THE COMING Then a padding step, light, lighter than the sound of the softest thought.

It was passing near; the faint breeze blew the sound to them, around them, behind them.

Each man felt as if some creature were stalking him, unseen.

Next--it appeared by magic against the blue black of the night--the head of a great wolf, quite black, shaggy, with sharply pointed ears.

And the eyes stared at them, green eyes with lights that swirled as the flame jumped in the throat of the lamp.