第32部分(第3/9 頁)

　she　was　on　the　roads；　the　worse　they

became。

She　was　impatient　to　reach　the　cottage。　Even　aside　from　a　hacking　cough

and　the　accumulation　of　snow　on　the　windshield；　she　wanted　to　be　in　a

place　that　had　bee；　in　some　ways；　more　real　a　world　than　the　other。

The　past　six　weeks　in　New　York　had　been　a　way　of　passing　time　between

trips。　She　was　happier　here；　more　relaxed　and　alive　with　Mitch　than

anywhere　else。

Traffic　slowed　another　notch。　She　glanced　at　her　watch。　Two　hours

behind；　already！　It　was　late　afternoon。　Darkness　would　be　here　before

long。　She　didn't　relish　driving　through　the　storm　in　the　dark。

She　thought　of　stopping　at　an　inn　for　the　night；　but　feared　that

tomorrow　wouldn't　be　any　better。　Besides；　she　had　no　way　to　contact

Mitch。　He　would　be　worried　if　she　didn't　show　up。

Her　snow　tires　clung　tentatively　to　the　road　as　she　turned　off　the

highway　at　last。　There　were　still　miles　to　go；　but　at　least　the　road　was

smaller。　Unfortunately　it　was　also　deserted。　She　pushed　the　small　car

through　a　blinding　rage　of　white。　Vistas　were　obliterated。　Only　the　low

fencing　at　the　side　of　the　road　kept　her　on　course；　though　how　long　it

would　be　before　they　were　covered　by　drifts；　she　didn't　know。

Her　hands　were　white…knuckled　on　the　wheel。　The　snow　was　a　thick　wall

behind　her；　so　there　was　no　turning　back。　She　peered　nervously　through