†*=:......                                          ......:=*†
*=:.......                                          .......:=*
=:........                                          ........:=
:.........                                          .........:
=:........                                          ........:=
*=:....... ==@                                  @== .......:=*
†*=:......                                          ......:=*†
$†*=:.....           THE ROAD IS BLOCKED.           .....:=*†$
#$†*=:.... TWO  CREATURES,  ALIVE,  AND  A  BURNING ....:=*†$#
##$†*=:...    CAR. THE WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED,     ...:=*†$##
###$†*=:..              FROM OUTSIDE.               ..:=*†$###
####$†*=:.                                          .:=*†$####
###$†*=:.. ==@                                  @== ..:=*†$###
##$†*=:...       @===========================@      ...:=*†$##
#$†*=:.... ==@                                  @== ....:=*†$#
$†*=:.....                                          .....:=*†$
†*=:......  THE WOMANS NAME IS =LYNNE=, SHE HEADS   ......:=*†
*=:.......   FROM THE PENINSULA OF KOLA - CALLED    .......:=*
=:........    THERE LONG AGO BY THE DEPTH OF THE    ........:=
:.........   BORING HOLE, NOW AGAIN RETURNING TO    .........:
=:........   DENSER CIVILIZATION. BUT SHE IS NOT    ........:=
*=:.......   HUMAN. SHE HAS LONG CLAWS WITH WHICH   .......:=*
†*=:...... SHE PICKS OUT THE FLESH OF HER PREY AND  ......:=*†
$†*=:.....     TEARS AT IT WITH HER TEETH, BLOOD    .....:=*†$
#$†*=:....  DRIPPING ONTO THE DIRT ROAD. SHE DOES   ....:=*†$#
##$†*=:...      NOT LOOK UP FROM HER KILLING.       ...:=*†$##
###$†*=:..                                          ..:=*†$###
####$†*=:.    HER STEED IS =HORNBLENDE=, A DARK     .:=*†$####
###$†*=:..    HORSE, A GLOWING PANTHER. SHE'S AN    ..:=*†$###
##$†*=:...    EXTREMELY DIGITGRADE THING, WITH A    ...:=*†$##
#$†*=:....  POLITE FACE. WHILE HER REGULAR (AND NOW ....:=*†$#
$†*=:..... DISINTERESTED) MOUTH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR  .....:=*†$
†*=:......    EATING PLANT MATTER (MOSTLY FATTY     ......:=*†
*=:.......     FRUITS LIKE AVOCADO) HER TAIL IS     .......:=*
=:........  CARNIVOROUS AND HAS A MOUTH (AND WILL?) ........:=
:.........  OF ITS OWN. THE ENTIRE TAIL IS HOLLOW   .........:
=:........  AND JUICY, AND FEELS WONDERFUL INSIDE.  ........:=
*=:.......                                          .......:=*
†*=:...... ==@                                  @== ......:=*†
$†*=:.....                                          .....:=*†$
#$†*=:....                                          ....:=*†$#
##$†*=:...                                          ...:=*†$##
###$†*=:..                                          ..:=*†$###
####$†*=:.                                          .:=*†$####