The country lane was lonely .sx Terrified , she faced the man who barred her way .sx He gripped her arm .sx . then he suddenly turned and ran as he heard VOICES IN THE DARK .sx A Short Story by Trevor Allen .sx AS dusk deepened to darkness in the gloomy beechwood Sheila shivered .sx Shadows on either side of the path scared her .sx She was out of breath , stumbling over roots and ruts , pressing on to reach the road before utter darkness swallowed her .sx If she hadn't taken the wrong path on the common and gone miles out of her way , she would have been home long before sunset .sx Now she felt , with mounting terror , that she might never find the road at all and have to spend the night huddled in the shelter of bushes or a hedge .sx What a fool she'd been to come on this walk alone !sx But she'd set out in a temper .sx She was fed up , desperate to get away from everyone for an hour or two- especially father .sx He'd been nagging her again .sx Nothing she did ever pleased him .sx He was a builder's foreman and seemed to think he could order her about as he did his men- as if she was still a child instead of a girl of seventeen earning her own living .sx When she grew her hair beehive style because other girls were doing it , he said :sx " Why do you have to have your hair like that ?sx It's hideous !sx " When she bought her first stiletto-heeled shoes he grumbled :sx " How can you walk on those things , wobbling at every step ?sx They'll ruin your feet- and the carpets , too .sx " He didn't like her wearing jeans .sx He objected to her going to the juke-box cafe@2 where her friends met regularly .sx The last straw .sx SHE'D just bought a transistor radio set .sx When he saw it all he could say was :sx " Why on earth do you want to cart that about with you everywhere ?sx You've got the telly at home ; isn't that enough ?sx " " I like it , " she had retorted , stung by this latest reproof .sx " And it's my own money .sx I can listen to what I want any time , and it doesn't do any harm .sx " Why must you always be getting at me , Dad ?sx Nothing I ever do is right !sx " " It's just a waste of money , " he had persisted .sx " You ought to start saving now you're in a good job , as your mother and I did when we were young .sx " The transistor was the last straw- over Sunday tea , too .sx She had sulked , then wandered out , past the new housing estate on the outskirts , up the road that climbed to the beechwoods and common , on and on , furious , rebellious , thinking over and over :sx If Dad doesn't stop going on at me I'll leave home and get a room somewhere .sx I'd do it now if it wasn't for mother .sx Mother had always tried to smooth things out , saying :sx " She's young , she'll learn .sx " But father was obstinate , domineering .sx Panic .sx THAT was how , too angry to notice where she was going , she had taken a wrong path back and got lost .sx But at last , with thankful relief , she came out on to the road and saw , through a gap in the hedge , the town lights in the valley .sx It was little more than a lane between high hedges .sx The lights looked a long way off .sx The road seemed to want to imprison her in its funnelled gloom .sx As she set off along it she heard footsteps approaching ahead of her and crossed over to the opposite side .sx " Good evening !sx " said a thick voice in the darkness , as a man came abreast of her .sx Too scared to reply , she hurried on- then became aware that he had suddenly turned and was following her .sx The footsteps behind terrified her .sx She quickened her pace .sx The man quickened his , too , and was overtaking her .sx Panic seized her .sx She thought of the murders she'd read about- of girls waylaid on lonely roads like this , girls missing for days , weeks , with search parties scouring the countryside , and then , in some hidden spot .sx . " Oh , God , " she prayed , " let me get home safely , let me get home , away from this terror !sx " She wanted to run , but didn't want to show she was afraid , it might make things worse .sx Her tight new skirt was hampering to the knees , and she wondered if she could run .sx Terror had taken the strength from her legs .sx She prayed that someone would suddenly come along the lane out of the darkness and save her .sx As the footsteps drew close behind her she crossed to the other side of the road again , still frantically hurrying , panting and palpitating with fright .sx The man came alongside .sx She stopped , with her back to the hedge , facing him .sx " In a hurry , aren't you ?sx " he slurred .sx " Thought you might like company .sx . like .sx . " His breath smelt of drink .sx His tone was bantering , insinuating .sx He towered above her , an evil shadow in the night .sx " Please !sx " she gasped , her heart pounding .sx " I don't want company .sx Please !sx " 'Someone's coming' .sx SHE made to pass , but he blocked the way .sx " A nice girl like you , " he smirked , " all alone .sx You can be a bit friendly , can't you ?sx I'm alone , too .sx Maybe we'd get on all right .sx Maybe .sx . " She tried to sidestep him .sx He caught her arm .sx " A nice girl like you , " he repeated .sx The grip numbed her .sx She felt she was going to faint .sx Then .sx . dimly , distantly , voices sounded in the stillness .sx They seemed to come from down the road .sx Two men were talking .sx Now the voices sounded nearer , slightly louder , but still remote .sx Thank heaven , she was no longer alone , at his mercy .sx . " Help me !sx " she screamed .sx " Help !sx Help !sx " Then , wrenching her arm away from him :sx " Now you'll get what you deserve , you beast !sx Someone's coming !sx " Startled , the man instantly released his grip and backed away from her .sx She heard him running up the road , the way they had come .sx Relieved , she started running in the opposite direction , towards the lights and the town , lifting her skirt to free her knees .sx Half running half walking , stumbling , she didn't slow down until she was out of breath and the lights of the new housing estate glimmered ahead .sx And now she knew whence the voices came .sx Involuntarily , as the man gripped her right arm , her finger had touched and turned the knob on top of the transistor , held by the strap in her left hand- this had been just enough to tune in faintly to the two men talking .sx Luckily he had heard them , too .sx 'Waste of money !sx ' .sx IT might have been tuned to another station .sx It might have been music instead of a discussion , a play , or whatever it was .sx She might have turned it full on instead of faintly , so that the voices seemed to come from a distance , down the road .sx . Then she hurried home to tell her father what the " waste of money " had done for her on the lonely road in the dark , with no one near to aid her .sx The menacing gunman was getting impatient as she stalled for time .sx Her position seemed hopeless .sx . then her desperate plan showed him that .sx . DIAMONDS ARE HARD TO GET .sx A Short Story by SHEILA BURNS .sx CHERRY backed her car up the drive to the garage , glad to be home .sx She had hated every moment of the television theatre away from her young , adored husband .sx She saw the light in his study and guessed that he was working on a new TV play .sx Closing the garage doors behind her , she was about to turn when she felt the cold muzzle of a gun against her back .sx " Just a minute , " said a gruff voice .sx Quickly it flashed through her mind that it was John's anniversary gift the man was after .sx The newspapers had carried a story about it- a diamond brooch , and her first really expensive gift .sx Perhaps the man thought she had been wearing it at the broadcast .sx But it had been left at home in the tiny safe behind the picture of Mount Everest in the sitting room .sx " What do you want ?sx " she asked .sx " That brooch .sx " " I'm not wearing it .sx " 'A muffet' .sx " WALK to the house , " the man commanded , " and don't look back .sx Go inside and I'll follow .sx Is your husband asleep ?sx " " He's working late , " she said .sx " Go in just as you would if I wasn't with you .sx " The house was empty , except for John and Bongo , the dog .sx Cherry walked up the side path to the door ; her fingers shivered as she put the key in the lock .sx She paused- and the gun prodded still harder in her back as the man said :sx " Go on .sx " From upstairs , John called :sx " That you , Cherry ?sx " " Yes , darling , I'm back .sx " " Everything OK ?sx " This was the moment .sx She broke into a sweat , then said automatically :sx " Everything's all right .sx " She crossed the little hall , the man close up behind her .sx Bongo was whining from the kitchen where he had been put to bed for the night .sx She walked into the little sitting room where she and John spent their happiest hours together .sx Usually she didn't come into this room immediately she returned home , and hoped that John would hear and notice it .sx But nothing happened .sx She had to attract his attention somehow , for she was " in a muffet .sx " That was what they had always called getting into a jam .sx As a child John had called a muddle a " muffet"- " Miss Muffet and the spider " he had explained and laughed at her .sx " What are you going to do ?sx " she asked the gunman .sx Playing for time .sx SHE turned to face him , agony in her heart and hoping that she would not faint .sx He was smaller than she expected- a little rat of a man with close-set eyes .sx " I want a drink , " he said .sx There was a bottle of beer on the sideboard .sx She fetched it and held it out to him .sx " Put it on the table , lady , " he said , still pointing the gun at her , " and then tell me where the brooch is .sx " " It's in the safe .sx " She spoke the truth , for she thought he might already know that John had got a home-made safe for it .sx A woman's magazine had used the story as an item in the home life of celebrities .sx " I read about the safe , " the man said .sx " Where is it ?sx " She conquered the compelling desire to take a quick glance at the picture of Everest , and with her first flash of spirit , said :sx " That is my secret .sx " " I could make you tell me .sx I'm here to get what I want .sx I live this way .sx " But the big breaks are too tricky for me .sx I want small pulls , something that fences don't shy at , diamonds without a history behind them , but big enough to bring in the next meal .sx " He rapped the gun .sx " Open that bottle for me , " he said , " and pour it out .sx With a head on it .sx . that's right .sx Now tell me where , lady .sx " She was amazed at the courage with which she said :sx " They're upstairs .sx " " You could get 'em for me ?sx " " Yes .sx " " But unless I went along with you , you'd tell your husband , I bet .sx If I did go with you , he'd know , anyway .sx " " I wonder .sx " The man drank the beer , held out the glass for more , and for a second she faltered .sx She had got to think of some way out ; the longer she lingered , the easier it could be , for sooner or later John would realize that something was wrong .sx Closely the man eyed her .sx " If you don't get it for me , lady , maybe I'll go right up and shoot your husband .sx I could .sx " She winced .sx " Surely we could settle this between us , " she said suddenly .sx It would be easier to give the man the brooch , but somehow she still had a hope of not doing that .sx " You've got to get it for me , " the man said between his teeth .sx Terrified .sx THEN she heard John's sudden footstep overhead and wondered if at last he realized that something was wrong .sx