Page:Fantastic Volume 08 Number 01.djvu/8

 Stephen lived in a world of agony—always fearful that he, too, would become one of

By ROBERT BLOCH

T BEGINS in darkness.

They call it sleep, but it's only a darkness. I lie there curled in the womb-posture and the darkness is all around me. When sleep comes, I merely draw some of that darkness inside me; the warm, rich, all-encompassing darkness, the darkness that is the nourishing blood of the night.

Womb-posture. A fetus lacks awareness, but I know that I'm asleep. I like to sleep.

"Take it easy. Rest, relax. Get plenty of sleep." That's what the doctors told me. And I'm willing to follow orders.

Roxie tells me I'm lazy, but I don't care; not if she lets me



"He had wound her the ends tight. 8