Kristine20Kathryn20Rusch20-20Children.html2012-10-13 11:55:09ChildrenKristine Kathryn RuschBear Trap Lake June 17 1987McIntyre leaned forward as he pushed his paddle in the water. The muscles in his armsached. He didnt know how much longer he could keep rowing the canoe.He shot a quick glance over his shoulder. The swimmer still hounded him. The wholeafternoon had the feel of a nightmare the growing panic the illogical but certainknowledge that the thing which pursued him was evil and the utter ruthlessdetermination of the swimmer. The swimmer had grabbed McIntyres canoe twice andonly luck and a good sense of balance had kept him from capsizing.Splashes echoed behind him and he braced himself for another hit. But nothing happened.The swimmer glided up beside him and McIntyre screamed. He yanked his paddle out ofthe water and swung it like a sword. The paddle slapped against the swimmers skullslicing through the skin. McIntyre leaned over the side of his canoe and watched thebloody bubbles rise as the child sank beneath the waters.Madison Wisconsin May 4 1969Shouts and the tinkle of breaking glass woke him. He lay for a moment on the stainedmattress his legs trapped under Pattys listening before he realized that another riot wasgoing on. He tried to remember if he knew of any action that day but he thought ofnothing.Patty sat up and pushed her hair out of her face with one hand. quotW-whats thatquotMcIntyre shook his head.Downstairs a door banged and Jason screamed quotPiiigsquotMcIntyre heard footsteps on the stairs and suddenly the bedroom door swung open. Pattygrabbed for her dress. Jason looked in.quotHey manquot McIntyre said as he reached for a sheet to cover his nakedness. Somethingcrashed beneath the window.Jason didnt even notice. His thin face was flushed. quotYou gotta see thisquot he said. quotItstarted on State Street but they brought it down herequotquotWhat happenedquot Patty asked. She had pulled her dress on. It pooled around her legsbut her buttocks were still visible. McIntyre felt her growing excitement.quotI dont know but its a mess. You gotta see it.quot Jason ran down the hall to the otherrooms flinging the doors open so hard that they banged against the wall.Patty stood up and McIntyre handed her a pair of underwear. He slipped into some cutoffsand shoved his feet into his sandals. Patty had already started for the door.quotWaitquot he said and closed the windows. Immediately the shouting became muffled. quotLasttime they used gas. We want to sleep here tonight.quotfile:///I/temp/Kristine20Kathryn20Rusch20-20Children.html2012-10-13 11: