Nightworld

Carol pointed into the dark blob that was Central Park. The thread of light that wove through the blackness there had not lengthened in the past few minutes.

"Glaeken must have stopped moving," she said. "Do you think something's wrong?"

"I don't think we'll see it move any further," Bill said. "It looks like it's gone as far as the hole. He's probably out of sight now, moving down."

"I hope the light's still following him."

Carol glanced down at the sidewalks below in time to see a battered car skid to a halt against the curb. It was covered—smothered—with night things, but they slipped away when the car lurched to a stop on the edge of the light. The door flew open and half a dozen people—a man, two women, and three kids—tumbled out. They began to run for the door of the building but slowed to a stop as they realized they were no longer being pursued. They looked up at the light, spread their arms, laughed, and began to embrace each other.

Another car suddenly flew out of the darkness and bounded over the curb before it came to a stop. Another group of people jumped out. They were greeted with cheers by the first and they all embraced.

"I don't know if I like this," Jack said.

"They're coming to the light," Carol said.

"Yeah," Jack said, shaking his head. "And that could be trouble. Maybe I ought to get downstairs. You coming, Ba?"

The big Oriental stood behind Sylvia and Jeffy. He shook his head.

"Okay," Jack said. "I understand. But we might need you later." He waved and trotted for the stairs.

"I don't think there's anything to worry about, do you?" Carol said to Bill. "I mean, I think we should share the light."

"I do too," Bill said. "Jack's just being Jack. He doesn't like surprises."

Carol looked down again. More people had reached the light, some apparently on foot from neighboring buildings. She noticed something.

"Bill?" she said. "Remember when we first looked down? Wasn't the light just to the edge of the sidewalk?"

Bill shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't notice."

Carol stared down at the rim of shadow the encircled the building. It was now a couple of feet beyond the curb on the asphalt of the street.