AfricanterroristdeepLin第一节.doc

Chapter 30 　　I tucked her letter into my book and went to look for Speck. Panic overwhelmed logic, and I ran out onto the library lawn, hoping that she had left only moments before. The QOW had changed over to a cold rain, obliterating any tracks she might have made. Not a single soul could be seen. No one answered when I called her name, and the streets were curiously empty, as church bells began to ring out another Sunday. I was a fool to venture out into town in the middle of the morning. Following the labyrinth of sidewalks, I had no idea which way to go. A car eased around a corner and slowed as the driver spotted me walking in the rain. She braked, rolled down the window, and called out, Do you need a ride? Youll catch your death of cold.　　I remembered to make my voice understandable—a single stroke of fortune on that miserable day. No, thank you, maam. Im going home.　　Dont call me maam, she said. She had a blonde ponytail like the woman who lived in the house we had robbed months before, and she wore a crooked smile. Its a nasty morning to be out, and you have no hat or gloves.　　I live around the corner, thank you.　　Do I know you?　　I shook my head, and she started to roll up her window.　　You havent seen a little girl out here, have you? I called out.　　In this rain?　　My twin sister, I lied. Im out looking for her. Shes about my size.　　No. I havent seen a soul. She eyed me closely. Where do you live? What is your name?　　I hesitated and thought it best to end the matter. My name is Billy Speck.　　Youd better go home, son. Shell turn up.　　The car turned the corner and motored off. Frustrated, I walked toward the river, away from all the confusing streets and the chance of another human encounter. The rain fell in a steady drizzle, not quite cold enough to change over again, and I was soaked and chilled. The clouds obliterated the sun, making it difficult to orient myself, so I used the river as my compass, following its course throughout the pale day a