Midnight's Lair Read Online Free

around it's corner, and shoved. The boat cased away.
        'Watch out behind,' she said. 'We're slowing.'
        The boat slipped along in front of her. She was between its side and the dock. As it settled in the water, she clutched its gunnel with both hands and leaned away, her back muscles on fire with the effort. The boat moved slowly towards her.
        A man at the front, the one beside Beth who'd helped Darcy aboard and was first to offer his jacket for Tom, sprang up and leaped to the dock. Beth followed him with the flashlight. Darcy watched him as she pulled the boat. He rushed over the planks, sat down quickly to her right and stuck his legs out straight.
        Darcy let go of the gunnel. She turned away. The boat nudged her back, but she didn't need to worry, now, about being squeezed against the dock. The man held the boat off with his feet while she thrust herself up and scrambled clear.
        They knelt side-by-side, pulled the outstretched arms of passengers, brought the boat in closer, then grabbed the gunnel and worked the boat forward alongside the clock.
        'Everyone stay seated,' Darcy said in a breathless voice. 'Wait till both boats are secure.'
        Beth and two other passengers disregarded the order and jumped out. Just as well, Darcy thought. Beth provided light for the man and woman, who were getting to their knees farther up the dock and reaching out for her boat. Once they had it, Beth hurried forward and held the light on Greg's boat.
        Greg waded to the other side and pushed the boat close enough for Darcy and the man to take over. They brought it in against the dock and three passengers, including Kyle Mordock, hopped out and began tying its lines to the posts.
        As Darcy got to her feet, she saw Greg in the gloom near the far end of the boat, climbing from the water. She went to him.
        'So far, so good,' he said.
        'I'll buy you a drink when we're out of here,' she told him.
        'A nice hot steaming mug of coffee.' He pulled off his sweatshirt, held it at arms' length, and began to wring it out. He was a pale blur above the darkness of his jeans, but Darcy could see that his shoulders were hunched up with the cold. She heard water patter on the boards. 'You want to go back and get the passengers organized?' he suggested. 'I'll be along in a minute.'
        'Sure,' she said, guessing that he wanted to wring out his pants.
        He turned away and walked farther into the darkness.
        Darcy's own clothes were sodden and cold. She thought of the grotto near the other end of the dock.
        She faced the boats. The passengers were already stepping out. She made her way through them. 'Greg-and I want to rest and dry off for a couple of minutes. Then we'll all take a hike for the elevators. In the meantime, everyone stay here and try not to fall in the lake.'
        There were a few laughs.
        The seat on the forward boat where Tom had been was empty. She found him standing on the dock, held steady by the man who'd helped her with the boats. His head was hanging. He still pressed the handkerchief to his wound. 'How're you feeling, Tom?'
        'Guess I'll live,' he muttered.
        'Thanks for the help,' she told the other man. 'Are you Beth's husband?'
        He nodded. 'I'm Jim. Jim Donner.'
        'You've been a lot of help, Jim. Beth, too. I appreciate it.'
        'Hey, we're all in this together.'
        'You want to look after Tom till I get back?' she asked.
        'Sure thing.'
        She reached for the flashlight clipped to Tom's belt, pulled it free, and thumbed the switch. A white beam darted out. Its brightness made her realize how weak and yellowish the other flash had become.
        
***
        
        With a glance over her shoulder to make sure no one was following, Darcy hurried over the boards and reached the concrete walkway. A few yards farther, she found the stone stairs, rushed up