bothered　me　a　little。　It　was　cold。　I　unwrapped　my　arms　from　around　my

legs　to　cover　my　face。

It　was　then　that　I　heard　the　calling　again。　It　was　farther　away　this　time；　and

sometimes　it　sounded　like

several　voices　were　calling　at　once。　I　tried　to　breathe　deeply。　I　remembered

that　I　should　answer；　but　I

didn't　think　they　would　be　able　to　hear　me。　Would　I　be　able　to　shout　loud

enough？

Suddenly；　there　was　another　sound；　startlingly　close。　A　kind　of　snuffling；　an

animal　sound。　It　sounded　big。

I　wondered　if　I　should　feel　afraid。　I　didn't—just　numb。　It　didn't　matter。　The

snuffling　went　away。

The　rain　continued；　and　I　could　feel　the　water　pooling　up　against　my　cheek。　I

was　trying　to　gather　the

strength　to　turn　my　head　when　I　saw　the　light。

At　first　it　was　just　a　dim　glow　reflecting　off　the　bushes　in　the　distance。　It

grew　brighter　and　brighter；

illuminating　a　large　space　unlike　the　focused　beam　of　a　flashlight。　The　light

broke　through　the　closest

brush；　and　I　could　see　that　it　was　a　propane　lantern；　but　that　was　all　I　could

see—the　brightness　blinded

me　for　a　moment。

〃Bella。〃

The　voice　was　deep　and　unfamiliar；　but　full　of　recognition。　He　wasn't　calling

my　name　to　search；　he　was

acknowledging　that　I　was　found。

I　stared　up—impossibly　high　it　seemed—at　the　dark　face　that　I　could　now　see

above　me。　I　was　vaguely

aware　that　the　stranger　probably　only　looked　so　tall　because　my　head　was　still

on　the　ground。

〃Have　you　been　hurt？〃