The mallet smashed into the bathroom door； knocking out a huge chunk of the
thin paneling。 Half of a crazed and working face stared in at her。 The mouth and
cheeks and throat were lathered in blood； the single eye she could see was tiny
and piggish and glittering。
〃Nowhere left to run； you cunt；〃 it panted at her through its grin。 The mallet
descended again； knocking wood splinters into the tub and against the reflecting
surface of the medicine cabinet
（！！ The medicine cabinet ！！）
A desperate whining noise began to escape her as she whirled； pain temporarily
forgotten； and threw the mirror door of the cabinet back。 She began to paw
through its contents。 Behind her that hoarse voice bellowed： 〃Here I e now！
Here I e now； you pig！〃 It was demolishing the door in a machinelike frenzy。
Bottles and jars fell before her madly searching fingers — cough syrup； Vaseline；
Clairol Herbal Essence shampoo； hydrogen peroxide； benzocaine — they fell into
the sink and shattered。
Her hand closed over the dispenser of double…edged razor blades just as she
heard the hand again； fumbling for the bolt and the spring lock。
She slipped one of the razor blades out； fumbling at it； her breath ing in
harsh little gasps。 She had cut the ball of her thumb。 She whirled around and
slashed at the hand； which had turned the lock and was now fumbling for the
bolt。
Jack screamed。 The hand was jerked back。
Panting； holding the razor blade between her thumb and index finger； she
waited for him to try again。 He did； and she slashed。 He screamed again； trying
to grab her hand； and she slashed at him again。 The razor blade turned in her