In the hills about beasts whimpered and the air was full of
the screaming of bewildered birds.
With the awakening of sound, Kenkenes knew that another plague had
befallen Egypt.
The dread that might have transfixed him was overcome by the instant
recollection of Rachel's peril. No restraining hands were upon him,
but he stood yet a space attempting to catch some rift in the thick
night. There was not one ray of light.
While he waited it was more distinctly borne in upon him that during
that space Rachel might suffer. He would go to her.
The night made a wall ahead of him which was imminent and
indiscernible. It was like a great weight upon his shoulders and a
pitfall at his feet.
He crouched and fumbled before him. His apprehension was physical; his
mind urged him; his body rebelled. He would have run but he could
barely force one foot ahead of the other. Illusory obstacles
confronted him. He waved his arms and put forward a foot. The ground
was lower than he thought, and he stepped weightily. He brought up the
other foot laboriously, hesitatingly. This was not advance, but
time-losing.
Meanwhile, what might not be happening to Rachel in this chaos of gloom
and clamor? Why need he hide his escape? None of these near-by
assailants had any care now save for his own safety.
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