Chapter VI

October was very wide awake now. She did not struggle, but gripped at the hand which covered her mouth, conserving all her strength to pry loose this suffocating pad of muscle and bone. “Don’t make a sound!” he was breathing. “Terribly scared you’d shout . . . somebody prowling outside the house.” She nodded. The hand was drawn away, the bristly face was removed. “Sorry!” he whispered. “Can you get off the bed without raising a riot . . . wait!” His two hands went under her; she felt herself raised slowly. Creak—sq…