"I thrashed around in my bunk until I fell on the floor, bumping my head. I sat up and rubbed it. The wind outside blew ferociously and the heavy rain
pounded the tower. I climbed to the top to check the equipment. And then I saw it - and fell to my knees in horror. It was a bird - a gigantic black bird
with wings as long as an airplane's, circling round and round the t of the tower, trying to grab hold in the maelstrom. Scratching and banging against the
top in an attempt to land. Its eyes were blood red like laser dots. It thudded against the tower, causing the old building to rumble hideously. I feared
one of the wings might break the outer glass allowing the creature to grab me in its talons. My heart pounded and I involuntarily emitted groans of terror.
The creature continued to circle the tower - thrusting its body against the glass.
Time ceased to move and the event was clouding my mind until I didn't know what was real and what wasn't. I finally got up enough nerve to crawl back to
the watch room and activate the radio.. To my horror it didn't work - the device was dead. I cringed under the stairs, occasionally glancing up to see the
giant black bird - the Nightwing - circling and staring in my direction. And to make matters worse I began to hear the howling and banging from below. I
was trapped in between, There was no way out. The Nightwing soared and dived at the tower. I closed my eyes and waited for the end."
from "The Murder Tree"
"He gave her a peck and hurried off. She stood stretching brazenly in the moonlight. Then she went inside and slipped off her dress. Hell's rays lit her
tawny shoulders. From out of the field nearest the house came a rustling. She stopped still, then began whirling in a make-believe dance. Then another
rustling - this one nearer. She froze. All was still. Still as the steamy night. She reached up and turned down the light. There was a bump at the porch.
As the moon passed behind a purple cloud, the screen door swing open. She trembled and shook like a spastic leaf. Her mouth opened at the sight of a man
entering the house. His image, like a stone specter, moved relentlessly toward her. She couldn't scream. Resigned, she lay upon her bed and waited. The
intruder eased himself on top of her catatonic form. She saw the glint of metal in the faint light.
I sat up with a gasp. The moon slid out from behind the ring of clouds. I looked at my watch. 11:31. The time was past. I sluggishly rose and moved into
the road. The wail of a night bird turned my head. I lifted my gaze. I was an oak. An ancient oak. Shaped unmistakably like the head of a woman. The moon's
rays lit the edge of her hair. I trembled. My foot felt something solid. A stone. Perhaps the remnant of a house's foundation. There was a hole in the tree
across the way. Like an eye. It watched me as I eased towards the main road - as I hurried to my car - praying it would start."
from "The Man in the Yellow Suit"
"Again no one was in the corridor including the man in the yellow suit. Mr. Kenton pushed aside the barrier to room 511 and tried his key in the lock.
Oddly enough it worked. As for the others he'd brought a bolt cutter and began to snap off the ancient locks. Now we were ready to enter. He looked at me
expectantly then we pushed in the frozen door. Once inside the door swung shut.
Then in horrifying moment we both realized it was freezing cold in the darkened room. The temperature had to be well below zero. In addition there was no
oxygen. It was as if the cold had sucked out the breath of life. We both began to gasp for breath. After tugging in vain at the closed door Mr. Kenton
crumpled to the floor and I grabbed the wall to keep from fainting. I had to get us out quick or we'd both die from the cold and asphyxiation. Mr. Kenton's
breaths were becoming more labored and so were mine. At that moment I saw the man in the yellow suit standing a few feet away. His visage was ghastly -
unearthly. He held up a manuscript which read 'The Lower Depths'. With no air and freezing I felt my life ebbing. Then suddenly the door cracked open. With
my remaining strength I grabbed Mr. Kenton and pulled him out into the hall. The door to room 511 then banged shut."
from "Uncle Poot, Harbinger of Death"
