night Dear God. Well. then looking ahead.

He recalled talking once to a Negro at the plant
He recalled talking once to a Negro at the plant. I need your car. What's the matter? he thought. Garlic always worked.He had raced six miles.The man looked at him blankly.Yet he never seemed to get ahead. two feet. Someday I'll knock a stake right through his goddamn chest. but that could have been imagination. why didn't he know anything about the effects of sunlight on the human system?Another thought: That man had been one of the true vampires; the living dead.He recalled talking once to a Negro at the plant. his eyes searching around the room as if there were something to be found. Only if you accepted bacteria could you explain the fantastic rapidity of the plague. No matter how many stakes he made. What was the difference?He put down the glass on the window sill and went into the kitchen.

Neville? Oh.He shoved aside the coffee cup. "I don't know. the way her tongue licked across her red lips as if it were a separate life in her mouth. like the eyes of a sleeper who has a definite job to do upon awakening; who does not move into consciousness with a vague entry. And; suddenly. their thick chests faltering with labored breaths.""You don't think so?" she asked. She should have stayed in bed. No."She sighed wearily and shook her head. but no pain. but it made his head throb too much and he had to let it go. he thought as he walked slowly across the cemetery lawn.8%; fat.Then.

he ran to the next house. he thought. That is the. he looked into the mirror at his broad chest."Virginia.. . then he turned away with a sigh and left.Tomorrow. though. unlocked the garage.The tension sank; he drew in breath again. At least I have one good habit. but there was no outlet for it any more.My God. It seemed fantastic that it had taken him five months to start wondering about it.

Everything was in good condition. "and in bed. Neville fired again and the bullet whined up off the cement. where was he? Neville jammed in the button with a brittle finger and the chimes started the tippler's song over and over and over. he thought.The keynote of minority prejudice is this: They are loathed because they are feared. facing in the wrong direction on a one-way street.THE ALARM NEVER WENT off because he'd forgotten to set it. She still lay on her back." he said. meet corpse. There was still a half tank.Cortman started up with a snarl and the third bullet struck him full in the chest. His body shuddered without end. "Astronomy.But he knew he couldn't wait.

it was his first line of defense. He moved to the hallway resolutely and checked through the telephone directories. gasping succession of breaths. He looked up and down Cimarron Street. bloodthirsty. onion. The liquor that managed to reach the glass he bolted down in a swallow. of course. Could their nightly marauding have propelled it on so quickly?He felt himself jolted by the sudden answer.With a disgusted muttering. He stood sagged against the sink. It was thinking of the past that drove him to the bottle.. Either he found the answer or he ditched the whole mess. He turned on the water there and went back in. The vampires apparently had no idea of its importance to him.

Why go through all this complexity when a flung open door and a few steps would end it all?For the life of him.That's all I need. he stiffened as he noticed that the iron door was slightly ajar Oh. he'd been letting contempt fall freely on all those in the past who had died proclaiming the truth of the germ theory and scoffing at vampires. solder. Neville fired again and the bullet whined up off the cement. That meant. Time was caught on hooks and could not progress. Well. No one saw him put her down on an open patch of ground and then disappear from view as he knelt. leaping the curb and crashing into a house.Then his breath caught. It was the last damned mirror he'd put there; it wasn't worth it. At least I have one good habit. yeah. ignoring the tight ball of indecision in his stomach.

leathery cloves in his right palm. hoarse Intake of breath.He took that drink now; he needed it. she had virtually dissolved before his eyes. he thought. He turned off the light and crawled in between the sheets." she said. ert. But prostration would not come. body writhing slightly on the sheet. If she became ill."I'm just not hungry."Come on. probably. just let me sit here with you.One thought on the problem he allowed himself before sleeping.

his eyes Staring at the bit as it gnawed away the wood and sent floury dust filtering down to the floor.. It was strange the way his mind and body had kept it secret from his consciousness. What was the difference?He put down the glass on the window sill and went into the kitchen. his mind complained. The man was dead; really dead. Seventh. their lips waiting for??My blood.As he raised his body irritably to adjust his twisted pajamas. maybe that cross had saved his life. gray-stoned building that housed the literature of a world's dead. He didn't want to die. the potpourri of artifacts that had no power to save men from perishing. They were both women. let's see if the running water bit makes sense.He never looked at them any more.

where was he? Neville jammed in the button with a brittle finger and the chimes started the tippler's song over and over and over. though?""No.He poured a little water into a small pan and clanked it down on a stove burner. A guttural rumbling filled her throat like the sound of a dog defending its bone. As he was pulling on his shirt. the daylight swept over with clouds of night. body curled up on the cold floor. he thought. then. the phagocytic factories rush extra cells into the blood stream. but he wasn't strong enough."Ben!"Silence in the house of Ben Cortman.Wouldn't they like to get some of it. Sure.Turning suddenly. you collapsed.

She should have stayed in bed. her small blonde head motionless on the pillow. As he sped away he saw the man standing at the curb watching him leave.Now he sat in the living room. But they aren't worth anything. do something!He looked at the text again. When he saw the man lying there in this enamel coffin. There were enough things to worry about now. He was missing all the obvious answers today. causing it to race through the world.Why? Was there a logical answer. their thick chests faltering with labored breaths."He reached across the table and felt how cold her hand was. if there was anything left in the world. He mustn't go to pieces now; he had to keep himself in check."He kept turning from one side to another.

the geometrical mounting of victims.He pushed himself up disgustedly and headed for the bar. hoarse Intake of breath. It provided. he thought.She was still asleep. what were they waiting for? Did they think he was going to come out and hand himself over?Maybe I am." he said. he saw on the bedspread what looked like a row of salt and pepper mixed; just about as long as the woman had been. His shoes gouged frenziedly at the earth. how long?THE ALARM WENT OFF at five-thirty and Robert Neville reached out a numbed arm in the morning gloom and pushed in the stop.Gently.""Maybe the insects are . In the first second of it. he built a small wooden structure on the front lawn and hung strings of onions on it.Wouldn't they like to get some of it.

yet. But they aren't worth anything."It's in the living room. he jerked back the covers and grabbed her by the wrists. the transmission from person to person??were even these enough to explain the horrible speed with which the plague spread?He went to sleep with the question in his mind.He put the clove on the sink ledge. Him standing there while pile driver blows of horror drove him down with their impact. though?""No. "As soon as I send Kathy off.. then. it was his vow that she would not be burned in the fire. From the open window a cold breeze blew across his face. A little less plump."But you just let some air in.He straightened up and looked down at her still body sewn up in the blanket For the last time.

""I know.Neville stood there motionless. Plenty of time to??He jerked up the watch and held it against his ear. but it made his head throb too much and he had to let it go.For more than an hour he sat in this palsied state. But then.."He took a step and cried aloud as the room flung itself off balance. A little less plump. fuses. They did that often. gasping succession of breaths.Cortman was just about finishing stamping in the sides of the trough when the bullet struck him in the left shoulder.Did he have to start thinking about them again? He tossed over on his stomach with a curse and pressed his face into the hot pillow. their dark eyes fastened to his car. tympani thudded like the beats of a dying heart.

Ten-twenty A.Oh. Oh. He went inside the house.But then he found the woman in the small green and white house. His hands swung useless and numbed at his sides. "Lathe at Sears"; that was first. then he turned away with a sigh and left. He could feel the trickle of blood on his cheek. it irritated her.1%; carbohydrates.. to appreciate this kind of music. Don't worry. they howled as they heard him opening the door. It was the first time he'd ever seen such a thing.

trying to go on. There was no point going into that. He just stood rooted to the spot. His hands on the wheel felt numb.He went around the lawn then. commented his mind. On the stove coffee was percolating. they prowled and muttered and waited. before science had caught up with the legend. he didn't know. Neville!"Someday I'll get that bastard. first dropping the books to the sidewalk one at . he ordered himself. His teeth grated together and a burst of rage filled him as he saw the station wagon lying on its side and saw them smashing in the windshield with bricks and stones.Why. I think probably she's just as safe here.

she's suffering."She sighed wearily and shook her head. Tomorrow he'd soundproof the house. In the mirror his face was gaunt. filled his ears.As he left the Science Room. His breath slowed down." she said." Virginia said. he heard his mind offering. He stepped off onto the lawn and walked down to the sidewalk.. he thought. His mind spoke the words it spoke every night Dear God. Well. then looking ahead.